There are two types of people who visit museums and galleries: those who are excited by the gift shops, and those who are excited by the cafe. And with more than 190 museums and an estimated 330 galleries in London; there’s always going to be some very hungry foodies looking for a bite to eat after checking out the latest exhibition.
But luckily, the cafes and restaurants set within London’s many cultural venues are as exciting and intriguing as the art. In fact, some of them are worthy of a visit in their own right, even if you haven’t managed to get tickets for the exhibition of the moment.
From colourful brunch hotspots to sustainable fine-dining; from artist-curated afternoon teas to Italian-inspired pastries; there’s a whole rainbow of delicious cafes, restaurants and bars to try out – even the world’s first ever museum cafe, a gorgeously ornate dining room that dates back to 1868.
So whether it’s a solo culture trip; a new-couple date or a family day trip to London; eating on an art trail doesn’t need to mean a dry, overpriced sandwich or crowded cafe with dull food. Here’s our guide to eight of the very best of London’s museums and galleries who are serving up good food; where to find them, what the vibe is like, and most importantly, what you need to order.
Friends of Ours at The Serpentine Galleries, Hyde Park
On the first walk past The Magazine restaurant, the stunning, Zaha Hadid-designed building in Hyde Park, you might be forgiven for thinking that it’s an art work in itself, or an extension of the next-door Serpentine Gallery North. With its grand modernist curves on the outside, and bright white interior, it’s like dining inside a sculpture – whether you’re stopping for a cup of tea or a lunch feast, it’ll certainly be a memorable dining experience.
But first: the art. The Serpentine galleries – there are a few across London – have been showcasing the best of contemporary art and architecture since the 1970s. The mind-expanding exhibitions in the galleries are free to enter; and are a must see for anyone interested in peering into the brains of some artistic visionaries over the years.
The restaurant itself was built in 2013 and is a now almost unrecognisable extension of a former 1805 gunpowder store. As of November 2024, London foodies Friends of Ours have taken over the culinary mantle. There’s big, bold and flavourful dishes on the menu like the croque “madamonsieur”; their signature “hashy bs” (hash browns to you and me; they have cult status here) or for those with a sweet tooth, French toast with Tonka bean and macerated peaches.
It’s a refreshingly unpretentious place to grab a colourful brunch or a snack to eat while on a walk around the park; and everyone from kids to first-daters will be happy with the offerings on the ever-changing menu. friendsofourscafe.com/hyde-park/
Address: Magazine Building, W Carriage Dr, London W2 2AR
South London Louie at the South London Gallery
The south London districts of Camberwell and Peckham are some of the most creative areas in the city. The South London Gallery – sitting on the borders of both locations – has become an important part of the London art world.
The gallery is split across several sites; the main gallery on one side of Peckham Road; the second across the way, housed in a former Fire Station, and a third, Art Block, for children and families. The gallery itself was founded in 1891 by philanthropist William Rossiter to ‘bring art to the people of south London’ and today its ethos is fully forward-thinking. There’s regularly exhibitions from diverse artists from all over the world presenting mixed multi-media shows. A weekday evening might find a niche electronica gig or intriguing lecture and every weekend there’s a free, special garden trail for kids and their adults.
The onsite cafe, the light and welcoming South London Louie, is a wonderful mix of global cultures and flavours, and worth a trip to the gallery for lunch here alone. Chef Daniela Natale often draws from her Lithuanian-Italian roots, bringing a taste of both the Baltic and Mediterranean down south. With drool worthy sandwiches, pastries and cakes, it’s a great spot for brunches and light lunches. Dishes recently have included a sweet potato, chickpea and cavolo nero salad, tossed in a bright lemon and tahini dressing or their twist on toast, topped with ricotta with zesty beans, artichoke and courgette; and most plates clock in under a tenner.
By night the cafe turns into a space for pop-up supper clubs – recent dinners have seen a Mexican and Caribbean culture collab called Caribueña, where for £50, guests feasted on tequila lime prawn ceviche and jerk glazed chicken with mango salsa; and Mosa Mosa, a French-Bangladeshi feast.
Bonus tip: if you’re in the neighbourhood early in the day, join the queue across the road at the hyped Toad Bakery, for some of the best and most innovative pastries in London. southlondonlouie.com
Address: 67 Peckham Rd, London SE5 8UH
The Wallace Restaurant at the Wallace Collection
The Wallace Collection, while not the most well-known of London museums, transports visitors with its impressive collection of fine and decorative arts, including everything from 14th century oil paintings to 19th century armoury. The collection was built by the Marquesses of Hertford and Sir Richard Wallace in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Befitting of its objet d’art housed within, the building itself – which is free to enter, and found in Marylebone – is an ornate treat to wander around, with grand and colourful halls filled with curious and beautiful artefacts. The on-site restaurant, The Wallace, will happily further fuel any Bridgerton-type fantasies of being the lord or lady of the house. The pink-walled restaurant is surprisingly filled with natural sunlight, despite being the middle of the historic townhouse.
You must start with tea and cake here. There are an impressive array of sweet treats to choose from: from carrot cake and blackberry and coconut to gooey chocolate (all £8 a slice). The artist Grayson Perry also currently has a special afternoon tea themed around his Delusions of Grandeur exhibition (£50).
There is also a set lunch on offer –it’s on the pricey side at £40 for three courses, and will likely include elevated forms of familiar dishes like chicken supreme or pie ‘n’ mash. The Wallace isn’t the place to go for cheap eats, but for a special occasion or push-the-boat-out afternoon tea, a meal here will feel positively regal. wallacecollection.org
Address: Hertford House, Manchester Square, London W1U 3BN
The Gamble Room at the V&A
The V&A is one of London’s best and most visited museums, but it also has one of the most historic and stunning dining rooms to be found across the globe.
The arts institution was first established in South Kensington back in 1852 and since then it has become a mainstay in exhibiting exciting and thought-provoking works across the ages.
While there are a couple of beautiful spaces to enjoy a cuppa and slice of cake in the venue (around the pond is the place to perch in the summer), you should make a beeline for the main cafe, The Gamble Room, which is officially the oldest museum cafe in the world. Prior to the V&A founding director Henry Cole’s idea about 150 years ago; no one had really come up with the concept that art visitors might also want some snacks after soaking up some culture. And ever since then, it’s now seen as a staple for every museum, gallery or exhibition space to offer some sort of refreshments as standard.
Sweeping arches, decorative columns, incredible ceramic tiles furnish the expansive room, while the stained glass windows bathe the space in dazzling, warm light. Pull up a chair, then dig into the cafe’s menu: kids will love the lunchboxes (£7), though let’s be honest, it’s the cakes they’re really going to be after; while the deli selection offers a daily lunch plate of salads and sides from £17.
Eating lunch here, or even if it’s just a coffee, feels like you’ve been let in on an incredible secret: this is a cafe that will go down as a marvel in history. vam.ac.uk
Address: Cromwell Road, London, SW7 2RL
Spring at Somerset House
The origins of culture centre Somerset House, nestled just off The Strand side of the Thames, can be traced back to the Tudor times. Today it offers an entirely contemporary snapshot of the art, culture and music worlds. Alongside housing classic greats in The Courtauld gallery wing, previous exhibitions at the venue have included retrospectives of fashion visionaries like Vivienne Westwood and Alexander McQueen; as well as deep dives into nightlife subculture – even a show exploring the genre of “horror”. If that’s a little too dark, the flip side of the centre is all about light and festivities, with a visit to its annual ice-skating rink being on many people’s Christmas wish list – it even famously featured in Love Actually.
With so much to dig into here, you’re bound to work up a hunger, which is good as Somerset House has an impressive and equally eclectic selection of places to eat – at the time of writing, there’s Setlist, a casual bar/diner with all-female chefs at the helm; Aram, a Syrian restaurant by chef Imad Alarnab showcasing colourful and flavourful food from the region to London; Poon’s, a sister restaurant to the iconic Chinese restaurant in Soho and coffee from Watch House.
But the star of the show at Somerset House is Spring, Skye Gyngell’s unique take on modern British, seasonal cooking. The dining room is a thing of beauty; grand windows showcasing famous London skyline outside, cool, marbled finishes inside. While dinner can be a little pricey, we’d recommend heading here for a special lunch and trying out the set menu (£39 for three courses).
An even better tip is to try out their Scratch menu for an early dinner. It’s £40 for three courses and an amuse bouche and is a truly sustainable meal, using “ugly”, “waste” or underused ingredients and produce to create an innovative and delicious meal. On the menu recently was fried ricotta dumplings with preserved lemon, lamb meatballs and polenta and apple and damson pavlova. The only catch? This menu is only served to 30 people from Tuesday to Saturday, between 5.15 and 6.30pm. It’s worth the extra effort to bag a table for this concept though, as it’s a delicious way to highlight societal issues on the plate – the restaurant is a fitting setting for the equally forward-thinking Somerset House surrounding it. springrestaurant.co.uk
Address: Lancaster Pl, London WC2R 1LA
Ochre at the National Gallery
No trip to central London should be without a visit to the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square (and its excellent next door neighbour; the National Portrait Gallery). Fresh after a recent refurb, the National Gallery has been dazzling Londoners and guests from around the world for 300 years with artworks like Van Gogh’s Sunflowers; Ruben’s Samson and Delilah, and Da Vinci’s The Virgin of the Rocks. Plus, it is free to enter.
The onsite restaurant, Ochre, hasn’t been around for quite as long, but is still pulling in the crowds. The all-day brasserie reflects the gorgeous colours of some of the nearby Renaissance paintings: caramel, olives and burgundy, lit up by soft lighting and even softer, vintage furnishings. The menu is equally comforting: hearty, seasonal plates celebrating regional British produce. A recent trip boasted roast Cornish hake and clams, served with sea beet (£26); Norfolk chicken schnitzel (£28), and for the peckish before dinner, a Tamworth pork scotch egg (£12). Keep an eye out for the cheese trolley that can be wheeled past your table for some post-meal picky bits, too.
Afternoon tea is of course served, but Ochre’s has also focused on offering something for the younger members of the family with their kids’ afternoon tea (£20); with four types of sandwiches, jam and scones and brownies to finish off.
It’s also worth noting that being so central, the National Gallery and Ochre are firmly in the theatre district, so there’s also great prix fixe menus to be enjoyed here too, with a three-courser pre-theatre menu for £35. Another insider tip – pull up an early chair at the bar as there’s half price martinis here between 5-7pm. ochre.london
Address: National Gallery, Trafalgar Sq, London WC2N 5DN
E5 Storehouse at the V&A East Storehouse
There’s literally half a million reasons to visit the newly opened V&A Storehouse. The site – based in East London near the Olympic parks – houses more than 500,000 works of art. A small, carefully curated section of this working museum store, an off-shoot of the original museum in Kensington, is always on display (ephemera belonging to David Bowie has a specially dedicated centre at the Storehouse) but visitors can also trawl through the museum’s online catalogue and request to look at items a few weeks beforehand too, making a trip to this new capital city art treasure a unique, tailored experience every visit.
While there’s quite a few cafes and bars in the vicinity – we recommend a walk along the pretty Hackney Wick canalside before or after a visit – the on-site cafe, E5 Storehouse, is the one to make a beeline to. The Storehouse cafe is an offspring of its proud parents, E5 Bakehouse, who have been baking up incredible bread (their Hackney seeded sourdough is still one of the greatest loaves in the city, in our opinion) since 2010.
E5 Storehouse is a warm, modern cafe of blonde wooden tables, with the whole room often decorated liberally with fresh wildflowers. Breakfast or lunch is the best meal to enjoy here, with sandwiches, baps and rolls showcasing their great homemade bread obviously making up a large part of their menu. Recent favourites have been roast chicken and lemon aioli baguettes or a veggie caponata on focaccia. But from Thursday to Saturday, head for a light, snacky dinner, when they team up with Provisions to offer cheese, charcuterie, tinned fish and some cracking wines until 10pm. Whatever time you choose to visit, there’ll be some sort of baked goods and cake on offer; meaning you leave feeling physically and culturally sated. instagram.com/e5storehouse
Address: Parkes Street, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Hackney Wick, London, E20 3AX
Forno at the Ragged School Museum
One of London’s lesser-known museums is worth the trip out East to Mile End, not only for a fascinating glimpse into working-class Victorian society, but for the local favourite Italian restaurant.
The Ragged School Museum is set on the same site as a school opened up by Thomas Barnardo in 1877, with the mission of offering free education to the destitute children of the area, which was rife with poverty and disease at the time. Thousands of children were taught at the school, until it closed in 1908, with the building later used for industrial purposes, until a trust rescued and restored the location in 1990. Now visitors can be transported back to a 19th Century East End classroom (the first Sunday of each month they hold a traditional lesson) and a Spitalfields family home from the era to see how young children and families coped in this destitute time.
Forno is the sister restaurant of Hackney’s much-loved Italian restaurant, Ombra, and as of October 2025, the team have opened not one but two spaces in the museum. There’s a little takeout hatch offering hot drinks and some of Forno’s signature incredible pastries and baked goods (the maritozzi cream buns will be a hit with everyone), while the main sit-in cafe is another relaxed affair, and good for brunch. There’s a range of influences in the cooking here – not just solely Italian – so choose from a green shakshuka or fennel sausage bap. It’s a very long way from the porridge, bread and milk from the school dining hall of old. forno.london
Address: 46-50 Copperfield Rd, canal side, London E3 4RR
