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Mid March feels like a small gap in the annual awards/weeks/event-a-thon calendar. A brief moment where we can all hopefully take a little collective sigh. If you’ve been feeling swamped, our horoscope fave Chris Corsini says that we’ve just entered the new energetic year – so if you’re ready to turn a new page, the time is now. Have great weeks all, happy new year.
xx Taryn and Team UJ xx
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 | |  | | | Shhhhhhhh | | It’s a secret | | | What you see isn’t the only thing you can get, it seems – as businesses have taken to hiding additional offerings. In the City, Los Mochis London City has a new, 12-seat, 12-course omakase called Luna Omakase, hidden sky-high on their 9th floor with floor-to-ceiling windows and atmospheric views of St Paul’s. In Westbourne Grove, Canteen has The Fat Badger, the mostly unmarked (there’s just sign with a fat badger on it) restaurant/pub above. In Stoke Newington, Cuts and Bruises Barbershop have a bar below called As Above, So Below, and in Soho, Third Man Records have a hidden book vending machine in their basement called The Literarium with one-of-a kind books.
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|  | |  | | | | Not sure why, but these parties popping up in food outlets – bagel (LDN), pizza (Paris), coffee shops (LA) feel fresh. Where next?
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|  | |  | | | Jade Jagger Presents // JEZEBEL | | 26 March | | A club night/brand that started in Ibiza because she wanted to hear something other than the electronic music that was being played everywhere, followed by successful nights across the globe with leading talent like Mark Ronson and Groove Armada: Jade is now bringing Jezebel back to London. Taking place at The Tent (at the End of the Universe) on Wednesday, 26 March, expect hip hop, reggae, afro house and other old school beats, with a roster of great DJs, in what is definitely one of our favourite venues. This is sure to be fun! Tickets here. For a taste of the evening, press play on this Jezebel playlist. And read our Q&A with Jade for more of what’s behind the night.
PRESS PLAY | READ THE INTERVIEW | GET TICKETS
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|  | |  | | | On our list | | Live Music + Dinner
We’ll start with the one that seems fun: Live at Berners is a new music and curated dining series at Berners Tavern in The London EDITION; the first one is 4 April, with Hans Zimmer and Friends. And on the could-be-cringe-but-might-be-a-laugh end are the singing waiters at The Piano Works. Write down a tune, and a waiter (they’re all professional singers) will perform it.
Events
‘Tis the season of restaurant events. On 25 March, Jackson Boxer is hosting a 7-course seafood focused dinner at Henri, in collaboration with Sylvain Roucayrol from Marseille’s Tuba Club. Berber & Q are doing chef collab Sunday lunches to celebrate their 10th birthday; the first is 30 March with Jake Norman from Ottolenghi. Rambutan and Cousins is a monthly night where the Sri Lankan restaurant cooks with a different ‘friend’ – on 16 April, Prince Durairaj from restaurant Tamilia is in residence.
Wine and Champagne Dates
Chef Lawrence Barrow is at the Renegade Urban Winery in Walthamstow on 26 March, for a one-off feasting dinner, showcasing the best of Irish produce with unique wines; tickets here. The Clove Club are doing Ten Vineyard Lunches (tasting menus with pairings) – the first one is 27 March with Benjamin Leroux who represents next gen Burgundy wines; tickets here. And two to book ahead: Kitchen Table are hosting a Champagne Dinner and Masterclass, led by their co-founder and sommelier Sandia Chang 22 April; tickets here; and on 13 May, Honest Grapes are hosting a dinner with well-known organic and biodynamic winemaker, Clemens Busch; tickets here.
New
Another newbie in Marylebone: Nina is the latest restaurant from the group behind Zephyr and Bottarga, this time with a Mediterranean menu. And over in WC2 there’s a Chocolate Market with a host of different chocolate makers, at Toklas Bakery on Saturday, 29 March.
Pop Up
Jordan Erza King will be in residence at The Standard London’s Isla restaurant for three months, from tomorrow. Known for his Italian-inspired mob cooking, dishes will include pizza fritta with ricotta and sumac, and brill with Amalfi lemon butter – from what we’ve seen, it looks great.
Sandwiches
First, the sandwich we want to try – Fortnum’s has a new toastie bar! Make haste. In other news, viral sandwich shop Sandwich Sandwich is opening a huge new venue in the City; Crunch (sandwiches with crunchy ingredients) are opening in Soho, and My Favourite Sandwich, which claims to have elevated sarnies, is opening in Spitalfields.
Looking Ahead – Institutions and Galleries
Locanda Locatelli is opening in the National Portrait Gallery this May; Aram, the Syrian café, deli and restaurant is opening in Somerset House in the autumn; and Ravinder Bhogal and Nadeem Lalani Nanjuwany are opening a restaurant at V&A East (2026).
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|  | |  | | | Hotel Experimental Marais | | What’s New | | Round up | | | A few new things to check out in Paris include Hotel Experimental Marais, from the Experimental Group, which has a very good-looking NYC-inspired dining room, Temple & Chapon, and an American Bar. Locke also have a new hotel, Le Jardin de Verre by Locke, in the Latin Quarter. Disneyland Paris has elevated its dining with La Forêt Secrète by Michelin-starred chef Jean Imbert at Disneyland Hotel, where each dish is inspired by a Disney film, complete with, fittingly, a kids menu, too. For shopping, Merci has just launched Merci 2, in a beautiful ex-private home location; and Union de la Jeunesse Internationale is a curated concept store and gallery that has everything from independent books and mags to art, coffee and clothes.
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|  | |  | | | Arc | | Contrast Therapy | | And running | | Arc is a new social contrast therapy spot in Canary Wharf – and while it may sound vvvvv 2025, the sauna looks good, the baths look cold, and the guided classes include things like Dopamine Reset, and Lymphatic Flow.
Also on the hot/cold tip, if you’re a Soho House member, select members have been invited to preview the new gym at 180 House which has infrared saunas, ice baths, and residences with specialists. Soho House are also holding an East meets West 10K run on 28 March, where you choose where you start (Shoreditch House or White City House), then finish at the other House for smoothies and snacks.
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|  | |  | | | New Hotels | | 2025 | | Miyakojima
Rosewood Miyakojima
Located on an untouched peninsula off the south coast of Mainland Japan known as the ‘Island of Prayers’, the Rosewood Miyakojima is a very zen-looking retreat. Come here for calm ocean waters, lush vegetation, and all-round chilled vibes.
Madrid
Nômade Temple Hotel
Madrid is booming, and opening this year will be a Nômade Temple Hotel which is taking over the Las Letras building in what’s known as the literary quarter. This hotel will follow their format of bohemian vibes, with wellbeing woven throughout, but this time with a more urban touch.
Athens
The Ilisian
Also booming is Athens, and the new Conrad Athens, The Ilisian, is transforming a historic building so it will have a hotel, residences, rooftop gym (complete with a track), a member’s club, a boutique, several restaurants and bars, and views of the Acropolis from all angles.
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|  | |  | | | Coffee | | Percolate | | | Noma has a new filter coffee service, Noma Kaffe. Subscribe and you’ll receive two bags per month, of beans sourced and roasted by their team in Copenhagen. In London, Hagen have opened their largest, most advanced location yet in Mayfair, on North Audley Street, with unique brews like Atomo beanless coffee, and Himalayan Specialty coffee.
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|  | |  | | | Brooklyn Mirage | | Rebirth of cool | | | Re-opening on 1 May, NYC’s Brooklyn Mirage will now be a digital-heavy venue, with a seating configuration that lets every guest feel like they’re close to the stage. They say it’s not just an upgrade, but a rebirth, with 100 shows already confirmed for this year.
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|  | |  | | | Faena | | Restaurant News | | Round up | | Madeira is beginning to be quite a foodie destination; in the recent Michelin Guide Portugal awards, three restaurants retained their stars (Il Gallo d’Oro at The Cliff Bay Hotel, Desarma, at the The Views Baía hotel, and William at Reid’s Palace); and five new restaurants (Ákua, Audax, Avista, Asia, Gazebo and Oxalis) received stars.
In Guernsey, Nathan Davies, the former head chef of the acclaimed Ynyshir in Wales, is opening a new fire-led restaurant, Vraic.
In Miami, Chicago’s three-Michelin star Alinea will be at the Faena from 30 April to 25 May. Known for its theatricality, menu items could include things like edible helium balloons and interactive dessert presentations.
Also in Miami, cult ice cream shop, Peel Soft Serve, uses overripe bananas that would have been discarded, with a splash of coconut milk, for their non-dairy, no sugar serves. Plan on queuing at their Design District location if you want to try one.
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|  | |  | | | L’AND Vineyards | | We. Love. It. Here. | | | Love wine, design, spa, wild landscape and relaxed yet fine dining? Then L’AND Vineyards is definitely for you. Just 40 minutes from Lisbon, the lakeside suites offer a relaxing wine-based stay.
| | | READ OUR REVIEW |
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Reproductions of any portion of this website only with our express permission. Urban Junkies is a free weekly mailer. All listings and features are editorial: We do not receive any payment from venues, artists or promoters. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy of information listed but we cannot accept responsibility for errors or omissions.
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