Where to celebrate Burns Night in London

Known by some as Scotland’s ‘unofficial embassy in London’, Canary Wharf’s Boisdale promises a knock-out Burns Night experience. The menu features different tastes of Scotland: oak-smoked salmon, Scottish wild venison, Buccleuch dry-aged beef, and of course, Dumfriesshire haggis. The evening features live music, bagpipists, and a performance of Burns’ famous poem, ‘Address to a Haggis’. The restaurant also offers up different whiskies, all sourced from the Annadale distillery, which was established in 1836. The atmosphere promises to be opulent and lively – sign us up!

We admit: Deeney’s might not offer up an authentic Burns Night celebration, but it certainly celebrates all things Scottish with gusto. This restaurant is all about toasted sandwiches, packed with big flavours. The signature dish (the Hamish Macbeth toastie) features haggis, bacon, cheddar cheese, caramelised onion and mustard. A haggis toastie, what could be more Scottish? The rest of the menu is similarly Scottish inspired. From the Roberta the Bruce (roasted chicken, mozzarella and sriracha mayo), to the Lady Macbeth (veggie haggis, cheddar cheese, onions and mustard), it’s safe to say you won’t go hungry. Wash it all down with an Irn Bru, and we promise you’ll be doing the Scots proud.

If you wish to celebrate all things Robert Burns in one of London’s most sophisticated restaurants, then look no further. The Game Bird (located inside the beautiful Stafford Hotel) is an award-winning restaurant, serving up contemporary takes on British comfort foods. Each year, The Game Bird offers up a luxurious three-course Burns supper, featuring haggis (with all the trimmings, and doused in whisky gravy), Isle of Harris gin-cured salmon parfait, and to finish, white chocolate and whisky crème brulée served with raspberry sorbet and traditional Scottish shortbread. The prices are high, but we guarantee that it’s worth every penny.

For anybody who doesn’t know, a ceilidh is the Gaelic word for gathering. According to the owners, the Ceilidh Club is a place to get “a wee bit of Scotland in London. It’s simply three hours of the best entertainment you’ll find”. The club started in 1998 and it’s one of London’s longest running dance nights. The Ceilidh Club will be celebrating Burns Night this year at St Mary’s in Marylebone: expect haggis, neeps and tatties served buffet style (veggie and vegan options included), a good amount of dancing, and a hearty performance of Auld Lang Syne to finish the evening.

For a Burns Night with a twist, why not head to MEATLiquor, which each year creates a specialised ‘It Burns’ menu, which includes the likes of haggis croquettes and deep-fried macaroni cheese (how very Scottish!). Unsurprisingly, MEATLiquor also offer an extensive whisky menu, showcasing some of the finest scotch London has to offer. Prices are mid-range, and the atmosphere is low-key and chilled out. We do advise arriving hungry though: portion sizes are extremely generous. For a nod to Scottish tradition (without all the dancing), look for further.

Following on from the success of last year’s event, The Pig’s Head will once again welcome Aeneas O’Hara for a four-course dinner and whisky tasting on Tuesday 23rd January. As the founder of the bespoke Scottish travel company Away From The Ordinary, revellers will be in safe hands with O’Hara. The menu features intriguing creations including potato battered scallop roe with Irn-Bru ketchup, cranachan crusted lamb loin and haggis kromeski. Each course will feature a different whisky pairing and the whole thing will be rounded off with a deep-fried Mars Bar—what else?

The Athenaeum Hotel in Mayfair is renowned for its prized whisky collection of nearly 300 variations, however it doesn’t just keep these nectars for display purposes… The bar offers three different kinds of whisky tasting masterclasses, which are each one hour long and include four drams and a selection of divine cheese pairings too. If you really want to celebrate in style, then you can book a tasting on the tenth floor that comes with a spectacular view across the capital. If neat whisky isn’t really your style, then the bar menu features a whole section dedicated to whisky cocktails and twists, so you can still raise a glass to Mr Burns.

Yet another fine selection of firewater can be found on Portobello Road at The Distillery. On the first floor of this four-storey spirit emporium, The Malt Room is a chic spot where you can choose from an almost overwhelming array of highballs and cocktails to accompany the hearty British menu. The real draw here for whisky lovers though, is The Whisky Thing Experience: this three-hour educational tasting includes ten different variations as well as the opportunity to blend your own bottle to take home as a souvenir. What could make for a more memorable Burns Night activity?

For a seriously special meal, The Berkeley makes for a very safe bet. In the shimmering surrounds of The Collins Room, diners can indulge in Scottish lobster or salmon with a Highland Fizz cocktail. For a more laid-back but no less luxurious evening, The Berkeley Bar & Terrace boasts the ultimate sleek yet snug environment for a few drams, featuring a flickering fire, high-backed armchairs and polished dark wood finishes. The small plates menu features Angus beef fillet sliders, while there’s a list of around two hundred whiskies to choose from! The hardest part will be forcing yourself to leave, so if you’re feeling flush, you could book a room upstairs and make it a celebration to remember.

While it might be positioned in the heart of the city just steps from the brutalist landscape of the Barbican, revered game restaurant The Jugged Hare will transport you to the traditional country lodges of the Highlands. The sumptuous yet cosy interiors feature plenty of taxidermy, while the menu focuses on seasonal ingredients sourced from our own British Isles. With these values at the heart of the eatery, it’s unsurprising that Burns Night is a big deal here. Last year’s event involved a six-course gourmet meal with whisky and wine pairings and live fiddle music, and 2024’s is set to be even more memorable.