The Good Taste Guide: Where to eat and drink in London in November

November ushers in the ever-exciting winter party season – and fittingly, this month, London is alight with the most stylish of buzzy new bars and bites. 

From champagne at the press of a button, to groovy 1970s India via al fresco party terraces, here’s where we’ll be eating and drinking in London this month. Bookmark this page and never be without a suggestion of hot new venues to try again… 

St Pancras Champagne Bar by Searcys

There’s no better way to toast an exciting trip than with a glass of France’s finest export – and nowhere does it better than Searcys. Europe’s longest champagne bar, set against the stunning backdrop of St Pancras’ Victorian Gothic canopy, Searcys Champagne Bar on the mezzanine terrace of the iconic station has just enjoyed a dazzling renovation. The transformation sees a plush bar ideal for people watching, and an all-new selection of cosy private velvet booths join the venue – complete with ‘Press for Champagne’ buttons – perfect for escaping the bustle of the train station below, or for enjoying a romantic glass or two together with a date. 

The newly reopened bar also features a just-as-attractive seafood bar, providing the perfect pairing for your bubbles. Think: Rock and Native oysters with a mignonette sauce, Portland Crab rarebit, and hand-dived Orkney scallop ceviche. When it comes to washing it down, of course, fizz is what Searcys does best, so expect an extensive selection of champagne by the glass, bottle or magnum, as well as the best in English sparkling wines and a collection of bottles from more than fifty champagne houses. Read our run down of the stylish new opening, right here. So good, it’s a destination in itself. 

• Open seven days a week from 12pm, the new St Pancras Champagne Bar by Searcys is now welcoming pre-bookings and walk-ins.  

The Moët & Chandon Suite at the Kit Kat Club

This newly opened private suite in the heart of the Kit Kat Club – home to the Olivier award-winning latest production of Cabaret – offers an immersive food and drink experience quite unlike anything else in theatreland. Boasting its own bartender and VIP host, guests of the suite will enjoy decadent pre-show cocktails, champagne and canapés in their own dedicated space before the show and during the interval, before being whisked to the best seats in the house for the performance. Cocktails are inspired by the 1930s vintage drinks that were served at the original Kit Kat Club – try the signature cocktail, “The Toast of Mayfair”, which combines Amaretto, lychee and Moët Imperial Champagne with gold dust, naturally. The musical has just launched with a new cast, and this is the way to see it in utmost style. 

• Prices start from £300 per person, excluding the price of show tickets. Bookings and more info here.

God’s Garden 

Grab a mulled wine, because this hidden winter garden at the stunning Grade I-listed One Marylebone promises to be the stuff that Christmas dreams are made of. Opening from 4th November, the new heated hideaway promises the perfect spot for after-work drinks or a post-shopping champagne – or the place to be on Saturdays through the winter season, thanks to its Après Ski brunch parties. 

• Open Wednesday to Sundays from 4th November at 1 Marylebone Rd, NW1 4AQ. More info at godsgardenldn.com.

Don’s Farmacia at BFI Southbank 

Now, this is just what the doctor ordered. This month, Cazacabel tequila opens up pop-up bar Don’s Farmacia for a limited time: a curious, atmospheric bar hidden behind a bookcase in BFI Southbank, and inspired by the brand’s creator, Don Cazcabel, which will transport patrons from chilly London to an ancient Mexican apothecary. Expect tonics, tinctures and hand-crafted restorative cocktails prescribed by Don’s cocktail pharmacists. You’ll have to be quick though, as the special speakeasy only runs from 2nd to 14th November. That’s our kind of medicine. 

• Don’s Farmacia opens from 2nd to 14th November at BFI Southbank. Booking is advised – secure your slot here.

Bandra Bhai 

If you’re ever stuck for where to go for a cocktail in the hub of Oxford Circus, note down this (literal) hidden gem and thank us later. This incredible retro-styled secret Indian speakeasy is tucked away, underground, below Fitzrovia restaurant Pahli Hill. Intimate and dimly lit, the vibe here is kitsch gilded glamour, inspired by groovy 1970s India, and that means leopard print furnishings, sumptuous red velvet and real vintage knick knacks – everywhere. Cocktails are expertly crafted classics with a twist – try the Gold Fashioned, which mixes Woodford Bourbon with flavours of Chaat Masala, or the Plum & Star Anise Daiquiri, which tastes as good as it looks. With a licence until 1am, there’s no better place for a West End nightcap on a cold night. As the owners say, what happens underground, stays underground… but in this case, it’s a secret too good to keep. 

• Open Wednesdays, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 5pm – 1am. Booking advised through bandrabhai.co.uk

The Viaduct 

Elegant and industrial, this new opening in the heart of Shoreditch is more than just a bar. Part restaurant, part cocktail lounge, and described as a “360 experience,” step into the meticulously designed venue and you’ll be treated to a sequence of spaces you’ll want to spend the day in, all the way through to night. Light and airy restaurant Arch is ideal for a coffee catch up or brunch, while fittingly named bar Tap, a collaboration with the local E1 Brew Co, offers a taproom full of craft beers to sample. Then, you’ll want to unwind in the Cosmos bar: a luxurious navy blue and gold-accented cocktail lounge with drinks just as tantalising. 

• The Viaduct is open seven days a week at 83 Rivington St, London EC2A 3AY. More info at theviaduct-shoreditch.com.

Our wine of the month: ‘Paraíso’ by Luigi Bosca

As the nights draw in, evenings in become rather more attractive, too – and that’s especially true with this fine wine in the picture. Argentinian winemakers Luigi Bosca were already firmly on our radar for exceptionally crafted red wines, and now, the latest prestige edition to the family-owned producer’s portfolio has solidified its place for good. 2019 vintage Paraíso, which is being coined “the pinnacle of Argentinian winemaking” is the producer’s most exclusive blend yet, a mix of the country’s most renowned variety, Malbec, with Cabernet Sauvignon, carefully sourced from the best grapes from very specific pockets of the winemaker’s estate in is the culmination of years of winemaking expertise, coupled with careful  sourcing of only the best grapes, from very specific pockets of the estate at the at the foot of the Andean Mountain range. 

The result? A smooth palate, composed of fruity characters and notes of red fruits and spices with a persistent finish. In fact, it’s so special that the wine received the gold medal at the prestigious Decanter World Wine Awards 2022. ‘Paraíso’ means ‘paradise’ in Spanish – and it’s certainly fitting. 

• More info at luigibosca.com