For lovers of fabulous drinks, food and live music, there is a wonderful place in the heart of Mayfair where you will be treated to delicious cocktails and jazz musicians on any night of the week – Dover Street Restaurant and Bar.

I went along for dinner and drinks last week. The cocktails were delicious and the dinner was superb- I especially enjoyed the scallops.  The band played gorgeous renditions of jazz classics and the whole place was buzzing.  This is worth a visit on more than one occasion.

This lively and popular venue has been entertaining diners for almost 30 years. It offers a French/ Mediterranean menu including scallops, sea bass and roast duck.  All of the food is locally sourced and last orders are at 2am for those late night diners.

Of course, the music is the main draw and with a nightly programme including an array of talented jazz musicians, the atmosphere is divine.  The dance floor fills up quickly and the place is transformed into a glamorous bar of days gone by.

The Dover Street Monday Night Sessions have proved immensely popular and with free entry before 10pm, it is a wonderful way to start the week. Check out last week’s Monday Night Session below:

The Dover Street Restaurant and Bar

I’d heard lots of good things about the Barbican as a concert venue so I had high hopes for my first gig there and wasn’t disappointed.

Portico Quartet mesmerised the audience for an hour and a half playing mostly from their second and more experimental album, Isla. I felt hypnotised by their strange and wonderful sound, and my mind wandered into all sorts of bizarre territory during their set.

The gig was also notable for having the most polite and well-behaved audience I’ve ever seen! Everyone in the auditorium sat in complete silence, and barely moved, when a man coughed on the other side of the room, everyone in our row noticed. Was it the quality of the music, or is this just usual Barbican etiquette?

Portico Quartet’s gig was part of East festival, which encourages you to get out and explore the East of London. The Barbican is certainly not in my neck of the (London) woods and I think I earned my East credentials last night: a tube, a cancelled train, two more tubes and an overground train later, I was finally home!

On Saturday we packed a picnic and ventured off to listen to some live music courtesy of Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra, in the glorious setting of Hampstead Heath’s Kenwood House.

We came upon the scene from behind the magnificent 17th century villa just as Jools was striking up his first few chords on the piano. And what a scene it was. The huge brightly lit stage looked spectacular, surrounded by the beautiful lakeside setting, with no less than 21 musicians jamming on stage.

Kenwood House Picnic Concerts really are one of London’s summer must-dos, like the Open Air Theatre at Regent’s Park or a trip to the crazy Notting Hill Carnival.

Highlights included guest singer Ruby Turner belting out some soulful tunes, an effortless performance from ska legend Rico Rodriguez,  Gilson Lavis on the drums, and some seriously bad middle aged dancing in the aisles!

A little tip for future Kenwood Picnic Concert goers; allow a lot of time to get there as Kenwood House is not that near to a tube station.

There’s still a chance to snap up tickets to the grand finale Last Night Of The Proms starring Alfie Boe next Saturday. Snap up your tickets now.