The brilliant new pop-up restaurants in London to know about this summer
This summer sees some of the most exciting new pop-up restaurants and culinary residencies take over the capital, with something to cater to every tastebud. From the return of the Berkeley’s hotly anticipated summer terrace to Chatsworth Estate’s pop-up at Sotheby’s and MasterChef winner Alex Webb’s residency at the InterContinental, London is abuzz with gastronomic adventures this season. Here, we’ve rounded up the best new foodie pop-ups to book a table at now.
East Meets East at Three Sheets
Until 11 October
This summer, Korean chef Joo Won of Cálong London and spirit label Jinro soju are joining forces to launch a new residency in east London, taking over the Three Sheets in Dalston. The East Meets East pop-up will be running until October, offering up a monthly changing menu of potent Korean cocktails paired with bar snacks – although don’t expect your average salted peanuts and brine-soaked olives.
Drinks are a mix of old classics with a twist and new inventions, ranging from a Blossom Martini made with Jinro Chamisul Fresh, Sakura Vermouth and geranium, and an ‘Old Fashioned’ concoction of Jinro Chamisul Original, coconut, oak and benzoin, to Shiso + Plum, which is a blend of Jinro Plum, Shiso, anise, gin and soda. There’s also a secret off-menu shot that changes every month. The bar snacks change regularly too, but if the launch party dinner menu is anything to go by – where standout dishes included Jinro fried chicken with chilli sauce, Iberico pork belly bulgogi and vermicelli japchae, and chocolate cremeux with yuzu compote and hoji tea cream – they’re set to be just as knockout as the drinks.
510b Kingsland Road, Dalston, London E8 4AB
Twelv at Pantechnicon
29 June – 2 July
This impressive Grade II-listed building in Belgravia serves up some of the most exciting cuisine in the capital right now, thanks to its unique fusion of Japanese and Nordic cooking. Adding to the mix this summer is a new pop-up bar, which comes courtesy of a partnership with Japan’s most cutting-edge sake bar, Twelv. Held as part of Pantechnicon’s Summertime Drinking festival, the residency aims to bring Tokyo’s new wave sake scene to London, with an emphasis on biodynamic and craft sakes from across Japan.
Housed in the restaurant’s Studio – a purpose-built, canvas draped space that’s been created using influences from Japanese craftsmanship and designed to match Twelv’s distinctively minimalist style – the four course menu pairs each dish with a different sake, kicking off with scallop sashimi, summer salad, tomato dashi and seaweed, before moving on to smørrebrød, pickled sardines, gooseberry and oyster leaf, and lamb cutlet, braised belly, broad beans, mushrooms and truffle. For pudding, there’s pistachio cake, strawberries and white balsamic, paired with the sake equivalent of a dessert wine. If you didn’t know much about sake before, you will after this meal.
19 Motcomb Street, Belgravia, London SW1X 8LB
pantechnicon.com
Il Giardino at the Berkeley
Until 15 September
During the dark days of the first lockdown, there was one bright spot courtesy of the Berkeley, who opened a bustling culinary pop-up on an unassuming driveway called The Garden. Having proved insanely popular, the hotel decided to evolve the pop-up into a new form every season since. Now the garden is back for the summer, only this time it’s been transformed with a twist of la dolce vita into its latest iteration, Il Giardino.
The intimate al fresco restaurant has conjured up a tranquil Mediterranean hideaway on Wilton Place, complete with lush olive trees and fragrant herb plants. The menu – led by native Italian chef Antonio Pavone – is filled with everything you’d want from a delicious Italian feast, from warm focaccia, arancini and burratina to cacio e pepe, roasted wild seabass and Fiorentina steak. To finish, there’s tiramisu and Amalfi lemon and peach gelato. It’s all served on lemon-adorned crockery crafted exclusively for the pop-up by Bettina Ceramica, while the romantic mood is set by twinkling yellow candles from Acqua di Parma. Bellissima!
Wilton Place, Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7RL; the-berkeley.co.uk
Tendril
Until mid-September
Following on from their staggeringly successful (and much extended) pop-up at The Sun and 13 Cantons earlier in the year, much-lauded chef Rishim Sachdeva is back with another pop-up – this time just off Regent Street – ahead of his soon-to-open permanent restaurant. Currently slated to run for three months, if his previous residencies are anything to go by it’s more than likely it’ll be extended to double that time. Known for his inventive ‘mostly vegan’ cuisine, the new pop-up will feature dishes that combine his experience in both London and Indian kitchens.
Long-time fans can expect plenty of the old favourites from previous residencies, as well as a host of exciting new dishes. Highlights on the ever-changing menu include sticky soy beetroot fritter bao with daikon and sesame scallion, crispy celeriac terrine with beetroot, sorrel and aioli, and blue corn tostada with smoked beetroot nduja, chilli fennel pickle and tapenade. For those unfamiliar with Sachdeva’s cooking we’d recommend opting for the ‘Tendril Discovery’ set menu, where the chef will pull together his star dishes for you.
5 Princes Street, Mayfair, London W1B 2LQ
tendrilkitchen.co.uk
Chatsworth Estate at Sotheby’s Bond Street
Until 15 July
As part of the celebrations for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, the renowned Chatsworth Estate – home to the Devonshire family – will be descending on London courtesy of a chic pop-up at Sotheby’s Bond Street. Celebrating British farm-to-table dining, the menu will feature the finest seasonal ingredients straight from the estate and the neighbouring Derbyshire Dales, including Chatsworth gin-cured salmon and Estate-reared lamb chops served with Monk’s Beard. The menu also includes a Bakewell Tart made to Chatsworth’s own special recipe, and a selection of cheeses produced at the Hartington Creamery, the only Derbyshire stilton creamery, originally established by the 8th Duke of Devonshire in the 1870s.
Alongside the tantalising dishes you’ll find a newly-created Chatsworth gin cocktail, made from the Estate’s own small batch London dry style gin, which uses a blend of botanicals sourced from around the Estate with the help of the Head Gardener, including the Cavendish banana leaf which is unique to Chatsworth. There’ll also be a pop-up shop on site where visitors can take home treats from the Estate’s award-winning farm shop, while artist Charlie Mackesy has transformed the coffee bar with his charming sketches to coincide with the residency.
34-35 New Bond Street, Mayfair, London W1S 2RP; sothebys.com
A Taste of the Mediterranean at Como Metropolitan
Until 6 August
This summer, Como Metropolitan’s Executive Chef Ruben Briones is launching his own culinary experience, inspired by his personal gastronomic journey, which saw him start out by cooking in his grandfather’s kitchen in Andalucía before moving to Paris and London to work for the likes of Alain Senderens and Jason Atherton. He will be hosting three pop-up restaurants over the year – A Taste of the Mediterranean, A Taste of the Ocean and A Taste of Le Bistro – kicking off with his favourite summer dishes from the Med.
Taking inspiration from a range of diverse regions in Europe, from the strait of Gibraltar to the Golden Horn in Turkey, it’s the perfect menu for balmy summer nights, with dishes like white bean Masabacha hummus with crispy egg – a popular Israeli dish – and Greek-inspired marinated tuna loin gyros with pita, tzatziki and pickled salad. They’ll all be washed down with summery cocktails and wines hand-picked from the region.
19 Old Park Lane, Mayfair, London W1K 1LB; comohotels.com
Alex Webb at Number One Park Lane
Until 28 July
Essex-born MasterChef: The Professionals 2020 winner Alex Webb is hosting a three-month pop-up at the InterContinental Hotel terrace this summer, with a carefully-crafted menu that’s full of nostalgia. The focus is on British meat and seafood, with stand-out dishes including Lake District Farmers’ smoked beef tartare with caviar, salted egg and crispy rice paper and Scottish butter-poached lobster with sea herbs, burnt pickled onions and bisque.
Save room for dessert, where you can order the playful cotton candy floss with raspberries or Alex’s party piece: English strawberries served with popping candy and edible strawberry dust. Everything is served alongside the finest English wines from Hattingley Valley. The pop-up will also be supporting the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, with all the proceeds from his Dad’s bread and whipped butter starter going to the charity, in honour of his late father.
1 Park Lane, Mayfair, London W1J 7QY; parklane.intercontinental.com
