Weekends are for fun. Weekends are for friends. Weekends are for fitting in as many activities as you can possibly cram in over such a brief – but enjoyable – period of time. Our favourite way to spend our days off is, of course, by eating great food and drinking great drinks. Living in a city like London, you'll never be lacking for a range of ace and tasty events running over the weekend. But choosing which ones are worth your precious presence (and, moreover, worth the Google Calendar invite) is a bit more difficult.
After all, there's nothing worse than spending your Saturday and Sunday at an event with limp burgers and weak cocktails. To help you make the most of your time off work and away from your glass office, we've created this handy little weekend round-up of the best food and drink events going on across the city. Anything you think we missed out? Well, feel free to be in touch with the events that you think we should be covering next week!
Without further ado, here are the events that you should be pencilling into your calendar and putting on your radar this weekend:
Cognac Cocktail Weekend
24-28 April; Various locations
Cognac Cocktail Weekend is one of DrinkUp.London’s new Mini Festivals taking place over five days.
Cognac Cocktail Weekend is one of DrinkUp.London’s new Mini Festivals taking place over five days.
Cognac Cocktail Weekend is one of DrinkUp.London’s new Mini Festivals taking place over five days.
Cognac Cocktail Weekend is one of DrinkUp.London's new Mini Festivals taking place over five days. The Mini Festival will get visitors trying special cognac cocktails in the best bars around London, as well as providing guests with everything that they need to know about this delicious spirit category. Cocktails will cost £6 in 25 participating bars including Behind This Wall, Devil's Darling, and Coupette. All you have to do is grab your free digital pass to get first look access to other DrinkUp-related pop-ups and parties.
Marylebone Food Festival
24-28 April; Various locations
This year's festival will see Marylebone’s finest food and drink establishments team up for a proper food and bev-infused celebration of the area.
This year's festival will see Marylebone’s finest food and drink establishments team up for a proper food and bev-infused celebration of the area.
This year's festival will see Marylebone’s finest food and drink establishments team up for a proper food and bev-infused celebration of the area.
This year's festival will see Marylebone's finest food and drink establishments team up for a proper food and bev-infused celebration of the area. Ranging from neighbourhood cafes and wine bars to Michelin-starred restaurants— each will be putting on special menus and host exclusive masterclasses, one-off collaborations, food tours and talks, to show off Marylebone's gastronomic (and, y'know, actual) wealth. Participating restaurants include Michelin star establishments Roganic and Trishna as well as local favourites Jikoni, The Providores, Chiltern Firehouse, Ooty, Carousel and many, many more. There's a little something for everyone it seems. Whether that "something" you're into involves a meat-heavy Barolo and spring lamb evening at Boxcar Butcher & Grill or a meat-free secret vegan supper club at The Gate.
Fantôme at The Pigeon
26 April; 41 Camberwell Church Street, SE5 8TR
Camberwell's pop-up beer bar The Pigeon be playing the role of international hops ambassadors and hosting unique Belgian brewery Fantôme this Friday
Camberwell's pop-up beer bar The Pigeon be playing the role of international hops ambassadors and hosting unique Belgian brewery Fantôme this Friday. Alongside their world famous continental wit and charm, the boys from Belgium will be bringing along some wonderfully funky beers for the tour, too. Beers on tap include: Fantôme Classic Saison, Vieux Classique, Magic Ghost, The Extramones colab-Negroni, and Saison Eukanot Mosaic. All these beers (and The Pigeon's regular crop of cocktails and board games) will be available from 4pm.
The Fuji Afropolitan Score - Food Pop-up
27 April; 98 Hoxton Street, N1 6SG
Experience Nigerian street food at its finest thanks to a pop-up kitchen from the tasty Baba-Q Grill
Experience Nigerian street food at its finest thanks to a pop-up kitchen from the tasty Baba-Q Grill
Experience Nigerian street food at its finest thanks to a pop-up kitchen from the tasty Baba-Q Grill
Head to The Bach Hoxton this weekend for a proper session of Nigerian feasting and fest-ing. Taste Nigerian street food at its fiery finest thanks to a pop-up kitchen from Baba-Q Grill while you soak up the lively ambiance with a soundtrack punctuated by afrobeats and R&B. Starting from 5:30pm, you'll be able to get your fill of traditional dishes like beef suya, dundu (fried yam), dodo (fried plantain), and plenty of ata dindin sauce. Vegetarian options are also available.
LA Brewery Kombucha Workshop
27 April; 42 Drury Lane, WC2B 5AJ
Join LA Brewery Founder, Louise Avery, as she guides you through the art of brewing everyone's fave fermented brew: kombucha. Get stuck into making your very own batch of 'buch (which you get to take home with you, of course) and finish the class with a delicious plant-powered lunch and drink courtesy of Farmstand. Tickets cost £35 and the workshop takes place from 11:00-13:00.
Baa-rolo evening at Boxcar Butcher & Grill
28 April; 23 New Quebec Street, W1H 7SD
Boxcar Butcher & Grill are offering a pretty special spring lamb and Barolo-tasting evening on 28 April. On arrival, guests will receive a glass of prosecco with a selection of snacks to share before being lovingly assaulted by a lamb tasting board. The meaty board will include three different cuts of North Yorkshire Texel lamb – chargrilled rack of lamb, slow-cooked lamb shoulder and pan-roasted neck fillet – served with Jersey Royals, purple sprouting broccoli, homemade mint sauce and gravy. As for the wine, three biodynamic and organic barolos from three different suppliers will be filling your glasses. The unique selection will showcase the differing styles of the Nebbiolo-based red wine, made using both traditional and modern processes in Piedmont, northern Italy. It sounds un-baa-lievably good.
Lunch at Vinegar Yard
Every Saturday and Sunday; 80-82 St Thomas Street, SE1 3QU
Sample some of the fantastic grub at London's latest street food venue, Vinegar Yard
Sample some of the fantastic grub at London's latest street food venue, Vinegar Yard
Hayden Perrior
Sample some of the fantastic grub at London's latest street food venue, Vinegar Yard
Sample some of the fantastic grub at London's latest street food venue, Vinegar Yard
Sample some of the fantastic grub at London's latest street food venue, Vinegar Yard
Sample some of the fantastic grub at London's latest street food venue, Vinegar Yard
Sample some of the fantastic grub at London's latest street food venue, Vinegar Yard
Hayden Perrior
Sample some of the fantastic grub at London's latest street food venue, Vinegar Yard
Hayden Perrior
Sample some of the fantastic grub at London's latest street food venue, Vinegar Yard
Hayden Perrior
Sample some of the fantastic grub at London's latest street food venue, Vinegar Yard
Hayden Perrior
Sample some of the fantastic grub at London's latest street food venue, Vinegar Yard
Sample some of the fantastic grub at London's latest street food venue, Vinegar Yard
Sample some of the fantastic grub at London's latest street food venue, Vinegar Yard
Get yourself within the vicinity of The Shard's shadow this weekend to sample some excellent eats at London's latest street food venue, Vinegar Yard. Meal purveyors include: Baba G's, Up In My Grill, Nanny Bill's, Sugo and Turnips. The feelings you'll get from eating at any one of those include: joy, excitement, glee and delight. You can even get naanwiches, for God's sake. Naanwiches!
Petersham Nurseries Pasta Masterclass
Every Saturday; The Counter at La Goccia, WC2E 8JD
Using the freshest ingredients, this pasta workshop is an introduction to making top shelf tagliatelle.
Using the freshest ingredients, this pasta workshop is an introduction to making top shelf tagliatelle.
Using the freshest ingredients, this pasta workshop is an introduction to making top shelf tagliatelle.
Matt Austin
Using the freshest ingredients, this pasta workshop is an introduction to making top shelf tagliatelle.
Using the freshest ingredients, this pasta workshop is an introduction to making top shelf tagliatelle.
Using the freshest ingredients, this pasta workshop is an introduction to making top shelf tagliatelle. In this interactive class, you'll learn traditional dough recipes and a range of pasta shapes including: ravioli, garganelli and tagliatelle, and a number of simple Italian sauces to drench them in. Made using organic eggs from Petersham's sister business, Haye Farm, the rich yolks transform the colour of the pasta. At the end of the workshop, you will take home your freshly made haul as well as some pasta flour, Haye Farm eggs and a homemade tomato sauce to enjoy at home.
Breddos Tacos Bottomless Brunch
12-5pm every Sunday; 82 Goswell Road, EC1V 7DB
What's the best way to spend a Sunday afternoon? Why, eating as many tacos as humanly possible, of course. For £20 you can get access to all-you-can-eat tacos at either of Breddos Tacos' tantalising taco joints for an hour and a half of Mexican food-based gluttony. With the option to choose between masa fried chicken, baja fish, sweet potato, and black bean tacos – you're not going to struggle for variety, either. For an extra £15 on top you can also join your tacos with a bottomless selection of frozen margaritas and michelada beers. Go loco.
Unlimited pasta at Palatino
Every Saturday; 71 Central St, London EC1V 8AB
Head to Palatino on Saturday's between 12pm-5pm where, for £25, you can get your fill of unlimited plates of pasta. Yes, you read that right. Unlimited. Pasta. There's not really much else that needs to be said, really. Though the dreamy carb deal also includes a free Palatino Spritz. Book ahead now to ensure you don't get left out on the linguine feast.
Rum Punch Brunch at Rudie's
Every Saturday and Sunday; 50 Stoke Newington Road, N16 7XB
If you fancy sipping on some rum-infused cocktails with some real spicy food, then get on down to Rudie's in Dalston this weekend. Running from 12-4pm every Saturday and Sunday, the rum punch brunch offer allows you to get one of Rudie's delicious main dishes (including a hearty 'Full Jamaican' of ackee & saltfish, lamb sausages, baked butter beans, sautéed spinach, boiled green banana and bakes) as well as access to bottomless rum punch for an hour and a half. All of which will only set you back a mere £18. Jerk and rum is a hard combo to top at that price, so make the most of it this weekend.
Pie and a Pint at Rochelle ICA
Every Sunday; The Mall, SW1Y 5AH
Never will you ever feel forlorn on Sunday afternoons again, because, starting from 17 February, Margot Henderson and Melanie Arnold will be on hand with pints and pastry to save the day. All you have to do is get on down to the Rochelle Canteen ICA where the two chefs will be running a series of Sunday evening 'Pie and a Pint' dining menus. An excellent pie and a pint (or a glass of house wine) for £10? Monday morning doesn't seem too bad after all.
