Things To Do In London This Weekend: May 11 - 13

If the film The Hangover is to be believed (and that was a documentary, right?), a night out in Las Vegas is a) very expensive and b) may result in a Siberian tiger in your room the next morning. Happily though, you can now cut all the faff and expense by heading to London’s very own Lost Vegas, which has just opened for the summer on the Queen of Hoxton rooftop. There we can promise you a wedding chapel where you can be married by Drag King Elvis, Vegas vending machines stocked with everything from beers to wedding/divorce packages, plus speciality cocktails on tap including the Neva Colada (toasted coconut rum, peanut soda, banana butter syrup, coconut water). Warning though: too many of those, and we CAN’T promise you won’t wake up with that Siberian tiger. Hey, what happens in Vegas…

Until Oct; free

Queen of Hoxton, 1 Curtain Rd, London EC2A 3JX

Remember a time before we knew just how good Sri Lankan fermented rice and coconut milk pancakes were? Us neither, and frankly, we don’t care to. Because since the opening of Hoppers in Soho two years ago, we’ve all been hooked on the damn things, leading to rave reviews and queues around the block. Hard, then, to see how they could make things any better. But they’ve only gone and done it, because on the second Sunday of each month, the restaurant is throwing on full-on feast, focusing on large cuts of meat, whole fish, and traditional sharing karis. Kicking things off this Saturday will be a Sri Lankan roast lamb breast, tuna roti, drop dosas, and coconut Pandan pudding. Mark our words: soon you’ll be struggling to remember a time before coconut Pandan pudding…

13 May, then second Sunday of each month

Hoppers Soho, 49 Frith Street, London, W1D 4SG

It's a festival. OF CHOCOLATE. We probably don't need to sell you on this any further, but as you're here: this weekend, King’s Cross’ Canopy Market will be stuffed with more sweet treats than Willy Wonka's had... well, sweet treats. Look out for high-end creations from the award-winning Pump Street Bakery, plus Franceschi Chocolate from Caracas, Venezuela, specialist tastings, wine and chocolate pairings (yes, that's a thing) and chocolate and beer pairings (yes, also a thing). And in the unlikely event that you STILL need persuading, we bet we can do it with two little words: Free. Samples.

11-13 May; free

Canopy Market, Kings Cross, London N1C 4LW

Q: What do Matches Fashion, Alex Eagle, Vestiaire Collective, Temperley, Noor Fares, Charlotte Olympia and M.i.h Jeans all have in common (other than covetable clothing, obvs)? A: Car booting (not so obvs). Because this Saturday, they’re pitching up their rides at Soho’s Brewer Street Car Park, and selling samples, one-offs and last-chance buys at amazing prices. Not that they’ve fallen on rough times, mind you: it’s all to raise money for charity Women to Women International, which supports women living in some of the world’s most dangerous places. There’ll also be beauty stations by Charlotte Tilbury, Elemis and Sassoon, plus food, drink and DJs… Not so much car boot, more car bootique, then.

12 May; £10

#SheInspiresMe Car Boot Sale, Brewer Street Car Park, Brewer Street, London, W1F 0LA

It was always going to be a tough act to follow. The Distillery, affectionately known as ‘the gin hotel’, has been one of the city’s biggest food-and-drink hits of the past couple of years. But the team behind it don’t go in for ‘difficult second venue’ syndrome, oh no: with new outpost Tonica, they’ve got another smash in their hands. Now open on Exmouth Market, you can expect the same balloon-sized G&T Plus cocktails featuring fanciful garnishes and tinctures, as well as a working still room producing artisan spirits such as avocado vodka and butter gin, AND a seasonal Spanish tapas menu to soak it all up. It’s a work of gin-ius, if you will.

Tonica, 55-57 Exmouth Market, EC1R 4QL