The capital is full of amazing places to eat. From Asian fusion to artisan Pizza, cuisines from around the world are usually just a Tube stop away. Our girl Jenna has always loved London, especially it’s unique gastronomical side. So when an invite came in to discover all there is to eat at One Tower Bridge, we stuck her on the first train to Kings Cross…
“To me, walking across Tower Bridge never gets old, especially at night. With the bustling crowds and lights of the city, you’d be forgiven for forgetting to look down. But if you just take a peek over the bridge and look for the iconic green umbrellas of The Ivy, you’ll stumble upon one of the best hidden gems in the London foodie scene. One Tower Bridge is London’s most exciting dining destination, where you can experience the ultimate in the riverside dining and culture beside some of the capital’s most famous landmarks.
By Night
One Tower Bridge currently offers 8 options of dining, with views of the picturesque Tower Bridge. Deciding to partake in a true taster experience of three of the most renowned venues, we kicked things off with cocktails and starters at The Coal Shed. Placed just a stones-throw from Tower Bridge and spanning over two floors, diners in the main restaurant are able to watch the chefs at work in the open kitchen in its relaxed, contemporary take on old-world glamour.
Sitting down at a low-lit table, we took a glance at their a la carte and pre-theatre menus and ordered a round of cocktails. The Bridge Theatre is one of the most contemporary theatres to be built in London and the largest commercial theatre to be built outside the West End for over 80 years, so The Coal Shed’s pre-theatre menu must be a huge hit. Opting for Devilled Devon Crab on Toast and Chargrilled Octopus, we sipped on a Clear Royale cocktail (an Elderflower take on the classic Kir Royale) and took in the atmosphere. Born in Devon myself, I have an absolute infatuation with seafood and these dishes definitely didn’t disappoint. Crab Rarebit is something I’d never had before, but it was totally indulgent.
Reluctantly leaving the warm welcome of The Coal Shed, we made our way to a real star of the show, Tom Simmons Tower Bridge. Award winning Welsh Chef and MasterChef finalist Tom Simmons showcases his relaxed and elegant cooking style in his first London venture; Tom Simmons. Tom is at the forefront of the kitchen providing superb dishes from thoughtfully sourced ingredients, so it would have been rude of us not to go for one of his daily specials.
Enjoying a glass of Champagne, I delved into one of the best Rabbit dishes i’d ever tasted. It’s full ingredients escape me, but it’s rich flavour is permanently etched onto my taste buds! This, paired with their signature crispy potatoes (which are basically deep fried Dauphinois – delish) was the perfect way to satisfy my appetite.
After a whole host of indulgent Seafood and delicious meat, it was time to get some brownie points from Mother Nature. Popular US vegan eatery, by CHLOE., has taken prime position at the foot of Tower Bridge for its second UK opening. by CHLOE. – a US export – has successfully created a brand that meets the need in London for delicious, wholesome and affordable plant-based food; serving up breakfast through to dinner and late night munchies. The way I would describe this place is like The Mighty Boosh meets a teenage girls bedroom – it’s WACKY. From the high end interiors of The Coal Shed to the Michelin-style dining at Tom Simmons, this was a little bit of a culture shock. But after a fair few cocktails, totally entertaining!
With swinging chairs, a puppy, CBD brownies and cookie sandwiches – it was a Hippy’s dream. But not really the indulgent dessert place I was looking for. It’s kinda like a Five Guys for Vegans – and we were definitely overdressed. Something I didn’t think possible in this postcode! However, it made for some excellent boomerangs, and the sugar propelled us wayyyy into the night.
The Morning After
After a crazy night at Cirque Le Soir and a beautiful stay at the Sunborn Yacht Hotel, we just had to check out The Ivy for their renowned Brunch. Standing strong adjacent from Tower Bridge, The Ivy Tower Bridge serves modern British classics from dawn until dusk, as well as offering a spectacular al-fresco experience for those wanting to soak in the river breeze and stunning back drop of Tower Bridge.
We fancied the classic up-market vibes of the main brasserie, so took our seats for probably the UK’s most indulgent hangover cure. Ordering fresh juices and probably the best Bloody Mary i’ve ever had – we gazed over their extensive menu. For me, protein is always required after a night London clubbing and copious amounts of Cristal, so the Truffled Orzo Pasta was top of my list. This, accompanied by the Crispy Duck salad was completely satisfying and lead us directly to our mains.
As a Northern girl, I do occasionally crave gravy at the weekends! This, with a need for protein, lead me to the Steak sandwich “French dip”. This sandwich is an indulgent take on the classic Steak Sandwich, with roast beef, caramelised onions, horseradish mayonnaise, Burgundy sauce dip (the gravy!) and thick cut chips. It was exactly what I needed, and I can almost taste it now as I type! My party partner went for the HLT open sandwich which was a medley of Grilled halloumi, avocado, black olives, red pepper, tomato, baby gem and herb mayonnaise.
One Tower Bridge officially took us from dusk til’ dawn and should be top of any hit-list for a London weekend away. Whether you’re looking for sophisticated dining, have a dire case of the munchies or want to boozy brunch until the afternoon…One Tower Bridge has your back. With five other options to choose from including London’s first ever bar dedicated to prosecco, Prosecco House, as well as Rosa’s Thai Café and Gunpowder which opened in August – we’ll definitley be back!”________________________________________________________________________________________________________
One Tower Bridge, Tower Bridge Road, Tower Bridge, London SE1 2AA
https://www.lifebyonetowerbridge.london
Exciting new restaurants launching throughout 2018 include Custard , Vapiano and Temakinko. Read more about Jenna’s weekend in the big smoke in December’s Volume 14: The Islands Issue.
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