Guide to the best restaurants in South Bank and Waterloo

Everything about this multi-award-winning boozer is quintessentially British. It opened its doors in 1880 and later became a leading venue in the punk and rock movement, with the likes of Dire Straits, Joy Division and The Ramones taking to the stage. The menu is influenced by Mediterranean food, with ingredients sourced locally and according to the season. There’s usually a fish-based dish or two on the menu, alongside some pasta and a handful of desserts.

This classic tapas bar near Southwark station serves an uncomplicated menu of traditional Spanish dishes. Most of their produce is sourced from Spain, and the wine list includes only Spanish wines. The space is unpretentious, dimly lit and relatively cosy, plus you won’t be able to miss it from the street thanks to its emerald green façade.

Backed by the team behind acclaimed Shoreditch gastropub Marksman and located in the heart of the National Theatre building, Lasdun launched with high expectations and quickly surpassed them. The menu recalls an old English grill room and features Marksman specialities such as seasonal pies and the signature brown butter & honey tart. Pre- and post-theatre dining is available as well.

This Italian restaurant focuses on exquisite steak dishes made using high-quality Italian produce. The steaks come from Fassona beef from Piedmontese cattle. Expect your food to be served on slates or a chopping board; they like to do things a little more rustic here. However, they can’t shake the traditional Italian dishes, as the menu also features everything from pasta and pizza to burrata.

Get a taste of classic Philadelphia at this vibey Waterloo dive bar, London’s largest of its kind. The walls are covered in memorabilia and sports games are shown regularly, and the bar stocks a wide range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, including the classic Citywide Special, a favourite in Philadelphia consisting of a can of beer and a shot of whiskey. Feast on regional cuisine, like cheesesteaks on Italian bread and American-style buffalo wings.

If you really can’t decide what you want to eat or you want to grab something quickly, then swing by Southbank Food Market. This bustling market has vendors selling food from around the world - from crêpes and pad Thai to duck confit and shawarma. Grab your choice of food and perch up next to the Thames for a riverside picnic with a view.

For something a little fancier, Sea Containers hotel has a few options for wining and dining. The restaurant offers a modern but relaxed dining experience where the menu is centred around seasonality and ingredient-led cooking. The best bit? You'll be dining with the Thames as your backdrop. If it's just drinks you want, then there are also two bars, Lyaness and 12th Knot. Lyaness also overlooks the Thames and was once voted the world's best bar. 12th Knot is Southbank's most unique rooftop bar, housed in a glass box structure with an outdoor terrace featuring 360-degree views over the city.

This one may be a little on the pricier side, but it’s well worth it if you’re celebrating a special occasion (or you just really love great Japanese food). Futomaki, charcoal-grilled Wagyu beef and scallop tempura are just a few of the highlights from the omakase-tasting menu, but if you’d rather dine à la carte, then pop along at lunchtime. They also serve a variety of traditional sake, which you can add as a pairing to the tasting menu for a surcharge.

This permanent pop-up bar on the Southbank sells delicious Aussie coffee, a selection of baked goods, cocktails and craft beers. There are only a handful of outdoor seats, but you can take your order and perch along the Thames for a bite to eat with a scenic river view.

You're always guaranteed a satisfying meal if you go to Caravan. The London Bridge branch is their third restaurant set inside an old metal box factory with original 19th-century features. You can enjoy breakfast, lunch, brunch and dinner here alongside a cup of coffee that they brew in-house with their custom-built espresso machine. The all-day menu comprises a range of sharing plates and larger dishes like yuzu-pickled mackerel, pork and fennel sausages and aubergine bhajis with coconut yoghurt.

This Thai-Malay restaurant nestled behind the Shard serves a menu of unique fusion food in a funky, Bohemian-esque setting, think walls adorned with colourful masks, the flicker of candlelight and plenty of carved teak. Although the food is described as Thai-Malay, there’s certainly influence from beyond, with the menu featuring dishes like roasted monkfish with mango purée curry and pan-fried squid with garlic and kimchi.

It’s all about high-quality ingredients cooked over flames and contemporary seasonal food that maxes out on flavour at The Coal Shed. The menu comprises a variety of starters and mains, like ribeye and porterhouse, sea bass and short ribs. As for the wine, the list is varied and international, and there’s also a selection of cocktails and soft drinks to choose from. Meat and fish cooked over coal is the star of the show here, but the Sunday roast is also award-winning - aged sirloin served with all the trimmings.

This vibey spot in a railway arch in Southwark is bringing a slice of Tel Aviv to the streets of London. Chef Eran Tibi, a former Ottolenghi chef, has crafted a menu influenced by the sights and sounds of Tel Aviv, with dishes like Moroccan beef brisket doughnuts and king prawn baklava with lime cream. From midday to midnight you can also expect the atmosphere to gear up a notch.

Under the leadership of renowned chef Peter Lloyd, Sticky Mango presents a lavish dining experience that draws inspiration from the diverse flavours of South-East Asia. This elegant establishment is adorned with floral accents and natural motifs. The à la carte menu offers a delectable selection of seafood and meat dishes, such as Singapore chilli lobster and duck fried rice, while a tasting menu option is also available.

At their new venture at the Southbank Centre, the team behind the Applebee's Fish restaurant tries their hand at north-western Galician tapas. The small Spanish dishes feature a lot of seafood, from marinated anchovies seasoned with garlic and parsley, to garlicky gambas pil pil or Cornish crab with fennel tostada. Meat and vegan-friendly choices are also available, as well as classic desserts such as Basque cheesecake.

If you're looking for somewhere to eat on the South Bank that has fantastic views, Gillray's Steakhouse & Bar is ideal. From the classic wood-panelled dining room you can take in the sight of Big Ben, the River Thames, and the London Eye. Grilled steaks and hearty British dishes are served, including a seasonal set menu showcasing British produce. There's a gin bar too.