9 Great Nights Out In London Restaurants
Brasserie Zedel
A longstanding French restaurant from the team behind The Wolseley and The Delaunay, Brasserie Zedel offers traditional Gallic dishes in beautiful Art-Deco surroundings (it’s described by Pierre Koffman as “the only real brasserie in London”). Away from cassoulet and escargot, there’s cracking cocktails to be had in Bar Americain, and live music aplenty in cabaret bar Crazy Coqs. Fresh for summer is ‘Round Midnight’, a free late-night music show at the cabaret bar (where shows are usually ticketed). Every week, a different band will play from 11pm-12.30am – the diverse line-up champions blues, jazz, swing, Cuban, calypso, Americana and African acts.
20 Sherwood Street, Soho, W1F 7ED
Visit BrasserieZedel.com
Hixter Bankside
Mark Hix knows how to throw a party, so it comes as no surprise that his industrial Borough restaurant Hixter Bankside has a late license. First, kick things off with sharing steaks and whole chickens served upside down, before heading down to the dark and atmospheric Mark’s Bar in the basement. New for summer, Hix himself is hosting a monthly ‘Mark’s Bankside Lates’ in Mark’s Bar on the last Friday of each month. A late-night party with guest DJs and one-off cocktails, the bar will be open from 3pm – guests are encouraged to book in for dinner, then stay ‘til late.
16 Great Guildford Street, Bankside, SE1 0HS
Visit HIXRestaurants.co.uk
Hovarda
An Aegean-inspired bar and restaurant in Soho, the team behind acclaimed Turkish restaurant Yosma opened Hovarda last autumn. A slickly designed space, the restaurant makes an ideal evening-to-late-night venue. Blurring the lines between Greek and Turkish, menus here offer up the likes of yellowtail with cucumber, chilli, coriander and lime; wood-fired baby chicken with corn and spelt; and langoustines with lemon and olive oil. Happily, the lively bar’s open until 1am, even on weekdays and Sundays, making it a great central option for birthday gatherings and late-night drinks. Punchy cocktails such as the Aegean Flip (Gem & Bolt mezcal, sherry, Aegean spices, almond milk and egg) will keep the party going.
36-40 Rupert Street, Soho, W1D 6DW
Visit Hovarda.london
MNKY HSE
Bringing a vibrant blend of London funk and Latin spirit to the heart of Mayfair, MNKY HSE is a one-stop party palace fusing contemporary Latin American food and swanky interiors with buzzing live music and DJ sets. The ceviche selection is to die for – be sure to try the salmon cured in beetroot and mezcal with red onion and vinegar; the yellow tail with orange, ginger, passion fruit and jicama; and the prawn ceviche tostada served with spicy sauce, guacamole and coriander. It’s all light enough that once you’re on the dance floor, you won’t feel too full to strut your stuff.
10 Dover Street, Mayfair, W1S 4LQ
Visit Mnky-Hse.com
Mondrian London
Boasting one of the best views in the capital, the rooftop Rumpus Room, atop Tom Dixon-designed Mondrian London, is the place to head after dinner at Sea Containers restaurant (emphasising the American trade origins of the building, the restaurant serves an appealing range of American and British-inspired sharing dishes). Make sure you kick off your evening with an aperitif in Dandelyan, where the drinks list is devised by cocktail guru Ryan Chetiyawardana (aka Mr Lyan). After sunset, the verdant Rumpus Room really comes to life: expect British-American inspired cocktails and food, live music on Wednesdays and DJs Thursday to Saturday.
20 Upper Ground, South Bank, SE1 9PD
Visit MorgansHotelGroup.com
Park Chinois
Behind a set of intriguing red doors in Mayfair is the opulent Park Chinois. A restaurant that pays homage to the decadence of 1930s Shanghai, the venue serves outstanding regional Chinese food, while its contemporary in-house theatre company hosts exceptional live entertainment and mischievous fun. This July, the venue launched new bar Wave; the new best-kept secret on Berkeley Street, the bar is decked out as a Gatsby-style speakeasy and serves an eclectic cocktail offering and dim sum menu.
17 Berkeley Street, Mayfair, W1J 8EA
Visit ParkChinois.com
Sketch
This year has seen striking Mayfair restaurant and bar Sketch undergo a bold new update –creating even more of an excuse to pay a repeat visit. The powder pink Gallery has been kitted out in a whole new series of colourful David Shrigley designs, while the Parlour (Sketch’s tea room-turned-bar) has also had a major revamp to give an air of early-90s decadence. Even 15 years after it first opened, the characterful venue remains one of the best spots to see and be seen late into the night. And luckily for the selfie enthusiasts among us, the Insta-famous egg-shaped toilets are still going strong.
9 Conduit Street, Mayfair, W1S 2XG
Visit Sketch.london
The Boundary Project
The Boundary Project offers a multi-purpose space to eat, drink, shop, party and sleep in Shoreditch. For the best views, guests should head to the trend set’s favourite al fresco hangout on the Boundary’s rooftop terrace. The terrace basks in the Shoreditch sun by day, but evening is when the space really comes to life, with blankets, log burners and fairy lights twinkling above. Food comes from in-house restaurant TraTra, which serves modern French fare, and the Rooftop Bar & Grill, where glasses of ice-cold Provencal rosé set the scene as the sun comes down.
2-4 Boundary Street, Shoreditch, E2 7DD
Visit Boundary.london
The Ned
Anywhere that has 17 bars should definitely be considered a solid choice for a great night out. And with the recent launch of The Ned’s Library bar, the hotel has done just that (the new space has 30 champagnes on offer, sold by the glass or bottle, a martini trolley and a selection of classic house cocktails). Alas, if you’re not a member you won’t be able to access the rooftop pool and bars. However, the hottest opening of 2017’s open-plan restaurant space in the former Banking Hall offers plenty of choice (we’re a big fan of the pretty-in-pink, best-of-British Millie’s Lounge), and has live acts play on its central bandstand through the night.
27 Poultry, City, EC2R 8AJ
Visit TheNed.com
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