The Green Room London

Based on Southbank’s Upper Ground, this collaboration between the National Theatre and Coin Street Community Builders is ideal for a pre-theatre bite. It won’t be around forever, however, as in five years the site will be redeveloped. The lofty inside is full of theatre props. Virtuousness permeates the place, from water glasses made of recycled wine-bottle bottoms to the sustainable garden maintained by volunteers. Modern brasserie food fills the menu, starting with ‘pick it up’ nibbles such as salt-cod croquettes and hot Lincolnshire Poacher rarebit – tasting as good as they sound. ‘Knife and fork’ mains are piggy delights: whether roasted pumpkin risotto, or those comfiest of comfort foods: 100% pork hot dog, or slow-roasted baby-back ribs. Chocolate and caramel baked Alaska, with a gooey, chewy meringue coating, was the standout dessert. Charming, informed staff, well-chosen beers and cocktails, and plentiful wines by the glass ensured we left longing to return.

Nestled just behind the National Theatre, The Green Room offers a unique dining experience that seamlessly blends urban sophistication with relaxed South Bank charm. The Green Room is a bar and restaurant with a beautiful covered garden, a menu formed of local ingredients, a brilliant brunch offering and an extensive drinks list with signature cocktails and classic twists. It’s a vibrant destination that transforms effortlessly from a daytime restaurant to an evening hotspot.

It’s a modern yet comforting restaurant. The dining room is contemporary, featuring floor-to-ceiling windows, exposed wood rafters and an understated colour palette. There’s also a covered terrace and an ever-popular garden area to settle in for pints and pizzas, or evening cocktails. It also makes a great riverside destination for Saturday brunch.

The menu at The Green Room is eclectic, offering crowd-pleasing, family-friendly favourites alongside dishes with more unusual twists. Small plates from the a la carte menu include the likes of cajun marinated prawns with vegetable and garlic focaccia, jerk chicken skewers, and truffle arancini. Then, alongside a great selection of pizzas, the main courses include classics like beef burgers and fish and chips along with a fine selection of globally inspired dishes like tuna steaks with baby corn, giant couscous with pomegranate, and black cod with yuzu mayonnaise.

The Green Room menu also extends to roast dinners, offering the likes of halal roast chicken, beef strip loin, lamb shoulder, and pork each served with roast creamy corn, caramelised braised red cabbage, roasties, carrots, Yorkshires, and battered squash puree. As for desserts, picture baked vanilla cheesecake with morello cherry coulis, classic homemade tiramisu, doughnut bites, scoops of sorbet and ice cream and a brilliantly nutty vegan chocolate brownie. Plus, The Green Room also offers a weekend bottomless brunch, which unlocks endless prosecco, mimosas, and mocktails.