The London pop-ups to catch in 2019

Cocktails in the City: spring edition

This spring edition of Cocktails in the City is taking place at The Vaults, the multi-purpose venue within the arches beneath Waterloo Station. Here, several of London’s best bars are present in pop-up form, offering tasting flights, sensory cocktail experiences and, of course, their signature drinks.

Among the institutions making an appearance are Ella Canta, Eve Bar, Mr Fogg's and Cahoots.

Eleven98 at Hackney Coffee Co

Hackney Coffee Co is a coffee shop by day, interactive social fine dining experience by night (occasionally). Going by the name Eleven98, the pop-up supper clubs are held roughly once a month and take up to 20 guests per sitting. Diners are welcomed with a cocktail on arrival but are expected to bring their own drink of choice to see them through the rest of the evening, leaving the focus on chef Aidan Brooks’ six-course tasting menu – which is comprised largely of ingredients grown in the borough of Hackney.

Aviary igloos

Igloo season isn’t over yet. Not on the Aviary rooftop terrace, anyway. If you’re not escaping to the slopes this February, or simply want to keep the après ski spirit alive a little longer, here’s your answer: cosy up in one of the Aviary’s winter-frosted igloos, and enjoy an arrival cocktail and spread of comfort food snacks (hello fried mac and cheese balls) with views of the glittering city below.

BBQ Dreamz at Meat Liquor

Those who’ve chanced upon, or made a purposeful trip to, Kerb – a street food collective with locations across London – might have sampled the delights of Filipino pop-up BBQ Dreamz. The street food stall is on the cusp of big, exciting things, having won the latest series of the BBC’s reality TV show My Million Pound Menu. But before they set about doing things with their investment, the team behind BBQ Dreamz are running a six-week pop-up at the King’s Cross branch of MEATLiquor. Here, they’re offering a 10-course tasting menu for just £28, featuring grilled meats, fresh slaws and their acclaimed aubergine curry.

Monograph’s Japanese Supper Club

Those with a penchant for authentic Japanese cuisine with a hint of the experimental to it should book in to one of Monograph’s Japanese Supper Clubs. The events are held in secret locations and are a chance to dine on an unusual multi-course menu: from a watercress salad through rich, broth-soaked mains and into sweets of the matcha, chocolate or sweet bean paste variety. The atmosphere is informal and relaxed, and guests are invited to bring their own drinks, too.

Breathpod at Browns East

Mindful breathing is one of the biggest wellness trends of 2019, praised for its ability to increase energy, creativity and flow, while improving emotional intelligence, concentration, sleep and memory. Regardless of whether it’ll stand the test of time as a practice, studios and wellness experts across the city are making room for classes in it. Among them is mindful breathing practitioner Stuart Sandeman who has founded Breathpod, a 30-minute deep breathing and sound experience.

The Breathpod experience is currently operating as a pop-up out of Browns East, where it’ll run until the end of March. Those who book in for a session will be guided through a conscious breathing sequence by Stuart, designed to ‘charge you up and chill you out’. This mind-body adventure is combined with a bespoke sound journey composed by Sandeman and electronic music artist John Monkman. Guests can also enjoy a kombucha brew onsite from east London company Jarr Kombucha, whose own residency in the space runs until 3 April.

A Taste of Shakespeare

Ever fancied yourself watching seven of the most famous Shakespeare scenes in a site-specific medieval crypt, while simultaneously tucking into a multi-course feast? Probably not. But only because you weren’t aware it was even a thing. Well, it is. Set in St. Etheldreda's Church – which was mentioned by Shakespeare himself in Richard II and Richard III – A Taste of Shakespeare is a chance to watch performances from RSC veterans while enjoying an indulgent tasting menu devised by Executive Head Chef Julian Marshall.

Filth burger at Dirty Burger Shoreditch

Following the success of their Pure Filth pop-up at Tate Modern, expectations were high when chef Gizzi Erskine and nutritionist Rose Ferguson announced they were embarking on a three-month residency at Dirty Burger in Shoreditch, unveiling an all-new vegan burger there. Thankfully, it’s a crowd-pleaser; rumours are rife it just might be the best vegan burger in town – and there’s nothing filthy about it.

Black beans, black quinoa and non-GMO soy mince form the basis of the patty. It's then fried and topped with vegan beer ‘cheese’, beetroot ketchup, roasted garlic aioli, cucumber pickles and crispy onions; and comes served in a bright beetroot bun. By way of sides, diners have the choice of salads or sweet potato fries dusted with seaweed miso. While for drinks, you’ll be looking at plant-based shakes made with Booja Booja ice cream.

The Brick Bar

Just when you thought pop-ups couldn't get more niche, along comes a bar constructed entirely of Lego bricks – over a million of them in fact. Australia-based Brick Bar, which is in no way affiliated with Lego, brings a unique experience to an undisclosed location in Shoreditch this spring. A ticket gives you 90 minutes in the bar, where you can sip on a range of cocktails, tuck into the signature Brick Burger and, of course, build your own creation brick by brick.

The Chocolate Cocktail Club

Following a sell-out stint in Brighton, sugar-laden pop-up The Chocolate Cocktail Club has begun a four-month run in Shoreditch, bringing chocolate cocktails, chocolate beers and even chocolate wine to sweet-toothed Londoners. The bar serves ‘delicious duos from mochas to mint’ as well as its signature chocotini, and there's even an onsite chef making chocolate brownies. Customers are advised to book an hour-and-a-half slot in advance, and will receive a chocotini with their ticket.