August à la Carte: your guide to the dishiest summer menus in town
- Yvette Thomson
- Jul 29
- 4 min read
Oysters, jazz, wings and tiramisù – because summer waits for no one.
Yvette Thomson
Oysters, Cocktails and Cool Cellars
The Libertine, The Royal Exchange
Celebrate National Oyster Day (5 August) in style beneath the City at The Libertine, where from 4–8 August, you can slurp your way through market oysters (6 for £29, 12 for £55), or opt for two oysters with a pint of Guinness or glass of Rathfinny for just £10. Want to go big? Do the bottle-and-dozen combo for £60. The subterranean setting feels miles away from the post-work chaos above.
Sam’s Riverside & Sam’s Waterside
The Sam’s team are also leaning into oyster season with £1.75 oysters every weekday between 5 and 6:30pm. Expect prime picks from Ireland and Jersey, with cocktails and wines ready to match. Oyster Hour has never looked so good.
Little Bat, Islington
Meanwhile in Islington, Little Bat is offering £1 oysters with any cocktail or glass of Champagne between 5–8pm. Pair them with one of the bar’s new Summer Spritzes, like the gin and Midori-spiked Excalibur or the non-alcoholic Wayfarer. Dinner? Chef James Cochran has a new small plates menu with global flair.
Wing Warriors and BBQs
Hoodwood, Kentish Town
If your summer goals include chicken and bragging rights, head to Hoodwood for their four-week Chicken Wing Eating Challenge, launching 29 July. Pay £20 and eat as many five-wing plates as you can in an hour. Take the Hot Pepper Sauce if you dare, and aim for that leaderboard spot. It runs until 26 August, with a prize (and eternal glory) for the champion.
Nest Farmhouse, Norfolk
Heading out of town? Pondside Sessions at Nest Farmhouse in North Norfolk are your answer to lazy summer weekends. Every Friday and Saturday through to 30 August, they’re firing up the BBQ with a rotating theme (think jerk wraps, Middle Eastern mangal, or burgers), and pouring local drinks from Barsham, Burn Valley and more. Walk-ins welcome, but book for groups.
Pizzas and Pineapples
Base Face x Mondo Brewing
In a bold move for team pineapple, Base Face Pizza has teamed up with Mondo Brewing to create a pairing of the Cheeky Pineapple pizza and Yacht Rock pineapple IPA. Expect pineapple jam, jalapeños and pepperoni on your slice, washed down with a tropical, citrusy pint. Yours for £20 across Base Face’s Putney, Richmond and Barnes locations.
Boozy Frozen Things and Cool Cocktails
Pastaio x Alana Laverty
Pastaio’s final summer slushy is a frozen margarita with a twist: peach, basil and balsamic, inspired by Alana Laverty’s favourite Italian salad. It’s summery, savoury-sweet and surprisingly complex. Even better? £1 from every one sold goes to World Central Kitchen.
Oriole’s Hot Club, Covent Garden
Hide from the heat in Oriole’s sultry underground bar every Thursday in August. Their Hot Club sessions feature live jazz, swing, blues and Italian music from 8–10pm, paired with Latin-American-inspired dishes from chef Gustavo Giallonardo. Think ceviche, lamb rump with black olives, and a cocktail menu to match.
Town Bar, Covent Garden
Next door, Town Bar is shaking things up. The new standalone bar from Stevie Parle and Kevin Armstrong (of Satan’s Whiskers fame) offers classic and creative cocktails like the dill-spiked Martini and the mysterious ‘Chargers’, alongside indulgent snacks including fried sage leaves and house gravy-topped sourdough.
Set Menus and Italian Summer Feasts
Taste of Bagatelle, Mayfair
From 6:30 to 7:30pm on weekdays, Bagatelle is offering an elegant two or three-course menu packed with summery French-Med flavours. Burrata, beef tartare, gnocchi and that legendary Tropézienne dessert are all in play. It’s a stylish start to any night out.
Ferragosto at Sotto, Central London
Celebrate Ferragosto Italian-style at Sotto with a generous four-course family-style feast, priced at £60 per person and available all August. Expect dishes like octopus salad, saffron sausage ragu, roasted chicken with peppers and a hefty tiramisù. Optional wine pairings show off their deep Italian cellar.
Sweet Treats and Cake One-Offs
Lannan x All Day Cake Pop-Up, Edinburgh
On 1 August only, pastry chef Sophie Bamford brings her wild creations to Lannan. Expect blackcurrant Earl Grey princess cake, tiramisù layer cake, and coconut and passion fruit Highland cows. Yes, cows. Yes, edible. Go early.
Borough 22 x Chef Kerth Gumbs: The Soursop Drop Doughnut
Free-from doughnut favourite Borough 22 has joined forces with Chef Kerth Gumbs (of Fenchurch, Sky Garden) for a limited-edition flavour you didn’t know you needed: the Soursop Drop. Think creamy soursop custard, a mango glaze, and crunchy plantain chips on top. It’s tropical nostalgia in doughnut form, gluten-free, plant-based and packed with soul. £34 for six, available via Deliveroo, Selfridges Food Hall, or borough22.com until they sell out.
Fringe Food Fun
The Palmerston & Pals Pop-Ups, Edinburgh
Each Sunday in August, The Palmerston welcomes a rotating lineup of chef pals. Afghan feasts, Neapolitan street food, modern Scottish plates and relaxed bistro menus are all on the calendar. Each dinner is £40 and books up fast.
Freebies for the Family
Farzi, Haymarket
From 25 July to 31 August, kids under 8 eat free at Farzi, the modern Indian restaurant in the heart of theatreland. Dine as a family and let the little ones choose from an Indian-inspired kids' menu with burgers, wraps and plenty of flavour.
August is packed, so consider this your edible itinerary. Whether you're in Soho or Scotland, slurping oysters, licking slushies or racing the clock with chicken wings, summer isn’t slowing down. Get out there and taste it all.
Enjoyed August à la Carte: your guide to the dishiest summer menus in town? Follow @banglemag for the latest updates.
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