Oblix in The Shard

For some of the best views in London, head to Oblix on the 32nd floor of the The Shard, the tallest building in Western Europe. The New York-style grill has just been launched by Rainer Becker, the man behind celebrity favourites Zuma and Roka. As well as a la carte lunch and dinner menus, Oblix has a bar and lounge serving deli-style appetisers at lunchtime with live entertainment from 9pm.

Kaspar’s at The Savoy

Billed as one of the most exciting restaurant openings in The Savoy’s 124-year history, Kaspar’s is a seafood bar and grill with 1920s décor and panoramic views of the river Thames. The luxurious new restaurant is named after Kaspar, The Savoy’s three-foot-high cat sculpture, which for 90 years was placed at tables of 13 guests in order to avoid bad luck – and was even invited to meetings by Winston Churchill.

Jamie Oliver’s Hotdog Diner

Jamie Oliver has opened a diner in Piccadilly Circus, serving artisan hotdogs with a range of house condiments. Chef Arthur Potts Dawson, who created two sustainable London restaurants – Acorn House and Waterhouse – helped to devise the menu, which features grilled chicken, burgers, steaks, fish and waffles as well as hotdogs. “I wanted to create a menu full of delicious, classic, comfort food,” said Oliver.

More Restaurant News

• Small fine-dining restaurant The Five Fields is due to open in Chelsea on Tuesday, serving dishes made from rare herbs and vegetables grown in the restaurant’s own East Sussex gardens
• The team behind French eatery Chabrot Bistro des Amis have launched a meat-focussed restaurant near Smithfield Market called Chabrot Bistrot des Halles
• Boutique hotel One Leicester Street has just opened in London’s Chinatown, on the site of the former St John Hotel, with a restaurant serving sharing dishes made from British produce
• The Miller in Bermondsey re-launches this week, serving a range of bespoke hotdogs from the acclaimed Street Kitchen
• Stories bar has just opened in Broadway Market, East London, offering brunches, cocktails, special events and contemporary art exhibitions

Emma and her boyfriend Brendan (who live in Australia) are saving up for their first trip abroad together. Emma’s uncles, Tim Benzie and Paul Joseph, made this video to convince the couple to come to London instead of going on a cruise. Emma and Brendan: we agree that it’s got to be London! Find out more about the video at www.itsgottobelondon.com.

We love this guide to Columbia Road by Kylie and Patrick. As well as the famous flower market, the area has loads of independent shops and cafés such as Printers & Stationers, Jones Dairy, Campania Gastronomia and Marcos & Trump, all recommended in the video.

Last weekend, some of the world’s most glamorous theatre stars gathered at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden for the Olivier Awards. Here, stars including Daniel Radcliffe, Damian Lewis and Kim Cattrall talk about their love of the theatre. If they’ve inspired you to see a show, check out our London theatre guide, top 10 musicals, special offers and fun theatre facts.

Happy Birthday Wembley! The iconic stadium turns 90 on Sunday 28 April. You can take part in a host of celebratory events tomorrow (Saturday 27 April), including a chance to have your photo taken with the FA Cup and official Nike match ball, which will be travelling through London, stopping off at landmarks including the London Eye and Buckingham Palace.

Restaurant Story

Chef Tom Sellers has transformed an old toilet block in Bermondsey into a brand-new, wood-clad restaurant with an adventurous menu. Restaurant Story’s signature dish is bread and dripping in the form of an edible candle, which is lit at the table and served with bread to mop up the melted “wax”. Other highlights include the rhubarb and custard cream soda, served in old-fashioned milk bottles, and the three bears porridge, which comes in three bowls – one too salty, one too sweet and one just right.

Jason Atherton’s Social Eating House

Following the launch of Little Social earlier this year, Jason Atherton has opened his third London restaurant, Social Eating House in Soho. Mains – priced at £12 to £18 – include duck with smoked ham, egg and chips; and ravioli of wild boar bolognaise with peppered hearts and kidney. There’s also a first-floor bar called The Blind Pig. Atherton said, “I want it to be a social restaurant where the surroundings are as vibrant as the food.”

Plum + Spilt Milk

Plum + Spilt Milk opens on Friday (26 April) at London’s first railway hotel, the Great Northern Hotel near St Pancras International station. Open from 7am until midnight, the restaurant will serve brasserie-style dishes such as twice-baked smoked haddock soufflé and lemon meringue pie. Seasonal ingredients will be sourced from small, independent suppliers along the Great Northern Line. The hotel also re-launches this week following a £40m refurbishment.

London Coffee Festival

If you’re looking for an excuse to pop out for a latte, you’ll be pleased to hear that this week is UK Coffee Week. The initiative celebrates everything to do with coffee while also fundraising for clean-water projects in African coffee-producing countries. The week’s flagship event is the London Coffee Festival (25 to 28 April), where 15,000 coffee lovers will gather to enjoy artisan coffee, gourmet food, demonstrations and live music. Don’t miss the Espresso Martini Launch Party on Friday night.

Look out for more restaurant news soon.

Two stars from ZooNation’s smash hit street dance show Some Like It Hip Hop have been out and about exploring London (and surprising a few members of the public with their moves!). You can see the show at the Peacock Theatre from 3 May to 30 June 2013.

Udderbelly Festival’s purple cow has arrived at the Southbank Centre in London for a summer of fun! The festival’s giant upside-down cow stage will host a packed programme of comedy, circus and family shows, including appearances by comedians Richard Herring, The Boy With Tape On His Face and Ardal O’Hanlon.

Calling all One Direction fans! Brand new wax figures of the band will be on display at Madame Tussauds London from 18 April to 11 July 2013.

As you can see from the video, the 1D boys didn’t just pose for the figures, they helped to sculpt them too. We think the figure of Niall is pretty lifelike. What do you think?

For more information and videos visit www.madametussauds.com/1D

From traditional British gastro pubs, to a cool pizza place and two Korean takeaways, here’s our pick of London’s most exciting new restaurants.

The Truscott Arms

Award-winning theatre producer Andrew Fishwick has launched The Truscott Arms in Maida Vale. The ground-floor pub serves craft beers, artisan wines and affordable bar food, while the first-floor restaurant offers a small and evolving menu of dishes such as braised Gower salt marsh lamb belly with pommes puree and tomato aubergine caviar. There’s also an art gallery where you can see the work of emerging London artists.

Goat

The Goat in Boots gastro pub on Fulham Road has re-launched as Goat following a refurbishment. Now run by the team behind Bumpkin and Boujis, the revamped venue boasts an informal restaurant, a stylish cocktail bar and an all-day lounge. The restaurant serves a New York-Italian menu, featuring pancakes with maple syrup and bacon, wood-fired pizzas, steaks and lobster.

Homeslice

Homeslice pizza, which won a loyal following when it popped up at The Filling Station in King’s Cross, has found a permanent home in Neal’s Yard, Covent Garden. Five varieties of pizza will be served each day, with the menu announced on Twitter at @homesliceLDN. Magnums of house wine will be left on tables for customers to help themselves on a “pay for what you drink” basis. Homeslice opens on 8 April.

Beagle

Also opening on 8 April is Beagle, a new British restaurant set in three renovated railway arches in Geffrye Street, Shoreditch. The homely menu will feature the best of British produce: pig’s head croquette with gribiche (egg sauce), wild sea bass with samphire and cucumber, and custard tart with poached rhubarb. As well as the restaurant, Beagle will have a bar and coffee shop.

Kimchee

Korean restaurant Kimchee is launching two new takeaway outlets ­– on the Strand on 8 April and New Oxford Street on 29 April. “Kimchee to go” will serve a range of healthy meals including soft rice porridge, mix-your-own bibimbaps (a rice dish), Korean “sushi” kimbap rolls, bento-style dosirak boxes, salads and noodle soups. The original Kimchee was set up to introduce British people to Korean cuisine at a reasonable price.

Look out for more restaurant news soon.