Where to eat and drink during Frieze London — plus what to wear The Times Chiara Brown, Senior Commissioning Editor, LUXX Where to eat and drink during Frieze London — plus what to wear new Every October, Regent's Park is taken over by chic arty types. But the party doesn't stop at the end of the day. Here are the best spots in town for post-fair fun Brutes of Mayfair Addie Chinn Chiara Brown , Senior Commissioning Editor, LUXX Wednesday October 14 2026, 4.00am BST , The Times Listen 0:00 / · 10:57 min Share Share this article Email Twitter Facebook Link Save Puzzles Challenge yourself with today's puzzles. When Frieze London was established in 2003, it was a companion event to the respected art magazine Frieze, launched in 1991. The idea was to create a fair that would show — and sell — the best in contemporary art, but the concept soon took on a life of its own. It went on to be so successful that the company created Frieze fair outposts in Los Angeles and New York, as well as founding a Frieze Masters fair in London celebrating work made before the year 2000. Today, Frieze London and Frieze Masters together attract about 85,000 visitors annually to Regent's Park over five days in October, and though exact figures aren't published, they're estimated to generate millions of pounds in sales. Coulisse, Frieze London 2025 Linda Nylind, courtesy of frieze Frieze Masters 2025 Hugo Glendinning, Courtesy of Frieze And while the fairs are first and foremost about celebrating extraordinary art and spectacular galleries, they have also become as much about the social scene. It's at the end of the day that the real fun begins for the Frieze people (Friezians?), who move en masse to the coolest local bars and restaurants. Top stories 1 Starbucks 'explores takeover' of Chipotle Mexican Grill US business Collectors typically attend on Wednesday and Thursday, which means those are the nights you are likely to encounter the art world's VIPs at play, though the gallerists stick around through the weekend, keeping things lively. Whatever your reason for visiting the fairs, these are the London spots that are likely to be abuzz with art folk. The Hart Opened by the Public House Group (the company behind restaurants such as the Hero, the Pelican and the Fat Badger), the Hart is one of the places in which to see and be seen after the Frieze festivities. Thanks to its prime location off Marylebone High Street, it's an easy saunter from Regent's Park. Advertisement On the ground floor is a casual pub area, which is walk-in only and includes outdoor seating, and upstairs are the restaurant's more formal dining rooms. The menu includes snacks, such as souped-up cheese straws, pork scratchings and a mince roll that you should not skip under any circumstances, plus starters like beetroot soup and cucumber and sorrel salad, and mains of hake and courgette, steak and roasted tomatoes, and chicken and flat beans. These might sound like simple dishes, but a large proportion of the produce used at the Hart comes from the restaurant's Cotswolds farm, so everything you find on your plate will be wholesome — in contrast to some of the art that you might have just seen. thehartw1.com Bar Finch A new addition to the Mayfair scene is Bar Finch. The restaurant, opened by Charles Finch, the founder of Chucs Restaurants, is on Cork Street, arguably the centre of the London art scene. The Frieze crowd are likely to land here and the extra cool ones will surely be holding court at the large round table at the back of the restaurant. As Finch himself puts it, “There is nothing particularly innovative about Bar Finch; it is, at heart, a classic Roman or Venetian bar, with a touch of my own transatlantic experiences.” Top stories 1 Rental tracker: have rents gone up or down in your area? Property & Home What that looks like in practice is oysters Rockefeller, Dorset crab cakes and Caesar salad, as well as hamburgers (with a chunky pickle on the side), steak frites, and beignets and tiramisu to top it all off. There are also the cocktails, which include the Swimming Finch, a drink with vodka, vermouth and orange bitters, and the French Pearl (pictured above), with gin, fresh lemon juice, sugar, mint, absinthe and champagne. Most commented 1 Pope Leo facing more tests to see if lung cancer has spread Europe 129 comments 2 New cod on the block: the best British fish to eat sustainably Environment 11 comments 3 Sculpted stags in the garden — and other news in pictures Photography 23 comments 4 Three in ten of super-rich consider leaving Britain over tax fears Companies & Markets 12 comments 5 Tomorrow's world on display Universal Register 1 comment So you can bet there will be a lot of good food, and a lot of well-informed people chatting about art. And if you don't know what they're talking about, just stuff your face with a beignet when they ask for your opinion. barfinch.com The Arts Club The Mayfair members' club was founded in 1863 to “provide a sanctuary for those with a professional or amateur relationship with the arts, literature or sciences” and its members have included Auguste Rodin and Charles Dickens. Today, it features art exhibitions year-round, making it a natural home for those looking for a place to kick up their heels after a long day's gallery-hopping. There are Mediterranean, Japanese and Italian dining options, as well as the cocktail bar/nightclub Leo's. Advertisement It's members-only, and the process requires sponsorship by two members as well as a committee review and an annual fee of ￡3,200. If you're not already part of the gang you'll need to find yourself a member or, even better, procure an invitation to the Frieze after-party with its experimental DJs and art-world who's-who guest list. theartsclub.co.uk Bobbi's Bar St Clement, the newest hotel from the Soho House founder Nick Jones, is home not only to the trendy Café Clement but also to Bobbi's Bar. It has a 1970s vibe with lime green walls and wood panelling, as well as warm lighting and velvet sofas. Though it is not strictly around the corner from Frieze, fair patrons who land a seat here are likely to be feeling very smug as it is one of the most talked-about bar openings of the past few months. It is also one of those rare and special London spots that's chic and happens to be open till 3am. PS Don't forget to use the hand soap and lotion when you go to the loos. It's specially made for the hotel by Perfumer H and smells delicious. stclement.co.uk Arlington David Loftus Owned by the restaurateur Jeremy King, Arlington opened on the site of the former celebrity haunt Le Caprice in 2024. You'll find wicker chairs, mirrors and good-looking people throughout, so much so that you may almost forget to order the dishes the restaurant is famous for, such as bang bang chicken and its take on salmon fish cakes. But you shouldn't forget because you will need energy to chat about all the art you'd like to buy . However, perhaps the best reason to stop by is to enjoy one of the restaurant's particularly crisp martinis. There are four options — the Pure, with vodka, vermouth and lemon zest or olive; the Gibson, with gin, fortified wine and pickles; the Coastal, with gin, vermouth and grapefruit zest; and the Vesper, with gin, vodka, palo santo, Tempus Fugit Kina (a high ABV aperitif wine) and manzanilla sherry. arlington.london Advertisement The Dover and Dover Street Counter The Dover The location (around the corner from Green Park), moody lighting (but not so moody you can't see your dinner mates, or worse, your food) and late-night hours (1am on Fridays and Saturdays) of both the Dover and Dover Street Counter make them an obvious choice for those hoping to eat well and keep the party going. The Dover is the more buttoned-up of the two and serves Italian-American inspired dishes, including mini hot dogs, crispy potato cakes with caviar, lobster spaghetti and a burger that feels like upmarket fast food in the very best way. Expect to eat your fries cosied up next to celebrities. Dover Street Counter Dover Street Counter, just two doors down, is the more casual venue and its counter is the perfect place for a lively dinner. The restaurant's rooms at the back offer larger tables for big groups. Wherever you are in the restaurant you can enjoy the playlist, which has a 1990s R&B core. Very YBA. thedoverrestaurant.com , doverstreetcounter.com Red Room You can talk shop post-Frieze in the Connaught's Red Room while ordering from the hotel's extensive wine list. The stained glass in the Red Room makes it feel a bit like a very lovely old church, if that church were kitted out with a pink onyx bar and set in a five-star hotel. The snacking at the Red Room is not to be scoffed at either. Cheese and charcuterie enthusiasts will be pleased to find a menu with nine cheese options, separated into hard, soft and blue, as well as five cured meats, all of which can be combined on a board with crystal bread, tomato chutney, chocolate crumble and fried almonds. And all this against a backdrop of red-themed art, all made by female artists. maybourne.com Brutes of Mayfair Addie Chinn This is a place where you can find one of London's best martinis, so it's likely you'll encounter a throng of chicly dressed Frieze followers here after a day spent arting about town. Upon arrival you are handed a Martini Menu, where you can tick your preferences. Brutes offers a top-notch traditional martini with olives or a lemon twist, but its list also includes unexpected garnishes such as caper berries, caviar, crisps and even Monster Munch. There are other interesting cocktails too — looking at you, Corpse Reviver No 2 — and non-alcoholic options — such as the Strait Outta Hormuz — so everyone can join in the fun. brutesofmayfair.com What to wear to Frieze Looking chic and feeling comfortable enough to spend the day on your feet wandering through galleries may feel like an impossible brief. Luckily, our fashion director Aurelia Donaldson has shared her top tips for dressing for the fair. Advertisement Toteme skirt, ￡470 “ I would pair this with the matching knit, an oversize bag and flats” Phoebe Philo tote, ￡3,200 “The perfect simple bag to pull any outfit together” Proenza Schouler brogues, ￡515 “ These are stylish but comfy, which is important as you get a lot of steps in at Frieze. I would pair them with cotton socks” Life & Style LUXX London food and drink London going out Share Share this article Email Twitter Facebook Link Save