Things To Do In London This Weekend: May 12-14

ELLE's Cultural Roundup

Look at this photograph. Beautiful, right? Now look again: only this time knowing that it's actually a painting. Yes, REALLY. And it's just one of the extraordinary, hyper-realistic pieces by NYC-based artist Yigal Ozeri that are now on show at the Opera Gallery on New Bond Street. Painted using thousands of tiny brushstrokes, the works blur the line between fantasy and reality: at once idealised yet gritty, dreamlike yet true to life. Go, see, and never again be impressed by any Instagram filter.

12-25 May; free

Opera Gallery London, 134 New Bond Street, London W1S 2TF

So there's a secret Scandinavian rooftop bar on Oxford Street. And it has a NEGRONI VENDING MACHINE... Hang on, wait! Don't tear up to the top of every shop along there – all shall be revealed. What you need to do is pitch up at the door at 535 Oxford Street, follow the staircase and find yourself in an oasis of Scandi cool, featuring nature-reserve styling, heated seats (handy in British summer), a cocktail bar and a restaurant made from upcycled windows (of course) serving up international street food. But most importantly, you'll find that machine, where you deposit tokens to dispense your own Negronis and Old Fashioneds. Now that is progress.

Until late September

Sisu, 535 Oxford Street, London W1C 2QW

The Queen of Hoxton rooftop is a summer institution – and this year's theme might just be the most apt yet. After all, how many of us in London are putting off ever having to grow up? Which is why QoH is formalising the whole procedure with a Peter Pan-themed bar. Follow the second star to the right and head straight on till morning (or, er, climb to the top of the stairs) and you'll arrive in Neverland, complete with a mermaid's lagoon, Captain Hook's ship and a Lost Boys' Bar serving themed cocktails such as the absinthe-based Green Eyed Fairy (careful: a couple of those and you WILL believe you can fly). There's also a Neverland BBQ, Sunday Terrace parties, crafty workshops and the Rooftop Film Club. Bangarang, indeed.

Until Oct; free

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

There is plenty about Art Beats to make your heart beat (ah, we see what they did there). A one-day art festival taking over Old Spitalfields Market, it's a chance to see great artworks in the making, with 50 creators on site sculpting, painting, tattooing and graffiti-ing original pieces – all set to live funk and soul music. Secondly, you can have a go at getting arty yourself with a pottery session with the good folks at Kite Studios. And thirdly, and best of all, it's all in support of charity Hearts in Harmony, with funds raised on the day going directly to heart disease wards and towards research. Art with a BIG heart – get involved.

12 May

Art Beats, Old Spitalfields Market, 16 Horner Square, E1 6EW

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It's back: after finally giving the hipster enclave that is Peckham a music festival of its own for the first time last year, this ace shindig is returning bigger and even hipper than before. Filling 10 of the area's coolest venues with appropriately cool live music, this year's fest straddles TWO weekends, debuts an outdoor stage and boasts a storming line-up covering left-field house, funk, dub and much more. Seek out Kode9, Cooly G, Addison Groove and Secretsundaze for starters, and feel your hipster-cred points clocking up.

12-14 May and 19-21 May; from £8

Various venues

The Shop at Bluebird in Chelsea usually plays host to the best of British (including the influx of sun seeking Sloanies) but to kick off high summer the store have brought over the most exciting South American designer for an injection of fashion fiesta. The pop-up, 'Postcards from Latin America' showcases everything from jewellery to swimwear to must-have beach bags featuring designers from Brazil, Columbia, Mexico, Panama and Peru. Get there fast or the watermelon sandals (that are Instagram gold) will be gone quicker than you can say, 'hola'.

May 4th – June 15th

The Shop at Bluebird, King's Road SW3 5UU

by Billie Bhatia

A festival. Of prosecco. Yes, such a marvellous thing is happening. And yes, it is happening this very weekend. Because for four days from Thursday, the leading producers of Italian bubbly are all to be found together for the first time, at Hackney's Oval Space. You can expect masterclasses, tastings, authentic Italian food stalls and live jazz, not to mention an after-party rolling from Friday night right through till 5am on Saturday morning. And if all this STILL hasn't sold you, know this: your ticket entitles you to a glass of fizz from eight (EIGHT!) prosecco producers on site. At which point that after-party will be looking all kinds of a good idea…

11-14 May; £35 for session pass, £10 for Friday after party

Oval Space, 29-32 The Oval, Hackney E2 9DT