Another bumper guide this week as fiercely independent galleries, restaurants and pop-ups celebrate the coming together of people for the sheer joy of it.
From Macanese food getting a British pie week platform to a new pan-Asian spot in Chinatown to something of a hidden gem whisky bar in Covent Garden, there’s a lot to savour this week.
Culturally too: both the behemoth National Portrait Gallery and the small Cooke Latham in south London are hosting new shows, while there’s a few east London hangouts that should be on your radar too.
As ever, here’s everything to watch, eat, drink and see this weekend.
The hot table: Nico’s
The wave of Italian-American openings shows no signs of relenting with the new residency of Nico’s at the Shed in Haggerston. Every Wednesday to Friday, this small space is open for £10 pasta and wine, or for those in need of something heartier, a menu featuring meatballs, penne alla vodka, pumpkin tortellini and cannoli to finish is available too.
292 Kingsland Road, E8 4DG, @nicosinlondon
The (other) hot table: YiQi
Image TBC
YiQi opened to relatively little fanfare on Chinatown’s Lisle street earlier this year, but has quietly been gaining a loyal following. The culinary direction, described as pan-Asian but with strong Malaysian influence in the main dishes and Japanese influences in the desserts, stems from chef Lum Wah Cheok, an alumni of both Hakkasan and Yauatcha. Nyonya pandan chicken, skate with yuzu and the intriguing dessert of “wagyu mousse” all feature in this remarkably elegant new dining room. Don’t miss the bass in assam sauce, either.
14 Lisle Street, WC2H 7BE, yiqipanasia.co.uk
The drinking den: Spey
The interiors are plush and cosseting at this relatively unknown drinking den. Found inside the Browns Covent Garden, Spey is worth a visit, having become something of a destination among discerning drinkers. Opened by the team from Scotland’s Quaich Bar at the Craigellachie Hotel, and with well over 100 drams available, Spey takes whisky very seriously, and serves it alongside a snacking menu of haggis scotch eggs and cullen skink croquettes. Slàinte Mhaith.
Browns Covent Garden, 82-84 St Martin’s Lane, WC2N 4AG, speycoventgarden.co.uk
The gig: Ben Marc trio
Ben Marc’s 2022 solo debut Glass Effect is a gem that blends jazz, broken beat and hip-hop to stunning effect. His style is unique, and as one of the most interesting up-and-coming multi-instrumentalists in London, he deserves a unique stage. Enter mu, the lovely live music restaurant in Dalston, opened from the team behind Brilliant Corners and the Idle Moments record shop and wine store. Each night at mu, there are two live performances, at 7.30pm and another at 9pm, so book in and enjoy some Japanese-leaning fare while discovering your new favourite artist.
March 9, Mu, 432-434 Kingsland Road, E8 4AA, mu-ldn.com
The pie week collab: Ana da Costa at Caravel
Macanese food in London is about to get a pie week-led shot in the arm courtesy Ana Da Costa and Caravel. One of the hippest restaurants in London is getting a week-long pie pop up from one of the coolest people in food and the star of the show is pie perfection. The minchi pie (also called minchee or mian zhe in Macau) is a mixed pork and beef mince creation from Da Costa, with potato and egg running through the filling. With Da Costa’s special on this week, but with pies from Richard Corrigan, Anna Tobias and Max Halley inbound for the rest of the month, Caravel is celebrating pies in style.
Until March 10, 172 Shepherdess Walk, N1 7JL, caravelrestaurant.com
The art fix: The Time is Always Now
Described by the Standard’s art critic Ben Luke as “a stellar, stirring achievement”, The Time is Always Now showcases work from 22 black artists from the African diaspora to illustrate the “richness and complexity” of black life. The show, curated by the writer Ekow Eshun, features works from Michael Armitage, Lubaina Himid, and Toyin Ojih Odutola, and surveys both the presence and the absence of black figures throughout western art history. Round off the day with a long lunch at the Portrait restaurant to enjoy London at its best.
Until May 19, The National Portrait Gallery, St. Martin's Place, WC2H 0HE, npg.org.uk
The (other) art fix: Cato, Seen!
Opening this weekend is the debut UK solo show from south London-based artist and musician Cato; Seen!, on at the Cooke Latham Gallery near Battersea. Cato’s work is bright and bold, with the musician and artist deploying considerable scale to many of his ambitious, collage-lead images. The word “seen” as a phrase is Jamaican slang to mean both physically being seen and “to be understood”, and here Cato applies it to the artist/sitter relationship found in portraiture. On until the end of March, don’t miss this.
Until March 28, Cooke Latham Gallery, 41 Parkgate Road, SW11 4NP, cookelathamgallery.com
The Mother’s day freebie: Sticks'n'Sushi
London loves a freebie, and a sweet treat, so this weekend sushi slingers Sticks’n’Suhi are giving away house-made ChokÅretos (small truffle-like treats) following every meal. The sweet bites are served as a nod to mothering Sunday and come in three distinct flavours: matcha ganache with matcha tea, amarena cherry ganache and blackcurrant and caramel with sesame. A fitting finish after some solid sushi.
March 10, across London, sticksnsushi.com
The ticket to book now (for later): The Vibrary
Vibes? Library? Vibrary. An intimate reading evening whereby the quiet rustle of pages turning will be the only noise. Guests bring their own favourite books to thumb through before unwinding with drinks or something to eat. Two 30 minute reading sessions are split up by two sessions to connect with others in the room. It might be unusual, but surely appealing for anyone who has struggled to find time to finish their latest novella. Not a book club per se, but a dedicated reading hangout. Sign us up.
