There are thousands of places to eat in London and sometimes it can be overwhelming trying to decide where to dine! This little list of the best London restaurants with a view is here to point you in the right direction by highlighting the restaurants here that feature fabulous views of the city for those who want to enjoy London’s skyline while they dine.
Be sure to read our companion post on the best London bars with a view as well as our Guide to London on a Budget.
We rank the prices of the bars on a scale of £ (very cheap) to ££££ (very pricey).
Tate Modern Restaurant
Located on Level 6 of the Tate Modern Museum sits the Rex Whistler Restaurant. Fine food, afternoon cream teas and a wide selection of cakes are all on offer here along with an incredible view over the River Thames to St. Paul’s Cathedral. Beautiful during the day and particularly stunning at night, the restaurant is worth visiting even for those who may not be fans of modern art. Even with the lavish, expansive wine list, this is still one of the more affordable restaurants on our list.
Address: Tate Modern, Bankside, SE1 9TG
Nearest Underground Station: Blackfrairs
Price: £
Aqua Shard
Sitting on the 31st floor of the tallest building in the European Union (as of writing – 2015) sits Aqua Shard. One of a number of restaurants in the Shard building, Aqua Shard is the most affordable with a light breakfast of juice and coffee served up with a selection of pastries all with a bill of under £10! The food here is a modern take of classic British and, where possible, ingredients are sourced from Borough Market just next door. As you can imagine, being located in the Shard, Aqua Shard has some of the finest views in town with sweeping vistas along the Thames from Tower Bridge in the East all the way into Westminster.
Address: Level 31, The Shard, 21 Saint Thomas Street, SE1 9RY
Nearest Underground Station: London Bridge
Price: £ [Breakfast] £££ [Lunch and Dinner]
Darwin Brasserie
The 4th highest restaurant in London, the Darwin Brasserie is located in the Walkie Talkie Building’s Sky Garden – one of the newest vantage points in town. The views here are over the City and along the River Thames, and the Sky Garden itself is open to visitors to explore either before/after they have eaten. The food here is British classics with modern flair and is remarkably affordable considering the prime location in the centre of London with one of the best views in the capital.
Address: 20 Fenchurch Street, EC3M 3BY
Nearest Underground Station: Monument
Price: ££
Blueprint Café
The Blueprint Café is located on the south-eastern edge of Central London, on top of the London Design Museum, which means it comes with a prime location on the edge of the River Thames. Floor-to-ceiling windows here mean there are uninterrupted views of the Thames, Tower Bridge and out to the Docklands. When weather is good, there is an outdoor terrace for meals al fresco. The menu here is European and changes with the seasons. Expect a small amount of choice but delicious food accompanied by an extensive wine list.
Address: The Design Museum, Shad Thames, SE1 2YD
Nearest Underground Station: London Bridge or Tower Hill
Price: ££
OXO Restaurant
The OXO Tower is a London landmark and an excellent design of art deco sitting right on the southern banks of the Thames. There is an outdoor terrace at the brasserie for outdoors dining, and the more expensive restaurant area has a frontage made totally of glass. Dining here takes place on the 8th storey so this location is not as tall as others, but the views are still commanding. So no matter where you choose to dine, you’ll be getting great views of the river and into the City featuring St. Paul’s Cathedral and the towering turrets of the Royal Courts of Justice. Expect excellent service, modern British cuisine with a pan-Asian twist and a wine list with over 800 choices! Vegetarians and vegans take note, there is an entire menu here for you, too!
Address: Oxo Tower Wharf, Bargehouse Street, South Bank, SE1 9PH
Nearest Underground Station: Waterloo or Temple
Price: ££ [Brasserie] £££ [Restaurant]
Coq D’Argent
Visits to Coq D’Argent start off with a ride in a posh private lift, which takes guests up into a gorgeous rooftop garden that overlooks London’s financial district. The views of the skyline here – particularly that of Mansion House and St. Paul’s as well as the other towering turrets of London’s skyscrapers - are spectacular but it’s the impressively manicured lawns and topiaries that really complete the look. Food here is regional French and although the dining is decadent there are both fine and casual dining (at the brasserie) choices available.
Address: 1 Poultry, EC2R 8EJ
Nearest Underground Station: Bank
Price: ££ [Brasserie] ££££ [Restaurant]
Sushisamba
A unique menu is on offer at Sushisamba with food that displays a blend of Peruvian, Brazilian and Japanese cuisine. The food is delicious, but does come with a hefty price-tag. It’s worth it, though, for the views here. This is the second-tallest restaurant in London and the views are directed out into the East, highlighting the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, and all the way out into the Olympic Park! There’s an outdoor terrace that overlooks the Gherkin which is an incredible place to sit during the summer months, basking in the sunshine overlooking nearly the entire city.
Address: Heron Tower, 110 Bishopsgate, EC2N 4AY
Nearest Underground Station: Liverpool Street
Price: ££££
City Social
City Social is located on the 24th floor, surrounded by the modern megaliths of the City of London. You’ll be face-to-face with landmarks like the Shard, the Cheesegrater, the Gherkin and the Walkie-Talkie (the building that melted a car!). The food here is the creation of master chef Jason Atherton and features modern British tastes with Asian and Mediterranean flavours. As you may expect, sitting in the heart of the financial district, this is a restaurant for splashing the cash so consider this one for a special occasion.
Address: 24th Floor, 25 Old Broad Street, EC2N 1HQ
Nearest Underground Station: Bank
Price: ££££
Galvin at Windows
Galvin at Windows was one of the first restaurants to capitalise on the vistas and views of London, opening in 2006. The views here are verdant, overlooking posh Park Lane and into the gorgeous Hyde Park, as well as looking down onto Buckingham Palace. Food is French…and expensive but the views at night, with the city lit up from below is a true experience.
Address: London Hilton, 22 Park Lane, W1K 1BE
Nearest Underground Station: Hyde Park Corner
Price: ££££
