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

Mike Clewley, Cultural Tourism Officer at the Greater London Authority (GLA) introduces his pick of immersive performances in London:

As Shakespeare once wrote, “All the world’s a stage” so why should we confine theatre to traditional venues? London is home to a variety of incredible immersive experiences to enjoy whether you’re looking to dine out or just watch a film.

You may already be aware of this summer’s exciting new production from Punchdrunk and the National Theatre but if you’re the type of person who likes surprises and wants to be part of the experience, as well as being able to tell your friends “you’ll never guess what I did in London!”, then read on.

Secret Cinema

This is the closest you can get to immersing yourself in the fantasy world portrayed within a film without actually being on the screen. Hot off the heels of past successes including the Shawshank Redemption, Lawrence of Arabia and Bugsy Malone (including a massive custard pie fight), Secret Cinema continues to take London theatre, and its audience, to strange, new places.

Holding true to their mantra of “Tell No One”, you won’t know what you’re in for until you’re there, but this summer’s event promises to be intriguingly G.O.O.D.

Fawlty Towers – The Dining Experience

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to spend the evening dining with famous comic characters, now’s your chance. You can relive the legendary 70s British comedy Fawlty Towers in person with Basil, Sybil and Manuel in this theatrical dining experience like no other. Its set menu includes Duck “Surprise” (chicken) but no Waldorf Salad unfortunately. However, if you like your food served with chaos and hilarity then: bon appetit!

The Ginger Line

There are some great pop-up restaurants in London but The Ginger Line also serves up artists, chefs and actors for one of London’s most unique dining experiences. Adventurous diners make their way to a secret location (always on the East London Overground line, which is ginger coloured, hence the name) and are treated to a mix of theatre, cabaret and cocktails to meet new friends over fantastic food and new surroundings. Look out for the next The Ginger Line event this summer.

Mike Clewley is Cultural Tourism Officer for the Mayor of London: “I’m in a very privileged position to represent the kaleidoscope of culture on offer in this great city. I’m passionate about history, art, music, film and discovering those moments in life that will make you go “wow!”. I love the fact that London is so difficult to sum up and why it’s so great but that’s what makes it the best city on the planet”.

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.

The Belgraves Edible Garden

Between 21 and 25 May the Belgraves hotel, located in Knightsbridge, is transforming its terrace into an Edible Garden that features a wall of edible flowers and an interactive cocktail station. Not only will there be cocktail classes and ‘food and flower pairing’ tutorials, but guests can also take away seed packets so they can enjoy the same tastes at home. Those staying in the hotel can opt for the full Bed, Brunch and Botany’experience, which features delights such as brunch in bed, an edible flower recipe book and complimentary cocktails.

Chelsea in Bloom

For eight years Chelsea in Bloom has been extending the wonders of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show throughout the entire borough by encouraging local retailers to create their own floral displays. These creations, this year themed on ‘decades’ to mark the centenary of the prestigious flower show, are assessed for prize-worthiness by official RHS judges and can be viewed between 20 and 25 May. To see them all, join the regular tours, which take place every half hour.

A Guide to Green Scents at the Athenaeum Hotel

Not only is this 5 star hotel on Piccadilly offering a menu of delicious floral cocktails for the duration of the Chelsea Fringe, but it is also hosting ‘a guide to green scents’ on 21 May. This evening event is inspired by the hotel’s landmark Living Wall (right), and features a talk by perfume specialist Lila Das Gupta on perfumes that capture the fragrance of nature, plus a guide to the scented flowers that are grown on the Athenaeum’s wall. Tickets for the talk cost £15 per person and include the talk, canapés and a cocktail. Send an email to reserve your place.

Chelsea Flower Show Menu at LIMA

For the duration of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show LIMA, the Peruvian restaurant in Bloomsbury, is putting on a celebratory menu that puts a flowery twist on their national cuisine. Dishes include orange and pisco poached lobster salad and steamed fillet of halibut with rhubarb blue potato aji Amarillo. Guests can either opt for a three course menu which includes a Chelsea Cocktail of melon and pink Champagne (£60) or order from the a la carte. The menu is available from the 20 to 26 May.

Floral Afternoon Teas

Given the traditional nature of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, it’s no wonder that many venues are serving special afternoon teas during the week to celebrate. Radission Blu Edwardian, Vanderbilt, for example, is serving a Floral Afternoon Tea throughout May that includes rose fruit jellies and orange blossom and lavender scones (£29.50). Nearby, the Royal Garden Hotel offers elderflower posset, jasmine opera and rose marshmallow as part of its celebratory Afternoon Tea during Chelsea week, which is accompanied by tunes from the resident pianist (£24). Further east, The Dorchester has worked with the team behind Laurent-Perrier’s 2013 show garden to create a menu that includes delights such as a ‘lavender basket’; a dark chocolate tartlet infused with lavender scent and decorated with a spun sugar handle. This afternoon tea menu is available between 20 and 26 May for £56.

Floral Facials and Cocktails

The Jumeirah Carlton Tower is offering a range of excellent floral indulgence options; why not follow one of their new Rose Facials (£65) with a Chelsea Flower Show-themed cocktail in the hotel’s Rib Room Bar? Guests can choose between rose, camomile and elderflower martinis – yum!

The Avant Garden in Covent Garden

Head to the Covent Garden piazza to see Crabtree & Evelyn’s twist on the classic British herb garden. Created by garden designer and rising star Emma Coleman, ‘The Avant Garden’ will be a tranquil urban oasis that promises to be a highlight of the 2013 Chelsea Fringe Festival from 14 May to 9 June.

Floral Cocktails at Barts, South Kensington

Popular speakeasy Barts, situated close to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, is offering a special cocktail in honour of the event. ‘The Chelsea Flower’ is a mix of home-made lavender-infused Grey Goose Vodka, peach liquor and jasmine essence, garnished with a molecular raviolo of lavender. Furthermore, guests can really get into the spirit of the occasion by availing themselves of the bar’s dressing-up box, which will feature a range of floral-themed items during the show week.

Floristry classes and lunch at Tom Aikens, Chelsea

Learn the delicate art of floristry at the Michelin-starred Tom Aikens restaurant in Chelsea, where you can create a stunning arrangement of freshly-cut blooms to take home, before tucking into a delicious three course lunch that contains edible flowers. The package also includes coffee and pastries and a glass of Laurent Perrier champagne. Classes run throughout the RHS Chelsea Flower Show week, as well as on selected other May dates, and cost £120.

Chelsea Fringe at Battersea Power Station

This free event takes place between 17 to 19 May and 21 to 26 May, and allows visitors to enjoy a variety of entertainment and activities in the newly-opened temporary riverside park at Battersea Power Station. The focus of the fringe hub at Battersea will be installations, including one that features 35 people planted knee-deep in soil to promote conversations on sustainability. See the website for opening times and full details.

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.

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.

New restaurants have been popping up across London this month, from celebrity chef establishments to cool East End eateries.

The Corner Restaurant and Champagne Bar at Selfridges

Keri Moss, joint winner of MasterChef 2012, has opened a restaurant and champagne bar at Selfridges. The Corner is located near the Women’s Designer Galleries and serves “modern international” food made from British produce. Signature dishes include mackerel tartare with crisp poached quail’s eggs, apple and pancetta wafers. The Art Deco room also boasts a marble bar serving cocktails, champagne, wine and a range of bar food.

Ametsa with Arzak Instruction at The Halkin

Basque restaurant Ametsa with Arzak Instruction recently opened at The Halkin hotel in Belgravia, replacing the award-winning Nahm. The new restaurant features a stunning ceiling installation made from 7,000 containers filled with spices. The kitchen is headed up by Elena Arzak and her father Juan Mari Arzak, who hold three Michelin Stars for the original Arzak restaurant in San Sebastian, Spain.

Jason Atherton’s Little Social

Jason Atherton has opened a new restaurant across the road from his Michelin-Starred Pollen Street Social in London’s West End. Little Social is a Parisian-style bistro serving a prix-fixe lunch and a la carte dinner. Dishes include pork chop with butternut squash puree, and goat’s milk rice pudding with rhubarb and ginger jam and ice-cream. Atherton will launch a third restaurant, the Social Eating House, in Soho on 18 April.

Simply Fish at Boxpark Shoreditch

Simply Fish have opened a second London restaurant in the trendy Boxpark, a pop-up shopping mall in Shoreditch made from shipping containers. The first-floor eatery offers views over Bethnal Green Road and Shoreditch High Street and serves sustainable fish, which is delivered fresh from Looe in Cornwall every morning. The affordable menu has starters from £4 and main courses from £10 to £15.

The Clove Club

The Clove Club started out as a supper club in Johnny Smith and Daniel Willis’s flat in Dalston but now the pair, along with Young Turks chef Isaac McHale, have opened a restaurant and bar in Shoreditch Town Hall. There are two rooms: a restaurant serving an innovative five-course set menu made from British ingredients, and a more relaxed bar offering a choice of sharing dishes along with cocktails and craft beers.

Master & Servant

Matt Edwards, previously at St John Hotel and Hix Soho, has launched his first solo restaurant, Master & Servant, in Hoxton Square. The menu is inspired by Manhattan, with signature dishes including surf clam chowder, Hereford porterhouse for two, and pistachio doughnuts in honey syrup. There’s a 40-strong list of European wines and a cocktail menu devised with Hoxton neighbour Happiness Forgets.

Look out for more restaurant news soon!

One great place to admire beautful Easter eggs is restaurant and nightspot Shaka Zulu, whose pastry chef will be making a gorgeous display (similar to the one pictured above) out of giant ostrich eggs. It’s bound to make you peckish, so fortunately the South African restaurant will be serving a special three-course feast from 12pm-5pm on Easter Sunday to satisfy your appetite.

London’s top hotels are also getting into the Easter spirit. Claridge’s is selling distinctive art deco eggs that are inspired by the hotel’s black and white marble lobby. Created with three types of fine Valrhona chocolate, the limited-edition eggs are filled with chocolate quail eggs and covered in art deco foil wrapped with a satin bow. They’d make great gifts, but you’d better be quick – there are only 100 of the £45 eggs available. If you’re planning to spend the Easter weekend in London, the Landmark Hotel’s Easter Delight package could be a great option. Not only will you get a large Easter egg – specially prepared by the hotel’s chef – delivered to your bedroom, but inside you might find a golden ticket that grants you one of several special treats provided by the hotel.

One of London’s most unusual Easter eggs can be found at tongue-in-cheek bar and pizzeria Bunga Bunga, where you can sip specially-created cocktails out of large chocolate Easter eggs. Two indulgent ice-cream based drinks are available during the Easter Weekend: a seasonal twist on the espresso martini and a chocaholic’s dream combination of chocolate ice cream, strawberry puree, white chocolate liqeur, vodka and chocolate bitters. If you’re looking for something more savoury, Cinnamon Soho is doing  a special Easter Egg Flip cocktail and an egg-inspired menu, which turns the traditional Easter Egg idea upside down through a series of Indian ball-shaped dishes.

London’s department stores have a reputation for doing everything with panache and this Easter, their eggs don’t disappoint.  At Harrods in Knightsbridge you can marvel at their behemoth of an egg, which is several feet high and – if you’re feeling flush – can be yours for £795. Fortnum and Mason have created ‘the ultimate Easter egg‘ (£90), a Russian-doll-like structure comprised of five different Easter eggs that range from white to very dark chocolate.  Selfridges has solved the age-old chicken and egg problem with a cute dark chocolate easter egg (£59.99), which has been decorated to look like a chick. For truly quirky eggs, head to branches of Artisan du Chocolat for their ‘egg and soldiers‘ masterpiece (£45), which is a cross between delicious chocolate egg and salted caramel fondue kit, or pick up a macabre Rococo ‘day of the dead’ egg from Harvey Nichols (£64.95).

If reading about all that chocolate is making you queasy, fear not: some of London’s most dramatic eggs are inedible. Head to Covent Garden from 22 March – 1 April for the Lindt Big Egg Hunt, which raises money for Action for Children. Giant fibreglass Easter eggs, which have been designed by leading artists, fashion designers and architects, will be hidden around the area for visitors to find – simply pick up a Hunt Book and get cracking!

Balthazar

One of this year’s most talked-about new openings, Balthazar brings a taste of New York to London’s Covent Garden. The restaurant is closely modelled on the original Balthazar, which opened in downtown New York in 1997. You can enjoy bistro-style food throughout the day: breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner as well as weekend brunch. As in New York, there’s a Balthazar boulangerie next door selling artisan breads.

Radio Bar at ME London

A stunning rooftop bar called Radio will open tomorrow at the trendy new ME London hotel on the Strand. The bar will offer panoramic views of London’s skyline including St Paul’s Cathedral, Tower Bridge, the Houses of Parliament and the river Thames. The hotel already boasts two new restaurants: STK London, an American steakhouse, and Cucina Asellina, an Italian based on the popular Asellina restaurant in New York.

Salvador & Amanda Bloomsbury

Bloomsbury is already home to one of London’s most popular attractions, the British Museum, and now there’s yet another reason to visit the area. Opening tomorrow, Salvador & Amanda Bloomsbury is reminiscent of the cosmopolitan cafés of Madrid, Bilbao and Barcelona. You can snack on tapas, order a proper meal or simply sip cocktails and dance into the early hours.

More New London Restaurants

Other recent new openings include:

Sushinho – This new eatery near Liverpool Street blends Japanese and Brazilian cuisine and features a 10ft sushi bar and a cocktail lounge

Carrara at St James Theatre – The elegant restaurant at the new St James Theatre is already attracting celebrities such as Eddie Izzard, Lenny Henry and Jools Holland

Voltaire – A new haunt for champagne drinkers and cigar smokers in the City

K-10 Broadgate – The Japanese “kaiten” (conveyor belt) restaurant has opened a second branch at Broadgate

We heartily encourage you to eat pancakes any day of the year, but tomorrow is Shrove Tuesday, which means they are pretty much essential. As this list of restaurants demonstrates, the humble pancake comes in many different guises. Will it be American hotcakes with blueberries, or the timeless French crêpe with lemon and sugar? If you’re struggling to choose, we’ve picked out some of the most mouthwatering menu choices.

My Old Dutch

The original pancake house has branches in Kensington, Holborn and Chelsea and has been serving large flat Dutch pancakes known as pannekoeken since the 50s. The culinary influences extend far beyond the borders of Holland, with Italian, Greek and Chinese-inspired savoury pancakes – look out for the chicken curry one too. The sweet pancakes are more traditional, with tempting combinations including chocolate, syrup, lemon and berries.
Star pancake: It has to be the eponymous My Old Dutch: a favourite from Holland with smoked bacon, chicken, ham, sweet pepper, mushrooms, sweetcorn and cheese.

The Breakfast Club

While this trio of cafés do serve lunch and dinner, go there for the breakfast and brunches. The atmosphere is cosy, as the murmurs of half-asleep punters mix with clattering plates. Pancakes are of the American variety (smaller and fatter than French crêpes or Dutch pannekoeken) and come with cooked breakfasts or with maple syrup, or berries and ice cream for a sweet treat. Breakfast Clubs can be found in Hoxton, Angel, Soho or Spitalfield. Arrive early as they are very popular at weekends.
Star pancake: Pancakes and Bacon with maple syrup – an unrivalled combination of sweet and salty.

Crème de la Crêpe

Silly names and inventive combinations abound at this cool crêperie, which started off with a stall in Borough Market before graduating to its first shop in Covent Garden. Indulgent creations on the menu include the Billy Goat’s Gruff (goat’s cheese, caramelised onion marmalade, sweet cherrybell peppers and rocket) and the Cheap Date (Mars bar with Baileys). It now has a second outlet in South Kensington too.
Star pancake: The adventurous Gone Fishin’, with hot smoked salmon, spring onions, lemon juice, black pepper mayonnaise and rocket.

The Kensington Crêperie

This is where French locals head when they need a crêpe fix. Stalwart sweet options like lemon and sugar are perfect for snacks and puddings, and The Kensington Crêperie also serves a brilliant range of galettes – French pancakes made with buckwheat flour and a savoury filling.
Star pancake: The effortlessly French Tartiflette Galette, a buckwheat pancake filled with the classic French dish of bacon, potatoes, oozing Raclette cheese, cream, onion and white wine.

More information about Pancake Day in London