London’s Best Waterside Dining And Drinking

Ben O' Norum
By Ben O' Norum Last edited 65 months ago
London’s Best Waterside Dining And Drinking

Make the most of London’s rivers, canals, docks and basins with this selection of spots to grab a quick drink, a bite to eat, or a full-blown meal by the water. Or even on it.

Rotunda in Kings Place

Bravas Tapas

There's something a bit special about this modern tapas restaurant at St Katharine Docks. Battered wooden furniture and bare-brick walls are quaint and cool, while the illuminated view of the boat-filled docks from its floor-to-ceiling windows feels more like Spain than Shadwell. Dishes such as raw slices of tuna, deconstructed gazpacho, oysters laced with sherry, and foie gras served in egg shells represent the kind of innovative modern Spanish cooking that's making waves internationally rather than the usual tapas bar fare. It’s sometimes off the wall, but almost always on the money.

Bravas Tapas, St Katherine Docks, E1W 1AT

The Captain Kidd

Named after a pirate hanged nearby in 1701, The Captain Kidd in Wapping is a maze of different seating areas, almost all overlooking the Thames. A large outside patio allows drinking and dining right at the water's edge, while two upper floors both offer prime views of the water. The food isn't the reason people come, but it's a step beyond most basic pub fare.

The Captain Kidd, 108 Wapping High Street, E1W 2NE

Moroccan salad at The Dove.

Dock Kitchen

This internationally-influenced restaurant overlooking Portobello Docks near Westbourne Park. It's set above the showroom for designer Tom Dixon and the restaurant has been styled by the man himself. Bright-coloured tables and chairs, large low-hanging lights and bare brick walls are smack-you-in-the-face cool, but it's the panoramic views onto the water that steal the show. Menus vary from day to day, but expect seasonal produce to play centre stage. On the last Wednesday of each month, Dock Kitchen puts together a fixed menu for the whole table to share based around a place, book, or some other kind of concept.

Dock Kitchen, Portobello Docks, 342-344 Ladbroke Grove, W10 5BU

The Gun.

The Dove

A public house has stood where The Dove is now on the Hammersmith riverside since the 17th Century, and the site has been owned by Fuller's since 1796. You'll need to duck your head as you enter, floorboards creek underfoot, and for much of the year an open fire roars. Charming as the inside is, its place in this list is down to its riverside terrace, overlooking a wide, tranquil and wildlife-rich part of the Thames. (Naturally, it's less tranquil when the boat race is on.) Drinks consist of Fuller's ales, the usual big brand beers and a basic selection of wine and spirits, while the food is decent — though far from gastro.

The Dove, 19 Upper Mall, W6 9TA

Feng Shang Princess

How do you beat being by the water? By being on the water, of course. It's this unusual quirk that wins the floating Chinese restaurant near Regent's Park its inclusion here. The food is a Western-friendly take on Cantonese dishes — fine but unspectacular. The views out of the small windows of the pagoda-styled ship onto a leafy part of Regent's Canal are worth the trip alone.

Feng Shang Princess, Cumberland Basin, Prince Albert Road, NW1 7SS

Feng Shang Princess.

The Gun

This Docklands gastropub is a tad off the beaten track but well worth the trip from Canary Wharf station. Hearty British dishes are executed with flair in the main dining room where a good balance is struck between pub classics and fancier gastro offerings. The roast dinners are outstanding. There's also plenty of space to linger with a pints or a cocktail, including an open-air terrace overlooking The O2 right by the choppy Docklands waters.

The Gun, 27 Coldharbour, Docklands, E14 9NS

Le Pont De La Tour

There could be few more impressive locations for a restaurant than Le Pont De La Tour's — right on the bank of the Thames, overlooking Tower Bridge and the City. Both food and service are as perfect as the view at this long-standing, if pricey, fish-focused French restaurant. Grab a spot on the heated terrace and tuck into seafood platters, grilled lobsters and other classics before ending on a selection from the epic cheese trolley. It's a plush restaurant that likes to pamper its diners — save it for a special occasion.

Le Pont De La Tour, 36D Shad Thames, SE1 2YE

The Narrow

The Narrow

Gordon Ramsay's foray into the world of gastropubs didn't go that well — with two out of three of his ventures closing. The Narrow remains, and there's a reason for that. It's a more relaxed and much more affordable affair than many of Ramsay's other venues, and comes with the bonus of a terrace right on the water's edge in Limehouse. A British menu features the likes of slow roast pork belly with cider and apple sauce, and beer battered line caught haddock.

The Narrow, 44 Narrow Street, E14 8DP

The Perkin Reveller

Named after a figure in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales who loves nothing more than eating, drinking, merriment and mischief, it's fitting that The Perkin Reveller is a venue with so much character. Not only is it set right on the Thames, but immediately next to the Tower of London and partially within the bowels of Tower Bridge itself. Modern versions of Medieval banquet fare include pork and apple sausage with mustard mash, with hefty mains and bar snacks available. A tome of cocktails focussing on London gin, and beers served in pewter tankards make the drinks just as appealing.

The Perkin Reveller, The Wharf, Tower of London, EC3N 4AB

enue:

Roast at The Perkin Reveller.

The Proud Archivist

A relative newcomer to Haggerston's burgeoning dining scene, The Proud Archivist is part caff, part restaurant, part art gallery. It’s an easy place to kill time: light and bright, with upbeat music, friendly staff and arty excitement for the eyes dotted all over the shop. Not to mention its double-height full glass windows overlooking Regent's Canal. Pop by for a coffee and a flick through the papers, a glass of wine by the water, or a full breakfast (they do a mean eggs benedict).

The Proud Archivist, 2-10 Hertford Road, N1 5ET

The River Café

This timeless restaurant set by the Hammersmith riverside has served simple, ingredient-focused Italian dishes to loyal fans since 1987. It doesn't come cheap, but it's a London institution, and many will claim it serves some of the best Tuscan dishes anywhere outside of Tuscany. If that wasn't kudos enough, it can also be credited with starting the careers of numerous chefs including Theo Randall, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and Jamie Oliver.

The River Café,  Thames Wharf, Rainville Road, W6 9HA

The Proud Archivist.

Rotunda

Set within the Guardian and Observer offices at Kings Place, Rotunda occupies a pretty spot right on Battlebridge Basin at King's Cross. When the weather’s nice, a large terrace allows for alfresco dining right at the water’s edge, while you can make do with panoramic glass windows at other times. The restaurant has its own farm in Northumberland and takes its meat very seriously indeed, hence 32-day-aged steaks, rosemary roasted lamb, and beef and bone marrow burgers are good choices from the robust British menu. Sunday roasts with all the trimmings are also worth a try, while a large list of beers, wines and cocktails are available whether you’re eating there or not.

Rotunda, Kings Place, 90 York Way, N1 9AG

The Ship

This vast Wandsworth gastropub is nowhere near vast enough for the swathes of people that cram into its outside area (there’s no grass, so we wouldn’t call it a garden) backing right onto the Thames. But that just creates a pleasing bustle which can be almost festival-like at its peak. One of the biggest draws is the outdoor service areas, meaning you can grab barbecue food and pints without having to head inside — having the river in sight makes queuing much more palatable. Excellent roast dinners are a reason to head inside though we've found that the kitchen here really excels when it comes to meaty mains.

The Ship, 41 Jews Row, SW18 1TB

The Ship. Obviously.

Tamesis Dock

There are few better places for a pint in the sun than the upper deck of this brightly-coloured boat that’s permanently moored near Lambeth Bridge. Down below has also been recently refurbished to make a cosy snug which tends to be calm by day and have a party vibe by night, with regular live music at weekends. A decent selection of well-priced pubby plates such as burgers and nachos are also available.

Tamesis Dock, Albert Embankment, SE1 7TP

Towpath

Toasties, cakes, simple snacks and very decent coffee are what make this canalside café in Haggerston tick. It's trendy and it bloody well knows it, but still, on a sunny day it's an unbeatable spot to people-watch and soak up the bustling atmosphere. Points to note: they don't do takeaway coffees and there's no loo.

Towpath, 36 De Beauvoir Crescent, N1 5SB

Also try...

Butler's Wharf Chop House: steaks and more by Tower Bridge.
Cantina Del Ponte: Shad Thames does Italian.
Serpentine Bar & Kitchen: snacks and simple plates in the park.
The Swan at The Globe: theatre-side, Bankside gastropub.

This article is part of our Best of London Food and Drink series. Visit the page for more recommendations of where to enjoy the capital's top food and drink, categorised by cuisine, food type and more.

Last Updated 09 October 2018