Burns Night 2024: our 9 top picks of restaurants and bars to book for the occasion
Looking for a place to celebrate Burns Night in style? Well, look no further…
Burns Night, which falls on 25 January, is the annual celebration of beloved Scottish poet Robert Burns. It usually involves poetry readings, a good dram or two of whisky, and a delicious, traditional meal with your nearest and dearest.
The tradition started when Burns’s friends made a pact to celebrate his life each year on the date of his death, 21 July. As the years went by, Burns Night celebrations shifted to his birthday instead, which is (you guessed it) on 25 January.
If you want to get in on the tradition and celebrate Burns Night in style, check out some of our top picks of food and drink spots putting something special together for the occasion.
108 Brasserie & Bar
From January 19-25, 108 Brasserie & Bar is offering a three-course menu, starting with a hearty bowl of cullen skink (a traditional smoked haddock and potato soup), slow-braised Scottish venison haunch and haggis, coupled with an Isle of Mull cheddar croquette and neeps and tatties covered in a whisky cream sauce, before finishing your meal off with a raspberry cranachan trifle, layered with dark chocolate and salted oatmeal shortbread.
Rails Restaurant
On Burns Night, Rails Restaurant at boutique Great Northern Hotel is offering a tasty three-course Burns Night menu, including cullen skink, haggis with neeps and tatties and whisky sauce, before rounding it all off with a Scottish cranachan dessert made with homemade cream and raspberries.
Young’s Pubs
Young’s has a schedule full of events, from whisky-paired dinners to bagpipe performances, poetry readings and a charity dinner. These events are taking place at multiple branches in and outside of London, including The Oyster Shed, Cutty Sark and Boathouse Instow.
The Cadogan Arms
This three-course Burns Night dinner includes not just whisky-cured smoked Scottish salmon, beremeal bannock, venison and haggis wellington, and a raspberry and whisky cranachan, but there are also two Aberfeldy cocktails and a dram of 12-year-old Aberfeldy too.
Mama Shelter
Burns Night at Mama’s includes cock-a-leekie soup, haggis with neeps and tatties, poached dates and honeycomb cranachan. You can also get stuck into a lovely whisky flight.
The Cocktail Bar
For those with a sweet tooth, The Marylebone Hotel’s The Cocktail Bar is marking the occasion by offering a whisky menu paired with luxury Pierre Marcolini chocolates.
Galvin Bistrot & Bar
This tasty Burns Night includes haggis, cullen skink, Loch Duart smoked salmon, a raspberry cranachan and finishes with Scottish fudge and coffee.
Boisdale of Belgravia
As one of London’s only Scottish restaurants, you can expect Boisdale of Belgravia to take Burns Night very seriously indeed, addressing the haggis and bagpipes included.
Langan’s Brasserie
Not only will you be tucking into a great menu, with bagpipes and the ode to haggis on the hour, but there’s also a twist on the classic deep-fried Mars Bar to finish with.
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