Leading Restaurants and Bars Around Southbank!

OK you’ve done the London Eye, got off the train at Waterloo or you live/work in the area. Lucky you, there’s a quality overflow of fabulous bars and restaurants to wet your lips with in Southbank.. Take a gander at these choices we’ve made.

Gillray’s Steakhouse & Bar

Part of the London Marriott Hotel County Hall, you get stunning views of the River Thames from this award-winning, old-world hotel restaurant in Southbank. It offers the best cocktails amidst crystal chandeliers while you enjoy the sights of the London Eye and Houses of Parliament. They major in steak and Aberdeen Angus which are raised on English farms.

If you are brave enough order ‘Bull’s Head’ that is all meat!  Be warned. Great breakfast and thumbs up to the best oysters and beef around. An amazing list of gins and wide range of cocktails, with friendly staff and good service.

Address: County Hall, Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7PB  Tel: 0207 902 8000

Website: gillrays.com

OXO Bar

For cracker drinks and food accompanied by amazing skyline and river views, try OXO bar. This is the perfect place to enjoy your special occasions like having dinner with superb live music or enjoying cocktails after work. Stunning views over the River Thames, to Charing Cross and the city of London too. With access to a 250-foot terrace, this can be counted among the most dynamic venues of London. Book a table though… don’t miss out on the Pimm’s fruit cup!

Address: 8th Floor, Oxo Tower Wharf, Bargehouse Street, London SE1 9PH  Tel: 0207 803 3888  Website: www.oxotower.co.uk

Rake

Known to be one among the smallest pubs located in London, this specialises in bottled beers and draught ales. This is an ever-popular pub which also takes pride in rising above its general selection of beers.

It’s perfect for special occasions or relaxed evenings. They are passionate, with a dizzying number of bottles and huge variety of brews. Owned by beer importers, they have the kinds of offerings you might never have come across. A spirited place that runs on the slogan they have here: “’No crap on tap’’.

Address: 14 Winchester Walk, Borough Market, London SE1 9AG  Tel: 0207 407 0557

Website: www.utobeer.co.uk/the-rake

The Table

Enjoy your favourite British meal in this spacious, bright and modern café which is located close to the Tate Modern. With excellent brunches and breakfasts, you are not going anywhere else! Try the delicious fruit-yoghurt-muesli combos for the healthy, or a good full English for everyone else. Monmouth coffee, scrumptious sweetcorn fritters, buttermilk pancakes, home-made baked beans, hollandaise, poached eggs, chorizo and red pepper pesto. You are surely coming back for more! They even have a ‘Phar Lap’ coffee.

Address: 83 Southwark Street, London SE1 0HX  Tel: 0207 401 2760
Website: www.thetablecafe.com

Dandelyan

Run by a smart team of international hotel ‘servers’ and created by award-winning bar impresario Ryan Chetiyawardana, they have a menu that’s awesome and ground breaking. You get ingredients like ‘crystal peach nectar’, ‘chalk bitters’, ‘dandelion capillaire’, etc. You can expect this bar to be a little informal, along with being luxurious and glamorous. Ford & Warner, Evil Manhattan, ‘vermouth’, bitters and rye whiskey are some of the best-sellers they have here.

Everything you get here will give you a sweet hint of the garden. It’s all stunning and a bit surprising at times. This is the kind of place you need to go prepared before you raise that glass up in the air.  Don’t miss out on the dramatic views of the beautiful Thames. Enjoy more than just cocktails in this stunning interior, carefully designed by Tom Dixon.

Address: 20 Upper Ground, London SE1 9PD  Tel: 0203 747 1000  Website: www.morganshotelgroup.com/mondrian/mondrian-london/eat-drink/Dandelyan

Tapas Brindisa

At the centre of everything Spanish in food in London, Brindisa continue with this tapas bar. Serving the best Iberian hams, cheese and various other essentials loved by foodies in the city. Well priced and sophisticated wines are available. Don’t be surprised if you don’t get a seat on arrival, but consider yourself lucky if you do – because it’s worth your pennies in the end!

Address: 18-20 Southwark Street, London SE1 1TJ  Tel: 0207 357 8880

Website: www.brindisatapaskitchens.com

Love & Scandal

Located behind Waterloo station on Lower Marsh, this is a great little café known for top coffee and snacks. The staff are hip and super friendly. The walls are covered with a collection of superhero posters to surround you as you gulp their great coffee, cake and local soft drinks.

Free WiFi, of course. Expect to see loads of young peeps tapping away at their keyboards as they start the next Facebook or Snapchat. Visitors say ‘great place to get work done. Strong internet, lots of outlets. The lady who worked there was very knowledgable about coffee and recommended that I try oat milk with my coffee as it mixed better.

Address: 107 Lower Marsh, London SE1 7AB  Website: www.loveandscandal.co.uk/

Pulia

Make your way into this Italian café with a spacious communal dining space offering you finest selection of food teamed with local producers. They are the first UK venture from one of the most popular Italian mini-chains, also having branches in Turin, Florence, Venice and Milan.

The tables made from wooden palettes in this sleek and contemporarily designed venue don’t deserve a miss. They have pizzas, sweet pastries, focaccia breads, pasta and lots of cheese. The menu also includes burrata – a very popular export for the region. Products at Pulia are made by their Apulian chefs, based on local ingredients and recipes.

Address: 36 Stoney Street, London SE1 9LB  Tel: 0207 407 8766  Website: pulia.com

Arabica Bar & Kitchen

Great Middle Eastern cuisine under the stunning Victorian railway arch, leather banquettes for mezze and cocktails. This is a buzzy and lively place with atmospheric lighting, they have French maps on the wall. Try the roasted red peppers with the toasted nuts, pinach kibbeh and lamb. Baby pickled aubergine stuffed with walnut and red pepper (they call it ‘magdous’ here) is yummy. Plenty for all the spice lovers!

The wine list includes items from French, Arab, Lebanese and Turkish regions

Address: Borough Market, 3 Rochester Walk, London SE1 9AF  Tel: 0203 011 5151  Website: www.arabicabarandkitchen.com

Skylon

A perfect blend of retro chic and contemporary style, this lightly spaced bar gives you the feel from the 1950s. Vast windows and cathedral ceilings make this setting perfect for views of the skyline, river and the people on the move. Enjoy fabulous cocktails and drinks to delight your taste buds. Try Manzana Verde, signature Skylon, Ciroc vodka, apple or lime juice. If you are up to ‘destination drinking’, Skylon can’t be topped in the city.

Address: Royal Festival Hall, London SE1 8XX  Tel: 0207 654 7800

Website: www.skylon-restaurant.co.uk

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