Where to Eat During Frieze Week 2026: The Rakish Gent Guide

Frieze London and Frieze Masters return to Regent’s Park from 14 to 18 October, bringing the international art world to London for five days of exhibitions, acquisitions and conversation. Beyond the fairgrounds, the restaurants and bars hosting those conversations are an essential part of the week, from established dining rooms and destination cocktail bars to restaurants with a direct connection to the art world.

For this year’s guide, The Rakish Gent selects the places worth knowing, whether you’re looking for a proper lunch between exhibitions, a table for entertaining clients or somewhere to take the conversation well into the evening.

For the fifth consecutive year, Ravinder Bhogal’s Jikoni brings its distinctive approach to vegetarian cooking to Frieze, occupying the fair’s largest restaurant space. The menu includes Crispy Aubergine with Sichuan Caramel and Sticky Garlic Rice, Jikoni’s much-loved kale chaat and the restaurant’s signature Banana Cake with Miso Butterscotch, Peanut Brittle and Ovaltine Kulfi, alongside cocktails. Vegetables and herbs supplied by biodynamic farm Waltham Place underpin a menu that celebrates plant-led cooking without compromising on flavour.

Islington institution Trullo returns to Frieze Masters with a special menu bringing its Italian cooking to the fair. Known for handmade pasta, seasonal produce and slow-cooked dishes, the restaurant offers a welcome alternative to the usual exhibition-hall pit stop. It’s a particularly useful address for anyone spending the day between the contemporary art of Frieze London and the historical works at Frieze Masters.

A short walk from Regent’s Park, St. JOHN Marylebone is a reliable address from morning coffee through to dinner, with daily-changing menus overseen by Head Chef George Freegard. Expect the restaurant’s characteristically direct approach to British cooking, a French-focused wine list and smaller plates at the bar during the afternoon. The ground-floor bar and terrace keep tables for walk-ins, making this a particularly good option for an impromptu glass of wine after the fair.

On Cork Street, one of Mayfair’s historic gallery addresses, Bar Finch provides a natural meeting point beyond the fair itself. The 50-cover restaurant, founded by Charles Finch, brings together the atmosphere of Roman and Venetian bars with the energy of a New York dining room, surrounded by artworks and objects collected over a lifetime. Head Chef Tom Trubshaw’s menu runs from breakfast through dinner, while the aperitivo-led cocktail list includes classic and signature serves, with £10 miniatures for a shorter stop at the bar.

New York’s Dante brings its celebrated cocktail culture to Claridge’s, where Bryan O’Sullivan’s Art Deco dining room sets the scene for lunch, dinner or a drink between appointments. The menu combines New York favourites including the Kale Caesar, Dante Smashburger and Lobster Linguine with the bar’s signature cocktails. Martini Hour runs from 3pm to 7pm, with a selection of martinis for £10.

Aki London puts contemporary art and Japanese gastronomy at the centre of its Frieze Week programme, with events spanning artist encounters, private dining and expert-led conversations. The headline experience, From Day to Night on Friday 16 October, combines a private studio visit to artist Bouke de Vries, a hosted VIP tour of Frieze London and a four-course dinner with wine pairings; tickets are £595 per person, including fair admission. For those looking beyond dinner, the programme also includes a Frieze-inspired cocktail at the subterranean Kiyori Bar, where works by multidisciplinary artist Ken Nwadiogbu will be exhibited.

The London outpost of Milanese seafood restaurant Langosteria marks Frieze with Recontextualized, a cocktail that reworks the classic Gimlet through a more culinary lens. Tanqueray No. Ten, Bitter Cedrino, basil and tomato cordial, and citrus combine in a drink whose savoury notes set it apart from a conventional gin cocktail. The restaurant’s interiors, designed by Carlo Samarati, pair historical grandeur with contemporary Italian detailing, making it an address for those looking to continue the evening over drinks or dinner.

From the team behind Carousel, Cometa brings a contemporary Mexican perspective to seafood, drawing on British waters and the founders’ long-standing interest in Mexican cuisine. Head Chef José Lizarralde Serralde and Sous Chef Alejandra Juarez’s menu includes Prawn with Burnt Mandarin and Ginger Ceviche, Crab Chilpachole Rice with Smoked Eel Cream, and Recado Negro Fried Chicken with Roasted Habanero and Agave. For a group looking to share several plates after a day at the fair, it offers a lively alternative to the traditional European dining room.

WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK DURING FRIEZE WEEK 2026 | THE RAKISH GENT GUIDE