How’s your diary looking? If, between the post-summer lull and the need for downtime before we get into full festive mode, you’ve found yourself with a little more time on your hands than usual, we’re here to help. London’s social butterflies are busy filling their evenings and weekends with dinners, trips to the theatre and Saturday mornings spent perusing the most talked-about exhibitions in town – and it’s time you joined them. Consider this your official Save the Date for all things to do in London this October. 

The restaurants: Café Lapérouse, Brooklands, Bambi, Harrods Dining Hall and Aragawa

Café Lapérouse. Image: Adrien Ozouf

Brooklands

Café Lapérouse, emulating its iconic Parisian dining experience, is set to open its doors at The Old War Office (OWO) in Whitehall on 3 October. Situated in the building’s central courtyard, the 174-cover restaurant is inspired by the travels of French explorer Jean-François de Lapérouse, while the space is designed by Cordeìlia de Castellane, renowned for her work with Dior. A quintessential part of the Parisian dining scene, the Lapérouse name traces its origins back to 1766 and the inaugural Café Lapérouse opened its doors in 2021 in Paris’ Hotel de la Marine. The menu in London will take many cues from its French sister and will showcase an array of signature delicacies found in the Parisian café, including crème brulée from the great Augustins, scones with cream and homemade jams and Croque Monsieur Lapérouse. Offering similarly extraordinary hors d’oeuvres and larger plates, expect the famous Halles onion gratin, Burgundy snails in the shell with parsley butter, and Lapérouse beef tartare with fries. 

Opening 4 October, Brooklands is the new restaurant from acclaimed French chef, Claude Bosi, on the rooftop of newly-launched The Peninsula London. Offering uninterrupted views of London’s skyline and a unique design inspired by its namesake Brooklands racetrack – the world’s first purpose-built motor racing circuit and the birthplace of British motorsport – the space comprises the rooftop restaurant, Rolls-Royce-inspired Brooklands Bar overlooking Buckingham Palace and an expansive terrace. The restaurant’s tasting menus are crafted by chef director Claude Bosi and chef de cuisine Francesco Dibenedetto, who will take guests on a gastronomic journey across the British Isles with dishes of Exmoor caviar with Roscoff onion and duck jelly, Great Fen Farm celeriac Nosotto with crab and coconut, and Scottish cèpe, banana and crème fraîche. 

Bambi is Hackney’s newest wine bar and restaurant, opening 6 October by James Dye (the co-owner of Franks in Peckham and The Camberwell Arms) and chef Henry Freestone, who previously won a Bib Gourmand at Peckham Cellars. Early evening will see the intimate restaurant serve plates of cauliflower cheese arancini, vodka marinara and Dedham vale rump with lemon and confit garlic alongside specially-chosen wines, before resident DJs play sets from the custom-built wall of records until 1am on weekends. The record collection and resident selectors will be curated by Run Dem Crew founder Charlie Dark MBE. 

Harrods Dining Hall

This month sees Harrods’ impressive Grade-II listed Dining Hall relaunch and welcome four famous chefs as part of the store’s mission to become an evening dining destination.  Alongside a line-up of live music and a curated cocktail portfolio, a new addition opening 7 October is Sushi by Masa, which will offer an omakase experience from acclaimed three Michelin-starred chef Masayoshi Takayama in his first restaurant outside the US.

Elsewhere, Kinoya Ramen Bar joins the Dining Hall from Dubai where chef Neha Mishra will bring her ramen-focused concept to London, following her phenomenal success in Dubai which saw Kinoya rated seventh in the the Middle East and Africa 50 Best Restaurants 2023. For an authentic taste of the Mediterranean, head to Assembly Mezze and Skewers by Greek-Canadian chef Athanasios Kargatzidis and for traditional fish and chips, leave it to Tom Kerridge. With a Michelin pedigree at Marlow’s The Hand and Flowers and The Coach, TV chef Kerridge sources the finest ethically-caught fish and seafood to be served alongside triple-cooked chips, homemade Matson sauce and the deep-fried cockle popcorn. 

Famous for serving the finest specialist beef in Japan for over 50 years, Aragawa is opening its first international outpost outside Tokyo on London’s Clarges Street on 20 October. Founder Kotaro, alongside Michelin-starred head chef Fumiya Kase, will bring the hyper-rare Tajima heifer – which has been raised under the watch of Japan’s leading producers and aged beyond 28 months – to the steak menu mastered by Kazuo Imayosh, who has worked for Aragawa for the entirety of his career. Designed by Dale Atkinson from Rosendale Design, the restaurant’s interiors reflect its Japanese roots, drawing inspiration from traditional architecture and design. This truly is a feast for the senses… 

Café Lapérouse opens 3 October at Courtyard at The OWO, 7 Horse Guards Avenue, SW1A 2EX, visit raffles.com; Brooklands opens at The Peninsula, 1 Grosvenor Place, SW1X 7HJ, visit peninsula.com; Bambi opens on 6 October at Netil House, 1 Westgate Street, E8 3RL, visit bambi-bar.com; Harrods Dining Hall reopens on 7 October at 87-135 Brompton Road, SW1X 7XL, visit harrods.com; Aragawa opens on 20 October at 38 Clarges Street, W1J 7EN, visit aragawa-uk.com

The bar: Searcys Champagne Bar at Battersea Power Station

Located on the first floor of Battersea Power Station’s Art-Deco Turbine Hall A, Searcys Champagne Bar will open on 18 October to bring the brand’s expertise in all things champagne south of the river. The bar will feature plush, deep velvet seating, polished brass detailing and a striking marble topped bar, while the walls will be adorned with three specially-commissioned art pieces with a Searcys’ twist by celebrated artist Kristjana Williams. With an extensive collection of champagnes by the glass, bottle or magnum, guests will be able to enjoy a glass at the touch of a button with ‘press for champagne’ buzzers at each table. Menus will celebrate the best of seasonal produce with a choice of seafood delights, from rock and native oysters to the Searcys Shellfish platter, and the signature prawn cocktail. 

First floor, Turbine Hall A, Battersea Power Station, 21 Circus Road West, SW11 8EZ, visit searcys.co.uk

The supper clubs: Spice in the City, Ganymede x Avi Shashidhara Supper Club and Benares 20th Anniversary tasting menu

Five of London’s spice-obsessed chefs will bring five unique dishes together for the hottest night of the year on 6 October to celebrate Cinnamon Kitchen City’s 15-year anniversary. Executive chef of The Cinnamon Collection, Vivek Singh, and Cinnamon Kitchen City head chef, Raju Ramachandran, are joining forces with fellow chefs Will Bowlby of Kricket, Adriana Cavita of Cavita and Gavin Malleappah of Rambutan for an exclusive four-course dinner at Cinnamon Kitchen City in Devonshire Square.

Each chef will showcase what spice means to them by creating their favourite dish, one course at a time, for one night only. The evening will begin with delicious canapés from Vivek Singh followed by Bowlby’s ghee roast crab with burnt cinnamon and Mexican-born Cavita’s favourite native dish, chutoro tostadas with salsa macha, ginger soy vinaigrette and avocado purée. Malleappah, formerly part of the brigade at The Cinnamon Club, will serve black pork belly curry with string hoppers, while Ramachandran’s is cooking Chettinad spiced lamb chops. Once guests have indulged in the vibrant flavours of the evening, Vivek and friends will come out of the kitchen for a Q&A session.

Avi Shashidhara. Image: Lateef Photography

Belgravia’s neighbourhood bar and dining room, Ganymede, is set to host its first chef takeover on 12 October with one of London’s most exciting chefs and 2023 Great British Menu winner Avi Shashidhara. Currently head chef at Pahli Hill Bandra Bhai in Marylebone, Shashidhara’s bespoke six-course menu will be available for one night only, featuring an array of Indian-inspired signature dishes, such as his sweet and soft Mangalore buns with Dorset crab sukkah. 

Chicken tikka pie

Benares 20th Anniversary tasting menu

Benares, the renowned Michelin-starred Indian restaurant in Mayfair, is celebrating its 20th anniversary with the launch of a special tasting menu, honouring two decades of culinary excellence. Available until 12 November, executive chef Sameer Taneja has curated an eight-course tasting menu beginning with a selection of street snacks including gol gappas with sour apple water, bread pakora and a John dory fritter followed by the signature king crab and egg masala and tawa halibut. Sparkling tea refreshes the palate before the main courses of chicken tikka pie, which makes a return to the menu after 10 years, and lamb chop biryani with Indian staples. Desserts include a green chilli sorbet and a malai kulfi, accompanied by a delectable cocktail menu including passion fruit chutney martinis, pickled margaritas and an aged negroni infused with gin and raisin.

Spice in the City takes place 6 October at 9 Devonshire Square, EC2M 4YL, visit cinnamon-kitchen.com; Ganymede x Avi Shashidhara Supper Club takes place 12 October at 139 Ebury Street, SW1W 9QU, visit ganymedelondon.co.uk; Benares 20th anniversary tasting menu is available until 12 November at 12a Berkeley Square, W1J 6BS, visit benaresrestaurant.com

The masterclasses: Chronicles of the Martini at Covent Garden Hotel, Forest to Fork at Sauce by The Langham, and The Stafford wine tastings

Jake Burger of Portobello Road Gin Distillery

Calling all martini lovers, Covent Garden Hotel is running an intimate masterclass, Chronicle of the Martini, in partnership with Portobello Road Gin Distillery’s Jake Burger to teach all there is to know about the traditional cocktail. Take a deep dive into the history of the drink, the language used when ordering, and how to prepare a proper martini at home. Sample four martinis on 9 October, with plenty of fried gordal olives stuffed with ricotta to satiate your appetite. What better way to spend a Monday? 

Forest to Fork at Sauce by The Langham

Sauce by The Langham, the cookery school at the five-star hotel, is launching its new Forest to Fork classes for autumn. Beginning 12 October and running throughout the game season, the new, monthly classes led by executive chef Berwyn Davies will teach the art of preparing meats such as venison, pheasant, duck, rabbit and wood pigeon. They also explore how to enhance traditional dishes with Britain’s finest wild ingredients and seasonal vegetables, to create an exceptional three-course meal with a glass of wine to match.  

The Stafford invites Londoners to join its knowledgeable head sommelier, Eugenio Egorov, and his team in the St James’ hotel’s wine cellar for an informal evening of tastings. Nestled beneath the hotel, the wine cellars are steeped in a 380-year history, boasting an exclusive collection of over 8,000 bottles of the world’s finest wines. The event, named How to Taste Like a Pro, will take place 27 October, when you’ll discover the tricks of the trade on how to taste and recognise the international grape varieties, before sampling three white and three red wines paired with canapes.

Chronicles of the Martini will take place 9 October at 10 Monmouth Street, WC2H 9HB, visit firmdalehotels.com; Forest to Fork at Sauce by The Langham runs from 12 October-7 December at 1C Portland Place, W1B 1JA, visit saucebylangham.com; The Stafford London wine tasting will take place 27 October at 16-18 St James's Place, SW1A 1NJ, visit thestaffordlondon.com

The events: Louis XIII Cognac at Raffles London, Sloane Street Private Shopping Service, Ice Rink Canary Wharf and Drummond Street Samosa Tour

Louis XIII mathusalem decanter

Celebrating the opening of Raffles London at The OWO, Louis XIII Cognac and Raffles have joined forces to curate a one-of-a-kind experience: a truly decadent pairing featuring the new six-litre Louis XIII mathusalem decanter. The famous cognac, artfully displayed on a bespoke red leather trunk, has been paired with fine caviars to create a tasting to remember in the hotel's Guards Bar and Lounge. The exclusive collaboration has been brought to life by TT Trunks in its signature tailor-made ruby leather, evoking the colours of the Household Cavalry which inspired the bar, while inside the trunk you'll discover the silver pipette, Louis XIII glassware, a serving tray and a selection top quality caviars – a fine experience to book for any cognac connoisseur.

Fancy a spot of retail therapy? Luckily for you, this autumn sees the launch of the Sloane Street Private Shopping service where expert stylists will be on hand to guide clients through the luxury boutiques and flagships of Chelsea’s Sloane Street, from Chanel and Hermès to Prada and Louis Vuitton. Appointments are bookable via the Sloane Street website where clients will be introduced to their dedicated stylist via email or WhatsApp before receiving a questionnaire to ensure each experience is personalised. Appointments begin at The Lalee, the chic restaurant at The Cadogan before a trip to Sloane Street, which will leave clients with hand-picked items from the latest collections that fit their brief, as well as a new confidence around styles, colours and trends that suit them. 

Drummond Street's Samosa Walking Tour

Following the recent Spice Sundowner event, Drummond Street has launched the second event in its series of community-led activations: the Samosa Walking Tour. On 4 October, enjoy a celebration of all things samosas during a guided walking tour through the street’s different traders who have been there for more than four decades. Guptas, Ravi Shankar, Diwana and Masala King will be serving up their signature samosa specials, while The Spice Shop will be offering an array of chutneys to enjoy. At the end of the tour, guests will be asked to vote for their favourite samosa at Chutney’s – which will be serving a complimentary buffet including biriyani, chaat and an array of curries – before announcing this year’s Samosa Wallah 2023.  

Open to the public from 21 October, skaters can take to the ice at Ice Rink Canary Wharf during Halloween, the festive period and beyond. Spanning 1,275 sqm, this year’s rink returns with themed sessions throughout the season including a Halloween Spectacular and Soul Classics nights, meaning there is something for every skater to enjoy. Rest your legs at The Grandstand Bar, which will transform into a cosy, alpine-themed retreat home to a rink-side DJ while serving up winter warmers and post-skate coolers – there’s no better spot to take in all the action.  

Visit uk.louisxiii-cognac.com; visit sloanestreet.co.uk; Drummond Street’s Samosa Street Walking Tour takes place 4 October at 115-119 Drummond Street, NW1 2HL, visit eventbrite.co.uk; Ice Rink Canary Wharf opens from 21 October at Canada Square, E14 5AB, visit icerinkcanarywharf.co.uk

The exhibitions: Find the Words Art Trail at Portman Marylebone and Ross Muir: The Bridge Home

Find the Words Art Trail

Images: Alex Micu

Portman Marylebone has partnered with Brixton-based street artist Andy Leek to spread joy and optimism across the 110-acre estate with a feel-good art trail. As visitors wander the streets of Marylebone until 29 October, they will discover Leek’s unique notes of positivity, inspiration and warmth as part of the Find The Words trail, from bunting at Old Quebec Street and laser cut installations on Portman Square Garden and George Street to plant formations in George’s Pocket Park and shop signs that seamlessly blend into the architecture on New Quebec Street and Seymour Place. 

Scottish artist Ross Muir is famous for reimagining famous historical artworks by adding personal flourishes and contemporary references to make them relevant in the 21^st century, and so popular is his technique that he has been invited back to Notting Hill’s Maddox Gallery to display works after his sell-out show in 2022. His new collection, The Bridge Home, is available to view at the 112 Westbourne Grove gallery until 22 October, alongside the original Zoltar Machine from the movie BIG, which Muir lovingly restored to specifically fundraise for West London Zone (WLZ), a leading charity committed to safeguarding the welfare of children and young people. For £10, the Zoltar machine will reveal your fortune and automatically enter you into a raffle to win a print of Van Golf by Ross Muir, with all proceeds being donated to WLZ. 

To celebrate the launch of its new Virtual Archives on 3 October, luxury shoe designer Manolo Blahnik has collaborated with multisensory VR space, xydrobe in Mayfair, to present The Craft Room from 21 October. Exploring the artistry behind the Manolo Blahnik men's and women's collections, spectators can browse countless behind-the-scenes features, allowing an unparalleled insight into the craft of shoemaking. From the use of scent and sound, to stunning visuals, start your journey at Manolo’s desk and travel through the factory and into a wonderful world of shoes like you have never seen them before.

Find the Words Art Trail at Portman Marylebone runs until 29 October, visit portmanmarylebone.com; Ross Muir: The Bridge Home runs until 22 October at Maddox Gallery, 112 Westbourne Grove, W2 5RU, visit maddoxgallery.com; Manolo Blahnik: The Craft Room opens on 21 October at 11 Carlos Place, W1K 3AX, visit thearchives.manoloblahnik.com

On stage: Can This Place be a Temple? and Lyonesse

From 3 October at Euston theatre, The Place, Indian dancer and choreographer Akshay Sharma will present his debut solo work Can This Place be a Temple?. Drawing upon Sharma’s personal experience and ancient myth, this multidisciplinary piece questions the role of history and place in shaping our desires and fears, while touching on themes of race, gender, migration and nature. Sharma is an alum of Northern School of Contemporary Dance and has been supported by the Artist Development Programme run by celebrated international dance choreographer, Akram Khan, in partnership with Sky Arts.

At the Harold Pinter Theatre from 17 October until December 2023, Lyonesse is a powerful story for our times by award-winning playwright and writer Penelope Skinner, whose most recent work includes TV thriller The Following Events Are Based On A Pack Of Lies currently airing on BBC1. Kristin Scott Thomas and Lily James join forces for the first time on stage for Lyonesse after appearing together in the Oscar and BAFTA winning film Darkest Hour and screen adaptation of Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca. Together, they tell the story of Elaine (Kristin Scott Thomas), a reclusive and talented actress who disappeared in mysterious circumstances. However, thirty years later, she finally feels ready to tell her story, summoning Kate (Lily James), a young film executive, to her remote Cornish home to assist with her glorious comeback.

But who really controls the stories we tell, and how we get to tell them? Will these women  own their narrative, or will it be swept away from them at any given moment? Find out by booking your tickets now… 

Can This Place be a Temple? will take place on 3 October at The Place, 17 Duke's Road  WC1H 9PY, visit theplace.org.uk;  Lyonesse runs from 17 October-23 December 2023 at Harold Pinter Theatre, Panton Street, SW1Y 4DN, visit lyonesseonstage.com

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