Best food venues on London's South Bank

The South Bank of the river Thames in London houses one the world’s largest cultural centres including concert halls, theatres, cinemas and art galleries. Stretching between the Hungerford and Blackfriars bridges, it has some of the most stunning views over the London skyline. This is not a cheap part of London and there is a trade-off between the quality of food on offer and a table with a view.

Royal Festival Hall

Located just next to Hungerford Bridge, the Royal Festival Hall provides a large range of eating venues. The Skylon restaurant and bar offer modern British and European food with one of the best views of the River Thames and London skyline in the city. There are vegetarian menus, Sunday menus and pre- and post-theatre menus with an impressive food range from caramelised sweetbreads to crab risotto. The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra sometimes performs for diners. The same spectacular views but more budget-priced food and drink are available at the Riverside Terrace Cafe on the Royal Festival Hall’s Level 2.

Tate Modern Restaurant

The Tate Modern art gallery’s restaurant is another venue with impressive views over the Thames. You don’t have to visit the art gallery to visit the restaurant on the 7th floor, or indeed the cafe on the ground floor. The menu offers British cooking from leek and cheese tart to Suffolk chicken with a little bit of panache. The food complements the view rather than suffers for it and the clientele is interestingly eclectic. The ground floor cafe offers much the same food, but a more restricted view over the river, with a fast and cheerful service.

Founders Arms

This pub is a London institution located between the Tate Modern and Shakespeare Globe Theatre. The food is regular pub grub, from fish and chips to bar snacks, and the prices reflect the cost of the location. Sit outside and take in all of the London skyline’s iconic sights from St Paul’s Cathedral to the London Eye. It is an excellent place to relax and watch people walking along the embankment.

Borough Market

Borough Market is London’s foremost food market supplying quality British and international produce to most of the restaurants along South Bank. The market lies between London Bridge station on one side and the old Clink jail on the other. The food, not the view, is spectacular. Small restaurants and cafes are plentiful inside and around the market. Go early for lunch at Applebee’s fish cafe to taste the best of the day’s catch. Taste ostrich sausages at Baxter’s Cafe or buy an ice cream or a pastry inside the market.