Fun Restaurants In London

While the capital is brimming with places to get a sophisticated slap-up meal, sometimes a regular evening of wining and dining just doesn’t cut it. These days, we want dinner and a show – even if that's just a quirky menu or themed interiors.

That’s why we’ve compiled this roundup; from South American-inspired diners fronting live blues music to immersive dining experiences that'll have you travelling back in time to the 1920s, here’s our list of the top fun restaurants London has to offer, available to book on DesignMyNight. 

Our Guide To The Most Fun Restaurants In London 

Last edited by Marcus Sanigar

Last updated on 26th November 2025




Pizza Pilgrims Canary Wharf

Pizzaiolo in training £59 per person and 10 other offers

  • Location: 12 Hertsmere Road, Canary Wharf, E14 4AE
  • Price: £
  • Highlights: foosball table, vintage video games 
  • Why we recommend: we love having an affordable lunch or dinner here. The restaurant has a laid-back energy and the pizzas never miss, plus it's always fun to get a little competitive on the foosball table afterwards 

For cheap fun restaurants, London's Pizza Pilgrims ticks all the boxes, and its Canary Wharf location is no exception. The renowned team here serve up great slices alongside 16-person foosball and vintage video games. Perfect for all the big kids out there, this fun East London restaurant deals only in huge sauce-stained smiles. 

Menu highlights include the smoky aubergine parmigiana, topped with baked aubergine parmigiana, smoked mozzarella, Pecorino Romano DOP and basil, and the double pepperoni and hot honey - a popular pick and most definitely our favourite. Don't skip dessert, though - the Nutella tiramisu is calling your name.

Albert's Schloss - Soho

  • Location: 20-24 Shaftesbury Avenue, Soho, W1D 7EU
  • Price: ££
  • Highlights: live music, cabaret
  • Why we recommend: Albert's Schloss is all about Bavarian-inspired feasting, tankards of beer, and raucous live entertainment that brings a party vibe every night of the week. With hearty food, cracking drinks, and cabaret-style performances, it's a restaurant we'd consider where fun comes as standard

Boasting entertainment in the form of live music, DJ sets and cabaret seven nights a week, it's no wonder that Albert's Schloss Soho is considered one of the most fun restaurant bars around.

Decked out with Alpine-inspired interiors, a massive disco ball and a menu featuring delicious Bavarian fare, it's your one-stop shop for all things delicious. Look forward to tucking into the likes of schnitzel and currywurst, washed down with a stein of bier.

The Seashell of Lisson Grove

  • Location: 49-51 Lisson Grove, Marylebone, NW1 6UH
  • Price: £
  • Highlights: stunning interiors in the form of a giant octopus bar
  • Why we recommend: we think that whether you're a local or a visitor, this legendary spot offers an authentic taste of British culinary heritage in a setting that exudes charm

Art Deco interiors and eye-catching decor, including fish tanks surrounding booth seating and an octopus crawling up the bar, make The Seashell of Lisson Grove a great choice when it comes to the most fun restaurants central London has to offer. Established shortly after the First World War, this iconic eatery has been delighting patrons with its exceptional fish and chips for over six decades.

The menu boasts a variety of fresh, responsibly sourced seafood, including classic battered cod, haddock, and Dover sole, all available grilled or fried in traditional, panko, matzo, or gluten-free batter options. Over the years, it's even garnered a loyal following, including celebrities like Dua Lipa, Ed Sheeran, and Lady Gaga, who have all praised its unwavering commitment to quality and tradition.

Blues Kitchen Shoreditch

  • Location: 134-146 Curtain Road, Shoreditch, EC2A 3AR
  • Price: ££
  • Highlights: live music 
  • Why we recommend: Blues Kitchen Shoreditch is our go-to for nights filled with Southern-inspired comfort food, live blues, and a buzzing party atmosphere. With killer cocktails, soulful tunes, and a lively crowd, it's a spot where dinner effortlessly turns into dancing

Blues Kitchen in Shoreditch, Camden and Brixton hosts a menu of classic barbecue dishes and an extensive bourbon selection to match its Texan-inspired blues dens. Before your dinner and drinks conversations can come to a lull, Blues Kitchen's live music schedule is likely to kick into full gear. Grab your drink and head to the dancefloor to enjoy the magical musical happenings.

Then, tuck into the likes of smoked pork belly ribs covered in peach tea BBQ sauce, seared salmon with crispy potatoes, or a juicy vegan cheeseburger, washed down with a paloma or smoked maple old-fashioned. 

INCA London

  • Location: 8-9 Argyll Street, Soho, W1F 7TF
  • Price: £££
  • Highlights: live performances
  • Why we recommend: there's never a dull moment at INCA, thanks to its brilliant performers, and we think this restaurant really delivers on both food and entertainment. Getting lost in a world of glitter and feathers while eating sushi sounds like fun to us 

If you fancy dinner and a show, INCA London is a fabulous choice. From the Latin-inspired decor and scrumptious tropical cuisine to the open kitchen and live performances, this restaurant offers a theatrical place to dine in the capital. 

Featuring dishes with Nikkei influences, the a la carte menu includes the likes of salmon and yellowtail ceviche, spicy California rolls, black cod and more. As you dine, expect brilliant singers, dancers and acrobats to deliver fabulous performances, with some even moving through the crowds, getting everyone involved. 

The Murdér Express Part Deux -Jewel Of The Empire

@ Pedley Street Station on Various dates from Friday 5th December 2025

  • Location: Arch 63, Pedley Street, Bethnal Green, E1 5BW
  • Price: £££
  • Highlights: immersive performances, a murder mystery
  • Why we recommend: we love The Murdér Express, as it offers a unique blend of fine dining and immersive theatre, making for a night out that's both entertaining, fun and indulgent 

All aboard The Murdér Express, London's most thrilling and theatrical dining adventure. Step back into the glamour of the 1920s as you embark on a journey from the opulent Pedley Street Station.

This immersive experience combines a delectable three-course menu, crafted by renowned chefs, with a comedic murder mystery that unfolds around you. Sip on handcrafted cocktails at the Seven Sins platform bar before boarding the luxury train carriage, where vintage decor and live actors set the stage for an unforgettable evening. With tickets starting at £74, it's an experience that promises intrigue, laughter, and exceptional cuisine.

The Piano Works Farringdon

2-4-1 Cocktails

  • Location: 113-117 Farringdon Road, EC1R 3BX and Gillian Lynne Theatre, Parker Street, WC2B 5PW
  • Price: ££
  • Highlights: live music
  • Why we recommend: we think that The Piano Works is a guaranteed good time, where the band only plays audience-requested songs, making every night feel like your own personal gig. Pair that with great food, drinks, and a lively crowd, and you've got a very fun dining experience 

The Piano Works is London's only non-stop live music venue where you can choose the playlist. If you're on the hunt for fun birthday restaurants in London, we suggest booking a table here and trying out their dinner menu, which includes wagyu beef burgers, herbed tuna steak, pork ribs and more. 

What sets the venue apart from a regular eatery is its entertainment roster: look forward to two singing pianists and a live band. If you can't make it to the City or fancy something more central, check out its West End location as well.

Quaglino's

  • Location: 16 Bury Street, St James's, SW1Y 6AJ
  • Price: £££
  • Highlights: stunning interiors 
  • Why we recommend: If you're after live music, elegant dining and cocktails in one of London's most iconic settings, Quaglino's still knows how to put on a performance

An icon since 1929, Quaglino's has hosted everyone from Evelyn Waugh to royalty, cementing itself as one of Mayfair's most glamorous addresses. Today, it remains the epitome of luxe dining and drinking, spread across two glitzy bars and a sweeping restaurant, where evenings unfold with serious style.

The interiors are pure drama: deep reds, gleaming gold, polished chrome and towering floral arrangements, all framed by the grand stage's crimson curtains. It's Art Deco decadence with a theatrical twist, designed for nights that start with cocktails and end with a show. In the kitchen, head chef Jack Smith plates up refined European classics, such as pumpkin and squash tortellini, cod with chorizo and apple jam, Tomahawk steak, and so much more.

The Little Blue Door

Bottomless Brunch

  • Location: 871-873 Fulham Road, Fulham, SW6 5HP
  • Price: ££
  • Highlights: house party-themed interiors 
  • Why we recommend: we adore the quirky interiors here - it's a one-of-a-kind experience that blends comfort, fun, and fantastic food, and the brunches and late-night parties are not to be missed either

On the hunt for a fun restaurant? London's The Little Blue Door has you covered. Enter through the blue front door and be transported into a playful flatshare come to life. This Fulham hotspot feels like walking into a friend's home, complete with comfy sofas, a fireplace, a long bar, and an eclectic mix of rooms to explore.

From the Living Room for DJ-led house parties, to the Kitchen for friendly catch-ups and beer pong, and the Study for games from Mario Kart to board games, every corner is designed for fun. The menu mirrors the quirky vibe, with sharing plates like tempura prawn tacos, pea and quinoa bites, sweetcorn fritters, and home-smoked fried chicken thighs, alongside inventive burgers and indulgent desserts. Bottomless brunches, private parties, and themed dinner experiences round out the experience, making it a playful playground for food, drinks, and entertainment. If you can't make it to Fulham, check out its other locations across Notting Hill, Clapham, Carnaby and Soho

Camino King’s Cross

  • Location: King's CrossMonumentFarringdon and Shoreditch 
  • Price: ££
  • Highlights: DJ sets, pretty interiors
  • Why we recommend: we love eating at Camino for its authentic Spanish cuisine, cool ambience, and convenient locations. At this North London spot, the ceiling is something to behold, letting in floods of natural light thanks to its spherical skylight, laced with dangling foliage

With DJ sets in the bar and other music events hosted there too, Camino King's Cross, Monument, Farringdon and Shoreditch are two fun destinations making sure you get your fix of Spanish fare.

Not only is there a cosy yet contemporary tapas restaurant space here as well, but also tasting plates like grilled leeks with almond and hazelnut romesco, and slow-braised, pressed and pan-roasted suckling pig.

Inamo - Restaurants

  • Location: 11-14 Hanover Place, Covent Garden, WC2E 9JP or 134-136, Wardour Street, Soho, W1F 8ZP
  • Price: ££ 
  • Highlights: interactive tables, sushi afternoon tea 
  • Why we recommend: we like this spot as it's a playful, tech-driven restaurant where interactive tables let you order, play games, and even set the vibe while enjoying pan-Asian dishes

Inamo is one quirky restaurant with locations in both Covent Garden and Soho. At either, you'll get to order your meal, and even play a game of Battleships while waiting, through their digital tablecloth. The high-tech eatery serves tantalising East Asian cuisine and adventurous cocktails, including a cool twist on a classic afternoon tea.

On the menu? Look forward to spicy chicken mayo bao buns, California rolls, and crispy duck with pancakes, followed by coconut panna cotta or chocolate fondant. 

Tropix

  • Location: 10 Clapham High Street, SW47UT
  • Price: ££
  • Highlights: live DJs and entertainment, bottomless brunch 
  • Why we recommend: if lively entertainment and tunes with your dinner is what you're after, then Tropix delivers. We think this Caribbean-inspired spot is a very fun place to dine, especially come the weekend with its bottomless brunch 

Inject a little South American flavour into your night out with a trip to Tropix, a restaurant where Latin rhythms meet Caribbean spice in a setting that's as much about the experience as the food. The venue boasts lush, jungle-inspired décor, velvet booths, and a Tiki bar that sets the stage for an unforgettable evening.

The menu is a culinary passport to the tropics, offering dishes like Cuban empanadas, Jamaican jerk chicken, Peruvian ceviche, and Brazilian lamb chops. Live DJs spin Latin beats, reggaeton, and Afrobeats, creating an infectious energy that keeps the party going into the early hours.

Exhibit

Happy Hour and 3 other offers

  • Location: 12 Balham Station Road, Balham, SW12 9SG
  • Price: ££
  • Highlights: cinema, comedy
  • Why we recommend: we're big fans of this all-day spot, where you can tuck into tasty bites before heading upstairs for cinema nights, comedy, or rooftop cocktails

Regularly satisfying Balham's appetite, The Exhibit serves carefully curated drinks and a hearty menu of fresh British produce. Bag yourself a table either in the sleek dining room, on the vine-adorned terrace or at the bar and tuck into everything from bottomless brunches to pizzas. We love the spicy El Diablo, and the vegan Wild Garden.

There's also a great sharing menu, featuring small plates like truffled arancini or mini prawn rolls, followed by mains such as truffle chicken salads and juicy burgers. The venue also comes complete with a cinema, so you can make a date night of it, and it also plays host to some side-splitting comedy nights.

Bob Bob Ricard City

  • Location: Level 3, 122 Leadenhall Street, EC3V 4AB or 1 Upper James Street, Soho, W1F 9DF
  • Price: £££
  • Highlights: a press for Champagne button
  • Why we recommend: this visually striking restaurant is our go-to for a memorable combination of glamour, fine wine, and indulgent comfort food

When you visit Bob Bob Ricard City or Soho, you'll instantly feel the sparkle of London's most glamorous dining destination. Nestled in the iconic Cheesegrater building, the City location is a dazzling restaurant and bar famous for its signature 'Press for Champagne' buttons - because some moments simply deserve bubbles on demand.

The menu, curated by group chef director Ben Hobson, is a refined celebration of British and French comfort food, crafted seasonally to ensure every dish delights. Meanwhile, the bar showcases an impressive wine vault and a capped mark-up policy, making one of the city's most extraordinary wine lists accessible without the eye-watering price tag. Inspired by the Royal Yacht Britannia, Shayne Brady's interior design exudes luxury and elegance, with three private dining rooms available for an intimate, bespoke experience.

Sarastro

  • Location: 126 Drury Lane, Covent Garden, WC2B 5SU
  • Price: £££
  • Highlights: live performances 
  • Why we recommend: we suggested heading to Sarastro in Covent Garden as it's a feast for the eyes as much as the taste buds, with its lavish, theatrical interiors inspired by opera and performance

Sarastro is a one-of-a-kind dining experience in Covent Garden, where opulent interiors inspired by opera houses and West End theatre set the stage for a night of drama and indulgence. Since opening in 1996, it's been serving Turkish-Mediterranean dishes like grilled sea bass, akcabat kofte and pan-seared scallops, all crafted with flair.

Live performances from Thursday to Sunday range from Latin and Motown to opera, adding a vibrant soundtrack to your meal. With velvet drapes, theatre box seating and a rich musical heritage, it's perfect for pre-show dinners or unforgettable celebrations.

Freak Scene Sushi And Robata

  • Location: 1 Ramsden Road, Balham, SW12 8QX
  • Price: £££
  • Highlights: inventive plates like duck red curry doughnut buns
  • Why we recommend: we rate this restaurant as it serves up bold, playful Japanese-inspired plates in a buzzing setting, with neon signage aplenty 

Looking for sushi with serious personality? At Freak Scene Sushi & Robata, you'll find imaginative rolls, fire-kissed robata plates, and flavours that slap. Expect the unexpected - duck red curry doughnut buns? Yep. Wood-fired miso poussin? Absolutely.

And the drinks? A heady mix of punchy sake, quirky cocktails, and expertly chosen wines. Whether it's a midweek feast or a long, boozy dinner, this spot is where the fun happens.

Draughts Waterloo

  • Location: Arch 16, Leake Street, Waterloo, SE1 7NN or 41 Kingsland High Street, Hackney, E8 2JS
  • Price: £
  • Highlights: board games
  • Why we recommend: we love Draughts as it makes such a fun and quirky date location. You can get stuck into some cool board games while eating delicious food and washing it down with a refreshing IPA

A fun restaurant in Waterloo, with a sister venue in Hackney, Draughts is the London board game bar you need to visit. Alongside a mammoth selection of multi-player activities, you can get stuck into their menu of draught craft beer, classic cocktails and tasty food.

Make the most of their varied dishes and tuck into the likes of Korean fried chicken, Tajin popcorn shrimp, halloumi fries and more, or go all out with some pulled mushroom bao buns or Beyond Meat 'cheese' burgers.

Flight Club

  • Location: various London locations 
  • Price: ££
  • Highlights: darts
  • Why we recommend: we love this spot as it combines dining, drinks, and competitive fun, where social darts take centre stage in a buzzing, energetic, fairground-themed setting

Flight Club offer delicious sharing platters and cocktails across Victoria, Shoreditch and Islington. This isn't your average restaurant, though, as their brand of social darts combines state-of-the-art technology with exciting gameplay, making it the perfect group activity for newbies and experts alike.

The menu features a selection of delcious bites made for sharing, like chicken tikka skewers and padron peppers, as well as mains like smashed beef burgers and sourdough pizzas served on paddles. We're big fans of the firecracker waffle fries. 

Brigadiers

  • Location: 1-5 Bloomberg Arcade, City of London, EC4N 8AR
  • Price: £££
  • Highlights: Indian restaurant and sports bar 
  • Why we recommend: Brigadiers offers a fun combination of delicious Indian flavours and a high-energy atmosphere, thanks to its sports bar element, and we think it really works 

Tucked inside Bloomberg Arcade by Bank, Brigadiers is where fiery Indian barbecue and premium sports-bar vibes collide. Brought to you by JKS Restaurants (the team behind Michelin-starred Gymkhana and Trishna), this lively spot is designed for feasting, drinking, and celebrating with friends.

With two dining rooms, two buzzing bars, three private dining spaces, and even a pool room with self-serve beer and cocktail machines, Brigadiers is built for every occasion. The menu is made for sharing: think barbecue butter chicken wings, masala chicken skins, guinea fowl kebabs, and their iconic tandoori lamb chops, alongside indulgent biryanis and wood-roasted mains. Weekends bring a dedicated sports menu, where you can catch the game on big screens while tucking into sizzling plates and cold pints.

Pick & Cheese Camden

  • Location: Unit 93 and 94 Camden Market, Chalk Farm Road, Camden, NW1 8AH
  • Price: ££
  • Highlights: cheese carousel 
  • Why we recommend: with Pick & Cheese, you can enjoy bottomless plates of cheese for over an hour every Wednesday - don't mind if we do 

For fun restaurants in London, England, look no further than this un-brie-lievable spot. Pick & Cheese Camden is the UK's first cheese conveyor belt restaurant. Take a seat, watch the plates glide by, and choose from over 25 artisan British cheeses and charcuterie plates, each perfectly paired with its own condiment and small-producer wine. Think Keen's Cheddar with tomato chutney, Cenarth Brie with chilli jam, or Truffled Baron Bigod that'll ruin you for all other truffle cheese.

Every Wednesday, the real indulgence begins with bottomless plates; that's unlimited cheese and charcuterie straight off the belt for an hour and 15 minutes of dairy-fuelled bliss for £29.50 per person. From tangy blues with honeycomb to creamy goat's cheese paired with Turkish delight, there's so much cheese to choose from.

Amazonico

  • Location: 16 Bury Street, St James's, SW1Y 6AJ
  • Price: £££
  • Highlights: stunning interiors 
  • Why we recommend: If you're looking for world-class cuisine, luxury cocktails and a lively Latin American atmosphere, you're in the right place

One of Spain's most illustrious restaurants, Amazonico brings its rainforest decor, tropical plant life and international dishes to London's Berkeley Square. The menu takes in every corner of the globe, from ceviche and sushi to juicy steaks and crema de choclo.

Head down here on the weekends and it gets even more interesting. There's live music lunches Friday to Sunday plus the infamous Noche Tardiva parties on the first Friday of the month.

The MAINE Mayfair

  • Location: Unit 6, 20 Hanover Square, Mayfair, W1S 1JY
  • Price: £££
  • Highlights: live music 
  • Why we recommend: we love how the live music adds a playful touch to The MAINE Mayfair that makes you feel as though you've travelled back in time. The restaurant delivers glamour with a playful East Coast twist

Tucked inside a grand Georgian townhouse in the heart of Mayfair, The MAINE Mayfair is a brasserie with five distinct rooms spread across three floors, each offering a different vibe. Think long, lazy lunches in the glass-roofed Winter Garden Terrace, candlelit dinners in the vaulted tavern, live entertainment in the brasserie, or a swish private party in the drawing room.

The menu leans indulgent and international, with a nod to New England classics, from colossal shrimp cocktails and freshly shucked oysters to lobster rolls, truffle pasta, whole grilled seabass, and perfectly cooked steaks. There are also lighter bites (hello, crispy fish tacos and burrata with heirloom tomatoes), alongside indulgent desserts like sticky toffee pudding, white chocolate cheesecake, and crème brûlée with tonka beans.

PIRAÑA

  • Location: 7-9 St James's Park, Mayfair, SW1A 1EE
  • Price: £££
  • Highlights: piranas in the toilets, and a birthday song (if it's your birthday) 
  • Why we recommend: not only is PIRAÑA in a glitzy location, but the interiors are top-notch, too. You'll feel like you're underwater with rippled walls and gorgeous ceilings - plus, there are real-life piranhas in the loos

Making waves in the heart of St James, PIRAÑA is an underwater fantasy brought to life by Strongarm Hospitality. Step inside and you're transported to a sultry, ocean-inspired dreamscape of textured aquatic walls, soaring blue ceilings, and curving, fluid lines that feel like dining beneath the waves. With two striking dining rooms and an exclusive private space, it's as much about spectacle as it is about supper.

The menu dives headfirst into indulgence, starting with a raw bar that impresses: seabass ceviche with aji amarillo leche de tigre, hamachi with yuzu ponzu and jalapeño, or spicy salmon on crispy rice. Sushi fans are spoiled for choice, with premium sashimi, nigiri, and rolls like seared otoro glazed with soy or the decadent, crunchy wagyu maki with black garlic mayonnaise.

La Bodega Negra

  • Location: Compton Street, Soho, W1D 5NH
  • Price: ££
  • Highlights: quirky decor, conveyed as a peep show 
  • Why we recommend: equal parts New York edge and Mexican soul, we think that La Bodega Negra is a Soho night you won't forget - if you can find it

Hidden behind the glowing façade of a sex shop on Old Compton Street, La Bodega Negra is one of Soho's most notorious secrets. Upstairs, you'll find a casual café and taqueria, but head downstairs and the real magic begins. Slip past the neon lights and descend into a candlelit speakeasy, where a buzzing bar, low-lit tables and a knowing crowd set the scene.

The creation of Serge Becker (of NYC's La Esquina) and Will Ricker, this sultry hideout serves up Mexican classics with flair, such as tortillas, enchiladas and irresistible late-night snacks - all washed down with frozen margaritas, tequila cocktails and mezcal creations. 

Circolo Popolare

  • Location: Rathbone Square, Fitzrovia, W1T 1PB
  • Price: ££
  • Highlights: quirky interiors 
  • Why we recommend: we love this spot for its fun interiors - think dangling plants from the ceiling, walls lined with Italian aperitifs and cocktails drunk from striking mugs 

From the Big Mamma group (the team behind Shoreditch's Gloria), Circolo Popolare is a larger-than-life trattoria bringing the magic of the Sicilian coast to Central London. Set in a sprawling 9,000 sq ft space in Rathbone Square, this dazzling restaurant is covered in festoon lights and hundreds of cascading plants, with walls lined in thousands of spirit bottles for that jaw-dropping 'la dolce vita' effect.

On the menu? Pure southern Italian indulgence. Expect metre-long pizzas, whopping bowls of fresh pasta (like mafaldine with truffle mascarpone or the show-stopping Gran Carbonara served from a pecorino wheel), alongside grilled skewers, seafood specials and homemade gelato in flavours like Amalfi lemon and pistachio. To finish, desserts go just as big - we're talking tiramisu with a twist, profiteroles drowned in warm Valrhona chocolate, and the now-iconic lemon meringue pie, stacked sky-high.

BAO Noodle Shop

  • Location: 1 Redchurch Street, Shoreditch, E2 7DJ
  • Price: £
  • Highlights: karaoke 
  • Why we recommend: one of our favourite places to visit in Shoreditch, BAO Noodle Shop serves a brilliant, affordable array of Taiwanese dishes that you can enjoy downstairs in its karaoke room 

Tucked away on Redchurch Street, just a short stroll from Shoreditch High Street Station, BAO Noodle Shop brings the buzzing energy of Taiwan's noodle houses to East London. The star of the show? Steaming bowls of beef noodle soup paired with BAO's signature pillowy buns, stuffed with everything from classic pork to playful seasonal specials.

The open kitchen sets the tone - chefs rolling, braising and steaming right in front of you - while downstairs you'll find a hidden bar and two playful private spaces: a karaoke room and an entertainment room complete with a large dining table and TV, perfect for parties.

Speedboat Bar

  • Location: 30 Rupert Street, Soho, W1D 6DL or 191 Portobello Road, Notting Hill, W11 2ED
  • Price: ££
  • Highlights: eccentric decor, late-night bar 
  • Why we recommend: we suggest booking Speedboat Bar for its unbeatable combination of authentic Thai flavours and lively late-night vibes. It's the perfect destination for adventurous foodies who want a taste of Bangkok's bustling street-food scene in the capital 

Get ready to be whisked straight to the neon-lit streets of Bangkok's Chinatown without leaving London at Speedboat Bar on Rupert Street. Luke Farrell's second restaurant brings the late-night energy of Thai street food to Soho with aromatic curries, fiery stir-fries, drunken noodles, and zingy seafood salads packed with chilli and acidity.

Wash it all down with whisky sodas or sharing towers of icy Singha beer as eclectic Thai pop and rock beats keep the energy high. Open late until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays, the restaurant also features a central bar and a pool table, making it a buzzing spot for eating, drinking, and partying long into the night.

MEATliquor Queensway @ QUEENS

  • Location: QUEENS, 17 Queensway, Bayswater, W2 4QP
  • Price: ££
  • Highlights: roller skating rink 
  • Why we recommend: this diner is a great shout for food when you want to mix scrumptious burgers with some wheely good (sorry) activites. A fun group activity or date night spot, for sure 

Making sure you get your fix of stacked burgers, deep-fried mac 'n' cheese and loaded fries is MEATliquor at Queens Skate Dine Bowl.

This comfort food will help you refuel, as alongside mouthwatering burgers, fried chicken, and cocktails, this underground haven is home to a plethora of entertainment options, including bowling, ice skating, pool, darts, and arcade games. Whether you're looking to fuel up before a night out or seeking an action-packed evening, MEATliquor Queensway has you covered.

Ambassadors Clubhouse

Tucked away on Heddon Street in Mayfair, Ambassadors Clubhouse is a stunning Indian restaurant inspired by the party mansions on undivided Punjab. From the gold-adorned central bar to the walls lined with mirrors and colourful tiles, this is an Instagram-worthy dining destination that's full of fun.

This is more than just a restaurant, as it also boasts a late-night bar downstairs where you can dance to live DJs. As for the menu? Expect everything from barbecue mutton kebabs to indulgent lobster curries and paneer tikka masala.

Grasso

  • Location: 81 Dean Street, Soho, W1D 3SW
  • Price: £££
  • Highlights: disco-themed bathroom, and a playful menu 
  • Why we recommend: we suggest booking dinner at Grasso for its unbeatable combination of heartfelt family cooking and lively Soho vibes - plus we can't resist a karaoke session in the toilets

Grasso is a family-run Italian-American kitchen, where nostalgia meets playful Soho energy. From Mom's spaghetti, made from the grandmother's original recipe, to creamy penne alla vodka and pizzas crafted from 48-hour fermented dough, every dish celebrates the flavours of childhood and Little Italy favourites.

Desserts are handmade daily by the family matriarch, pasta sauces are simmered by hand, and fresh, imported ingredients arrive daily to ensure every bite is as authentic as it is delicious. The restaurant itself embraces whimsy, with disco-themed bathrooms perfect for impromptu karaoke sessions and generous fish bowl spritzes that set the scene for fun, laughter, and a bit of silliness.