October is almost here, and London is going out with September in style. From new openings and coffee-filled pastries to late-night deals, chess and a long-awaited return from the city's favourite sushi chef, here’s what to eat and drink across London this week.
1. Firangi takes over Top Cuvée
If you like your Indian food with a little less predictability, Firangi is one to have on your radar. The experimental Indian bistro, founded by Ruhi Parmar Amin and Simar Deol, is moving into Top Cuvée in Highbury.
The nine-dish sharing menu explores regional Indian recipes through the duo’s experiences growing up in Punjabi and Gujarati families. There’s no rice in sight, with the menu instead focusing on dishes including jowar and lamb tartare with betel leaf; chicken thigh skewers with corn kees and turnip achar; and an almond financier with chai custard and torched jaggery banana. Each Firangi residency is a new chapter in the pair’s ongoing exploration of regional Indian cuisine, with further research trips to North East and Southern India planned for the new year.
Now until 20th December | Top Cuvée, Highbury
2. Café Ciel launches a coffee club
If you've managed to resist the matcha trend thus far, there's a new club you should know about. From 3 October, Café Ciel at The OWO is launching Ciel Coffee Club, a month-long celebration of London’s coffee and bakery scene.
Expect limited-edition collaborations with some of London's favourite coffee and bakery names, including Allpress Espresso, Miel Bakery, Caffè Crema Co., Reemie's Cakes, Puffy Cookies and Boxcar. Highlights include a Tiramisu Croissant, Affogato Crema, coffee-inspired cakes and a Salted Caramel & Mocha Knot.
There’s also a coffee-inspired brunch menu, featuring wild mushroom sourdough with espresso miso cream and Tiramisu Brioche French Toast, plus weekend DJs and coffee tasting flights.
Throughout October | Café Ciel, The OWO
3. Clementine opens across from Quince Bakery
If you’ve ever queued outside Quince Bakery in Islington, you’ll probably want to know about its new neighbour. On Saturday 3 October, pastry chef Anna Higham is opening Clementine, a 20-cover all-day café directly across the street.
The new spot will serve breakfast, brunch and lunch, continuing Quince’s focus on British seasonal cooking. On the menu are tattie scones with Cacklebean eggs, a Ploughman’s with Kirkham’s Lancashire and Gothelney ham, chicken and tarragon pie, and scones with Ivy House cream.
Head chef Marcus Westlake joins from Forno, having previously worked at Brawn, while Dan Wilson Studio is behind the interiors, which combine oak and slate with a clementine leaf-green façade.
3 October | Islington
4. Luna brings a taste of Paris to Shad Thames
September may be saying goodbye, but Luna in Shad Thames is keeping its Eurotripping series going with a Paris-themed Sunday takeover.
The wine bar, bistro and bottle shop will serve everyone’s favourite French combination of steak frites and profiteroles for £35 per person on Sunday 4 October.
The accompanying wine list will focus on biodynamic producers from Burgundy, the wine region in east-central France stretching across the valleys and slopes west of the Saône.
Sunday 4 October, 12–4pm | Luna, Shad Thames
5. Stay out late for less
Intermittent fasters, look away now. We're making a case for living a little more like the Spanish, which involves dinner long after the sun has set. At Arlington, Night Owls now receive 25% off the total bill when dining from 9.45pm every evening, or 9pm on Sundays. The Park offers the same 25% discount from 9.15pm, or 9pm on Sundays, while Romano’s has an After Theatre Menu from 9.45pm, with three courses for £19.75.
Evenings | Arlington, The Park & Romano’s
6. Clubs aren't just for running
Prefer to make friends in a setting that doesn't involve sweat and lycra, but still some healthy competition? Romano’s is inviting chess players to pull up a chair every afternoon. Boards are provided, so all you need to bring is a friend, your best moves and, presumably, a decent poker face. The Grand Café-style menu, cocktails and wine are all available while you play – with The Gambit, made with Vault Coastal vermouth, manzanilla sherry and grapefruit bitters, an appropriately named choice. You can book your space here.
From 3–6pm every day | Romano's
7. Planque’s Fifth Birthday
Planque is turning five, and it’s celebrating with a rather impressive gathering of its chef friends. On Sunday, the East London wine bar will welcome cooks including Megan Moore of Bonnie’s, Joké Bakare of Chishuru, John Javier of Caia, Jack Coghlan of Norbert’s and Gabriel Pryce of Rita’s, alongside Meedu Saad of Impala, Zen of Bēku and Nick Bramham of Quality Wines.
Each chef will serve up one dish throughout the afternoon, with the line-up changing as dishes sell out. Expect plenty of wine, music from Mr Redley and Ed J Wilson, and a suitably relaxed afternoon under the Planque roof.
The event is walk-in only, with food served until 8pm (or until it sells out), so arriving early is advised.
Sunday 4th October | Planque
8. Endo returns to Chelsea
Following the devastating fire that closed Endo at the Rotunda, chef Endo Kazutoshi is ready to reopen his doors, this time in Chelsea. Endo Kazutoshi is adding two new destinations to London's Japanese dining scene on the first day of October, taking over the former Five Fields townhouse in Chelsea with ENDO, an intimate 10-seat omakase restaurant, and Moga, a Japanese listening bar upstairs.
At ENDO, expect an ever-changing multi-course omakase with no menu to consult, centred around locally caught fish and Japanese ingredients specially sourced from Japan. The restaurant will feature a 200-year-old hinoki counter from Kyoto, while Moga will serve tea-led cocktails and feature a striking ceiling made from masu sake cups.
And if you're hoping to get a seat, you'll need to move quickly. October is already fully booked after reservations opened, with November and December bookings released on 5th October. Moga will initially be exclusive to ENDO diners before opening for standalone bookings in December.
1st October | Chelsea
