Party restaurants are a bit like Marmite: you either love them or hate them. If nothing irks you more than having to get your phone torch out to read a menu or music so loud shouting is practically mandatory then stop here; this article is not for you. If, however, you’re never more disappointed than when a night out ends with dessert, the good news is that London is home to plenty of destinations that not only get the party started, but are designed to keep it going into the early hours. Welcome to our edit of party restaurants putting as much emphasis on the fun as they do on the food. 

The Parlour at The Ned, Bank

You may not have visited The Parlour, but you’ve definitely scrolled past it on your Instagram. Located in The Ned, the softly-lit bar sits on the lower level of the former bank turned members’ club, where its podium stage has hosted London’s most talented jazz artists, such as Ronnie Scott’s sell-out performer Judi Jackson and Jazz FM’s Vocalist of the Year, Cherise Adams-Burnett. An entertainment cover charge of £20 per person is applied to every reservation, and a booking also unlocks access to The Vault, where you can enjoy exclusive digestifs after dinner. Talking of, executive head chef Lee Kebble’s menu is not to be sniffed at, featuring a decadent selection of steaks, shellfish and sweet treats. The vibe is more upscale jazz club than wild nightclub – but simply don’t go to The Ned if that’s what you’re after… 

27 Poultry, EC2R 8AJ, visit thened.com 

Sexy Fish, Mayfair

Image: Rusne Draz

Before DJ booths, million-pound art commissions and late-night fire shows became the norm, there was Sexy Fish. When this Berkeley Square restaurant opened its doors almost 11 years ago, it changed London’s late-night restaurant culture with a food offering that was designed as much for the camera as for the palate. A decade on, Sexy Fish remains the place to see and be seen, thanks in part to the Martin Brudnizki interiors, artworks by Damien Hirst, Frank Gehry and Michael Roberts, and the world’s largest Japanese whisky collection. 

DJs perform here every night of the week – previous headliners include Grammy Award-winning artists and renowned house music DJs such as Mark Knight, Roger Sanchez, and Cedric Gervais – but this Mayfair party restaurant really comes alive at weekends when sets are drawn out until the early hours. Helping fuel these nights out, Sexy Fish provides plenty of sustenance in the form of a Japanese-inspired menu; order the wagyu and foie gras sushi, caramelised black cod with miso, and yellowtail tartare and caviar and we guarantee you won’t be disappointed. 

Berkeley Square House, W1J 6BR, visit sexyfish.com 

Inca, Mayfair

Taking its cues from the carnival culture of South America, Inca knows not only how to get the party started, but, crucially, how to keep it going. Having opened its doors in 2021, it quickly gained a reputation with post-Covid clubbers looking for something more sophisticated than Infernos. Food ranges from raw Peruvian ceviche to grilled Lumina lamb, all served from an open show kitchen to add to the theatrics. Each evening, the restaurant transforms into a live stage, where singers, dancers and acrobats deliver a high-energy performance that will leave you dazzled. 

8-9 Argyll Street, W1F 7TF, visit incalondon.com 

The Piano Works, Leicester Square and Farringdon

Having first opened in 2015, The Piano Works has long been a destination for hens, stags, Christmas parties, birthday brunches and just about every other celebration in between. Renowned for its non-stop, audience-requested live music, this is where the capital’s top-tier musicians come together to fill your night out with back-to-back bangers, whether that’s at the Victorian-listed warehouse locale in Farringdon or in the heart of Theatreland in Covent Garden. Both outposts serve a selection of mean martinis and all the usual cocktail concoctions, as well as moreish bar snacks such as mushroom arancini and crispy vegetable gyozas, alongside larger plates of shawarma chicken pitta and sticky salmon rice bowls. 

Visit pianoworks.bar 

Bagatelle, Mayfair

If a trip to the lively beach clubs of the Côte d'Azur, where dancing on the tables and twirling your napkin above your head is de rigueur, isn’t on the cards this year, visiting Bagatelle is the next best thing. Eschew St Tropez for Dover Street and book this party restaurant for excellent food served alongside a late-night experience designed to save you hopping from place to place.

Prior to the free-flowing champagne and table dancing, dine on a Mediterranean menu created by group chefs Rocco Seminara and Giuseppe Strippoli – who also look after the Tulum and St Tropez restaurants – to be transported to the French Riviera with dishes of linguine with clams and wild garlic pesto, and the signature tuna tartare with Espelette pepper vinaigrette. After dinner, head downstairs to the Latin-inspired La Sala bar or take to the floor in the main restaurant as performers, DJs and live music bring the vibes until 1am.

34 Dover Street, W1S 4NG, visit bagatelle.com

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