Where to eat and drink near National Theatre

The easiest options are inside the National Theatre itself, while the BFI and other South Bank venues are only a short riverside walk away. For a full pre-theatre meal, book ahead and tell the restaurant when your performance begins. Menus and opening hours can change, so check each venue’s own website before travelling.

Dinner before the show

Lasdun Restaurant is inside the National Theatre and serves modern British, brasserie-style food. It is the most convenient choice for a booked meal before a performance, particularly if you want to avoid another journey across the South Bank.

BFI Riverfront overlooks the Thames near Waterloo Bridge. Its broad menu and riverside setting suit a relaxed lunch or dinner, with outdoor seating useful in good weather.

Coffee and quick food

The Atrium Café is on the National Theatre’s ground floor. It is handy for coffee, pastries, sandwiches, soups and lighter food when you do not need a formal reservation.

Grind sits at the north-west corner of the theatre beside Waterloo Bridge. It combines coffee and pastries with cocktails and riverside seating, making it useful both during the day and around performance times.

Drinks and more sociable stops

The Understudy is the National Theatre’s informal riverside pub, with indoor seating, a terrace, craft beer, cocktails and rotating street-food options. It works well for groups and for a drink after the show.

Balcony Bar at BFI Southbank has a covered terrace overlooking the river, with cocktails, wine, beer and small plates. It is a convenient pre-show meeting place but is more of a bar than a full restaurant.

Boulebar South Bank combines French-inspired food and drinks with pétanque courts. Choose it for a planned group outing rather than a rushed meal, and allow enough time for the game before your performance.

For the shortest route, stay inside the National Theatre with Lasdun, the Atrium Café, Grind or The Understudy. Reserve Lasdun or BFI Riverfront for a full meal; the cafés and bars are better for flexible plans.