Unsurprisingly, London’s riverside South Bank is one of the city’s busier areas to explore, so when it comes to picking the best places to sink a pint or two, it’s always worth planning ahead. We’ve hand-picked our favourite spots to enjoy a drink in this creative district, from boardgame bars to old-school pubs; here’s our guide to the best bars in South Bank and the neighbouring Waterloo.
Guide to the best bars in South Bank and Waterloo
Great bars in South Bank and Waterloo
The best Waterloo bars and South Bank bars
One of the best in the world
Lyaness is one of the city’s most iconic bars. The bar has been established by the most awarded barman in the world, and the cocktail menu focuses on just five ingredients to allow the team to apply a cook’s approach to mixology. The space is sleek and sophisticated, with velvet seating, shades of blue and green and sweeping views of the neighbouring Thames. They also serve wine, champagne and beer, and a food menu of bar snacks, small plates and sharing plates.
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20 Upper Ground, South Bank/Southwark
- Website • 020-374 710 63
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Board games galore
Draughts is a bar for those who enjoy simultaneously getting stuck into a pint and a board game. They have thousands of games on the shelves to choose from, so no matter how many times you return there will always be something new to try. Their drinks menu comprises everything from classic cocktails and beers to soft drinks. If all that gaming works up an appetite, you can enjoy tasty food like burgers, tacos and more.
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Arch 16, Leake Street, South Bank/Lambeth/Southwark
- Website • 0790-344 19 76
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A British pub experience
The Anchor & Hope pub in Waterloo serves a menu of mouthwatering British dishes scrawled daily on a blackboard and an extensive list of wines, cocktails, craft beers and more. The multi-award-winning pub is quintessentially British, with a dark interior, lots of wood panelling and art that you can purchase adorning the walls.
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36 The Cut, South Bank/Southwark
- Website • 020-792 898 98
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A KERB venture
KERB at The Understudy is the newly-refurbished craft beer pub at the National Theatre on the South Bank Riverside Walkway. The menu features a line-up of wine from independent makers, guest ales, Gipsy Hill beers and spirits by East London Liquor co. There’s also a range of streetfood traders serving food from around the world, like Mumbai-inspired vegan cuisine and chicken wings made with special six-spice seasoning.
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National Theatre, Upper Ground, South Bank/Southwark
- Website • 020-745 235 51
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Beer and gyoza
The Waterloo Tap is the place to go for all things beer. Their menu boasts beers from national and global brewers with a rotating assortment of 20 kegs and seven casks that are available every day. Expect everything from Czech pilsners and session IPAs to British ales. If you get peckish, they also serve a small menu of gyoza.
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Sutton Walk, South Bank/Lambeth/Southwark
- Website • 020-345 574 36
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An ode to an icon
Tonight Josephine is one of the most Instagrammed bars in London, primarily thanks to its neon pink interior and iconic 'Good Girls Don't Make History' sign. The bar is an ode to Josephine De Beauharnais, a hedonistic icon who became the Empress of the French after marrying Emperor Napoleon I. She had an admirable way of life, living by the motto 'c'est la f**king vie'. The cocktails are excellent and creatively named, and there's also a selection of wine, beer and cider to enjoy.
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111 Waterloo Rd, South Bank/Southwark
- Website • 020-792 849 18
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Waterloo's funkiest bar
Vaulty Towers is Waterloo’s funkiest drinking hole, decked out in theatrical props and decor. The drinks menu features all the classics, like wines, beer and cider, and various cocktails, like Negronis, fancy Bloody Marys and classic Tom Collins. If you’re hungry, you can enjoy a bite from the classic food menu, from Korean fried chicken wings and buffalo sauce burgers to Mac ’n’ cheese and more.
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34 Lower Marsh, South Bank/Lambeth/Southwark
- Website • 020-792 890 42
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Picturesque riverside views
Pop along to Oxo Tower Bar for cocktails with a scenic riverside view. The terrace bar has been around for a while, features sweeping views of the River Thames and St Paul’s, and is one of the prettiest spots to enjoy an al fresco summertime drink. The bar food menu features snackable dishes, like fried whitebait with 'nduja mayonnaise and charcuterie sharing platters.
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Barge House Street, South Bank/Southwark
- Website • 020-780 338 88
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More than 50 gins
This is one for the avid gin drinkers, a bar housed in a former fragrance factory with more than 50 types of gin to sample. If gin isn’t your thing, they also serve a range of craft beers, cocktails and wines from around the world. The space is modern with an outdoor terrace, perfect for al fresco drinking in summer.
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Hilton Bankside, 2-8 Great Suffolk Street, Southwark
- Website • 020-759 339 01
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Sweeping city views
Head up to the third floor of the Royal Festival Hall in the South Bank Centre and you’ll find Skylon. This swanky bar and restaurant serves a menu of modern European fare in a bright, spacious setting with panoramic views of London’s skyline seen through the epic floor-to-ceiling windows. The bar is very much the room's centrepiece, with an impressive range of indulgent cocktails and a long list of wines.
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Royal Festival Hall, South Bank/Southwark
- Website • 020-765 478 00
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A neighbourhood favourite
It’s vibes all around at Green Room, South Bank’s neighbourhood bar and kitchen. It houses a pretty garden and timber-framed pavilion designed by iconic architect Benjamin Barfield Marks for indoor dining. The all-day menu is filled with all of the pub grub classics, like Cornish haddock with chips and tartar sauce, and there’s a cocktail menu to accompany it. There's also usually a DJ spinning some tracks on a Saturday.
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32 Southwark St, Southwark
- Website • 020-397 223 23
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Burgers and drinks with a view
Paradiso was formerly a chicken restaurant named Marsha but has been reborn as a relaxed burger joint that doubles as a cocktail bar with magnificent views of the Thames. Along with an array of different burgers to choose from, including different buttermilk chicken options, you can enjoy a variety of drinks here and even indulge in bottomless brunch on weekends.
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56 Upper Ground, South Bank/Southwark
- Website • 020-303 407 91
- Read more on Thatsup