There’s nothing quite like London in the summertime; long nights, beer gardens, people smiling at work… it’s wonderful! So what better place to enjoy a balmy evening than on the Southbank? But don’t just stop anywhere along the river, make your way to the new tropical-tastic pop-up, London Riviera.
Just near Tower Bridge lies an oasis of good food, free music and thirst-quenching cocktails. London Riviera is a little island nestled on the river between the high-rise office buildings of London Bridge, where you’ll find a coffee bar serving CRU Kafe coffee and fresh pressed juices, a bar by Ciroc vodka and a stall serving the freshest street food this side of the river. What more do you need?!
One of my girls and I headed down to the Southbank on a Saturday afternoon with a need for sun, booze and a lot of food (we were hungry!). We got all three. CERU Restaurant by Tom Kime supplied fresh, tasty and super-healthy dishes that we couldn’t stop ordering. We started with a selection of dips including Fadi (baked courgette purée with tahini, lemon and yogurt) and houmous served with fresh, warm pitta bread. Followed up with a halloumi wrap for me, a lamb wrap for my girl and sides of apple, pomegranate and mint salad, and Pancar (roast beetroot with yogurt and pistachios). Followed again (told you we were hungry!) by the most delicious fritters I’ve ever had; herbed zucchini and feta cheese. As my girl has a big sweet tooth, she managed to make space for some honeycomb ice cream with roast nut brittle. The majority of the food here is gluten-free, vegan and healthy, so four courses later and we didn’t feel a hint of guilt about any of it!
However, the Ciroc vodka bar meant our lunch wasn’t entirely cosncience-free. The fresh lemonade served with our food only encouraged us to try out some of London Riviera’s mouth-watering cocktails; I went for a tropical Mai Tai, while my girl opted for a gin-based elderflower concoction.
The whole vibe of this place is summer, summer, summer! Neon pink flamingos and brightly colored sun loungers bring a much-needed injection of the beach to the banks of the Thames. A must-visit pop-up this season!
The London Riviera
Queen's Walk, More London,
London SE1 2DB,
(next to City Hall, adjacent Tower Bridge)
