The Easter bank holiday may now be over, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty to celebrate in the capital this month. With longer evenings and the promise of warmer weather, London will play host to a whole range of events spanning art, food and much more this month. Here’s our pick of the best things to do in London in April 2024.

The restaurants: Abc Kitchens and Oma

Abc Kitchens, a new restaurant by acclaimed French chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, will open its doors on 4 April at the highly-anticipated Emory hotel in Knightsbridge. From the same team behind Claridge’s and The Connaught, the all-suite property is a modern masterpiece designed by the late Richard Rogers and Ivan Harbour – and the opening of Abc Kitchens marks the first phase of the hotel’s launch. It’s also the first UK restaurant of Vongerichten’s celebrated New York trilogy – Abc Kitchen, AbcV and Abc Cocina – which will all sit under one roof for the very first time. Inside, the restaurant has been designed by French architect Rémi Tessier to feature an amber glass ‘wine cave’ that spotlights the curated wine selection alongside Damien Hirst artworks, while the versatile menu includes New York signatures including crab toast, crispy fish tacos served with cabbage-apple slaw, and chargrilled beef tenderloin with chimichurri and lime.

Over in Borough Market on 16 April, David Carter – co-founder of Manteca and founder of Smokestak – will open the doors to Oma, inspired by the sun-soaked shores of the Greek isles. Located on the first floor of a thoughtfully designed space on Bedale Street, Oma draws its name from the Greek word for ‘raw’, featuring both a crudo bar and an open plan, live fire kitchen. Heading up the kitchen alongside Carter is Jorge Paredes, formerly executive chef of Sabor, and ex-Kiln head chef Nick Molyviatis, who have collectively created a sharing menu featuring hung sheep’s yoghurt with a salt cod sauce, wood-fired breads, Santorini fava with capers, and harissa-grilled prawns. 

Situated directly beneath Oma is sister eatery Agora, inspired by the lively street markets of Athens and offering a lunchtime counter dining experience or late-night spot. Inside, guests are greeted by a two-metre charcoal rotisserie ‘souvla’ from which comes a series of laidback rotisserie dishes– think wood-fired flatbreads with house spreads such as spinach tzatziki with crispy garlic, alongside cuts including rolled lamb shoulder, native breed pork shoulder brushed with rosemary, and pasture-fed Somerset Saxon chicken. 

Abc Kitchens opens on 4 April 2024 at Old Barrack Yard, London SW1X 7N, visit the-emory.co.uk; Oma opens on 16 April 2024 at 2-4 Bedale Street, SE1 9AL, visit oma.london

The festival: The Bubbly Show by Searcys

The Bubbly Show by Searcys is back with a bang from 26-27 April as it returns to Carlton House Terrace to celebrate all things champagne and English sparkling wine. The event will welcome 16 champagne houses, from Laurent Perrier to Pommery, and 10 English sparkling wine producers, including Chapel Down and Gusbourne, to showcase the best of their famous fizz. There will also be a wide variety of foodie pop-ups, talks and masterclasses to feed your mind throughout the two-day event, spearheaded by those in the know to include an introduction to champagne for beginners and ‘The Grand Siècle’, presented by renowned champagne house Laurent-Perrier’s brand ambassador David Hesketh. 

The Bubbly Show by Searcys will take place on 26-27 April 2024 at 10-11 Carlton House Terrace, St James's,SW1Y 5AH, visit searcys.co.uk

The supper clubs: Bread+Butter x The Laslett, The Walmer Castle x Andrew Pern and L’Abysse x Pavyllon London

Walmer Castle

The Laslett

The Bread+Butter Supper Club by Joseph Denison Carey will be popping up at Notting Hill’s The Laslett for one-night-only on 4 April to serve 20 guests an array of Italian-inspired dishes. From £55 per person, the evening will begin with Carey’s signature bread and butter, before a series of four seasonally-inspired courses featuring whipped ricotta with roasted root vegetables, warming tagliatelle ragu, roasted hake with creamed spinach, and homemade tiramisu. 

Also in Notting Hill, The Walmer Castle will host a unique pop-up dinner with Michelin-starred chef Andrew Pern on 23 April. Showcasing Pern’s innovative approach – which saw his York-based Star Inn become the second pub globally to receive cheffing’s highest accolade – and Walmer Castle head chef, Luaan van der Watt's, love for seasonal food, the one-off menu (priced at £95 per person) features truffle risotto with wild garlic and cracked hazelnuts, Old Peculier-braised ox cheek with a foie gras and Yorkshire rhubarb and ginger cheesecake. 

Yannick Alléno, right, with master sushi chef Yasunari Okazaki

The stars are aligning at Pavyllon London this April as Yannick Alléno’s French fine-dining space hosts an exclusive two-day pop-up from L’Abysse – his Paris-based two Michelin-starred sushi counter – on 26 and 27 April. Alléno’s master sushi chef Yasunari Okazaki will set up shop at the Mayfair restaurant to serve a one-of-a-kind omakase dining experience, priced at £390 per person, at the eight-seater bar counter inside the chic private dining room at Pavyllon London. Mirroring traditional sushi counters of Japan, guests can observe the culinary precision, skill and theatre of the masterful chef, while enjoying some of the finest sushi in the world through the Japanese tradition of omakase, which translates to ‘I’ll leave it up to you’. After a welcome aperitif, expect signature L’Abysse dishes such as panko crust sea urchin with grapefruit, French sake kasu scallops tartare, expertly hand-shaped nigiri, and fire grilled langoustines with crispy seaweed. 

Bread+Butter Supper Club x The Laslett will take place on 4 April 2024 at The Laslett, 8 Pembridge Gardens, W2 4DU, visit eventbrite.com; The Walmer Castle x Andrew Pern will take place on 23 April 2024 at The Walmer Castle, 58 Ledbury Road, W11 2AJ, visit walmercastle-nottinghill.co.uk; L’Abysse x Pavyllon London will take place on 26-27 April 2024 at Pavyllon London, Four Seasons Hotel at Park Lane, Hamilton Place, W1J 7DR, visit pavyllonlondon.com

The private members’ club: Surrenne

Opening on 14 April, Surrenne promises to be London’s new next generation wellbeing members’ club, seamlessly blending holistic treatments with modern science and cutting-edge technology. Launched by the group behind Claridge’s and The Berkeley, this is the latest opening alongside aforementioned Abc Kitchens at The Emory. Also designed by Remi Tessier, the club is set over 2,000 square metres across four floors, housing a state-of-the-art gym, modern 22m swimming pool fitted with a sound system for in-water meditation, and will also offer a wide array of indoor and outdoor fitness classes as well as wild swimming, given its location opposite Hyde Park. 

Surrenne's Longevity Clinic launches in partnership with tech pioneer Virtusan who will offer members and hotel guests programmes based on the latest research to ensure optimal performance and cognition. Elsewhere, discover the UK’s first studio from global fitness pioneer Tracy Anderson, who will be offering her revolutionary workouts designed to exercise every muscle in the body (and beloved by celebrities from Gwyneth Paltrow to Tracee Elis Ross), as well as a series of signature facials using the latest medical grade skincare by leading dermatologist Dr Lara Devgan, and a micronutrient-rich menu designed by nutritionist Rose Ferguson in Surrenne Café. 

Surrenne opens on 14 April 2024 at Old Barrack Yard, London SW1X 7N, visit the-emory.co.uk 

The hotel: Grand Hotel Bellevue and Art’otel Hoxton

Grand Hotel Bellevue. Images: Billal Taright

Bringing a sense of laidback Parisian culture to one of London’s busiest commuter hubs, Grand Hotel Bellevue is now open in Paddington as the first British property by French group Lignée Hotels. The 60-key hotel features interior design by Parisian architect Fabrizio Casiraghi and spans five floors of a listed Victorian townhouse facing the peaceful greenery of Norfolk Square, imagined as the London residence of an eclectic couple – a narrative that became Casiraghi’s starting point for the identity of the hotel.  

Guests are welcomed into the hotel via the lobby, where the furniture, a mix of bespoke pieces and antique finds, is contrasted with a bold orange hue on the walls. The most compact of the hotel’s offerings, the Cabin Rooms, are inspired by boat cabins, offering a comfortable and functional space for guests. However, we’d recommend the Grand Norfolk Suite where guests have access to the 24 hours NOHrD Fitness Studio and can enjoy the suite space featuring high ceilings, large French windows and views over the square below fitted with Floris cosmetics. 

Meanwhile, Art’otel will expand its portfolio to east London later this month fusing art, design and hospitality to add to the popular neighbourhoods of surrounding Shoreditch. Located a stone’s throw from Old Street station, signature artist D*Face – recognised as one of the most prolific contemporary urban artists of his generation – has been tasked with the artistic direction of the Hoxton hotel, which also features two original Banksy artworks. Inside, discover 357 art-inspired rooms, 48 luxury suites and the stand-out 196m² D*Face masterpiece suite, alongside three destination restaurants and bars. A spectacular skyline gym on the 26th floor is set to follow in the summer as well as a luxury spa with four treatment rooms, showcasing treatments from Proverb to leave guests feeling truly revitalised. 

Grand Hotel Bellevue is open at 25-27 Norfolk Square, W2 1RX, visit grandhotelbellevuelondon.com; Art’otel Hoxton opens on 24 April 2024 at 1-3 Rivington Street, EC2A 3DT, visit artotellondonhoxton.com

The rooftop: Yasmin

Situated on the sixth floor of 1 Warwick in the heart of Soho, Yasmin – an intimate top-floor restaurant with a wraparound terrace – will open on 9 April to join the capital’s roster of delectable rooftop destinations. Serving a selection of seasonal small plates courtesy of executive chef Tom Cenci, who also oversees the kitchen at 1 Warwick’s ground floor restaurant Nessa, the secluded 64-cover terrace is set to be Soho’s newest destination for sophisticated late-night dining and drinking. Starting with snacks and dips, the menu will also include larger dishes such as sesame smoked duck, lamb rump skewer with coal-roasted aubergine and yogurt, and baklava ice-cream sandwich drizzled with pistachios, honey and date molasses. Wash it all down with signature serves, such as the Grand Bazaar – Yasmin’s take on an Old Fashioned – and the Shapash, a twist on a spicy margarita mixing Cazcabel Blanco with chilli, watermelon and green strawberry or a selection of mocktails. 

1 Warwick Street, W1B 5LR, visit 1warwick.com

The theatre: Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) at Criterion Theatre and Much Ado About Nothing at The Globe

Ekow Quartey in Much Ado About Nothing

Sam Tutty and Dujonna Gift in Two Strangers Carry A Cake Across New York

Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) transfers to the Criterion Theatre after a record-breaking run at Kilburn’s Kiln Theatre on 4 April. Taking centre stage are Olivier Award-winner Sam Tutty (formerly of Dear Evan Hansen) and Hamilton star Dujonna Gift, bringing to life the story of a naive Brit who arrives in New York for the first time. Tutty plays Dougal who arrives in the Big Apple for his Dad’s second wedding and is met by Robin, the sister of the bride. She’s a native New Yorker, she’s late for work, and she doesn’t have time to stop and see the sights. There isn’t an instant attraction but with an extravagant wedding approaching and the city at their feet, anything could happen…

Kicking off the summer season at the iconic open-air Globe Theatre is Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, running from 25 April-24 August. Directed by Globe associate artistic director Sean Holmes, Ekow Quartey and Amalia Vitale star as Benedick and Beatrice in an Elizabethan-dress production which will transform the Globe Theatre into a luxurious paradise. For those not in the know, Much Ado About Nothing is one of Shakespeare’s most famous plays and follows the story of young lovers Claudio and Hero, and sparring singletons Beatrice and Benedick, who soon discover that all is not as it seems in their Italian town as they become entangled in a series of mischievous games, pranks and plots.

Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) opens at Criterion Theatre at 218-223 Piccadilly, St. James's, W1J 9HR, visit twostrangersthemusical.com; Much Ado About Nothing opens at The Globe,  21 New Globe Walk, SE1 9DT, visit shakespearesglobe.com

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