Everyone loves a room with a view, yet the panorama from the in-house restaurant at the top of the National Portrait Gallery is still a secret to many.
Named ‘Portrait’, natch, the vista from this museum restaurant is a treat both in daytime and at night, boasting as much to gaze at outside as in the rooms full of art and photography below.
Less flashy and vertiginous than the big guns Shard and Tower 42, this is also a much more convenient location to rest those feet from some culture and shopping. And where else can you make eye contact with Nelson’s column over a glass of fizz, with Whitehall, Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament jostling for view?
Refurbished earlier this year, the long slender room feels chic and atmospheric. Not a hipster in sight, it’s a safe place to take your mum – and a good way to remind her you’re actually rather cultured and not always down the boozer.
The menu is traditional English and changes seasonally. Pan-fried Cornish squid with rocket and chilli was expertly cooked with just the right amount of heat. The plaice fillets were tasty and fresh. Side dishes were less memorable, some sad-looking greens delivered a bit late, but otherwise the service was super-attentive and friendly. And who could resist a dish called Chocolate Nemesis? Not us.
Breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea can all be enjoyed here, and they also deal in special offers and tailored menus according to what’s on in the gallery.
Why not visit during the ‘Audrey Hepburn: Portraits of an Icon exhibition’, chanelling Audrey as you go? Iconic indeed.
Portrait restaurant, National Portrait Gallery, St Martin’s Place, London, WC2H 0HE; 020 7312 2490, npg.org.uk/portraitrestaurant Daily: 10am-4.45pm; Thu-Sat: 5.30pm-8.15pm