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Places to eat

There are plenty of delicious places to eat or enjoy a drink here in South Kensington - from cafes, bars, afternoon tea, cocktails bars, indoor picnic spots to a weekly Farmer's market.

Kensington Garden cafes

Daily
Kensington Gardens
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The Broadwalk Cafe and Playcafe serves a great range of pizza, salads, wraps and sweet treats as well as a children's menu.

NHM Cafe and Restaurants

Daily
Natural History Museum
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Family friendly cafes and restaurant with tasty, freshly prepared food. You can find vegetarian, gluten-free and dairy-free options too.

Science Museum cafes

Daily
Science Museum
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Worked up an appetite exploring the museum? The Science Museum has several cafes open every day. You can also bring your own food to eat in our designated picnic spaces.

Cromwell Place Café

Daily
Cromwell Place
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The Café serves breakfast, lunch, and aperitivo, alongside tea, coffee, and drinks. Open to all visitors it provides a space to meet, relax and eat.

Royal Albert Hall Food & Drink

Daily
Royal Albert Hall
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The Italian Verdi restaurant and Café Bar are open all day to everyone. All other bars open 2 hours before concerts.

V&A cafe & Garden cafe

Daily
Daily: 10am-5:45pm - Friday: 10am–10pm
V&A South Kensington
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Enjoy a wide selection of food and drink in three exceptional spaces: the world's oldest museum restaurant with its beautifully designed period rooms, the Garden Cafe or the new Courtyard Cafe in the Exhibition Road Quarter.

Kensington Palace Pavilion

Daily
10am - 6pm
Kensington Palace
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One of the most elegant venues in London, with an outdoor terrace for fine days and beautiful views of the palace and its gardens.

Hyde Park cafes and restaurant

Daily
Hyde Park
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A range of cafes, restaurants and kiosks offering everything from ice creams, sandwiches to three course meals.

The Magazine Restaurant

Tue - Sun
10.30am - 6.30pm
Serpentine
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The restaurant was designed by award-winning architect Zaha Hadid. The Magazine restaurant offers a contemporary all-day menu, a kids menu, homemade ice creams and cocktails. Open for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner.

Stein's Berlin Restaurant

Wed-Sat 12-11pm
Tues 12-9pm; Sun 12-8pm
Goethe-Institut
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Stein's Berlin Restaurant is a new and exciting addition to the well loved Stein's group of German restaurants. ​Their modern contemporary restaurant inside a Grade 2 listed building also features a fantastic terrace overlooking Princes Gardens. ​

the Design Kitchen

Daily
10am - 5pm
Design Museum
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In need of refreshment and relaxation? Designed by Matthew Williamson, this lounge-style space is the perfect spot to recharge and spend time with friends and family while enjoying a selection of tasty snacks and drinks or a dining experience for two.

Gazette Brasserie

Mon & Tue: 5pm – 10.30pm Wed to Sun: 10am – 10.30pm
Institut français
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Gazette Brasserie is the perfect venue for coffee meet-ups, quick lunches, pre-cinema drinks and nibbles or a cosy dinner at the Institut français in London.

The De Morgan Café at Leighton House

Wed-Mon
10am-5pm
Leighton House and Sambourne House Museum
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A delicious, seasonal menu offers a wide range of sandwiches, soups and bakes (inc vegan and gluten friendly options) as well as hot and cold drinks. Products are locally sourced, benefitting the community, the customers and the environment.

South Kensington Farmers' Market

Tuesdays
Imperial College London
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Imperial College Farmers Market returns every Tuesday and is open to all, providing great-tasting locally-sourced provisions on the Queen's lawn.

Verdi Italian Kitchen

Royal Albert Hall
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Verdi Italian Kitchen is a relaxed, family-friendly restaurant offering delicious Italian favourites such as freshly baked pizza, handmade pasta, and classic desserts like tiramisu.

Serpentine Bar & Kitchen

Daily
8am - 6pm (Mon-Fri); 7pm on Sat & Sun
Hyde Park
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The Serpentine Bar & Kitchen serves a wide variety of tasty hot meals and snacks, freshly prepared sandwiches and salads, a daily selection of cakes from the bakery and hot and cold drinks from the bar. Enjoy the popular terrace area with sweeping views over the Serpentine.

Royal College of Music Cafe

Mon - Sat (Sat - term time only)
8.30 am - 4.30pm
Royal College of Music
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The café serves barista-style coffees, sandwiches, snacks and hot food in spectacular surroundings. Enjoy your refreshments inside or out, with access to the new 1851 Courtyard and accompanied by the sounds of music across the College.

Afternoon tea at the Royal Albert Hall

Varies
2-4.30pm
Royal Albert Hall
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The Royal Albert Hall has been observing the tradition of afternoon tea for over 100 years! Their menu features classic finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones and a whimsical mix of classically-inspired cakes as a nod to the legendary performances that take place the our stage.

The Serpentine Lido Cafe

Daily
The Royal Parks
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What better location to host a celebration this summer than overlooking the Serpentine in London’s largest Royal Park. Choose from a variety of hot and cold food options including a wide range of vegetarian and vegan dishes. Serves a selection of teas, specialty coffees and is licensed for alcohol.

Dining at The Kensington

The Kensington
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The natural charm of the hotel’s Drawing Rooms with their open fireplaces, colourful artwork and pretty objects d’art, provide the ultimate in luxurious yet relaxed living. The Drawing Room offers hotel guests and visitors an enticing selection of fresh, seasonal, locally-sourced menus throughout the day, including a quintessentially English Afternoon Tea.

Akira

Tue-Sat
Lunch 12-3pm; Afternoon Tea 2:30-4:30pm; Dinner 6pm-11pm
Japan House London
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The Japanese restaurant, Akira, is on the first floor of Japan House London. Named The restaurant presents an authentic Japanese dining experience based on Akira’s ‘trinity of cooking’ principles – food, tableware and presentation. AKIRA is now offering a takeaway service.

Image credit: Historic Royal Palaces / Alex Rory Jacobs

The Orangery Restaurant

Daily
10am - 6pm
Kensington Palace
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After major conservation work, the 18th-century Orangery at Kensington Palace has reopened its doors. Visit the iconic restaurant in a stunning setting for an elegant lunch or an indulgent afternoon tea.

the Design Cafe

Design Museum
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In need of a coffee fix or quick snack before you visit our exhibitions? Pick your favourite items from the Design cafe.

The K Bar

Daily
The Kensington
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The ambience of The Kensington hotel’s discreet cocktail bar is set by its elegant décor: the oak panels, polished brass accents, mirrored walls and slate floor lend a strong, sophisticated feel that is matched by the creative and classic cocktails mixed by the immaculate staff.