Where To Eat Along The River In London

The River Café

Hammersmith’s The River Café was owned and run by chefs Ruth Rogers and Rose Gray until Gray's death in 2010; since then, Rogers has been the sole owner and still runs the restaurant today. Since opening in 1987, the Thames-side restaurant has gained a Michelin star, training up the likes of Theo Randall, Ed Baines of Randall & Aubin, April Bloomfield, Jamie Oliver and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall along the way. Simple signature dishes include the likes of wood-roasted turbot with potatoes, Amalfi lemon and courgette; fresh nettle pasta with butter and parmesan; and chocolate ‘Nemesis’ cake. It’s the perfect spot for special occasions.

Rainville Road, Hammersmith, W6 9HA

Visit RiverCafe.co.uk

Blueprint Café 

Diners have been heading to Blueprint Café since 1992, which offers unparalleled views over London’s skyline from its second-floor riverside location and floor-to-ceiling windows. The views stretch from Tower Bridge in the east to the glass-fronted skyscrapers of Canary Wharf in the west. Housed in the former home of the Design Museum, which was designed by the late Sir Terrence Conran in 1989, this is a stylish spot to enjoy the likes of roasted chicken breast with truffle stuffing and triple-cooked chips; and vanilla rice pudding with poached rhubarb and rose geranium.

28 Shad Thames, Tower Bridge, SE1 2YD 

Visit BlueprintCafe.co.uk

The Summerhouse

On the beautiful banks of Little Venice, The Summerhouse is a tranquil spot for waterside dining, where guests can tuck into New England-style clam chowder and popcorn shrimp. In the summer months, the picturesque restaurant rolls back its windows to leave only leafy partitions standing between diners and the bobbing barges beside them. We’re a big fan of the decor: picture light-oak floors, whitewashed walls, blue and white striped furnishings and a scattering of seaside artefacts.

60 Blomfield Road, Maida Vale, W9 2PA

Visit TheSummerHouse.co

Pear Tree Café

In the middle of Battersea Park, right on the river, Pear Tree Café has been a favourite fixture of south-London locals since it was opened by Annabel Partridge and Will Burrett in 2016. The café offers beautiful views across the boating lake and a seasonally changing menu in a relaxed setting. When it comes to food, this place has credentials: Annabel and Will met at Petersham Nurseries where they worked with head chef Skye Gyngell, with whom they then went on to open Spring at Somerset House. Expect to find the likes of grilled rump steak sandwich with horseradish cream and onion jam; sweet potato and chickpea curry with grilled flatbread; and roasted pumpkin toast with feta on the menu.

Lakeside Cafe, Battersea Park, SW11 4NJ

Visit PearTreeCafe.co.uk

The Grand Duchess

The Grand Duchess is a barge moored on the Grand Union Canal in Paddington, which doubles up as a floating restaurant. Open for lunch and dinner, the team focuses on British fish delivered daily from Cornwall and a drinks list that centres on sparkling wine. The seafood-heavy menu offers a nod to British classics – think beer battered lobster served with chip shop curry sauce or crisp pork belly with cockles and laverbread. The team focuses on wine producers with low productions who make wine in an eco-conscious way – and each can be matched seamlessly with dishes across the menu.

Sheldon Square, Paddington, W2 6DL

Visit LondonShellCo.com

The Swan at the Globe

Part of Shakespeare’s Globe itself, close to the National Theatre and across the river from the West End, this high-end spot is often the backdrop for working actors to head for dinner following their performance: Mark Rylance, Dame Judi Dench, Stephen Fry and Jude Law have all been spotted here for a pre-theatre bite to eat. As well as booking in for brunch, lunch and dinner – on the terrace for now, but indoors from 17th May – guests can eat their way through Shakespeare's ethereal romantic comedy, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, via an afternoon tea. Inspired by the journeys of the characters, expect to eat the likes of cherry confit and pistachio cream-filled choux pastry topped with crumble; and caramelised honey cream tart with redcurrants and green chocolate moss.

21 New Globe Walk, Bankside, SE1 9DT

Visit SwanLondon.co.uk

The Cheese Barge

This May, Mathew Carver, founder of Pick & Cheese and The Cheese Bar, will finally launch his new restaurant, The Cheese Barge – a double-decker vessel permanently moored on the Grand Union Canal in Paddington. Originally scheduled to open in spring 2020, the barge has spent the last year in Somerset, and once open will comprise a 40-cover lower deck dining room and a 20-cover open-air upper deck. A refined menu of British dishes using small producer cheese includes the likes of Windrush goats’ curd with lamb scrumpets and pickled walnuts; Mrs Kirkham’s lancashire served with fennel and red wine sausages and braised red cabbage; and a half-kilo Baron Bigod, made by Fen Farm Dairy and served baked to order. We can’t wait to get stuck in.

Sheldon Square, Paddington, W2 6HY

Visit TheCheeseBar.com

Crate Brewery

Crate Brewery has a colourful history as a print factory and a squat. Today, it’s a canal side bar, complete with a riverside garden, built with the help of the local creative community. The experimental brewhouse serves the full Crate range and more across its rotating taps, plus wine, cocktails and superlative sourdough pizzas. Upstairs, in The White Building, you’ll also find acclaimed zero-waste restaurant Silo. Keep an eye out for the Alfred Le Roy, a bar on a boat which moors nearby and takes guests for drinks-filled trips on the water.

Queens Yard, Hackney Wick, E9 5EN

Visit CrateBrewery.com

Towpath Café

A lot has changed since Towpath first rolled up its shutters 10 years ago on the Regent’s Canal in Hackney – a time where everything but the toasted cheese sandwich was cooked from home across the bridge. However, it’s still a relatively secret spot that’s loved by locals – and it still closes every winter. Located on a perch beside the east London canal, this is the place to head if you want a relaxed meal in a vibrant neighbourhood. Whether you’re planning a party or a long lunch, make sure to order extensively from the regularly changing menu, which includes the likes of taramasalata, radishes and toast; brown shrimp with capers, rocket and mint; and goats’ curd and garlic.

42 De Beauvoir Crescent, Haggerston, N1 5SB

Visit TowpathLondon.com

Oxo Tower Restaurant

On the top floor of the Oxo Tower, this restaurant offers great views across the Thames over to St Paul’s Cathedral. Open for anything from a quick coffee and afternoon tea to a six-course tasting menu with matched wines, the space has been a London staple for over 20 years. Until 17th May, customers can dine outdoors on three terraces, which are now housed beneath temporary coverings. Heaters have been fitted to help keep everyone warm, and hot tea and coffee is on hand to give customers a boost of heat, if needed. Of the main menu, we like the sound of Scottish langoustine and chorizo skewers with spring slaw, shaved white asparagus, fennel, dandelion and white gazpacho; and truffled burrata with pea gel, basil seeds, asparagus, puntarella, lemon oil and basil cress.

Barge House Street, South Bank, SE1 9PH

Visit HarveyNichols.com

The Narrow

Gordon Ramsay’s The Narrow is a Grade II-listed riverside restaurant in Limehouse, which offers panoramic waterside views and a menu that focuses on world cuisine made with British ingredients. Here, you’ll find the likes of spicy tuna tartare with crispy wontons, crème fraiche and avocado; tamarind-spiced chicken wings; and potted beef brisket with wholegrain mustard, piccalilli and seeded crackers. With views of the Thames and The Shard in the distance, the restaurant’s terrace is a great location for those wanting to make the most of being back in the capital. During the summer months, a BBQ will be set-up on the terrace at weekends.

44 Narrow Street, Limehouse, E14 8DP

Visit GordonRamsayRestaurants.com