What To Do This Weekend 16.1.25

Perfectly timed for ‘Blue Monday’ – a day we can all feel a bit flat on – One Hundred Shoreditch has teamed up with Stefanie Sword-Williams, founder and author of F*ck Being Humble, for a free, career-boosting event to lift your spirits and spark some inspiration. Known for her no-nonsense take on self-promotion, Stefanie will share her expert advice to help you kickstart your professional journey and set daring goals for 2025.

Lobby Bar, One Hundred Shoreditch, 100 Shoreditch High Street, Shoreditch, E1 6JQ; Monday 20th January

Visit ONEHUNDREDSHOREDITCH.COM

After a successful soft launch last month, restaurant- bakery Don’t Tell Dad opened this week in Queen’s Park. It’s headed up by Daniel Land, co-founder of Coco di Mama. Named in tribute to his late sister Lesley, the eatery will reflect her joyful spirit through its signage and menu. By day, the bakery will serve nostalgic pastries and sandwiches, like hazelnut croissants and pistachio danishes, while the evening restaurant will feature French and British-inspired dishes like crab tart with crab oil mayonnaise and watercress; roast pumpkin with brown butter, hazelnut and crispy sage; and spiced mallard with celeriac and Swiss chard.

10-14 Lonsdale Road, Queen’s Park, NW6 6RD

Visit DONTTELLDAD.CO.UK

When it comes to make-up, Charlotte Tilbury is a go-to – and now the beauty behemoth has a new UK flagship. Opened last week, this beauty haven in Covent Garden is an immersive playground for make-up, skincare and fragrance fans. Don’t miss the brand’s world-first Skin Spa, which offers exclusive, results-driven facials designed to revive tired skin. With four luxurious treatments available only at this location and the full range of the brand’s products to peruse, it’s the ultimate destination for a pick-me-up.

1 James Street, The Piazza, Covent Garden, WC2E 8BG

Visit CHARLOTTETILBURY.COM

Need a little motivation to stick to your January fitness goals? Investing in a new pair of trainers could be just the thing to get your moving. This Friday, to mark the launch of the Bondi 9, Hoka is opening a pop-up Corner Shop on Bethnal Green Road – an immersive space full of everything you need to kick start your training. Inside, you’ll find all your running essentials, as well as a working ATM dispensing ‘hokens’ to help you shop. At the back, step through a neon-lit walkway into the HOKA innovation zone. Here, in the FlyLab, you can try out the Bondi 9 and join in with regular runs and brand events in collaboration with some of London’s top running communities.

123 Bethnal Green Road, Bethnal Green, E2 7DG

Visit HOKA.COM

In case you missed it, Silva made ripples as one of Mayfair’s hottest openings last year. Tucked away on Bruton Place, this day-to-night hideaway serves elevated British, European and international dishes, all within a luxurious setting. There’s everything from light, healthy breakfast options to indulgent brunch classics: think crab and gruyère omelettes or French toast with coconut custard, spiced pineapple and toasted coconut. Later in the day, expect inventive starters like crispy fried egg with parmesan cream and salmon with avocado, ponzu and crunchy rice, plus seasonal salads, mains and tempting desserts. Sharing dishes like the chateaubriand with pica pau sauce and wild mushrooms are perfect for date night. Come for the food, stay for the interiors by Atelier Wren.

26-28 Bruton Place, Mayfair, W1J 6NG

Visit SILVARESTAURANT.CO.UK

After successful events in London and New York in 2024, Jameela Jamil returns to host her second #MoveForYourMind Festival this weekend. This community-driven event celebrates body positivity and self-worth, challenging the return to traditional, skinny ideals. Instead of the usual ‘New Year, New You’ mantra, Jameela flips the script, drawing on her personal experience with eating disorders to focus on the mental health benefits of movement. With increased capacity and a new date, the inspiring two-day festival will feature panel discussions, fireside chats and movement sessions, from disco dance and ‘twerkshops’ to yin yoga and somatic movement, all in an empowering and supportive space. Confirmed participants include Maisie Hill, Tally Rye, Joelle D'Fontaine, Sofie Hagen, Poppy Delbridge, Dr Brendon Stubbs, Megan Jayne Crabbe, Elizabeth Davies (@ThisWomanLifts), Stephanie Yeboah, Nana Crawford, Poppy Jamie and many more. Tickets cost £55.

Big Penny Social, Priestley Way, Walthamstow, E17 6AL; 17th-18th January

Visit MFYMCOMMUNITY.COM

For one night only, traditional Scottish fare will be served at London institution The Wolseley in honour of the famed poet Robert Burns. Guests will start with a warming bowl of cullen skink – a creamy soup made with haddock and potatoes – followed by a plate of haggis, neeps and tatties, finishing up with a sweet cranachan. It wouldn’t be Burns Night without whisky, so there’s a special cocktail menu featuring The Singleton 12yr-based tipples. Never a venue to do things by half, The Wolseley has also asked the Pipes and Drums of London Scottish Regiment to put on a show, clad in their distinctive Hodden Grey tartan.

160 Piccadilly, Green Park, W1J 9EB; Saturday 25th January

Visit THEWOLSELEY.COM

Launched just three months ago, Olivia Rose Pilates is already shaking up the industry. With over 450 hours of training between them, Jessica and Lucy offer expertly tailored sessions for all levels. A monthly subscription goes beyond just Pilates, offering wellness tips, nutritious recipes, masterclasses and expert guidance. The duo's 31-Day January Challenge is already in full swing, complete with a customised exercise plan – but it's not too late to join. 

Visit OLIVIAROSEPILATES.COM

Roe – the latest venture from the team behind Fallow – is livening up January with a treat for wine lovers: no corkage fees all month. Guests are invited to bring their own bottle or two and pair them with Roe’s inventive, sustainable menu. Highlights include cuttlefish fried toast crowned with pork skin and sesame, skewers of venison, lardo and pickled peppers, as well as larger plates like prime steak, market fish with roast chicken sauce, and the Roe mixed grill, which celebrates its namesake roe deer.

5 Park Drive, Wood Wharf, Canary Wharf, E14 9GG; until 31st January 

Visit ROERESTAURANT.CO.UK

The pan-Asian offshoot of dining chain The Ivy is a great spot to celebrate Chinese New Year in the city. Within The Ivy Asia’s eastern-inspired interiors, guests can tuck into Asian-inspired lunch and dinner set menus. Look out for the crispy wontons, BBQ pork bao buns, oyster mushroom dumplings, honey and sesame chicken, chargrilled salmon and more. In collaboration with Hennessy, a host of limited-edition cocktails will also be available. On Lunar New Year itself (29th January), The Ivy Asia will amp up the festivities, offering entertainment for guests like tarot card readings and calligraphy. 

Various locations

Visit THEIVYASIA.COM

Next week marks the start of the Year Of The Snake and you can celebrate in style with an evening of Chinese calligraphy, drinks and jewellery, hosted by cool-girl jeweller Loveness Lee. Under the guidance of Loveness herself – who honed her calligraphy skills as a child in China – you’ll create your own abstract artwork inspired by Chinese Zodiac symbols. As you paint, you’ll explore the history and techniques of this ancient art. A £40 ticket includes all materials and you can take your masterpiece home as a keepsake. It’s BYOB too, with glassware provided, making it an ideal date night or a wholesome evening out with friends. Plus, your ticket doubles as credit towards any in-store jewellery purchase on the night. 

Oxo Tower Wharf, South Bank, SE1 9PH; Friday 24th January

Visit EVENTBRITE.CO.UK

London ramen legend Bone Daddies has teamed up with south London plant-based go-to En Root to create a new dish for Veganuary. The Tandoori Tender Bao features a crispy tandoor oyster mushroom, carrot slaw, mango chutney, chilli, spring onion and En Root’s signature rajannaise. It will be available across all Bone Daddies sites, as well as on Deliveroo.

Various locations

Visit BONEDADDIES.COM

This gripping adaptation of Sophocles’ Elektra, drawn from Anne Carson’s acclaimed translation of the ancient Greek original, stars Brie Larson (Room, Lessons in Chemistry) in her West End debut, alongside Daniel Fish (Oklahoma). Elektra, tormented by her father’s murder, is fuelled by grief, survival and an unrelenting hunger for revenge. When her estranged brother Orestes finally returns, she pushes him towards a brutal and devastating reckoning – but vengeance comes at a harrowing price.

Duke of York Theatre, St Martin's Lane, West End, WC2N 4BG; 24th January–12th April 

Visit THEDUKEOFYORKS.COM

Oren, the beloved Dalston spot from chef Oded Oren, launched Slow Sundays this month. The centrepiece is a cosy £32pp sharing menu perfect for Sunday lunch. For the first time, Oren’s grills will take a backseat as the kitchen serves up hearty winter braises, inspired by the stews and bakes of the Middle East, North Africa and the Mediterranean. It kicks off with a mezze spread of the restaurant’s much-loved small plates, all served family-style. Expect creamy Labneh with marinated aubergine, Oren’s signature za’atar flatbread and cured sardines with pink peppercorns. But if you happen to be nursing a hangover, start with Oren’s limited-edition Harissa Bloody Mary – a spicy, hair-of-the-dog classic with a twist. 

89 Shacklewell Lane, Dalston, E8 2EB

Visit ORENLONDON.COM