espite missing vegetables and terrible temperatures, London is bouncing. There seems to be an extra spring in the step of the capital with plenty of restaurant openings signalling perhaps an end to the worst of the post-pandemic gloom. Whilst fashion week might be over, the capital’s busyness is cause for cautious optimism, so — why not rally the troops and head out?
For the cooler kids, this week’s round-up includes a hip-hop inspired jazz night celebrating two of the greats, and a late night DJ spot from London’s newest street art exhibition. Elsewhere, the glamorous new venue that hosted a recent party to remember and another which encourages the best (and possibly worst) of competition among pals. Here’s everything you need to know about what’s happening in London this weekend, and where you should be at.
The dinner ticket: Sager & Wilde x Crispin
When two individually great London restaurants come together, even better things happen. Lewis de Haas, who helms the kitchen at east London’s Crispin, has teamed up with his counterpart at Sager & Wilde, Diarmuid Goodwin, to create a Sicilian-inspired feast on March 4. Dishes are redolent of warmer Mediterranean climbs; monkfish crudo with blood orange, caciocavello with red pepper, spaghetti with anchovy and raisins. At £45 a ticket, this one is not to be missed.
Saturday, Crispin, Whites Row, E1 7NF, crispinlondon.com
The culture fix: Saatchi Lates — Beyond the Streets
One of London’s most popular current exhibitions, Beyond the Streets at the Saatchi Gallery, is opening for two exclusive evening viewings, with the first held this Friday. Saatchi Lates is a chance to see the near sold-out exhibition with live DJ sets, drinks, performance drawing (whatever that is) and graffiti workshops. The first exhibition to takeover each of the rooms at the Saatchi, the show celebrates punk, hip-hop and all things street culture, and with the add-ons (read: drinks) available, the ‘Lates’ tickets are worth snapping up.
Saatchi Gallery, Kings Road, SW3 4RY, saatchigallery.com/exhibition
The new drinking den: Vesper at the Dorchester
A few weeks back, in the blur of fashion week, ES and Perfect Magazine co-hosted a party at the newly revamped Dorchester hotel. A multi-million pound refurbishment has seen the storied property reinvigorated with a little more than just a lick of paint. The current jewel in the crown is Vesper, the bar named after the eponymous Bond martini. With six iterations of the martini on offer — and an accomplished team who’ll serve your existing preferred version too — it’s a glamorous, seductive space to unwind with this most conspiratorial of cocktails.
The Dorchester Hotel, 53 Park Lane, W1K 1QA, dorchestercollection.com
The one to gather your mates for: Boom Battle Bar
Gathering the gang and encouraging a little friendly competition remains as appealing as ever. Enter to the mix Boom Battle Bar, an adult playground promising axe-throwing, darts, pool, shuffleboard, karaoke, crazy golf and more. It’s all a bit of a wheeze; what you might think is naff is in fact not — it’s just good old fashioned, straightforward fun, the kind that can leave you on a high. The cocktails are reasonably priced, at under a tenner, beers are fair too — a Guinness is £5.85 — and the food is crowd-pleasingly straightforward. Pick your mates, pick your activity — and let battle commence.
88 Oxford Street, W1D 1BP, boombattlebar.com
The gig: Madvillainy
The Jazz Cafe is one of London’s better spots to catch a live show and Friday night will see artists Dani Diodato and Nicola Guida lead a tribute to Madvillian, aka the rap duo of the late MF Doom and Madlib. Madvilliany, the 2004 album from the duo, was one of the most influential in 21st century hip-hop and cemented both Madlib and Doom as two of the greatest lyricists of their generation. The live jazz recital revisits the classic record through a fresh lens, promising “to bask in the combined brilliance of MF Doom and Madlib”.
Friday, Jazz Cafe, 5 Parkway, NW1 7PG, thejazzcafelondon.com
The one for oenophiles: Eataly’s Wine Festival
The Liverpool Street Italian food and drink behemoth Eataly is celebrating all things viticulture this weekend with the return of its wine festival. Running from Thursday until Saturday, there are a range of tastings to tap into and sink some fantastic Italian wines. Eataly has shipped over two dozen winemakers — including the renowned Baron Longo, a dolomites vineyard with 400 years of history — to share their knowledge and passion. Tickets are £30 and guests can tuck into five wines on offer, with additional glasses starting from £6 and discounts available if buying bottles. Saluti!
Eataly, 135 Bishopsgate, EC2M 3YD, eataly.co.uk