8 Exciting Things To Eat & Do In April

Behold, Aries season is upon us. We don’t really know what this means but it sounds chaotic and like it may, possibly, involve a bit of sunshine. So we are very much on board. Throughout April there are brand new bars, brand new Easter specials, and a brand new independent cinema where you can feel incredibly cultured whilst also drinking G&Ts. We love to see it. Read on for all of that, as well as a luxury hand-crafted chocolate pig. That’s Aries season, baby. 

Get Hyped For Soho’s Hottest New Bar 

Calling all speakeasy fans. On Wednesday 20th April, beloved Shoreditch spot Nightjar will be opening a brand new bar in Soho. It’s all very exciting, we agree. Nightjar Kingly Court will have the same prohibition vintage feel as the East End original, as well as late-night live music and their expert cocktails. Bookings are open and we suggest you make one sooner rather than later. We have a feeling it’s going to be popular. 

Eat & Spend Spend Spend At The Ultimate Charity Bake Sale 

The Cook For Ukraine campaign has raised more than £650,000 since its conception last month. Now, they’re looking to hit £1 million and that means that they need your support. On the first Saturday of April they’ll be selling baked goods at Toklas on the Strand with a line-up that includes Ottolenghi, Flor, Quality Chop House, Brat, BAO, and many more. Running from 11am until 1pm, Toklas will also be serving drinks, including Dima’s Vodka (a premium Ukrainian vodka). All proceeds will go towards UNICEF’s emergency response fund.

Get Extremely Caffeinated At London Coffee Festival 

If you’re someone who always thinks: huh, I really want to try that fun-looking coffee shop but then dutifully wanders back to your regular place because you already know the WiFi password, then London Coffee Festival is for you. Over in Truman Brewery on Brick Lane, they’ve got a lot of our favourite coffee shops all serving under one roof, including Allpress and Kiss The Hippo Roastery. If watching baristas battle it out with hot liquids is your thing, there’s also a Coffee Masters competition with an oh-so casual £5000 prize. The drama.  

Spend A Sunday At Manteca 

So, Manteca started out as a great pop-up that then became a great kind-of-permanent-but-not restaurant in Soho and now they have an actually-permanent restaurant in Shoreditch that everyone and their nose-to-tail loving cousin are hyped about. It’s been a journey for Manteca and following all that change, they’re launching Manteca Sundays. It's a Sunday lunch with a difference, Italian-style. Think Nocellara olives stuffed with Italian sausage, heaps of traditional lasagne, and slow-roast ewe leg, all served family-style. You can make your booking here. 

Hit Up London’s Newest Independent Cinema 

Restaurants are for eating out. Cinemas are for watching people on screen whilst sitting in a very comfy chair eating out of a bag of Minstrels. Anyway, at the end of March, London got a brand new independent cinema for you to visit and partake in a little ritual we like to call Eating So Much Popcorn You Think You’re Going To Be Sick. Over in Covent Garden, on Parker Street, The Garden Cinema is currently showing a selection of Marlon Brando classics, Oscar nominee The Worst Person In The World, and they’ve also got a jazzy little bar for all of your big-screen cocktail needs. Tickets are £12 or a tenner with membership. 

Try This Limited Edition Lobster Roll Pop-Up

Few people deserve the status of Sandwich Legend. There’s Homer Simpson, there’s Joey ‘The Moist Maker’ Tribbiani, and then there’s Max Halley—the man behind Stroud Green’s Max’s Sandwich Shop. Give him two slices of bread and he’ll make you something wildly delicious that’ll have you questioning why you never thought to put deep-fried instant noodles in a sandwich for the pinnacle of crunch. Now, he’s teaming up with Burger & Lobster for the ultimate limited-edition lobster roll. Kicking off on Wednesday the 6th April, the £26 special will be available at any of the Burger & Lobster restaurants across London. Oh, and the roll also includes crushed salt and vinegar crisps. We are not worthy.

Break The Fast In Style With The Great Chase’s Iftar Set-Menu

If you spend your Ramadan fasting hours dreaming of chicken, all of the chicken, then The Great Chase’s Iftar set-menu has got you in mind. This halal restaurant in Clerkenwell is serving a £39 three-course menu throughout April, featuring everything from crispy lamb tacos to wild mushroom risotto to—ding ding ding—glazed chicken. They’ve also got steaks and a mango Eton mess on offer, but there are a limited number of seats per evening so be sure to book ahead. 

Eat An Adorable Easter Special (CC: JOY!)

Sincere apologies to Christmas but Easter is the cutest time of the year. You’ve got rabbits, you’ve got fluffy little chicks, you’ve got an exceptional reason to eat enough chocolate to send your blood sugar levels to stratospheric levels. 

This year, restaurants are marking the occasion with suitably charming specials. Upmarket classic French restaurant, Maison François, will be serving a £30 hand-crafted chocolate pig from their dessert trolley until the 17th. BAO, the forever cool Taiwanese mini-chain that never miss an opportunity to make forever cool baked things, will be serving ‘Easter Chick’ baos from their King’s Cross café. And finally, if you’re after something a little more traditional, Flor Bakery’s hot cross buns are available to order online with nationwide delivery. Cute, very cute.