Places to stay, dine, drink and discover the city during London Fashion Week this September
As we reach the end of August and one of the hottest summers in years in London, September marks the run-up to London Fashion Week for established and aspiring designers, local and international press, and a whole host of creatives who work tirelessly to bring fashion week together each season. London Fashion Week this September runs from 17th to 21st of the month in venues scattered across the city, where the streets are filled with showgoers dashing in vertiginous heels and outfits to stop you in your tracks. For those hoping to make the shows or to be close to the sartorial action, we have curated a list of places to visit and stay across the city, from high-end to hidden gems in the spirit of inclusivity.
DINE
Khao Bird Soho
Borough Market near London Bridge is renowned for its exceptional street stalls; no Londoner who loves their food would miss it. Following a year-long residency in the market, Northern Thai restaurant Khao Bird has opened the door to its first permanent venue a little more centrally in Soho’s Brewer Street. Headed by restaurateur Mike Palmer and Head Chef Luke Larsson, Khao Bird takes inspiration from the open-air markets of Chang Mai with a menu underpinned by the best elements of Thai BBQ, elevated to delicious distinction. Two floors designed by architect Ben Spong feature galvanised steel and concrete, a blue-and-steel colour palette referencing Chain Mai, Thai art and signage, and beautifully appointed oak flooring upstairs. On a scorching day, we couldn’t resist the Lychee and Lemongrass frozen margarita, a tangy take on a slushy with a kick; this is our go-to for sunny days in the city. At the same time, the Maing Crispy Rice with tamarind, Pomelo and chilli on betel leaf was deeply flavourful and a perfect first dish to begin your Khao Bird journey. The Shan Tofu was fried with chilli, prickly ash pepper and ginger flower, with a delightfully light and crispy texture and a flavourful garnish, perfect for plant-based diners; the Sussex Veg Som Tam with shrub veg was a spicy plant-based alternative. But of course, this is ultimately a BBQ restaurant with many delicious choices for those who wish their dishes to have a bit more ‘meat’ or seafood, for that matter; dishes like the Prawn KJ with fermented Rice Noodles, BBQ lemongrass chicken with tamarind relish or the Hung-Ley Pork Curry will satiate those who love their meat. Perfectly positioned in the heart of the city, with quick, friendly service and a pledge to be Net Zero by 2030 as part of Redroaster Hospitality Group’s Climate Action Plan, this one is a winner for the LFW crowd.
Khao Bird is located at 24 Brewer Street, W1F 0SN
Book your table here. https://www.khaobird.com
Osteria Vibrato
You might spot Osteria Vibrato in a part of town filled with great pasta fresca offerings and not realise what you’ve discovered,
Working with head chef Louis Lingwood and Turin native, culinary consultant Gaia Enria, as well as fellow sommelier and friend Cameron Dewar, Charlie Mellor’s restaurant offers dishes celebrating the tastes of Liguria to Valle d’Aosta and Lazio. For primi, fresh pasta is rolled on site each day, and secondi features grilled fish, arrosti misti, and seasonal dishes like slip sole with Pantelleria capers and veal Castellana with Valdostana ham, plus specials that evolve with the seasons. Its décor may be low-key, but what arrives on those simple white tablecloths is worth stepping inside for after the shows, before the post-show parties begin. Osteria Vibrato serves.
Find them at 6 Greek St, London W1D 4DE
Book your table here:https://osteriavibrato.co.uk
Luna
We all know when the fashion week people descend on the city, in the spirit of curiosity, they love to look to the new. And Luna serves just the right kind of change of pace with EuroSummer, a series of Sunday kitchen takeovers celebrating European culinary traditions, each session exploring a different region. September’s offering takes us to the Cyclades and is an ode to convivial, slow-paced dining, just the kind of relaxing experience needed after a day across the city racing from show to show. Opened in 2025, Luna is the sister of Michelin Bib Gourmand Legare. Taking its name from the moon’s role in biodynamic winemaking, the wine menu celebrates old- and new-world bottles with a nod to Paris and Barcelona’s wine bar culture.
Luna is situated at 36 Shad Thames, London SE1 2YE.
Book your spot here: lunawinebar.co.uk
Novikov Lounge
Novikov Lounge Bar will kick off Fashion Week’s first night with a fiesta. Thursday the 17th September from 9 pm onwards, the lounge will be transformed with fiesta-inspired décor and Latin tunes, featuring a Mexican-style menu and drinks, including guacamole and tomato salsa, Spanish tortilla, and a selection of tacos, alongside a range of margaritas and tequila-based cocktails, including the Tropical Margarita, Caliente, and La Margarita Real. The event is free to attend, with no booking required, but those who do reserve will receive a complimentary tequila-based cocktail created for the occasion. Thursdays are always a good night in London – what better way to start your weekend?
Find Novikov at 50A Berkeley Street, Mayfair, London W1J 8HA
Book your table here: https://www.novikovrestaurant.co.uk/lounge
Trèsind
The team behind the three-Michelin-starred Trèsind Studio has opened Trèsind on Hanover Street, Mayfair, with a menu that reflects India’s diverse culinary landscape. Executive Chef Amit Bagyal takes diners region by region, with a signature 8-course menu that begins in Rajasthan, with the traditional honeycomb dessert ghewar reworked as a savoury chaat – avocado, strawberry and Pomelo beneath yoghurt ice cream before moving north into Kashmir for a mushroom“chai” built on a consommé of rare morels. Mains travel east and south: a slow-braised Bengali kosha mangsho mutton curry served with a sweet pea kachuri, and an Alleppey fish curry from the Kerala coast, cooked in coconut milk and raw mango. You won’t have to travel far from the centre for this, but you’ll get a full taste of India’s incredible breadth of flavours, ingredients and techniques.
Find Trèsind at 13-14 Hanover Street, Mayfair, W1S 1YH
book your table here: https://tresind.co.uk
STAYS
Vintry and Mercer
Tucked away a little to the east of the city between Bank and St Paul’s, Vintry and Mercer is a boutique hotel with homely, comfortable guestrooms and playful touches that work so well as summer gives way to autumn and we look for somewhere cosier to rest after the shows. It’s the perfect end-of-summer escape, and this season the Mercer Minuty Terrace is an exclusive takeover in partnership with Minuty, with panoramic views of the city from St Paul’s to the Shard. Sip a selection of Château Minuty cuvées—including the acclaimed Cuvée Prestige Rosé—alongside a refreshed modern British menu.
The hotel is located at 20 Garlick Hill, London, EC4V 2AU
Book your stay at Vintry and Mercer here: https://www.vintryandmercer.com
The Mandrake
Many hotels are appointed with luxury furnishings. Still, few have taken us by their originality as much as the multi-award-winning lifestyle property The Mandrake in Fitzrovia, a few streets north of Oxford Street. The Mandrake is perfectly positioned if you want to stay somewhere central to the shows. Walk inside, and there is just one word to describe it: sumptuous. The hotel’s 33 luxurious rooms, including three award-winning suites, blend provocative colour palettes with textural furniture and works of art. With the Damu spa that includes the world’s first multi-sensory Origin Pool, a peaceful first-floor courtyard surrounded by a hanging garden, and complimentary weekend Yoga sound healing sessions or even just a cocktail to admire the décor, The Mandrake, in some capacity, is a must.
You can find the Mandrake at 20-21 Newman Street, London W1T 1PG
Book your drinks, dinner or room here: https://themandrake.com
Broadwick Soho
Just like its neighbourhood, The Broadwick in Soho is full of character, and its interiors reflect it with a playful use of colour and pattern, with attention to detail at every turn. Rooted in the vibrancy and spirit of this central neighbourhood, that same ‘grit, glamour and wild energy’ has been channelled into ‘an opulent contemporary 57-room retreat.’ This townhouse hotel, situated on a street once famed for its market, has been artfully decorated by world-renowned interior designer Martin Brudnizki in celebration of the Jazz Age, his travels in Italy, and an ode to English eccentricity. Its central location renders The Broadwick the perfect spot to dash back to change or sip a cocktail on the rooftop bar Flute between shows, with velvet drapes and animal print, and with live DJ sets and intimate performances, while the newly unveiled Beefbar at Dear Jackie brings the glamour of Monte Carlo to Soho, this place sets the stage for London Fashion Week with its stunning design, luxurious rooms and generous flavour of hospitality.
Find The Broadwick at 20 Broadwick St, London W1F 8HT
Book your stay here: https://www.broadwicksoho.com
Flock at Hotel Indigo
For those finding themselves at shows in the west of the city, Flock is a great choice for a stay, a pre-show breakfast or sharing plates with your fashion week flock. It’s the kind of place to pause, spend the day with relaxed lunches and dinners, and share dishes like whole roast chicken with sautéed vegetables or roasted sea bass with garlic samphire and lemon dressing in a social setting. If you decide to have dinner and cocktails, you could also consider a stay there. Part of Hotel Indigo by the IHG group with design-led rooms decorated with warm palettes, bespoke artworks and cosy textural furniture, you can head up to your room here for a post-show write-up or a quick change.
Book a table at Flock here: https://indigokwest.com/dine/ or if you decide to stay – book your room here: https://indigokwest.com/stay/
And Finally:
This LFW, show your Fashion Week pass at Chotto Matte Manchester or Chotto Matte Soho, and enjoy a bespoke complimentary Fashion Week Rosé Frozé with the Signature Sharing Menu between 18–21 Sept.
Find the Soho restaurant at 11-13 Frith Street, London, W1D 4RB
Book here: https://chotto-matte.com/london-soho/
The Berkley Hotel is offering couture cakes directly inspired by designers for its Pret a Portea between 18–22 Sept.
Find the Berkley at Wilton Place, Knightsbridge, London, SW1X 7RL
Book your tea here: https://www.maybourne.com/en/hotels/the-berkeley
For those who enjoy quality sustenance in a quieter, modern environment, step into MATCHES Raey Café by Silo; this zero-waste restaurant is having a fashion week pop-up café.
Find it ar MATCHESFASHION, 5 Carlos Place, W1K 3AP
Words by Leigh Maynard
