London’s top dining spots for the May Bank Holiday

Head down to Hackney for some fab food and drinks in London’s first fully vegan pub! The Spread Eagle offers seasonal dishes showcasing the best locally foraged produce in Britain, all made within a sustainable, minimal waste kitchen. Expect delicious plant-based pub classics like pie, mash and liquor, burger and fries, and a scrumptious Sunday roast with all the trimmings. This warm and vibrant East London pub is a great place to bring the whole family for some bank holiday festivities – and even your pooch is welcome to join in the fun!

This iconic North London gastropub is the perfect choice if you’re in the mood for delicious pub classics, cask ales, fine wines and great hospitality. Inside this characterful period building, you’ll find gorgeously decorated dining areas with large tables to accommodate a big bank holiday get-together with all the family. On the main menu, you’ll have the choice of burgers, steaks, fish and chips, beef and ale pie or incredible Sunday roasts. With the roast, you can opt for 31-day aged sirloin of beef, free range organic chicken, roasted leg of lamb, slow roasted pork belly or a scrumptious plant-based potato, mushroom and spinach wellington, which all come served with Yorkshire puddings, roasted vegetables and plenty of gravy!

Cubana is responsible for introducing the mojito to the UK in the 1990s, so you just know this place is passionate about cocktails! This popular Cuban cantina and cocktail bar will transport you straight to the warmer climes of Havana with its vibrant rooftop terrace, which is perfect for some al fresco drinking, dancing and dining. Expect late night live music until 3am on Fridays and Saturdays, daily 2-for-1 happy hours from 4-7pm, and freshly made Cuban street food with a wide range of meat, fish, vegetarian and vegan options to choose from.

Yeotown Queen’s Garden is a California inspired eatery offering deliciously healthy, creative, plant-based centric dishes with a dash of British sensibility. From the creators of the award-winning Yeotown Health Retreat, Yeotown Queen’s Gardens is based in London’s first wellness focused hotel, Inhabit and the sister site to Yeotown Sussex Gardens. The menu is dairy, meat and refined sugar-free and offers primarily plant-based dishes with a couple of sustainable fish options, too. Most of the dishes are also free from gluten as well. The bar menu offers a selection of bio-dynamic, natural, organic and vegan wines alongside a signature Yeotown ‘Conscious Cocktail’ and ‘Mindful Mocktail’ drinks menu, so if you’re seeking a sustainable approach to your May Bank Holiday outing in London, look no further!

Caddi Club is the only golf club on your doorstep in London. These guys bring the game to you using the best technology, featuring over 300 courses from around the world. Offering lessons with industry-leading professionals in a relaxed atmosphere, everyone can enjoy the game, no matter your level. Whether you’re here for the food or the golf this May Bank Holiday, Caddi Club promises a memorable escape from the city’s hustle and bustle. Here you can savour delicious meals and unwind in a tranquil setting along the Thames. From smalls plates boasting Bang Bang Chicken and Truffle Mac & Cheese Bites, to pizza, pasta, burgers and loads more, you’re sure to have fun at Caddi Club over the three-day weekend.

There’s a reason why locals gravitate to The Kings Arms in Bexleyheath. It’s been a welcoming home-from-home since 1839, when the owner of the land decided to build the pub in what was essentially his garden! While it retains this charismatic history today, it also caters to the modern punter with a menu made up of fresh, locally-sourced ingredients — its signature giant Scotch eggs are a must-try! You’ll also find an extensive cocktail menu here, including mocktails and spritzes, perfect for sipping on the roof terrace on a laidback bank holiday afternoon…

If you’re looking to avoid the family crowds, the sleek Vins Restaurant & Wine Bar is conveniently located between the trendy hotspots of Islington, Hackney and Dalston. Inside, the space is intimate and holds just 10 tables, however there’s a covered outdoor terrace which is just the place for languorous European-style afternoons, complete with good wine, tasty bites and plenty of people-watching. From Perello olives and cheddar croquettes to cheese boards and bowls of creamy pasta, there’s something to suit all manner of groups and occasions.

The British weather can be unpredictable, even in the spring, so it’s best to plan for all eventualities and opt for a venue that can do it all. The Cricketers is one of those places; its outdoor terrace at the front overlooks the verdant Kew Green, while inside you’ll find an open fire and snug decor. If you want to make a day of it, you could even squeeze in a trip to the nearby Kew Gardens or work off the well-made pub grub with a stroll along this picturesque part of the Thames Path.

Perched on a pretty corner of Hackney, The Duke of Richmond offers upscale pub food in cosy yet contemporary surrounds. This spot is particularly renowned for its meat-free Sunday roasts, which led to its inclusion in Waitrose’s 2023 list of the top 10 pubs in the UK for a Sunday roast. There’s also a tempting selection of cocktails on offer, including an eye-popping picante margarita and an aromatic rosemary spritz. Beer drinkers can choose from a range of intriguing draft beers, and the happy hour each day sees some decent price reductions!

This characterful pub feels a bit more like a neighbourhood bar than a local boozer. This is reflected in its sumptuous leather banquettes, its excellent wine list, and its array of artwork that adorns the walls. You’ll also find an elevated menu of sharers, antipasti and mains, including seabass cartoccio, as well as an extensive range of crispy pizzas topped with the finest Italian ingredients. Whether you’re nursing a hangover or ravenous after a walk around the nearby Queen’s Park, this place is a bank holiday no-brainer.