03.11 2026 Everywhere we look lately, there’s news about music. New listening bars, new sound systems, new venues. This is great to see. The new Spiritland at the Barbican is playing an album from start to finish at 5pm, Tuesday–Sunday – see you there. xx Taryn and Team UJ xx Going Down Remember when Big Mamma Group opened Gloria – upstairs was good, but downstairs… that was where the magic happened. The Basement at The London EDITION was similar when it launched, and before these, the Great Eastern Dining Room – dining upstairs, party downstairs – was a vibe. We could go on… there’s something special about ‘subterranean’, when it works. Lately, there have been a few new underground spots to note, including Rooms86, a Soho drinks and record den, with an upcoming collab with Stüssy; Carmelina, the Italian at the new Webster Hotel, with a hidden cocktail bar (Carla’s List); and the new (launched last weekend) Venus Bar, another cosy underground record den, this time under Brasserie Olivia. Sublime Comporta, Sand Wing Off Season is the Best Season After returning from an excellent, sunny (30-degree) weekend in Comporta, this is just a little reminder: now is a great time to head to places that are unaffordable (and less desirable) in high season. Go! More on the new Sand Wing at Sublime Comporta coming soon. Autumn Armour And on the flip side, it is November. Here are some coats to bundle up in. SHOP NOW Now Booking Until June 2027 Starring Lolly Adefope until 5 December Sponsored Listing Declared “one of the best comedies in years” by The New York Times, Oh, Mary! received Tony Awards for Best Leading Actor in a Play (Cole Escola) and Best Direction of a Play (Sam Pinkleton). Oh, Mary! is a hilarious dark comedy about a miserable, suffocated Mary Todd Lincoln in the weeks leading up to Abraham Lincoln’s assassination. Unrequited yearning, alcoholism, and suppressed desires abound in this 80 minute one-act play that finally examines the forgotten life and dreams of Mrs. Lincoln, through the lens of an idiot (playwright Cole Escola). Now extended through to 2027. ‘BELIEVE THE HYPE!’ Variety BOOK NOW Chelsea Counter Here, There, Everywhere This issue we have news that Martin Kuczmarski (The Dover, Dover Street Counter, Martino’s) has just opened another counter dining spot, this time in Chelsea. So that’s two restaurants from him in the area, and Endo’s new 10-seater omakase restaurant is close by too, making it feel like a bit of a rebirth of SW. We also have a little Notting Hill focus – the openings just keep on coming – as well as events, pop ups, and news. READ OUR RESTAURANT ROUND UP Mainstage Season at Riverside Studios in Hammersmith On now until 28 November Sponsored Listing When a teen’s drunken car ride ends in devastation, the verdict comes down to one question – is it possible to be too affluent to know the difference between right and wrong? Inspired by true events surrounding a shocking legal defence, Affluenza explores the ripple effects of power and privilege. Don’t miss the world premiere of Affluenza, a provocative new play written and directed by Andy Sandberg and featuring a cast with Stranger Things star Noah Schnapp and Strictly’s Janette Manrara. BOOK NOW Palace You know we love Palace, so how fitting that they’ve just moved to Poland St., the first HQ of UJ. Opens this Thursday at No. 8 Poland St; make haste. PALACE, NO. 8 POLAND STREET Bangkok, with John Chantarasak We hear there’s been an absolute explosion of incredible places on the restaurant scene in Bangkok. Casual, upmarket, street… so with that in mind, we caught up with John Chantarasak, chef and co-founder of the Michelin-starred AngloThai, who spent several years as a young chef in Bangkok, for his BKK picks. READ JOHN’S BANGKOK PICKS London’s New Home of Culture and Entertainment Sponsored Listing As a reminder, there’s so much happening at the all-new Olympia. Home to world-class dining and entertainment, there’s a shiny new concert venue, British Airways ARC, a five-star hotel, Hyatt Regency London Olympia, a huge digital art screen, ‘The Canvas’, and so much more – with more to come! They also have partnerships with the Design Museum and BRIT School, meaning incredible talent will be powering activity on-site, and there’s ongoing programming, so there’s always something new to do. Recent news includes the launch of Juno, a grand, all-day Italian restaurant, complete with a pizza bar and quirky ceramics, and the announcement that Kings of Leon will be playing a one-off show at the ARC, 10 November, to celebrate their 10th album launch. Next year will see the British Airways Theatre launch, as well as Upstairs at Pillar Hall, a 500+ capacity hospitality and banqueting venue. Stay tuned for more timely news. FOLLOW THEM Delano We’re excited about this one! The Delano will forever feel like the beginning of lifestyle hotels to us (yes, we know Schrager started with Morgans, but for us, Delano was the vibe!) and its relaunch has felt like a great evolution of the brand. Highlights of the Delano London include a Lana Lusa restaurant, a members’ club, and a wellness offering. Ben Pundole, who worked with Schrager from the early years, is also back on the team of the new Delano, which is now an Ennismore brand. Over half of the 67 rooms will be suites. The Webster Covent Garden With the number of new restaurants – of the kind you actually want to go to – opening in Covent Garden lately, it’s about time that hotels play catch up. The Webster Covent Garden is the debut property from this brand and will be followed by an opening in NYC. Experimental Roma This group is not sitting around! Experimental Roma just opened, moments from the Spanish Steps, with a restaurant, rooftop pool, and cocktail bar. Potato Head General Store Potato Head’s sister hotel, Katamama (now known as Potato Head Suites), might still be one of our favourite hotel designs ever. They were doing architecture that was respectful to its environment and leaned on local artisans, before it was a thing. And this store looks similarly stunning, this time designed in collaboration with OMA. The boutique has five interconnected bays, with everything from souvenirs and lifestyle pieces to workshop spaces and installations. Rosewood Calistoga We’ve always liked Rosewood, and especially lately; its rebrand, too, seems like a relevant update. Rosewood Calistoga, in Cali, is launching this April. It’s an interesting one because the brand feels Asian (the HQ is in HK), but it was founded in Dallas. Interested to see how they do Napa. Follow them on social re: reservations and opening dates. New Triplebond in Marylebone is of course centrally located, and they tick a lot of the wellbeing boxes with their offering: cryo, lymphatic draining compression boots, infrared sauna and studio, hyperbaric oxygen chamber, red light therapy, and cold plunge. They have several different types of memberships, too. In Notting Hill, the new studio The Method, from Paris, has several different types of classes, including a few that are dance focused (Beat Dance and Beat Power), which is great to see. And in Switzerland, the Huus Quell mountain retreat focuses on innovative biohacking in their spa program – and they also have the most extensive wine cellar in Switzerland; balance. Getty Images DOTD Yes, Day of the Dead is usually 1 and 2 November, but celebrations often go on in Mexico until 6 November, which has got us thinking about the festivities and CDMX. Regarding festivities, Clase Azul has a limited-edition Día de Muertos Transcender decanter (fun fact, the 2017 edition went for $35,000 at a Sotheby’s NYC auction). And on CDMX: Park Hyatt is opening a hotel there in 2027 in Polanco, in a 30-story tower – that brand is making some good choices with their destinations. Sign. Us. Up. Lastly, La Catrina, the 108 foot tall giant skeleton hovering in Zócalo, just set a Guinness World Record. Instagrams that Inspire We’re fans of Instagram accounts that focus on vibe rather than products; Dover Street Counter and Kismet are two restaurants that adopt this approach. And that’s not the only thing we like about Kismet, the year-long pop up currently at The Globe Tavern in Borough. From outstanding small plates and interesting Turkish wines to welcoming staff and a dining room with soul, there’s a lot to love about this special space. READ OUR KISMET REVIEW Culture Whether it’s seats to dinner, a show, or an exhibition, London’s hottest tickets these days are gone in seconds. Here are three shows to have on your radar, for returns or release dates. Lear with Ian McKellen The Yard Theatre 5 November, more tickets go on sale Eurotrash Young Vic Limited availability; read their advice on securing tickets Bayeux Tapestry British Museum Sign up for 2027 ticket release news KIM JONES, the designer’s new eponymous label, will open its first global flagship at Central Yards in Hong Kong in 2027 – congrats! FOLLOW US (c) 2026 Urban Junkies. All rights reserved. Reproductions of any portion of this website only with our express permission. Urban Junkies is a free weekly mailer. All listings and features are editorial: We do not receive any payment from venues, artists or promoters. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy of information listed but we cannot accept responsibility for errors or omissions. We have updated our terms and conditions link and privacy policy link to make it easier for you to understand what information we collect, how we use it and what rights are available to you to control your information. 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