Culture & Heritage/Books/Quest #91508 Verified
Order a cocktail under the mezzanine of Lutyens's 1920s Piccadilly bank, now Assouline's bookshop
Maison Assouline
Maison Assouline fills a Grade II* former Midland Bank on Piccadilly, designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens in 1922–23. Inside, the luxury publisher's oversized art, travel and fashion books sit around wood panelling and a carved mezzanine, with rare first editions and monthly pop-up exhibitions. Swans Bar, on the ground floor, serves cocktails, wine, coffee and a light lunch. Free to browse; open Mon–Wed 10.30am–7pm, Thu–Sat 10.30am–9pm, Sun 12–6pm.
- Where
- Piccadilly W1J 9EY
- Format
- Drop-in
- Cost
- Free
Keep exploring
You might also love
Get there for 8am and dig through a book warehouse where everything is 70% offOn two weekends a month, 66 Books, the UK's biggest clearance and remainder book wholesaler, opens its Hemel Hempstead warehouse to the public: 15,000+ titles at 70% off, 8am to 6pm, no booking. Join on the day for £2 a year (covers your whole household). Next open weekends: 21–22 Nov, 5–6 Dec and 12–13 Dec 2026.
Order a bottle of wine at the bar in the middle of Balham's award-winning bookshopBackstory is an independent bookshop on Balham High Road with a bar at its heart, serving barista coffee, wine, local beer and snacks among the shelves. Open daily from 10am (9am Saturdays) and until 9pm on Thursdays and Fridays, when it hosts £15 author talks. Free to browse.
Share a chai latte at the counter of Highbury's 'Books & Drink' shop, shop dogs includedInk@84 is a bright neighbourhood bookshop on Highbury Park that pairs new books with drinks; the chalkboard behind the counter lists chai lattes and sodas. It runs the 'Ink & Drink' book club and book launches, and has three resident shop dogs. Open Mon–Sat 10am–6pm, Sun 12–5pm; free to browse, card only.
Every Thursday
This weekend's side quests, in your inbox
Ten things worth doing in London this weekend, picked by us, every Thursday. Dates, plans with mates, things to do alone and what's on before it sells out. Free, and unsubscribe any time.