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It’s all about vibes and vinyl these days (Picture: Supplied) Welcome back to The Slice – our exclusive guide to what’s on in London, where we bring you trusted reviews, sneak previews, and amazing deals and discounts. This week, we’re leaving the rainy streets behind and heading inside for some seriously good tunes and even better vibes. Listening bars – aka a bar with a bloody good hi-fi sound system – have been popping up all over the capital in recent years. From Junsei’s jazzy Japanese inspiration to Hausu’s eclectic menu and Caia’s living-room-party energy, these are the places to sip, snack, and lose yourself in the music. Also on the radar: our review of Dishoom’s new Permit Room, plus Kanada-Ya’s super-warming bowls of chicken-y goodness. Welcome to the Slice The Slice is your weekly guide to what’s happening in London, so if you’re looking for restaurant reviews, drinks deals or just a great new exhibition to visit on a rainy Saturday in the capital, we’ve got you covered. Click here for this week’s edit of the best things to do in town. The Slice newsletter also a brand new look! We'll still be in your inbox every week, bringing you all the very best things to eat, drink and do in the capital. So if you want get the next edition before anyone else, sign up here! If you want to do it all on the cheap, you can also find our latest batch of exclusive hand-picked offers in partnership with Time Out here. Things to do this week in London If you’re looking for something to do this weekend, here are 11 of the best activities, dining, and drinking spots in the capital. 1. Tuck into Dishoom classics at Notting Hill’s Permit Room Everything you love about Dishoom, all day long (Picture: Taran Wilhku) By Isabel Fraser If you live in London and you haven’t heard of Dishoom, you might be living under a rock. The pickle-green Portobello Road Permit Room is the latest instalment of their new all-day concept, bottling up the distinctive atmosphere of Bombay’s historic permit rooms. After the lifting of prohibition in the ‘70s, these spots sprung up where people could get permits to buy (and drink) booze again ‘for their health’. Kick off with some crunchy chakli – a great ‘not poppadoms’ option for snacking on while you deliberate. Vegetable samosas and chicken pick-me-ups deliver an array of aromatic Indian spices, while the half-chicken tandoori, a fall-off-the-bone Permit Room special, makes for a showstopping main. Pair with a side of the Dishoom black daal, a rich, creamy mix of lentils and beans – another special which our lovely waiter, Kimal, says he eats weekly – and their soft garlic naan. Drinkswise, my medicine of choice was a Kiwi Colada Shimmy, a blended ice cocktail. Its initial sharpness and sweet aftertaste are incredibly moreish… Just beware of potential brain freeze. If you’re too full to move after, Notting Hill’s Permit Room also has The Lodgings, a place to stay above the eatery, where I was lucky enough to spend the night. You can read my review of the room (and complimentary breakfast!) here. Curries from £12.90. 186 Portobello Road, W11 1LA. Book here. 2. Get soul-soothing chicken ramen at Kanada-Ya Piccadilly Chicken soup nourishes the soul (Picture: Supplied) By Sabrina Barr Let me set the scene for you. It’s cold, it’s raining, and you’re desperate to escape the heaving streets of central London. As you walk into the warmly lit Kanada-Ya, the aroma of succulent ramen wafts through the small but cosy space. I’ve always said that my mum’s chicken soup nourishes my soul, and this hidden gem restaurant’s Chashu Chicken ramen does the same job. I didn’t need to add a Hanjuku ramen egg, but boy am I glad I did – the sweetness of the egg offsets the sharpness of the pickled greens. Firm Kata noodles add a beautiful blend of textures to the flavoursome broth. There are some non-ramen orders worth mentioning: fried chicken karaage accompanied by yuzu kosho and lime-flavoured Japanese mayonnaise; Maldon sea-salted edamame; and chicken and Chinese mushroom Yaki Gyoza. You’re definitely at risk of over-ordering at Kanada-Ya, given how rich and substantial their portions are, but you won’t go home regretting it. Small plates from £7.85, ramen from £15.90. 3 Panton St, Soho, SW11 4DL. Book here. 3. Check out London’s best… listening bars It’s all about music and great food at Hausu (Picture: Supplied) Best for: authentic Japanese vibes Where are you heading these days for your listening bars? Cafe 1001? Maybe Jumbi? How about a yakitori restaurant in Marylebone? A bit unusual, but it’s all part of Junsei’s new dining experience, inspired by Japanese music cafes. Relax to light jazz, soul and pop beats over plates of mouthwatering chicken thigh, courgette and tofu skewers. Their concept is open fire grill – each dish is well seasoned with a glorious charcoal bite, while the Heat cocktail has a punchy, smoky aftertaste. Go with a friend or two, or if you’re on your own, request a seat by the grill to watch the chefs perform their magic. Book here. What are listening bars? The concept is inspired by Japan’s ‘kissaten’ culture – dating back to the 1950s, people would go to coffee shops specifically to listen to music. Now listening bars tend have high quality sound systems, often with a focus on playing vinyl records and guest DJs in the evenings. Best for: keeping it classy (with an edge) Peckham Rye station’s old goods rooms are home to Hausu, a newish restaurant and listening bar named after an obscure Japanese horror-comedy from the ’70s. The music is as eclectic as the reference, humming from impressive speakers strung with thick copper wires. Mid-century modern meets faded Victorian station grandeur with green leather banquettes, lots of cherry wood and ornate, graffiti-daubed loos. The menu strikes a similar mix of old-school with a contemporary Asian edge – excellent seasonal small plates of pork collar, quince, and crisp Ratte potatoes dressed up with limeleaf, miso confit garlic and soy. Book here. Best for: a very cool Friday night Caia feels like a really, really cool person’s Notting Hill living room – only with Aussie chef John Javier in the kitchen. Funky small plates feature juicy gordal olives stuffed like a pork & prawn gyoza, sweet potato agnolotti steeped in chicken wing butter, and sticky Iberico ribs sprinkled with puffed rice. The cocktails are similarly bold and brilliant: the smoky, booze-heavy Long Count or the sparky, floral Penny Fuse. Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night through November and December, DJs spin vinyl till late – check their IG stories for the lineup. 4. Try Somerset House’s elegant new eateries including Poon’s View this post on Instagram A post shared by Poon's London (@poons_ldn) Somerset House has been undergoing something of a transformation for its 25th anniversary, with a series of exciting culinary openings including Aram, a Syrian café, and Setlist, a new femaile-led riverside food, music and arts destination. The final addition is Poon’s, where Amy Poon brings her Chinese home cooking to the prettiest pale-pink dining room. 5. Sample delicious Senegalese food at Little Baobab Never tried Senegalese food? Now’s your chance (Picture: Supplied) By Lola Alao Experience Dakar, Senegal right in South East London. That’s the hometown of Little Baobab’s head chef Khadim Mane. With dishes like Chicken Yassa, a beautifully tender piece of boneless chicken, served with lime caramelised onion, rice and salad – and the Thiebou Yapp, lamb and jollof rice (the latter is a dish that originated in Senegal) with a rich onion sauce. Comforting and beautifully presented, Little Baobab makes you feel like you’re at an auntie’s house eating homecooked food. You’ll regret not leaving room for dessert, and the Beignets are a true treat. Senegalese doughnuts in a dark chocolate sauce with a strong, fun hint of orange. Little Baobab is a lovely introduction to Senegalese flavours, with flavours you’ll want to savour and warm service. Mains from £9, snacks from £2, sweets from £5.50. The Africa Centre, 66-68 Great Suffolk St, Southwark, SE1 0BL. Book here. Sign up to The Diaspora Dish Hi, I'm Lola Christina Alao, co-editor of The Slice newsletter. Are you a fan of African and Caribbean food? We're cooking up a brand new newsletter, The Diaspora Dish, where you can get your hands on signature recipes from the Black chefs shaping the London food scene. I edit Metro's lifestyle newsletters, and I'm always on the hunt for the hottest new food spot in London (Picture: Lola Christina Alao) With incredible dishes like Caribbean hummus and sticky tamarind mushroom, tofu and plantain skewers on the menu, it’s a celebration of culture, community, and flavour. Ready to join the family? Sign up here. 6. Sip sake for free at Japan House If you’re idea of a dream evening involves sake, read on… three free Nadagogō sake events are coming up at Japan House London. Experience a sake demonstration, talks and tastings next week by big names such as sake brewer Takahashi Toshinari. Find out more. 7. Get 25% off at Korean restaurant SOOM during its soft launch Get sizzling at SOOM (Picture: SOOM) New Korean restaurant SOOM is offering 25% off food during its soft launch from 25 October to 8 November. Think cooking your own premium meats, plus seasonal vegetables, and contemporary dishes complemented by house-made sauces. 8. Start your day with a big American brekkie at Red Dog Saloon American eatery Red Dog Saloon is launching a brand new breakfast. And you can expect The Ultimate English Breakfast, The Full American, and DIY breakfast sandwiches with all the classics. To celebrate, they’re giving you 50% off your bill for the first two weekends (1-3 & 8-10 Nov). Coming soon... Look out for Slice reviews of both Red Dog Saloon and SOOM! 9. Book tickets to ABBA Voyage for all your Christmassy outings My my! Christmas is approaching fast, and the ABBA Arena is already unveiling its festive new look. The concourse has been transformed into a magical winter garden fit for a iconic Swedish pop group. Marvel at the cascading foliage, shimmering crystals and shifting lights, before heading to the new (heated) Winter Bar for some warming pre-show cocktails. 10. Try your hand at curling in Vinegar Yard’s festive wonderland An evening of alpine entertainment (Picture: Supplied) London Bridge’s The Curling Club is back just in time for winter – bigger than ever. Celebrate the season with curling, alpine treats, delicious drinks, and festive beats in Vinegar Yards. Tickets from £15, until 28 February 2026. 11. See Nicola Walker’s ‘guttural’ performance in The Unbelievers Unforgotten star Nicola Walker plays a grieving mum (Picture: Brinkhoff-Moegenburg) By John Nathan Nicola Walker immerses herself in madness for her latest role. As mother-of-three Miriam, the Unforgotten star spends the 110 uninterrupted minutes of Nick Payne’s latest play in the parental purgatory of a missing child, her 15-year-old son. Walker’s is a guttural scream – sometimes silent, sometimes loud – of a performance. Throughout the play is very much anchored by the torment of Miriam, which only deepens during the seven-year span. It is by vaulting the plot back and forth in time that Payne keeps his audience on its toes. Yet the effect of this storytelling technique on Marianne Elliot’s stamina-sapping, circular production is and increasing sense of claustrophobia, which can’t be a good thing for any show when the overriding thought at the end is that of being glad it’s over. £15 Monday tickets remaining, available day of show. Royal Court Theatre, London. Until 29 November. Book here. Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk. 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