World Sake Day, London Cocktail Week, Halloween, Diwali… October is anything but a quiet month! We’ve rounded up the best must-dos in London this month from watching cult classic horror movies at JOIA to sampling Sip & Sax at Melia. This is the Luxe List London – October.
London Cocktail Week Returns
Oh don’t you just love London Cocktail Week?! Quality cocktails, experimental sips and all at reduced prices (that means you can try more!) From 9th – 19th October, it’s bigger and better than ever. Alongside £9 Signature Cocktails and £12 Moët & Chandon Champagne Cocktails for wristband holders, more than 100 events will unfold across the city’s best bars. Expect paired tasting menus, international bar takeovers, and new launches from spirits heavyweights including Johnnie Walker and Ladydragón tequila. Don’t miss the festival’s Top 10 Signature Cocktails – from floral highballs and punchy martinis to bold margaritas – every single glass is the perfect showcase of London’s vibrant cocktail culture.
Here’s a quick round up of the highlights:
The Connoisseur’s Collection (9–19 Oct) – Curated by Anna Sebastian, featuring rare spirits and pairings at London’s most exclusive bars. Highlights include Dante x Claridge’s martini with caviar, spy-inspired cocktails at Raffles OWO, and Johnnie Walker Black Ruby cocktails with petit fours at HIDE.
Bar Queens at Equal Parts (13 Oct) – Female and non-binary bartenders from across the globe are taking over Equal Parts, serving Lillet cocktails to a vinyl soundtrack.
Schweppes Pioneers at GŎNG (14 Oct) – Four world-renowned bartenders crafting landmark-inspired highballs from The Shard’s sky-high bar.
Ladydragón Tequila Launch (15 Oct) – Celebrate the female-founded tequila brand at Mayfair’s MR PORTER with fiery cocktails and fierce energy.
Johnnie Walker Black Ruby x SIPS & Lyaness (16 Oct) – A seated-only experience uniting two of the world’s top bars for technically brilliant, elegant cocktails.
Bar Ilegal at Nine Lives (18 Oct) – Mezcal-fuelled closing party with music, mayhem, and mischief until 3am.
TOZI’s Passion for Mushrooms Menu
To celebrate the reissue of the late Antonio Carluccio’s ‘A Passion for Mushrooms’, TOZI Restaurant and Bar in Victoria has put together an extremely tasty and very special four-course menu (7th–11th October, £60pp). Curated by Head Chef Maurilio Molteni, a protégé of Carluccio, dishes include wild mushroom crostini, buffalo ricotta ravioli with truffle, pheasant breast with cauliflower mushroom, and TOZI’s pistachio tiramisu. A quarter of the sales will also support The Antonio Carluccio Foundation. Mushroom addicts can book here.
Sip & Sax at Meliá White House
Grab your feather boa and flapper your way over to Meliá White House every Wednesday as they bring soulful live jazz to its stylish ‘35 Bar & Lounge with Sip & Sax. From 6.30 – 9pm, you can enjoy performances from top musicians including saxophonist Stacey Dawson and jazz singer Jon Nickoll. Sip on sexy expertly crafted signature cocktails – like the Vesper or Delicious Sour and get this, it’s also 50% off during Social Hour (7–9pm). With nearly a century of history, this iconic hotel makes the perfect backdrop for a sophisticated midweek night out. Reserve a table by emailing [email protected]
Celebrate Diwali with Vivek Singh and The Cinnamon Collection
Celebrate the ‘Festival of Lights’ this Diwali with some incredible dining experiences. Vivek Singh’s Cinnamon Collection celebrates with vibrant feasting menus (1st – 31st October) across five London restaurants. At The Cinnamon Club in Westminster, fine dining meets history with a five-course menu (£65pp / £105pp with wine pairing) in a Grade II-listed library. Cinnamon Bazaar in Covent Garden and Richmond offer colourful eight-course feasts complete with a cocktail for only £39pp; Cinnamon Kitchen Battersea, (which is beneath the arches by Battersea Power Station) will be serving up a nine-course sharing menu for only £45pp, while Cinnamon Kitchen City delivers bold flavours in Devonshire Square (£48pp.)
Celebrate World Sake Day
Raise a glass this World Sake Day (1st October) with Notting Hill favourite Ukai. Known for its bold Japanese Robata-style cuisine fused with Mediterranean and South American flair, Ukai is offering a £70pp sake-paired tasting menu (minimum two guests). On the menu – a pretty fancy feast including dishes like wagyu tataki with truffle, red shrimp tartare, sushi platters and beef fillet, perfectly matched with premium Shichiken sake. A live DJ adds to the atmosphere – ideal for a refined, flavour-packed celebration.
Meanwhile Bar Antoine and adjoining Michelin-starred Pavyllon London at Four Seasons Park Lane have partnered with one of Japan’s most celebrated Sake producers. The Mayfair hotspot offers a £35 flight of three premium Dassai sakes (the 45, 39 and 23), poured by Head Sommelier Andrea Strocchio. Enjoy complimentary Japanese crackers with each flight, or sip Dassai by the glass or bottle. A refined introduction to Japan’s iconic sake in chic Mayfair surroundings.
The Ultimate Champagne Series at Bob Bob Ricard
You had us at ‘Champagne…’ But let us tell you about Bob Bob Ricard’s ‘The Ultimate Champagne Series’ launching in its opulent Red Room with a decadent monthly supper dedicated to the world’s most prestigious Champagne houses. Kicking off on 30th September with Moët & Chandon, guests will be transported to a Parisian soirée celebrating joie de vivre! On 14th October, Bollinger takes centre stage with a Casino Royale–themed night honouring James Bond Day, while 11th November welcomes Taittinger with art, theatre and dramatic sabrage and then there’s the series finale on 2nd December with Perrier-Jouët’s Belle Époque elegance. As you’d expect, there are limited tickets available so make a plan and grab your tickets by clicking on the champagne brands above.
Il Bambini Club Lands in Shoreditch
Paris favourite Il Bambini Club has made its UK debut at The Hoxton, Shoreditch, bringing its signature dolce vita spirit to East London. Expect fresh pasta, wood-fired pizza, spritzes and aperitivo hour in a vibrant setting that’s part Italian trattoria, part holiday escape. From lazy lunches to late-night bites, the all-day menu is paired with playful cocktails and desserts. There’s live music, chic design and a buzzy, welcoming vibe, so you can guarantee Il Bambini Club is set to be Shoreditch’s new go-to Italian hotspot.
Halloween at JOIA
JOIA is turning up the spooky fun this Halloween with a series of rooftop events in London. On Wednesday 29th, Thursday 30th October, and Sunday 2nd November, JOIA will transform into open-air cinema mode showing cult classics like The Lost Boys, Ghostbusters and Hocus Pocus with dinner and homemade popcorn from £80. Grab your tickets here.
Then on 31st October, join the Fright Feast (£120pp) and step into a Hollywood horror-themed evening with cocktails, live DJ Pao Pestana, vocalist Jojo Desmond, showgirls, ballerinas, and a Marilyn Monroe burlesque band at Pérola. Sounds epic doesn’t it? A cinematic and stylish way to celebrate Halloween against the London skyline, you can book here.
Ole & Steen’s Festive Menu
From 4th November, Danish bakery Ole & Steen launches its festive menu across all stores, absolutely packed out with seasonal bakes, savouries, and gifts inspired by hygge. Highlights include the Gingerbread Social, Honey Heart, Sticky Toffee Pudding, and Christmas Tree Muffin, alongside warming drinks like Gingerbread Lattes and Hot Chocolate. It’s never too early for a Turkey Toastie, while you can savour the Festive Mushroom Melt and Fig & Goat Cheese Danish, or gift cosy Cinnamon Social Socks, the Jul Candle, and Cinnamon Social Chocolate Bar. A Scandinavian-inspired celebration of flavour, comfort, and festive cheer.
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