Bank holidays bring with them the promise of an extra day off — more time for lingering in the sun, or for an especially boozy long lunch. It also means there's more opportunity to enjoy the very best art, culture and live events that are on across town.
This week’s guide features the latest opening from restaurateur David Carter, an old favourite in a new location, and a chef collab of legendary status.
There’s also the chance to see a lesser-known side to one of America’s best-loved literary voices, and an exploration of Black British music over the past 500 years, and plenty more besides.
As ever, here’s what to eat, drink and do this long bank holiday weekend.
The hot table: Oma
Borough Market is enjoying a return to form. Once great, the food hub for south-east London at some point became a tourist trap for £18 duck rolls and £7 loaves of bread. Now, though, now there are restaurants worth braving the crowds for. David Carter of Manteca and Smokestack fame has opened Agora, and more recently Oma, to further bolster the area, with ex-Kiln chef Nick Molyviatis overseeing a menu spanning live fire, raw crudo and skewers. For a taste of the levant, go here. Four stars from Jimi, after all.
3 Bedale Street, SE1 9AL, oma.london
The old favourite: Volta do Mar
Founded by husband and wife duo Isabel Almeida Da Silva and Simon Mullins, Volta do Mar enjoyed a little success at their first site, but the restaurant relocating to SW3 has proved worthwhile. The menu spans global Portuguese influences, touching on Brazilian, Macanese, and Mozambican inspiration alongside a handful of Portuguese favourites. The flavours are fabulous, the service is warm and the short wine list is well-curated. An old gem in new digs.
100 Draycott Avenue, SW3 3AD, voltadomar.co.uk
The drinking den: El Bar De Cavita
Specialising in the margarita, with six iterations on offer, and a slew of mezcal-based beverages, El Bar de Cavita should satisfy any fans of famed Mexican cocktails in time for Cinco de Mayo. It’s a sexy little subterranean bar, with deep leather booths designed for gathering groups and ploughing through that fine cocktail list. Salud!
60 Wigmore Street, W1U 2RZ, elbardecavita.com
The chef collaboration: Pizzeria Mozza X Hoppers
The much-loved Sri-Lankan restaurant Hoppers has partnered with Nancy Silverton for a small handful of new dishes available at Silverton’s central London restaurant, Pizzeria Mozza. Highlights of the collaborative dishes include a devilled paneer pizza with devilled passata, banana chillies, and marinated paneer and a Ceylon negroni, made with Hoppers’ classic pandan and coconut. Charming Hopper’s man Karan Gokani really, really knows what he’s doing. With £1 from each sale going to the charity Feeding the Future, raising funds to help children in Sri-Lanka never tasted better.
Until May 24, Pizzeria Mozza, 14-15 Langham Place, W1B 2QS, treehousehotels.com
The art fix: Shaqúelle Whyte at the Pippy Houldsworth Gallery
Shaqúelle Whyte’s work deploys a bold use of both colour and scale which commands the viewer's attention. There are introverted, introspective subjects which move through or reside with his imagined spaces, drawing the audience ever deep into Whyte’s world, exploring history, violence and psychological turbulence with seemingly theatrical, almost playful direction.
Until May 25, Pippy Houldsworth Gallery, 6 Heddon Street, W1B 4BT, houldsworth.co.uk
The culture fix: Beyond the Bassline, 500 Years of Black British Music
Exhibitions at the British Library sometimes rarely raise an eyebrow but Beyond the Bassline should do more than that: it’s designed to raise pulses. Self-proclaimed as “the first major exhibition of its kind anywhere in the world”, Beyond the Bassline explores black British music across generations, from the first clubs to burgeoning carnivals and the biggest national stages, the exhibition showcases black British music culture in all its glory.
Until August 26, 96 Euston Road, NW1 2DB, beyondthebassline.seetickets.com
The exhibition: The Devil Finds Work, James Baldwin Through Film
In a truly remarkable set of short films, one of author James Baldwin’s lesser celebrated works gets the recognition it deserves, kicking off a campaign of programming by the Barbican dubbed the “James Baldwin and Britain” project. The films, screened throughout May, celebrate “The Devil Finds Work”, Baldwin’s cinematic exploration and critique of Hollywood, framing his own experience as a black American through his encounters with movies of the 20th century including The Exorcist and In the Heat of the Night. For lovers of this exceptionally influential author and activist, it’s utterly unmissable.
Until May 22, The Barbican, Silk Street, EC2Y 8DS, barbican.org.uk
The theatre fix: Much Ado About Nothing
Whether you’re a regular theatre-goer or just love a good enemies-to-lovers story, this charming production is not to be missed. Complete with gorgeous Elizabethan costumes and Shakespeare’s iconic wit, Much Ado About Nothing is one of the bard’s best loved comedies for a reason. It’s the perfect way to get in the mood for summer, with the Globe Theatre being turned into a “tropical paradise” for the occasion.
Until 24 August, tickets from £5, Shakespeare’s Globe, 21 New Globe Walk, SE1 9DT, shakespearesglobe.com
The inspiration: World Press Photo Exhibition
The year's most important photojournalism exhibition has arrived in London and offers the opportunity to be inspired by incredible snapshots from all over the world. This exhibition showcases award-winning documentary and news photography, capturing humanity's triumphs and struggles through visually-striking images. Immerse yourself in the captivating storytelling and uncover life through a different lens.
From 3 May until 27 May, tickets £10-15, Borough Yards, SE1 9AD, worldpressphoto.org
The comedy fix: Angel Comedy Club
This intimate and cosy comedy club is fast becoming one of London’s most popular, with free stand-up every night at the Camden Head. They also host secret gigs, previews and comedy courses at their own dedicated venue, The Bill Murray in Islington. This bank holiday Monday, you can sit back and enjoy the comedy stylings of American comedian Katie Green, who will be workshopping material for her upcoming shows and putting a cheeky spin on topics like being awkward, dating, and adapting to life in the UK.
May 6, tickets from £6, 39 Queen’s Head Street, N1 8NQ, angelcomedy.co.uk
The music fix: the Gypsy Jazz festival
When it comes to gypsy jazz, expect lively, virtuoso musicians performing jaw-dropping feats of musical acrobatics. London’s seven-day festival kicks off in Soho with award-winning violinist Seonaid Aitken fronting her group Rose Room, followed by performances by various talented musicians at locations across the capital. Curated by Tobie Medland, boss of Future Fable Records, London’s gypsy jazz festival promises to connect international stars of the genre with young musicians of all backgrounds and deliver unforgettably rousing performances.
May 6, tickets £20, Crazy Coqs, 21 Sherwood St, W1F 7ED, futurefable.com
The banger (literally): Coronation Anniversary Gun Salute
Astonishingly, it’s been an entire year since the coronation of King Charles III. To mark the occasion, revellers can enjoy a 41-round gun salute in Hyde Park at midday on Bank Holiday Monday, which is the anniversary of coronation day. Bring a picnic, some beers and your union jack flags and enjoy a good old-fashioned British Bank Holiday — just don’t forget your brolly.
May 6, free, Hyde Park, royalparks.org.uk
The ticket to book now (for later): Bar Daskal Maestros, Gallinas Y Focas
Mallorcan wine producer Francesc Grimalt is set to host a small tasting of lesser-known Mallorcan wines at Bar Daskal later this month. Grimalt, who founded winery 4Kilos, will focus on what it calls “indigenous and rare grape varietals”, including leading tasting expressions of the callet grape, which was all but lost in the Balearics. As a part of the increasingly popular Maestro series from Bar Daskal, this one looks a great way to discover something new.
