RAKISH RADAR - November 2026

Pan-Asian roasts, nervous system retreats, and Ben Wishaw at the theatre: meet your must-dos for the month

Words - Devinder Bains

The sheer number of things to do in London (and beyond) can easily become overwhelming. You’ve read or heard about countless cool exhibitions, new shows, films, albums, plus hotels and restaurant openings but when it comes to a free evening or weekend you’re stumped. That theatre production run hasn’t started yet, that gallery show has finished, and you can’t remember the name of that new Michelin eatery. Worry not, the Rakish Radar is a  monthly round-up of of the best things to do, see, hear, taste and try out. Here’s November 2026…

Comfort food with skyline views

Who doesn’t love a Sunday roast? Get ready for one with a twist at CÉ LA VI London, which launches its ‘Pan-Asian Roast’ on November 1st. The rooftop restaurant and bar, which sits across the 17th and 18th floors of Paddington Square, will be serving the three-course sharing menu between 12pm and 4pm every Sunday. Expect generous portions of crispy pork belly, chargrilled steak and marinated roast chicken paired with miso mash, grilled Tenderstem broccoli and kimchi rice). Starters include edamame, vegetable crystal dumplings, beetroot and palm heart, while dessert is a raspberry cheesecake with yuzu gel and vanilla shortbread. Can’t make Sunday? CÉ LA Vi London also has a new winter and sushi menus available daily, wash down with delicious cocktails, sake or an endless list of wines.

CÉ LA VI London, every Sunday, £50 for a three-course sharing menu. Book here.

Find family values at the theatre

Based on the 2021 semi-autobiographical novel by Christian Kracht, Eurotrash makes its English-language theatre premiere at the Young Vic this month. The black-comedy, which was longlisted for the International Booker Prize 2025, tells the story of a writer (played by Ben Whishaw) who takes his vodka-drinking, pill-popping elderly mother (Kathryn Hunter) on a road trip through the Swiss Alps to visit places from their past – with somewhat of a plan to give away the massive fortune accrued by their privileged, dysfunctional and unethical ancestors. The show runs from November 13th with tickets expected to quickly sell out. If you’re a fan of the fantastic leads in the play, don’t miss Wishaw and Hunter’s return to Netflix’s Black Doves (for season 2) from November 5th.

Eurotrash, Young Vic, November 13th to January 9th. Book here.

Ready, steady, go …in the countryside

Regulating the nervous system is the trendiest of wellness trends at the moment and this day retreat at Crafted at Powdermills in Battle, East Sussex is probably the most enjoyable and scenic way to give it a go. While it might not be sunbathing weather in the UK, there’s still plenty of physical and mental health benefits to be had by spending time in the great outdoors and this ‘Build Your Steady State’ event is set around a seven-acre lake on 78 acres of ancient woodland. The event incorporates hiking, coached sauna and cold plunge sessions (the dip in the lake is optional), breathwork and yoga nidra to help you ‘regulate’. The most fascinating parts of the day are hosted by nervous system and movement coach Suki Bains, who has worked with leadership teams at some of the biggest corporations and brands in the world. She starts the day by asking attendees to fill in a questionnaire in order to personalise the experience. Expect to leave feeling like you can handle the pressures of work and your personal life with clarity. 

Nervous System Regulation: Build Your Steady State, Crafted at Powdermills, November  22nd, 10am to 5pm. Location info here. Book here.

Take a trip through Tim Walker’s Fairyland

Although this exhibition by world-renowned photographer Tim Walker might have launched in October, its still worth a mention as a must-visit this month for those who love beautifully fantastical photography. Tim Walker’s Fairyland: Love and Legends at The National Portrait Gallery is a love letter to queer trailblazers he shot over a five-year period. It features portraits of activists, performers, artists and writers in unexpected set-ups or landscapes – each thought-provoking image simultaneously offering questions and answers to visitors of the show. New for this month is an ‘in conversation’ session with the photographer. On Friday 6th November, Walker will discuss the topics that inspired the show and deep diving into the pieces

themselves. Not one to miss if you love his work.

Tim Walker’s Fairyland: Love and Legends, National Portrait Gallery, October 9th - 7th Feb 2027, £23 - £25 - Book here. Tim Walker in Conversation, November 6th, 7pm to 8pm Book here

North London City Lights

We might have waved goodbye to summer festivals for the year but you can still get your music, art and culture fix in North London this month with the debut of Light + Flight festival. The free event in Barnet – once home to cultural icons including George Michael and Amy Winehouse – will span two weekends. The first (November 14 and 15) will be held at the five-storey Finchley Lakeside complex, which offers stunning views and is opening to the public for the first time. Expect art installations, workshops, interactive shows, lots of live music and plenty of food and drink options. Don’t miss Praying for Time: A collective musical celebration, which will bring together young musicians to perform George Michael’s classic songs – arranged by Grammy-winning composer David Arnold. The second weekend will include history, music and arts at the RAF Museum.

Light + Flight festival, November 14th 12–9pm, November 15th 11am–7pm, November 21 at 7.30pm and November 22 at 6pm. Book here

Open-fire cooking with alpine feels

Outdoor dining and drinks don’t have to end when the winter months draw in, just ask the restaurant and late-night experts at Pyro in London’s Borough, who are transforming the sunshine vibes of their courtyard garden bar and Baráki by Pyro terrace into a cosy alpine spot reminiscent of Greek mountain villages. From November 5th, a winter menu will be served under sweeping canvas canopies and amidst festoon and ambient lighting, cosy heaters and soft furnishings. Expect open-fire cooking – think spiced pork crackling, dry-aged beef tartare, coal-seared tuna and smoked squash with labneh – warming cocktails, traditional Greek raki, mulled wine and rum hot chocolate, alongside Champagne and non-alcoholic beverages. Come for the food, drink and atmosphere, and stay late for the tunes from resident DJs.

Pyro, Tuesday to Saturday: 12pm–12am | Sunday: 12pm-8pm. Book here

A room with a view

If you’d rather just escape the winter feels altogether, find the sun at brand new Cape Town EDITION – the first from the hotel chain to land on the African continent. Be one of the first to check into the property which sits at Quay 7 on the V&A Waterfront and faces the spectacular Table Mountain head on – with design and interiors drawing from the dramatic landscape. For panoramic vistas, head inside to The Drum – an open-air cylinder with a spiral staircase that leads up to a viewing platform – and get the best look at the historic working harbour below and the iconic mountain above. Expect cuisine based around seasonal Cape ingredients and a long list of South African wines, while a spa sits below sea level to cocoon you from the buzz of the harbour.

Cape Town EDITION, Cape Town Waterfront. Book here.