What To Do This Weekend 04.04.24

Taking inspiration from and charm taking inspiration from grand café culture, Norma on Charlotte Street has become known for its old-school Italian-style hospitality. From this weekend, it’s now open on Sundays, serving a Sicilian-inspired lunch menu. Look for antipasti including spaghettini fritters with parmesan sauce and courgette, and prawn arancini with chilli aioli. Primi include a signature pasta alla norma, and could be followed by secondi like mamma’s beef lasagne. Available from noon to 5pm, the menu is £40pp for two courses. We can think of worse ways to spend an afternoon.

8 Charlotte Street, Fitzrovia, W1T 2LS

Visit NormaLondon.com

Joe Laker is the head chef at recently opened Counter 71. On Thursday 11th April, he’s teaming up with caviar brand Umai to put a southern twist on a caviar tasting event at the Shoreditch restaurant's Lowcountry bar. After a masterclass, guests will be invited to choose 20g of caviar to pair with a six-course tasting menu featuring chicken skin crisp, popcorn chicken with ranch sauce, and a stuffed wing chicken burger with pickles and buffalo sauce. Tickets are scarce, so get in early to secure your spot.

71 Nile Street, Shoreditch, N1 7RD

Visit Counter71.co.uk

Last month, premium gym 24N Fitness opened its biggest site yet at Devonshire Square, just two minutes from Liverpool Street station. Not only is the new spot City of London’s largest CrossFit venue to date, it has state-of-the-art equipment, personal training sessions and science-backed recovery facilities such as ice baths and Finnish saunas. Fitness nuts can give it a go with a trial membership, with no commitment, at £109 per month.

9 Devonshire Square, City, EC2M 4WY

Visit 24NFitness.com

Michelin-starred Istanbul mainstay Arkestra is making its London debut with a residency at Carousel in Fitzrovia. Founded by Cenk Debensason and Debora Ipekel, Arkestra gained acclaim for its innovative cuisine and jazz-inspired listening bar. Cenk blends influences from nouvelle cuisine and Californian supper clubs: expect to try dishes such as duck breast with apicius sauce (which goes heavy on anchovies), seabass with sushi rice ice-cream, and yoghurt panna cotta with baklava crisps. Plus, Debora will soundtrack your evening with an eclectic playlist. The residency is only running this week, so lock in your reservation now.

19-23 Charlotte Street, Fitzrovia, W1T 1RL; until 6th April

Visit Carousel-London.com

This Sunday, for one day only, London’s proclaimed ‘King Of Pies’ Calum Franklin and wild food restaurant Native’s founder Ivan Tisdall-Downes are taking over M.Manze Peckham. As part of food platform Sera’s ‘If I Had A…’ series, the event is taking place in London’s oldest-running pie and mash shop. The pair has created a three-pie menu including ox cheek and oyster, masala-spiced dauphinois and chicken, leek and Scottish langoustine – available from midday until close. Along with celebrating pastry and top-notch lattice work from Calum, the event aims to draw attention to the cultural significance of these old-school institutions and the need to preserve them. Other events in the series include If I Had A... Chet's Kebab Shop At BiBi and chef Robin Gill’s homage to the food of Raymond Blanc.

105 Peckham High Street, Peckham, SE15 5RS; 7th April

Visit EatWithSera.com

Throughout his career, Italian designer Enzo Mari created countless works and conceptualised new design ideas that still prevail today. Launched last week, the Design Museum’s retrospective is a comprehensive display of Mari’s 60-year career and legacy, bringing together product design, children’s books, furniture and conceptual installations – all curated by art critic and Serpentine Galleries art director Hans-Ulrich Obrist.

224-238 High Street, Kensington, W8 6AG

Visit DesignMuseum.org