Drink
BOTTLE + RYE
Robin Gill and his wife Sarah have opened a new bistro and wine bar in Brixton called Bottle + Rye and we can confirm it’s an absolute banger. Located on the edge of Brixton Market and Coldharbour Lane, the pair have carved out a little piece of Paris in south London, with a stellar line up of relaxed bistro dishes and superb natural wines. Lewis Wright has curated the wine list with a selection mostly sourced from France and Europe but also including a couple of bottles from Renegade in London, and head chef Ben Hughes-Gage has created a food menu to match – we’re talking dishes like anchovies on honey toast, raw scallop with watermelon & plum, smoked eel brandade with pink fir crisps, and gooseberry & fig leaf choux eclair.
CADET
Cadet on Newington Green has been set up by an all-star team; Francis Roberts and Tom Beattie of wine importers Beattie & Roberts, and charcutier George Jephson. Plus heading up the kitchen is chef Jamie Smart who’s previously worked at the likes of Lyles, St John and Brawn. Having worked at several of London’s best wine bars between them, Tom and Francis started their own importing business a couple of years ago, and the wine list at Cadet is made up entirely of their own selection – no bad thing at all when they are one of the most respected specialist importers in London today. You can also buy the wines to take home too. On the food front, there’s a combination of George’s incredible charcuterie and Jamie’s seasonal small plates, like a stew of borlotti beans enriched with lamb fat and garlic; fresh tomato, sliced white peach and fennel pollen; mussels with cucumber and dulse; and oysters with gooseberries.
HOTEL CAFE ROYAL
Tucked away on Glasshouse Street, you can find Hotel Café Royal’s summer rosé terrace in partnership with Veuve Clicquot. Open all summer until the end of September, enjoy the likes of bespoke cocktails including the Provence Fizz, (made with Veuve Clicquot Rich Rosé, elderflower liqueur, bitters, grapefruit and lime) and the Framboise, with raspberry sorbet rosé. For a little nibble, expect wine-matched food pairings, such as salted cod croquettes (our personal fave), spiced chicken, or a fritto de poisson with prawns, squid and whitebait. Come and get a taste of summer whilst it’s still hot.
THE THREE CROWNS
The Three Crowns in Stoke Newington came under new management when the team behind The Lexington, a classic London boozer with a Kentucky twist, took over with chef Ousmane Gaye heading up the kitchen and a programme of gigs and club nights. The historic pub has been around since the 17th century, and its latest iteration is a gastropub with a seasonal British menu of dishes like the chorizo scotch egg with tomato & red pepper chutney; a pork chop with potato salad, chayote & apple slaw and red wine jus; and a Beyond Meat burger with slaw, vegan mayonnaise and chips. You’ll find the main bar playing disco, funk, soul and worldwide grooves until 2.30am every Friday and Saturday. While downstairs, their event space, The Waiting Room, regularly holds gigs, jazz nights, drag performances and DJ sets, so keep an eye out for what’s on.
NOLA
Local couple Anthony and Josephine set up NOLA as an embodiment of all their favourite cafe experiences from around the world. Their coffee is roasted in collab with award-winning roasters Bailies in Northern Ireland and they work hard to keep their coffees seasonal, constantly changing their selection to bring new coffees to Peckham. There’s also an all-day brunch menu, locally-baked sourdough, sandwiches, bagels and fresh pastries too.
OLD SPIKE ROASTERY
Old Spike is the UK’s first social enterprise, speciality coffee roastery with spots in Peckham, Piccadilly and Elephant & Castle. Their mission is to help reduce homelessness in the UK and they’re doing it through brewing fresh, seasonal coffee. Do good and get your caffeine fix, sounds ideal to us.
THE FARRIER
The Farrier is a neighbourhood pub, restaurant and wine shop located in Camden Market’s Grade II-listed former horse hospital (hence the name). The building is incredibly striking, with that sought-after warehouse look, its old brick walls and huge, bright windows. The kitchen is headed up by chef Ash Finch, who’s previously worked under acclaimed chefs Alain Ducasse, Rene Redzepi, and Marcus Wareing and is cooking up a menu of rustic and comforting classics. Expect the likes of braised steak & pale ale pie with buttered mash, charred Hispi cabbage and red wine gravy; battered haddock & triple-cooked chips with mint crushed peas and chunky tartare; and Cumberland sausage & buttered mash with red wine gravy and crispy leeks. Plus, there’s also a special roast menu for Sundays. Drinks-wise, the wine list brings together natural and biodynamic bottles from around the world, and there are regular specials too, so make sure you ask what they have on that day.
LAUREL'S ON THE ROOF
Laurel’s On The Roof is a rooftop restaurant inspired by 1970s California, particularly by its namesake Laurel Canyon in LA. Sat on top of the Mondrian Shoreditch, the restaurant brings a slice of west coast sunshine to London with its laidback aesthetic, menu of nostalgic Californian classics and soundtrack of soul, funk and folk music. Food-wise, expect the likes of oysters, Cobb salad, sea bream tacos with chipotle mayo, roasted aubergine with burrata & tomato pesto, and Malibu shrimp cocktails. And to drink, there’s an eclectic list of cocktails including frozen margaritas, Japanese Garibaldis with Campari & yuzu, Canyon Cobblers with pisco & sparkling wine, and Wet Gibsons with gin & Martini Ambrato that you can enjoy while overlooking the hotel’s pool and view of Shoreditch.
THE GOOD MIXER
The Good Mixer has a well-earned rep as being ‘a proper London boozer’. It became known as a Britpop hub in the 90s, especially as it was where the first stone was thrown in the Oasis vs Blur feud. Although it briefly closed down in early 2018, it reopened later the same year and remains the same laid back, authentic pub and hangout for musicians, locals and visitors alike.
New England-inspired spot The Maine Mayfair boasts 350 covers across five different rooms but there’s only one place you want to be in the summer and that’s out on the terrace. The Georgian Grade II-listed building is just off Hanover Square and accessed through the Medici Courtyard, so it has a secluded feel, something that’s emphasised on the terrace, which is surrounded by foliage. Given the New England influence, seafood features heavily on the terrace menu, with dishes like tuna tartare, lobster rolls, fish tacos, octopus a la plancha and oysters on offer, alongside other treats like beef carpaccio, short rib croquettes and mushroom & truffle flatbreads – oh yes this is one luxe terrace. There’s an extensive wine list but don’t skip the cocktails, you can’t beat a couple of spicy palomas on a warm summer night.
THE ROOFTOP AT THE TRAFALGAR ST JAMES
The Rooftop at The Trafalgar St James sits on the hotel’s seventh floor with an incredible view that looks over Trafalgar Square and the city’s skyline. The sunny terrace has a summery menu to match, featuring a Mediterranean-inspired mix of crudos and carpaccios, vegan dishes and salads, but the drinks are where it’s at – there’s orange wine and sangria to sip on alongside a seasonal spritz list, including the Jasmine, the Bergamot and the elderflower & apple Orchard, and twists on classic cocktails, so you’re set for an ideal summer evening.
One Hundred Shoreditch opened its doors at what used to be the Ace Hotel and soon after launched its rooftop bar and terrace. The alfresco spot came as an addition to the hotel’s existing restaurants and bars (including Seed Library), featuring panoramic views of the city and Palm Springs inspired decor (think dusty pink tiles and cacti). Drinks-wise, the Californian cocktail list includes the likes of white negronis (very popular in the States rn), spicy margs and watermelon spritzes, while a range of red, white and sparkling wines and beer is also available. The food menu follows the same vibe, with bar snacks including cured salmon tostadas, BBQ beef rib tacos and soft shell crab burgers. If you’ve been California dreamin’, look no further than E1.
NIGHTJAR CARNABY
- Monday: 6:00 PM – 12:30 AM
- Tuesday: 6:00 PM – 12:30 AM
- Wednesday: 6:00 PM – 12:30 AM
- Thursday: 6:00 PM – 1:00 AM
- Friday: 6:00 PM – 2:00 AM
- Saturday: 6:00 PM – 2:00 AM
- Sunday: 4:00 – 9:30 PM
East London speakeasy Nightjar has gone central and opened a second site in Kingly Court. The site of Nightjar Carnaby was the city’s first Black-owned club in the 30s & 40s, before Ronnie Scott took it over in the 50s, and now it plays host to late-night live jazz, blues and swing. Like the original, it’s a low-lit basement space (although with fewer nooks and crannies) with Art Deco interiors adding to the 1920s vibe. The cocktail menu is also split into Pre-Prohibition, Prohibition and Post-War sections, and makes use of vintage spirits and liqueurs as well as some eye-catching glassware.
The 1500 square metre south-facing terrace, aka the largest beer garden in London, is back at Ally Pally with mega views of the city, and this year you don’t even have to book tables so you can just turn up and get the drinks in. The bar will be serving softies, wine, beer and cocktails and there’ll also be stone-fired pizzas on offer, with street food traders popping up on weekends.
HEAVEN
Heaven landed in London in 1979 and became hugely popular on London’s gay scene, even being credited as a game-changer in terms of acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community. It’s remained a major destination ever since. It was the venue for the 1982 Nick Cave gig that’s still talked about today, where New Order played live for the first time post-Joy Division, and it’s still home to iconic shows today from the likes of Charli XCX, Caroline Polachek, The Garden and Rina Sawayama, to name a few. Plus their drag and club nights (home of the renowned G-A-Y party) have gained Heaven worldwide acclaim. But be warned, they’re known for their long queues and strict entry policies, so go equipped with a plan B.
ROYAL VAUXHALL TAVERN
The Royal Vauxhall Tavern is South London’s oldest surviving LGBTQ+ venue, housed inside a 19th-century pub, that’s still loved today for its drag shows that have been held at the RVT since the end of WWII. There’s something on every night at the RVT, whether it’s cabaret shows, drag performances, or club nights, with events hosted by the likes of Duckie, Baby Lame and BeefMince.
DALSTON SUPERSTORE
Dalston Superstore is a multitasker – it’s a queer bar, club, gallery, cafe, performance and community space, all wrapped into one. By day, there are drag brunches, queer art exhibitions and Essential Vegan cooking up burgers and sandwiches in the kitchen. And by night, regulars like Uncontrollable Urge collective and Femme Fraiche take over as the Superstore transforms into a club/performance space, pumping out disco, electro, techno and house tunes until 4am.
THE KINGS ARMS
The Kings Arms is truly a part of LGBTQ+ history in Soho – they started off being known as a ‘gentlemen’s bar’ back in the 1970s and became officially recognised as a gay bar in 1981. They’re affectionately known as ‘London’s favourite bear bar’, and have been running their popular Bearaoke night for 20 years. As well as that, they have a midweekly quiz night, a range of cabaret shows, Dragaoke, LGBTQIA+ open-mic night, and at weekends there are guest and resident DJs playing disco, house and electro beats.