January doesn’t have to be all doom and gloom, you know. Us Brits do love a good moan, whether it’s about the weather, or ‘the price of a pint these days’.
But once you’ve got that out of your system, it’s time to make room for all of the wonderful happenings in London this January.
If you’ve jumped onto the Dry January boat this year, that doesn’t have to mean no fun. We’ve got plenty of options for booze-free drinking to keep you busy and out of the house. Try a Nepalese Black Tea, or maybe a warming Negroni Piccolino?
We’ve also got restaurants to suit all your needs. From the virtuous KIN, with plant-based dishes that will make you feel really good like the sticky cashew tofu. To the indulgent at Claro, with a silky venison tartare. And then for the ultimate comfort food at Nipotina, with its Triangoli All’Aragosta – divinely soft lobster in spicy vodka sauce.
And don’t forget about the fabulous deals we’ve found out for you…
Read on for a whole range of recommendations for January 11 and 12, handpicked as always by The Slice.
Welcome to the Slice
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Click here for this week’s edit of the best things to do in town.
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If you want to do it all on the cheap, you can also find our latest batch of exclusive hand-picked offers in partnership with Time Out here.
1. Embrace Dry January with these alcohol-free drinks
LAVO’s Low Alcohol Winter Terrace
Best for: beating the January weather
A fireplace, blankets, cushioned chairs and heaters are what you’ll find at LAVO, the perfect accompaniments for a booze-free January evening out. Their fresh, seasonal mocktails start from £9.
Try the Pentire Spritz made with 0% pentire coastal spritz, grapefruit and skinny tonic; the warming Negroni Piccolino made with Smiling Wolf non-alcoholic functional gin and aperitivo; or the punchy Komo Cooler, with non-alcoholic tequila, peach, pomelo, yuzu and a hint of smoke.
Mocktails from £9. 1-31 January. 30 Marylebone Lane, Marylebone. Book here.
Cornus
Best for: tea-ing and dining
Swap out mocktails altogether for a cold brew tea pairing of dreams this January. At Cornus, look forward to trying three premium teas from Lalani & Co, served just as you would a fine wine.
Sample Japanese Green Tea, Taiwanese Oolong and a Nepalese Black Tea. And though the teas might be cold, the dishes are wonderfully warming here – from Ravioli of winter mushrooms and Valencia squash to hand rolled spaghetti with black winter truffle.
£20pp. 27c Eccleston Place, Belgravia. Book here.
Inko Nito
Best for: Christmas wallet recovery
Inko Nito is the little sister of renowned Japanese robatayaki restaurants Roka and Zuma, but with a price tag much better suited to your post-Christmas wallet.
So if you’re doing Dry Jan and watching the pennies, Inko Nito has you covered with a selection of fruity non-alcoholic cocktails. Our picks are the Inko Shiso Spritz, made with elderflower cordial, shiso and soda, or Cocorella, made with crossip, coconut, kabosu lime juice, and ginger ale.
Boozeless drinks from £5. 55 Broadwick St, Carnaby. Book here.
2. Kick Veganuary off at all vegan eatery KIN
My visit to KIN reminded me of one thing: vegan cheese can get pretty close to the real deal. KIN’s buzzing atmosphere and soft lighting is combined with homely dishes at their first restaurant opening. I’m an avid meat-eater but I can really appreciate a vegan meal with full, well thought out flavours – KIN wins on that front. You’ll run into hummus on just about every vegan menu, but at KIN it comes without deja-vu. It gets a remix with the sweetness from carrots and a drizzle of truffle oil, delivering a much smoother, more moreish finish.
Next come the broad bean croquettes – perfectly crisp but with an acquired sandy taste. You could skip for the sticky cashew tofu – its perfect char and nutty sesame seeds made it our standout. Courgette & pistachio spaghetti is delivered on deliciously sweet heirloom tomatoes and topped with generous dollops of burrata. So often, vegan cheese feels like it’s just missing that extra something (the something that makes it actually taste like real cheese). But this could’ve been the real deal.
On the dessert menu, you’ll find a rich chocolate fondant complemented by an enjoyably tangy raspberry sorbet. Plant-based diners can breathe a sigh of relief – you’ll find way more than dull salads and sad bread here.
Appetisers from £10. 21-22 Foley St, Fitzrovia W1W 6DS. Book here.
This month we’re trying out Veganuary. Check back next week for our top plant-based dishes available this month, plus vegan menu reviews each week in January.
3. Visit the undoubtedly beautiful Claro for Eastern Mediterranean dishes
Housed in a former banking hall, Claro screams special occasion. With a menu designed for sharing, it offers Eastern Mediterranean dishes with Israeli, Greek and Italian influences. The high ceilings mean you can observe the iconic Waterloo Place in St James, or sit on a high chair facing the bustling open kitchen – it’s undoubtedly beautiful.
Start with Claro’s Bloody Mary, made with gazpacho and a homemade spice mix alongside a crisp slice of dry tomato – I would come back for this alone. But there were a lot of memorable bites too, like the fun and curious chilli-tasting plate (though overpriced at £9) and the silky venison tartare was complemented perfectly by tart pickled apples. The short rib tortellini was a wonderfully tender, moist morsel accompanied with parmesan and onion cream – our unparalleled star of the night.
Desserts are creative takes on British classics. The very filling bread pudding with Challah cubes is like a warm hug – but is overshadowed by the date and whiskey caramel cake. Sweet, but not sickly, it’s served with coconut sorbet and pecan crumble. A flawless match.
Starters from £15; mains from £22 (save some money with their set lunch which includes a starter and a main course for the price of the main). 12 Waterloo Pl, London SW1Y 4AU. Book here.
4. Induldge in elevated Italian comfort food at Nipotina
Everyone say ciao bella to Nipotina, one of the last few new openings of 2024. Its name meaning ‘granddaughter’ in Italian, this charming neighbourhood ristorante is comforting, warm and relaxing, just like a wonderful meal at Nonna’s house. If she lived in Mayfair and had a phenomenal eye for interior design, that is.
Despite the fancy South Audley Street location, Nipotina is surprisingly laidback – and if you order right – surprisingly affordable. The menu is easy to follow and very Italian: there’s Arancini and Fritto Misto on the cicchetti and antipasti lists, a good range of pizzas, and some beautiful pastas. The Paccheri al Pesto di Pistacchi is meaty and complex, but I’ve never had such food envy over the Triangoli All’Aragosta – silky slips of sumptuous lobster in spicy vodka sauce, and way too good to share. If you are going to split something, make it the Zabaione on the pudding menu – creamy eggnog custard, spiked with spicy rum and cocoa nibs, and served in a giant ceramic egg. Cracking stuff!
Antipasti from £8; Pasta from £13. 49 South Audley St, Mayfair W1K 2QD. Book here.
5. Download some tasty free treats
Who doesn’t love a freebie? Foodie app Appetite have just launched Appetite Treats, which allows you to redeem special menu items and experiences at an array of top London restaurants (current offers include a free glass of house champagne or cocktail at Slice-approved Cornus or one of Miznon’s famous roasted cauliflowers). Find out more here.
Meanwhile has Ole & Steen a massive points giveaway this month (that includes the new BlackBerry Bliss which is almost half price). Loyal app members will receive 100 bonus points everyday throughout the month to redeem, including a variety of Ole & Steen’s favourites, hot drinks, freshly baked bread.
6. Ditch Dry Jan for free fizz at The Ivy
Fancy some fizz to liven up January? On Friday 10th, The Ivy restaurants (excluding The Ivy West Street) will be giving out a complimentary glass of bubbles to 18 guests who dine, with or without a reservation.
From 11.30am until close, choose from a glass of either The Ivy Cuvée or Wild Idol Naturally Alcohol Free Sparkling Wine to go with your main meal. Cheers!
7. Feast on the January sales at Las Iguanas and TATTU
We love the sales! Tattu London are offering 30% discount on Tattu’s à la carte menu, available Sunday to Thursday and until 5pm on Friday. Just book online using the code TATTU30 to enjoy some of the hero dishes on the Tattu menu including Sticky Beef Short Rib; Sugar Salt Crispy Squid; Wok Fried Angry Bird.
Plus from Sunday to Friday throughout January, you can feast on Las Iguanas’ Bottomless Tapas for just £15pp, a whopping £10 discount off the usual £25 price. That means non-stop Chipotle Beef Tacos, Calamares, Lemon Chipotle Gambas and Dulce de leche-dipped Churros for 90 whole minutes…
8. See the queens in action at RuPaul’s DragCon
RuPaul’s Drag Race fans will be happy to know that DragCon is back in the capital this January. Over 200 queens will take to the stage, from Bimini to Tayce – and there will even be girl group takeovers on the main stage, so you can look forward to seeing the Frock Destroyer and the United Kingdolls. Attendees can also pay tribute to The Vivienne with a memorial booth at the event to mark their death. Get your tickets here.
9. The Adventure Travel Show
The Adventure Travel show lands at the London Business Design Centre in Islington this week. Expect a truly thrilling line up of exhibitors including Travel The Unknown and Wild Paths. It’s the perfect opportunity to get inspiration for your upcoming 2025 trips or to discover new horizons. 11-12 January. Find out more here.
10. Last chance to catch The Importance of Being Earnest at the National Theatre
By Hugh Montgomery
Making the move from the Tardis back to the stage is not an easy task, given the added glare of attention now upon him, but Doctor Who himself – Ncuti Gatwa acquits himself creditably.
Truth be told, headline draw Gatwa, playing the quintessential Victorian dandy Algernon Moncreiff in Oscar Wilde’s timeless comedy about the double lives of two young men, starts a little stiffly. But it’s not long before he warms into the comedy and exudes that scampish but debonair charm that has made him a bona-fide star. The absolute highlights, though, are up-and-coming Ronke Adekoluejo and Eliza Scanlen as Gwendolen and Cicly, the young women caught up in the deception. Both shift between ladylike propriety and fierceness with hilarious verve.
The curtain call, in which the cast boogie on down in feathered carnival-esque outfits send you away with the kind of spring in your step you hope for at this time of year.
Limited tickets remaining from £36. Until 25 January. Book here.
The Slice’s tip: How to get cheap last-minute tickets at the National Theatre
You can grab £10 tickets for this play!
At 1pm on Friday 10 January NT release £10 Friday Rush seats and STANDING tickets for performances of The Importance of Being Earnest.
Get yours here.
11. Bright lights and bao buns with a twist at new opening Bun House Disco
Shoreditch is often touted as one of the coolest parts of London, so its no surprise that Bun House has chosen the area for its latest, sparkliest venture. The iconic Chinatown restaurant has launched a new spot called Bun House Disco, which serves up all the famous fluffy bao buns (with a new signature black sesame flavour), as well as creative small plates and tasty cocktails with a twist — the Rose & Jasmine Spritz is Turkish Delight in liquid form. There are neon lights, lots of deep cherry red hues, colourful Chinese lanterns, and one large disco ball that sparkles in the corner — it’s a real vibe.
For food, the aubergine with Gwaiwei sauce is a MUST. Hands down the tastiest thing on the menu, aside from the buns, which I maintain are the best you can get in London. The Sichaun Pepper Cabbagge is a great option, but skip the Mala Tater Tots – they don’t really add anything special to the meal.
Visiting over the festive period? Finish off with a Sticky Toffee Snowman Bun. They’re so cute that decapitating one to tuck in feels rather evil, but it’s definitely an instance where it’s so wrong, it’s right. The gooey toffee filling makes just as much mess as the ever-popular custard buns (maybe more) and it’s oh-so-indulgent. A dreamy dessert.
Buns £3.80 each. 118 Bethnal Green Rd, Shoreditch. Book here.
12. Go authentic at Santo Remedio Casona & Cantina
Authentic Mexican food finally had its moment this year. Santo Remedio is no exception — inside their new Marylebone branch, you’ll find sharing plates that pay homage to Mexico’s community style of dining (they recommend four to five dishes to share between two people).
You won’t find bleach white tortillas, or nachos smothered in cheese and tired toppings here. Instead, make room for classic guacamole with bright bursts of lime and red onion, alongside traditional blue & yellow totopos.
The lamb flautas (deep-fried tortilla) delivered an addictive crunch, with avocado salsa, crema, refreshingly tangy crumbled feta, and pickled red onion to complement. And the beautifully-made grilled tiger prawns with Mexican truffle black rice are something I’ll think about a lot — a hearty, buttery must order.
Antojitos (which means little cravings in Mexican Spanish) from £12.50. 13-14 Thayer Street, Marylebone. Book here.
13. Help tackle homelessness by eating at one of 600 restaurants
4,118. That’s the number of people recorded as rough sleepers in London between January and March 2024.
But by donating £1 when you eat at one of the 600 restaurants (including Lina Stores and Quaglino’s) taking part in StreetSmart’s scheme to tackle homelessness, you’d be making a huge difference.
See you next week!
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