Things To Do

Jason Allen 11/03/24


Our London Top 5, Right Now

Our Top 5 London Recommendations This Week

This week’s Top Five is like a kind of city guide Swiss army knife, featuring things that can inspire you, feed you, thrill you, open a bottle of wine, and throw in a handy screwdriver too. (The cocktail, to be clear).

They include ➊ a new live fire restaurant on a rooftop; ➋ a very novel literature festival; ➌ a pop up from the queen of popups herself; ➍ the return of a classic film festival ; and ➎ the rebirth of a legitimate restaurant legend…


TT Restaurant | Live fire cooking on a rooftop

TT Rrestaurant

When you’re already one of the best cocktail bars in London, how do you top that?

With a rooftop restaurant, apparently.

Because that’s exactly what the folks at TT – formerly known as TT Liquor – are doing, crowning their superlative drinking den with an all-new restaurant, opening this Friday. It’s going to be the domain of highly talented Sam Lone, the ex head chef at Oren, who’ll be flexing his culinary muscle with some live-fire cooking…

Details: Opening 22nd March | TT, 17b Kingsland Road, London E2 8AA

North London Book Fest | Ally Pally’s first literature festival

Alexandra Palace is holding its first book festival this week, meaning that, yes, it’s a novel event. You can expect dozens of the nation’s best writers (Natalie Haynes, Peter Hain, Lemony Snicket, etc) holding readings, panel discussion, Q&As, and more.

Details: 21st -24th March | Alexandra Palace | £6+

Ixta Belfrage at The Standard | King prawn lasagne with habanero oil, yes please

ixta belfrage at the standard

For those wondering, Ixta Belfrage’s name is pronounced ‘easter bell-fridge’. And for those still wondering, yes she is indeed holding a three month pop up at the Standard hotel as of this Friday, featuring some of her finest dishes, such as king prawn lasagne with habanero oil, and honey-roasted cashew ice cream choco-tacos, which you can wash down with guava margaritas.

Details: 22nd March – 22nd May | The Standard London, 10 Argyle Street, WC1H 8EG

BFI Flare | LGBTQ+ Film Fest

BFI Flare is the nation’s largest LGBTQ+ film festival, and this will be the largest BFI Flare yet. Not only will there be dozens of feature films & shorts, but you’ll also get a talk by Elliot Page, a discussion by a film set intimacy coach, and something called Mr Ted’s Big Fabulous Interactive Quiz.

Details: 13th to 24th March | BFI Southbank, Belvedere Rd, SE1 8XT

Arlington | A legitimate legend returns

Arlington

Statistically, there’s a fairly high chance that at least a couple of the people reading this were friends with – or even were – well-heeled celebrities during the ’80s or ’90s.

If that’s you, then a) your yacht clearly has good wifi, and b) you’ll be profoundly happy to know that Le Caprice, with all its glitz and glamour, is back – only now it’s called Arlington. And it’s like a veritable time capsule of old school elegance…

Details: 20 Arlington Street, London SW1A 1RJ


Thirsty for more? Here are the best things going on in London this month