On Sunday we will be cheering on England in the Euros – but it’s a multi-national week here at the Slice, with recommendations for Bastille Day and reviews of Egyptian and Indian restaurants.
With the Wimbledon finals, a Euros final and the iconic Cocktails in City festival back in town – where else would you rather be this weekend?
Read on for a whole range of recommendations for July 13 and 14, handpicked as always by The Slice.
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The Slice is your weekly guide to what’s happening in London, so if you’re looking for restaurant reviews, drinks deals or just a great new exhibition to visit on a rainy Saturday in the capital, we’ve got you covered.
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Don’t miss
1. Find the perfect place to cheer on England (or Spain if you’re that way inclined)
It’s here. Despite all the criticism the manager and the team faced throughout the tournament – England are in the Euros final. Incase you haven’t chosen where you’re going to be yet, we’ve compiled a list of the best pub gardens and big screens to watch the matches over the next few weeks.
Check out our handy guide right here.
2. Watch the Wimbledon finals on the big screen
London’s iconic summer staple tennis tournament is entering its final few days! If you’re wondering where you can watch the last round of matches (hopefully in the glorious sunlight), we’ve got you covered:
FREE: Strawberries & Screen will be returning to Duke of York Square in Chelsea for the screening of the Wimbledon Championships Men and Women’s Finals this weekend. Just arrive as there’s a designated space for walk-ins!
FREE King’s Cross: Everyman – watch from the iconic canal-side green-steps
Chelsea: Bluebird Chelsea – expect giant tennis ball decorations
FREE Battersea: Power Station Park as part of The Wimbledon Experience
FREE Vauxhall: Metropolis London
Mayfair: Langan’s Brasserie – make sure to grab their new ‘Sidecourt Sour’ cocktail
FREE Canary Wharf: Summer screens – you can also catch other live sports and free film screenings here too
FREE Waterloo: The Refinery Bankside – one of the largest screens in the capital
FREE Paddington: Merchant Square – from 11am every day with al fresco cocktails available
3. Drink away at Cocktails in the City
20 popup bars in one Central London, private garden sounds like my idea of hedonistic heaven. In a measured way, get it? Throw in street food, live music, workshops and tastings and I’m practically shaken with anticipation. I mean, the list of bars is something to behold, with the likes of Café Pacifico, Coya, Disrepute, Royal Cocktail Exchange, The Coral Room, The Hoxton and Zetter Townhouse, all serving their signature cocktails. Only this year it’s the Games Edition, which is more like the Hunger Games, with less vicious death scenes. Battle of the Bars will see bar teams sparring to win the title of Best Bar Team, Best Cocktail and Best Bar Experience. Meanwhile, there are sessions including ice sculpture-building, build your own Paloma with 818 Tequila, or why not play croquet, chuck on some headphones for H.A.U.S Silent Disco Party, do some archery (aiming carefully) or head to the tasting stage for masterclasses by top-tier bartenders.
£22 per person, including welcome cocktail, live music and tasting sessions. July 11 – 13, Bedford Square Garden, Bloomsbury. Book here.
🍹 The Slice recommends – the new premium rum brand Vapoura Rum has a stand at the festival and will be offering a series of delicious bespoke cocktails in collaboration with South American high-end restaurant INCA.
4. Bastille Day
Despite having to watch the Euro 2024 final from their TV screens this Sunday after crashing out in the semi-final, the French are still going to be celebrating on the 14 July. Bastille Day is France’s national day and there’s an abundance of restaurant deals and things to do in London this week to celebrate – here are some of our recommendations:
Clapham Grand. Dance along with 1000 others to classic French music from the 80s, 90s and 2000s. Expect tricolore balloon releases and all-night drink discounts. £12.36. 9:30pm – 3am, July 13. Book here.
Bar Antoine. Enjoy a French-inspired buffet including grilled salmon and French cheeses, live music plus free-flowing Moët & Chandon champagne for an additional £30. Parfait. £90pp. Four Seasons Hotel, Mayfair. July 14. Book here.
Balthazar. A staple of London’s francais scene, Balthazar is celebrating with a special menu, French-inspired cocktails and classic French jazz music from 7pm to serenade you through the night. Mains from £9.75. July 12-14. Book here.
Best places to eat
5. Discover delicious Egyptian cuisine at Alaz
Filled with community charm, Alaz (meaning ‘more delicious’ in Arabic) is the restaurant born out of Sabrina Tolba’s hugely popular Egyptian catering business with her business partner Abeer Abdelghany. One of the most endearing aspects of this vibrant dining experience is that there are very few shallow-end entry points for the Western palette. Authenticity is key here, and homemade street food favourites such as the carb-heavy Koshari and the rich Molokheya made from jute leaves have all the traditional flavouring that takes a few bites to acclimatise to but rest assured, you’re rewarded handsomely. There are no stereotypes here so don’t expect to see statues of pharaohs and pyramids to enchant you in, instead let good food do what good food does best – make you nostalgic for a place you might have never visited before.
Mains from £11.95. 448 Chiswick High Rd, Chiswick. No need to book – walk-ins are encouraged. Find out more here.
6. Experience the artistry of fusion cuisine at Akira Back
Akira Back blends dramatic design with a fusion of Japanese and Korean cuisine, curated by Chef Akira Back, whose upbringing in Korea and Colorado infuses his dishes with adventurous creativity. Guests are welcomed into a striking dining room designed around the elements of earth, wind, and water. A triple-height sky roof floods the space with natural light, complemented by a grand marble staircase that adds an air of opulence to the ambience.
Enjoy cold dish offerings like the Jeju Domi Sea Bream, Yellowtail, and Salmon Tataki. Transitioning to hot dishes, the Miso Black Cod, Bulgogi Tacos, and Jidori Chicken showcase Chef Back’s mastery of blending Korean and Japanese influences. Book here.
7. Pick up free (dough) balls in Wimbledon
To celebrate Wimbledon’s return, Pizza Express in Wimbledon Village will be giving away free tennis ball tube-inspired Dough Balls Doppio tubes to passers-by on their way to the tennis between 9-14 July.
Share a pic of yourself with the Dough Balls, tag the restaurant, and you’ll be entered into a £100 PizzaExpress gift card too!
8. Visit Richmond’s new rotisserie paradise
If you’re looking for somewhere to go for bottomless brunch or dinner this weekend and fancy escaping central London for a bit, rotisserie chicken spot Cocotte has opened a brand new restaurant in Richmond this week. The new 62-seater eatery is serving up chicken, burgers, chicken & truffle croquettes, as well as French Remoulade, with a range of tasty sides and their famous secret sauces.
Customers can sit inside, or if the weather is good this weekend there’s also an outdoor terrace where you can catch some rays while sipping on a Margarita, Amaretto Sour, or a mocktail of your choice.
9. Try the world’s best pizza – in Chiswick
You’d be forgiven for thinking that Europe’s best pizza would be found in Italy, somewhere like Rome or Naples. Luckily for us, it happens to be right here in London.
Napoli On The Road, which has restaurants in Chiswick and Richmond, was recently crowned the best pizzeria in Europe in the 50 Top Pizza Awards 2024. If that wasn’t enough, owner Michele Pascarella, a chef from Naples who has been making pizza since he was 11 years old, was crowned the best pizza chef in the world at the most recent World 50 Top Pizza Awards. And the pizza really is that good – read our full review of Napoli On The Road here.
Pizzas from £11.95. 9A Devonshire Rd, Chiswick; 12 Red Lion St, Richmond. Book here.
10. Indulge in Le Choux’s juicy cookies
Le Choux has become a new London favourite (and staple) when it comes to the bakery game, and we can see why. Founded by the lovely Abigail with humble beginnings at Old Spitalfields Market, she’s grown the business to her own kitchen & shop in Notting Hill! The team are French choux pastry specialists, offering profiteroles and french patisserie in London with some pretty fun concepts like the profiterole choux-eclair. If you’re looking for large juicy cookies, crispy choux or if you just fancy a sweet treat when you’re in West London – this is the place for you!
11. Taste TA-KO’s delicious tacos
Stoke Newington is a trek for those south of the river, but trust me, TA-KO is worth the journey. Order the veggie tacos – sublime char siu jackfruit is just like eating pulled pork, but my favourite had crispy cauliflower with black bean and tamarind ragu, avocado and pepper mayo, it has such a good crunch. Delicious drinks, game-changing food, and everything is gluten-free.
Ta-kos from £5. 8 Stoke Newington High St. Book here.
12. Try Ladurée gorgeous new cafe
Ladurée are best known for their very pretty macaron shops – but their newest concept is this gorgeously stylish cafe in Notting Hill.
In addition to their signature macarons you’ll also be able to order a coffee with a macaron on top, the Latte Plaisir Sucre. Or if you fancy something cooler, their soft serve is a fab option too! Warning – it’s very sweet.
Where to go for a drink
13. Grab yourself a free Pimm’s and Beer
🍹 Greene King pubs across the country are offering free glasses of Pimm’s, the nation’s favourite summer drink. All you need to do is follow this link to get your unique code to use in any of these participating venues.
🍺 Whenever it rains it seems to pour, which has been the story of the Wimbledon championships so far. Never fear though, as Stella Artois has jumped in and is covering the cost of pints whenever play is paused at Wimbledon in various Stonegate pubs across the country – no matter where you are.
14. Enjoy the sun at a rooftop bar
From terraces on top of skyscrapers to vibey rooftop restaurants, London is full of high up perches to get soak up the sunshine and incredible views with a glass in hand.
We’ve rounded up some of our favourite central London suntraps here.
15. Try elegant Indian cocktails at Mint Leaf
A chic champagne bar and a cosy cocktail lounge are not what you typically expect to find in an Indian restaurant, but we can confirm – it works. On arrival at Mint Leaf, you’ll also be greeted by a resident DJ playing mellow house music while clutching a pair of maracas in each hand. The signature cocktail menu is full of winners, but we recommend the ‘Hanging Garden’, a creamy and mango-infused twist on the classic Pina Colada. Onto the food. For starters, the duck paired with figs blends sweet and savoury together beautifully, while the Lamb Chettinad curry for a main might just be one of the most tender pieces of meat you have ever tried. A date night must.
Signature cocktails from £16 and mains from £23. 12 Angel Ct, Bank. Book here.
16. Dance the night away at Little Violet Door
Following on from its house party siblings the Little Scarlet, Yellow, Blue and Orange Doors across London, The Little Violet Door has now opened in Carnaby. Expect kitchen discos, late night cocktails and good vibes all night long.
Book your table here.
What’s on
17. Revisit Barbie Land at the Design Museum’s new exhibition
💕 Hiya Barbie! A year on from the doll’s billion-dollar film mega hit, a special exhibition has launched at the Design Museum which explores the evolution of the world’s most famous doll. Book here.
18. Experience the exhilarating Monster Jam at the London Stadium
The exhilarating madness of Monster Jam is coming back to the UK this Saturday, where the world’s best drivers and their 12,000-pound monster trucks tear up the dirt in wide-open competitions of speed and skill. Get your tickets here.
19. Take part in Northcote Road’s Festival
The Northcote Road Festival is back this Sunday with the iconic road turning completely pedestrian to house live entertainment, a screening of the Wimbledon Men’s Final, a dog show and over 50 stalls featuring street food and artisan products. Free to attend. This year’s theme is LFBTQ+, promoting diversity within the community. Learn more here.
20. Take the kids out to Babylon Park
Ideal summer holiday fun particularly on a rainy day (which, let’s face it, we can probably expect more of them), for children and those looking for nostalgia. Spread over two floors, there are things for children of all ages, including a roller coaster and retro games. The unlimited pass is worth paying for, if it’s available.
8 Castlehaven Road, Camden. Book here.
See you next week!
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