OXO Tower Brasserie & Bar

The rather iconic OXO Tower may have caught your attention when strolling along London’s South Bank, but if you happen to take the hidden lift to the eighth floor, you’ll find its Brasserie: offering all-day dining with some of the best views of the city. Designed as the more casual half – the fine-dining restaurant takes up the opposite side of the building – OXO Tower Brasserie is the sort of place to sit back and relax, enjoying a couple of drinks and sharing plates: so that’s exactly what we do.

From the moment we arrive we feel in a world of our own, escaping the bustling streets below and swapping it out for an idyllic spot on the foliage-filled terrace. There’s a convivial buzz in the air, the kind that comes with an uncommonly sunny day in the capital, and we can’t help but sink into our seats, taking in the spanning views of the Thames and beyond.

The evening starts with a Limonata Spritz, zippy and refreshing, a specialty cocktail for the summer that seamlessly unites lemon and mint, ice cold and perfect for a seat in the sun. If OXO Tower’s offerings stopped at this extensive cocktail list, then we reckon we’d be more than happy: but a hearty menu of simple, yet tasty, dishes is also on offer, and so we pick and choose our way through a selection of snacks and small plates.

Dishes here are unfussy, but carefully considered: think bites of chorizo smothered with a sweet honey and rosemary glaze, or hearty plates of arancini, with crisp breadcrumbs giving way to delicate goat’s cheese and truffle pumpkin filling.

It’s all about classic flavour combinations, with the occasional added twists that set the Brasserie apart. Creamy burrata, heritage tomatoes and pomegranate come served with the addition of sweet caramelised onion that has us scraping the plate clean. An excellent crab remoulade is slightly undermined by lacklustre wheaten bread, but a punchy crab ketchup helps to compensate.

For a spot of relaxing, brasserie-style dining, OXO Tower ticks all our boxes. It's perhaps not the most budget-friendly of places, but when combined with the spanning city views, friendly staff and hearty dishes, an evening here is sure to be one well spent.

Offering stunning views from the eighth floor of the iconic OXO Tower, the OXO Tower Brasserie & Bar serves a fantastic selection of dishes and drinks in a fun and relaxed setting. With a daily live music line up as well as an impressive open kitchen, this laid-back spot is perfect for everything from lunch to pre-theatre dining to eating out with the kids. During the warmer months, there is also a beautiful terrace overlooking London's skyline where you can enjoy dishes from the modern European menu.

Inside, the décor is simple, with tables and chairs packed into every corner of the dining room. Glass walls ensure the space maintains a bright and airy feel to it, while offering breathtaking views no matter where you sit.

A broad all-day food menu focuses on championing local produce and changes every so often according to the seasons. The Brasserie is the more relaxed of OXO Tower's two restaurants, and the menu packs in a wide-array of easy-going dishes that cater to every occasion, from drinks and nibbles to celebration meals. The menu is broken up into snacks, small plates, mains and sharing plates, with dishes at the time of writing including grilled long aubergine with hazelnut salsa, yoghurt and date syrup, roast cod with fennel and mussel escabeche, and aubergine and scamorza ravioli with chestnut butter, as well as large sharing plates like a 28 day aged tomahawk with bearnaise sauce and chips. 

If you’re still hungry, there’s also a lovely selection of desserts on offer such as a polenta and kalamansi cake, and sticky toffee pudding with clotted cream. As well as the regular menu, OXO Tower Brasserie & Bar also offers set menus for larger groups, a dedicated children's menu and a Sunday lunch menu that inclues sharing roast plates with all the trimmings.

Meanwhile, the OXO Bar promises a keen focus on cocktails, with exciting signature creations alongside all the classics. For example, one named 8th Floor Smash features a tempting mix of vodka, Grand Marnier, strawberries and Champagne. There are also plenty of wines, beers, ciders and soft drinks to pick from.