wake up londoners! the best late night dining restaurants in the capital

For when you’re just not ready to go home yet (Picture: Rusne Draz)

Welcome back to The Slice – our exclusive guide to what’s on in London,where we bring you trusted reviews,sneak previews,and amazing deals and discounts.

London wasn’t always known for having a good late night culture,but with the introduction of the night tubes and post 9pm food spots popping up,we think things could be changing…

We’ve got a list of three spots for after hours indulgence that need to be on your radar,including the iconic Beigel Bake,where you can grab a beigel bulging with delicious salt beef. 

We’re also telling you where to find ‘nourishing’ Korean food,beautifully spiced Sri Lankan snacks and a free Christmas light switch-on party. 

Enjoy and see you next week!

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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.Click here for this week’s edit of the best things to do in town.The Slice newsletter also a brand new look! We'll still be in your inbox every week,bringing you all the very best things to eat,drink and do in the capital. So if you want get the next edition before anyone else,sign up here!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.

Things to do this week in London

If you’re looking for something to do this weekend,here are 12 of the best activities,dining,and drinking spots in the capital.

1. Sip on some bubbly at Bob Bob Ricard’s Champagne Series

Cheers! (Picture: Supplied)By Kristina Beanland For a luxurious night to remember,buy yourself a ticket to Bob Bob Ricard’s soon-to-end Champagne Series. Enjoy a three-course meal in their Red Room – complete with ‘press for champagne buttons’,music and ‘theatrical moments’ all themed around a specific champagne house,from glamourous Perrier-Jouët to Bond-inspired Bollinger.While these evenings are certainly all about the fizz,Bob Bob doesn’t skimp on the food,with caviar that will persuade you fish roe is actually delicious. £135pp,including Champagne pairing. Until 2 December. 1 Upper James St,Soho,W1F 9DF. Book here.

Another pizza spot to put on your radar...

NYC slice culture keeps taking London by storm – next up,Gracey’s. The family-run New York-meets-New Haven pizza joint lands at Arcade Tottenham Court Road this November. Expect saucy East Coast classics like Grandma’s Pizza Pie and a Margherita-as-a-cocktail moment. Consider this Slice-approved.

2. Indulge in delicious Korean BBQ at SOOM

You just have to try the beef tartare (Picture: Supplied)

By Kate Rice

In Korean,the word ‘soom’ means to breathe. And as you step inside this Korean barbecue restaurant,that’s exactly what the space reflects. It’s a place to take a moment,to ground yourself,to reconnect. Surrounded by beautiful hand-crafted artwork,the noise of chatter amongst friends and communal cooking fills the air.

The food is unsurprisingly nourishing and delicious – there isn’t a weak dish on the menu. The beef platter,cooked on the grill in the middle of each table,is smoky and rich,and the Yukhoe (beef tartare) melts in your mouth. But the real showstopper is the short rib; it’s salty,soft,and simply delicious.

On the cocktail list you’ll find twists on classics like the Mule by SOOM and Korea Sunset. But for something a bit different,I couldn’t recommend the creamy,refreshing Dal Hang-ari enough. SOOM’s warm service and hearty food make it a welcome addition to London,proving that contemporary design and comfort food are a match made in heaven.

BBQ from £15. 99 St Martin’s Lane,Covent Garden,WC2N 4AZ. Book here.

3. Try affordable Sri Lankan eatery,Adoh!

‘The snacks steal the show here’ (Picture: Supplied)

By Anna Staddon

New to Covent Garden,ADOH! is your new go-to for (relatively) affordable Sri Lankan street food. With vibrant décor,fast service and killer cocktails (my favourite being the Coconut Negroni),this place is perfect for a pre-theatre bite.

The snacks steal the show here: chilli prawn toast with a zingy tamarind sauce and a masala curry dosa,packing heat and layers of smoky,fragrant spices. You could easily fill up on the smaller plates alone.

Onto the mains: the rotis are buttery and flaky,perfect for mopping up the rich kingfish curry and spicy sambols. And the kothu – a chopped mountain of roti,vegetables and egg with crab,mutton,chicken or jackfruit – is ADOH’s version of  everyone’s favourite late-night staple,the doner kebab. It’s punchy and filling,so I’d say they nailed it.

The only dessert on offer is Milo soft serve (think Horlicks),but sometimes one is all you need if it’s good enough. The chocolate-malted ice cream is moreish,and a cooling relief from the lingering spice.

Snacks from £4,mains from £12. 36 Maiden Lane,WC2E 7LJ. Book here.

4. Try one of London’s best late night bite spots

The warm-from-the-oven beigels at Beigel Bake are what we dream about (Picture: Supplied)

Beigel Bake

Best for: a piece of modern London history 

Picture it,it’s 1am,you’ve had a couple tequila on the rocks at Shoreditch House (or whichever haunt you’ve been frequenting),and need to line your stomach before hitting the hay. In comes Beigel Bake,the OG of beigels on Brick Lane. Open 24/7 since 1974,this establishment,and its staff,is the heartbeat of East London and coincidentally,the greatest place for a delicious after hours snack.

They’re most famous for their salt beef mustard beigel,and other top picks are the salmon and cream cheese,tuna and sweetcorn and the roast chicken. Some people see the golden arches as their saviour,I see the Beigel Bake red neon sign.

Beigels from £1.Shoreditch. Just turn up!

Review by Alexander O’Loughlin.

Noodle and Beer

Best for: the cold weather 

A hearty bowl of steaming hot noodles is our idea of the perfect late night meal (we don’t care what time it is). Open until 4am Thursday-Saturday,it’s the ultimate post-night out haven with big flavours and good vibes. But if you don’t fancy eating,head down to their basement cocktail bar where the energy just keeps on going. 

To celebrate six years of Noodle and Beer,you can get 50% off food from 12-5pm on 27 November. And from 5pm,two pairs of golden chopsticks will be hidden amongst Noodle and Beer’s ordinary chopsticks,handed out to the first 33 diners in each location. Unwrap your chopsticks to find out if you’ve won free meals at Noodle and Beer for a whole year!

Noodles from £15.80. Chinatown and Spitalfields. Book here. 

Cafe Murano

Best for: a bougie late night bite 

The dinner service at Cafe Murano by Angela Hartnett is being extended into the late hours,with a new post 9pm dining offer.

With a delicious menu that includes negronis and martinis for £5,any bowl of pasta from the à la carte menu for £15,and a portion of tiramisu for £5,it’s excellent value for money one of London’s more luxurious spots. So whether you’re starting your night or just ending it,you’ll be very happy indeed.

Nightcap dining menu. Pasta £15. Drinks,£5. Tiramisu,£5. Available across Covent Garden,St James’s,and Bermondsey locations. Just turn up!

5. Bite your way through some creative Christmas sandwich inventions

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Some of the country’s best sandwich gals and guys are coming together to showcase their festive creations.

Prepare to see turkey and stuffing classics get an upgrade from the likes of The Black Pig,Dom’s Subs and more. Get your tickets here and look out for The Slice’s verdict on our favourite sandwich! 

6. Support humanitarian work at Akub’s charity supper club

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Notting Hill’s Akub is hosting its final supper club of the year,as part of its continuing initiative #CookForPalestine. Chef Fadi Kattan and Kinan Mansour will come together for a dinner than celebrates Syrian and Palestinian heritage.

20% of proceeds from the evening will be donated to Medical Aid for Palestinians,Anera,and Amos Trust,supporting urgent humanitarian work in Gaza. Tickets are £90pp,book here.

7. Make your Christmas more affordable this year at the Home A Loan pop up

A free Christmas pop up lands in London this week,with the aim of making Christmas more affordable.

At Home A Loan,families can borrow Christmas essentials like food and decoration. 9am – 8pm on 19 November and 20 November,9am – 6pm on 21 November. 137A Bethnal Green Road,E2 7DG. 

8. Celebrate the Cutty Sark’s 156th birthday

All aboard Cutty Sark for the Sea Shanty Festival,in celebration of the ship’s 156th birthday!

Expect a sea shanty history talk,performers and more. 22 November,10am-4:30pm. Book here. 

9. Treat your dog to a special day out at Winter Woof 2025

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Grab your dog for a day of woof-ing fun at Winter Woof 2025. Every ticket includes a cocktail or mocktail for the humans,a Secret Santa lucky dip,some bone broth and a puppuccino. With £5 from every ticket going to Jai Dog Rescue,an organisation helping street dogs in Thailand,it’s a great event for an important cause.

Get your ticket here (use code WINTERWOOF25 for 20% off!).

10. See London light up for Christmas at BOXHALL City’s light switch on

Get ready for a real feast (Picture: Supplied)

Head to BOXHALL City for a FREE light switch-on party! Look forward to cocktails flowing all night,new Christmas dishes from traders (like Santa Sushi and Jerk Xmas sandwiches) and more.

The big switch-on moment is at 7pm. Grab your ticket.  

11. Join a treasure hunt and you might just win free Greek food for life

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London’s Greek treasure hunt is here. Find a real aubergine dotted around the city and you’ll win free Greek food for life.

There are 12 drops and 12 locations (all hidden within walking distance of its tavernas from 19-25 November) across 7 days. Clues will drop daily on The Real Greek’s Instagram!

12. Experience The Hunger Games On Stage

‘The play changes locations with surrounding digital projections’ (Picture: Johan Persson)

By John Nathan

The first Hunger Games book,film and now play is set in a future authoritarian state called Panem. It is run by President Snow – played here by a pre-recorded and deeply sinister John Malkovich who appears on giant screens – a dictator who suppresses dissent by forcing two teenagers from each of the state’s 12 regions to fight to the death like gladiators in a televised ritual.

The play changes locations with surrounding digital projections – from forests to the futuristic cityscapes. With a little more imagination (and possibly permission from Canary Wharf’s barons) the London district’s glassy hi-tech architecture might have been used to give audiences the sense that they are entering the heart of Panem even before they had reached the theatre. This speaks to the absence of wow moments that might have reached the bar set by Harry Potter and Stranger Things.

Indeed,with the vibrant colours of the digital scenery and costumes,the show often feels like sitting in the AI version of The Hunger Games. Lots to look at but little to move the soul.

Tickets from £80. Troubadour Canary Wharf Theatre. Booking until October 2026. Find out more.

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