From a Champagne-worthy restaurant reopening to Japanese-inspired cocktails and a Halloween bar that feels straight out of a horror film, London has plenty of reasons to stay out a little longer this autumn. Add comforting seasonal menus, Sunday roasts and a few excuses to dress up, and the city’s dining scene is making the transition into colder weather rather appealing.
Whether you’re planning a weekend dinner, after-work drinks or something a little more theatrical for Halloween, here are six London spots worth adding to your list.
1. Experimental Cocktail Club — Halloween After Dark
If your idea of Halloween involves elaborate cocktails and an atmospheric setting rather than another ordinary night at the bar, The Haunting on Russell Street is worth a look.
Running at No. 9 Russell Street in Covent Garden until 1 November, the immersive pop-up brings theatrical interiors, costumed hosts and a menu of Halloween-inspired drinks.
Order the Widow’s Whisper, combining vodka, chocolate, lychee, matcha, yuzu and absinthe, or try Clown Pear-anoia, made with mezcal. There is also What Lies Beneath, which blends aged rum, cognac, spiced ginger and sweetcorn milk.
It’s an adults-only experience designed for those who prefer their cocktails with a little drama.
2. Kiyori at Aki London — Japanese Cocktails and Late-Night Jazz
Hidden inside Aki London in Marylebone, Kiyori is giving after-work drinks a Japanese twist.
Its new cocktail menu brings together British ingredients and Japanese techniques, with serves including a Sakura Cosmo, Espresso & Miso Martini, Oyster Martini and Matcha Coconut Sour.
The experience extends beyond the drinks. Kissa Nights takes place every Saturday, drawing inspiration from Japan’s traditional jazz kissas, where music and intimate listening spaces go hand in hand.
With small plates including Wagyu beef, black garlic gyoza and rock shrimp tempura, it’s a good option when you want dinner and drinks without moving between venues.
3. The Broadcaster — Autumn Comfort Food in White City
When temperatures drop, a proper plate of comfort food becomes considerably more appealing. At The Broadcaster in White City, the new autumn menu focuses on seasonal produce, British classics and modern pub favourites.
Think 12-hour beef cheeks with horseradish mash and Roscoff onions, ricotta dumplings with roasted cauliflower and wild mushrooms, or pan-roasted halibut with white bean cassoulet, mussels and chorizo.
Sunday lunch is another reason to visit, with traditional roasts and a sharing feast priced at £36 per person.
The ground-floor pub has also been refreshed for the season, while the rooftop offers sweeping views across West London. For a more relaxed evening, weekly Thursday DJ sets provide another reason to stay for a drink.
4. The BoTree — Halloween Indulgence and a Night on the Dance Floor
For those who prefer their Halloween plans with a luxury hotel setting, The BoTree in Marylebone has two very different offerings.
At its signature Italian-American restaurant, LAVO, the famous 20-layer cake returns with a seasonal twist on 31 October. Spiced pumpkin, chai tea and white chocolate Chantilly cream give the indulgent dessert an autumnal makeover, finished with a touch of cinnamon.
If dinner is only the beginning of your evening, head to 77, the hotel’s music and events space. On 30 October, it hosts a theatrical Halloween party inspired by a sinister grand hotel, complete with mysterious characters and a late-night set from DJ Emanuel Satie.
Whether you’re after a seasonal dessert or a night that continues well beyond dinner, The BoTree has both covered.
5. Duchy — The Comfort Food Restaurant to Try This Autumn
Some restaurants are about culinary theatre; others simply make you want to order another course. Duchy falls into the latter category for me.
I recently tried its autumn menu, and what stood out was how approachable everything felt. The food was warming, familiar and full of flavour — exactly the kind of cooking that makes sense as we move away from summer.
The beef tartare was appetising, with a lovely texture and a rich egg-yolk and cream-cheese element. The cod was particularly soft, with a deeply flavoured sauce that worked its way into the fish, while the ox cheek was tender enough to cut through easily. The accompanying risotto made the dish feel comforting without becoming too heavy.
Even the music deserves a mention: relaxed and well judged, creating an atmosphere that lets you enjoy the meal without competing with the conversation.
For me, that is the appeal of Duchy this season: familiar flavours, well-executed dishes and a dinner that feels genuinely satisfying.
6. Quaglino’s — A London Institution Returns
Few London restaurants carry quite the same sense of history as Quaglino’s. First opened in 1929, the St James’s institution is entering a new chapter following a significant restoration, with its reopening on 7 October 2026.
The refreshed interiors honour the restaurant’s Art Deco character and famous staircase, while a newly commissioned art collection and updated dining experience bring it into the present.
The menu draws on founder Giovanni Quaglino’s journey from Piedmont to Cannes and London, combining Italian influences, French technique and British dining traditions. Expect dishes including vitello tonnato skewers, pissaladière, turbot and lamb cutlet Milanese.
There are also several reasons to linger after dinner: a Champagne bar offering 24 Champagnes, a seafood counter serving oysters and other shellfish, and a dessert bar with playful creations including cannoli cigars and chocolate ashtrays.
With live music and cabaret returning to the room, Quaglino’s is once again positioning itself as a destination for dinner that can easily turn into a much longer evening.
7. Pearl Mayfair — A New Dining Destination Above the Gardens
Mayfair has a new address to know this autumn. Pearl, from The Beaumont Mayfair, opened on 14 September 2026, bringing an elegant all-day dining restaurant, terrace and public gardens to the heart of the neighbourhood.
Set above a Grade II-listed working electricity substation within Brown Hart Gardens, the new destination pairs an unusual architectural setting with Mediterranean-inspired cooking from chef Lisa Goodwin-Allen.
What makes Pearl particularly appealing is the combination of restaurant and outdoor space. Following a redesign of the gardens, it offers a place to settle in for a leisurely lunch or dinner while enjoying a quieter corner of Mayfair.
For anyone looking for a new restaurant to add to their London list, Pearl brings together thoughtful design, a central location and a fresh take on all-day dining.
