National Portrait Gallery Restaurant

bombaybeauty

View, view, view 9th August 2007

5 found this helpful

It's a tiny space, which you have to traverse the gallery to reach. But exactly because it's a bit compressed inside the view outside seems all the more spectacular.

This is an excellent spot for: (a) any meal or snack whilst visiting the gallery, (b) an after work drink if you're in this part of town, or (c) indeed a romantic evening.

Food and wine do well by the spot.

walid

Restaurant & Culture 11th March 2007

2 found this helpful

A few days ago I had put myself into an interesting situation. Organize an evening for a date that mixed an exhibition, mojito and a restaurant. Now finding an exhibition that is open on a Friday night after 18:00 can be challenging. Yes you've got the Royal Academy of Art and the Tate Modern but then you're somewhat limited to the type of interesting restaurants within a walking distance. Luckily and thanks to Hazzabout it seemed that the restaurant on top of the National Portrait Gallery seemed to fit that bill, and the exhibitions are open till 21:00 which is perfect!

So my date and I attended the "Between Worlds" exhibition which traced the voyage of indigenous tribes, the Brits colonized, to the UK. Having completed the cultural part of the evening it was time to tickle our taste buds and try the food in the restaurant on the top floor.

There are large windows across the restaurant which give you a superb view of London, which in the right atmosphere can be quite romantic. The staff were attentive and not too bad. The choice in menu is good, but the wine list slightly small.

My date had the halibut I think which looked nice as you can tell by the picture and I had the duck which was perfectly cooked. Unfortunately the wine wasn't quite as what I had learned to expect from a Rioja but not bad.

All in all the evening was good and we finished it off by learning how to fly, which brings this review to an end ;-)

iabisambra at 15/03/07

I can recommend this restaurant as a good continuation of a good exhibition at the NPG, I am glad my date had so carefully planned such a smooth running of events!

I found the service was a little slow but courteous and eventually when we got the food, it was very enjoyable, as it was the conversation.

I am available for flying lessons if anyone is interested (and you probably need to read Walid's review first to understand this!)

walid at 15/03/07

...however I'd have to recommend to wear a helmet and protective clothing for the flying lesson ;-)

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MikeinLondon

Room with a view 16th February 2007

1 found this helpful

A great place for a Sunday Tea.
Can be busy at times.
Top Floor of the Nat Port Gallery with a great view over Whitehall.
Limited Menu / Mixed crowd (Locals-Tourists)

Hazzabout

Bargainous afternoon tea and gorgeous views 8th November 2006

4 found this helpful

Right up on the very top floor of the National Portrait Gallery, this is a great place where you can sit and have a pot of tea, scones, jam and clotted cream for about a fiver, while gazing across the rooftops of central London.

It's actually a proper restaurant, but I've only ever tried the afternoon tea, which is served between 3pm and 5pm.

Why not spend half an hour or so perusing the gallery on your way up? A great place to catch up with friends, but also one to take your mum to.

walid at 08/11/06

Did your mom enjoy it as much as you?

Hazzabout at 08/11/06

She loves it! We quite often meet up here - half an hour of portraits and an hour of tea, a nice balance???

walid at 08/11/06

Hmmm, I'll have to take my mom there next time she's in London as she loves tea and scones. Thanks for the tip! I'll add the tag "mom" to this place, so that everyone knows that they can take their mom there :-)

Hazzabout at 08/11/06

Cool. Though if I were tagging it would have to be spelt 'mum' (the English way, you know) :-)

walid at 08/11/06

....are you going to add that tag then my dear? From the Frenchy that speaks like a Yank... oh poor me ;-)

Hazzabout at 08/11/06

I say mum, you say mom, let's call the whole thing off etc etc...

will do!

walid at 08/11/06

Excellent! Tomatoe, tomato, potatoe, potato... la la lal lalaaaaaaa

sokratis at 09/11/06

I've heard a lot about this place. Part of the 'unexpected, great places you can find in London'. How's that for a tag?

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