Isle of Dogs, Millwall, Blackwall
Bordered by the famous Thames 'U' bend, the Isle of Dogs is a disparate mix of historic buildings and contemporary glass and steel complexes.
Nearest tube: South Quay, Crossharbour (LDR)
Legend has it that Henry VIII once kept his dogs here. Today, the stylish bars and futuristic apartments attract celebrities and City folk to London's east end.
City Pride (London)
Address: 15 Westferry Road, Isle Of Dogs
E14 8JH
T: 020 7987 3516
Built in the 1950s to serve dockers' drinking needs, the City Pride has been comprehensively refurbished to serve the eating and drinking needs of 21st Century Docklands office workers. The menu goes well beyond standard pub food in content though not in price. The function room on the first floor, with three sets of doors leading out onto the large balcony, is a favourite for parties and functions, and a barbeque can be arranged on the balcony. The views over the Thames and towards Canary Wharf are among the best in Docklands, which is saying something.
Drummond's
Address: Heron Quays
E14 4JB
T: 020 7536 0141
Drummond's looks out over the original Heron Quays, one of the earliest Docklands regeneration developments - and illustrative of the smaller scale of thinking in those pre-Canary Wharf days. On the jetty nearby, you can often see cormorants drying their wings after a fishing trip, as well as the occasional eponymous heron. Bar food.
Elephant Royale
Address: Locke's Wharf, Westferry Road
E14 3WA
T: 020 7987 7999
The spectacular views towards Greenwich give this Thai restaurant an outstanding dimension. There are helpful descriptions in clear English of what each dish contains, and perhaps an even more helpful star system to inform you about the gentle mildness or red hotness of each item. On Sundays, there is a buffet lunch from 12 to 4 at £14.50 a head.
International Hotel
Address: 163 Marsh Wall
E14 9SJ
T: 020 7712 0100
A wide variety of dining options set within a four star hotel on an unrivalled waterfront location. Enjoy a sandwich, ciabatta or light snack in the airy Conservatory Bar for around £6, or go for something more substantial in the authentically Italian pizzeria. 'Jenny's Carvery Restaurant' is ideal for an after work supper or family Sunday lunch at £15 per head (Children welcome), whilst for special occasions there are French cuisine and fine wines at 'Cromptons'.
MemSaheb on Thames
Address: 65-67 Amsterdam Road
E14 3UU
T: 020 7538 3008
The Good Food Guide's verdict on this Indian restaurant with views over Blackwall Reach is that "Docklanders should appreciate what a gem they have on their doorstep". They certainly seem to. The MemSaheb offers an unusually wide choice of dishes from the whole of the Indian sub-continent; Bengal is well worth trying. Or you can choose any of the old favourites at reasonable prices, e.g. Chicken Tikka at about £6. There is a choice of ten MemSaheb Specials, none of the them costing more than £8.
Thames Barge Tollesbury
Address: Millwall Inner Dock
E14 9SL
T: 020 7363 1183
This fine old Thames barge made it to Dunkirk and back in 1940. Today it makes a very attractive wine bar. Of course, the lack of portholes means that you can't enjoy the dock views, but the long oak table, made out of original hatch covers, itself makes a very presentable view as you eat. The fame of the Tollesbury chips has spread well beyond Millwall Dock. Adnam's beers are available.
The Ferry House
Address: 26 Ferry Street
E14 3DT
T: 020 7537 9587
There has been a pub on this site since Tudor times. Indeed, the pub and a chapel were for many centuries the only buildings on the Isle of Dogs. The present building dates from 1822, and was much used as a place of restoration by ferry travellers to and from Greenwich until the opening of the Foot Tunnel in 1902. Today locals and riverside explorers drop by regularly.
The Gun
Address: 27 Coldharbour, Docklands
E14 9NS
T: 020 7987 1692
One of Docklands oldest pubs, The Gun has been refurbished and reopened following a fire in 2000. The Grade II listed building overlooks the Millennium Dome across the river. It features two bars, two snugs and a decked terrace. It can be reached by rickshaw from Canary Wharf. The décor is old fashioned pub with historical prints, burnt oak floorboards and a black fronted bar. The food is first rate, modern dishes supplemented by a choice from 16th century recipes. Lord Nelson was a regular and The Gun gets its name from a cannon fired to celebrate the opening of West India Dock in 1802.
The Lotus
Address: The Lotus Chinese Floating Restaurant, 38 Lineharbour
E14 9RH
T: 020 7515 6445
The cuisine at the Lotus combines the best of Canton, Szechuan and Beijing, while the views across Millwall Dock combine the best of what London Docklands has to offer. The lunchtime buffets Monday through Friday offer an outstanding choice of twenty dishes for £11, while many people travel here from far away for relaxed weekend meals. Private parties can be arranged for up to 500 guests, with (if you wish) everything from lion dancers to floating fireworks.
The Puzzle Bar
Address: 21 Pepper Street
Millwall, E14 9RB
T: 020 7308 0171
Overlooking Outer Millwall Dock close to the bascule bridge, which brings a touch of Amsterdam to the scene. The English and international menu draws from Greece, Italy, Mexico, Thailand and the USA, among other countries. Steaks, burgers, survivor's breakfast and bangers & mash for the truly ravenous. Succulent puzzle skewers are a speciality, as are puzzle salads at around £5. To finish you are challenged to share an outrageous chocolate fondue. Vegetarian dishes are listed on the blackboard.
The Spinnaker
Address: Harbour Exchange Square
Millwall, E14 9GE
T: 020 7538 9329
This area of Millwall Dock was formerly used by East End gangsters for dumping bodies in stolen car boots. The Spinnaker is a good demonstration of how the area has come up since, and indeed it has itself recently been done up. Good drink, good food, and good views over the Sputnik cranes - not a word that means much today, but in the 1950s the public imagination was captured by the rocket that launched the first Soviet satellite, and the bandy-legged cranes were nicknamed after it.
The Waterfront (London)
Address: South Quay Plaza
Millwall, E14 9SH
T: 020 7537 3903
A very busy and popular bar with a waterside terrace and barbeque. This South Quay hostelry has a well-deserved reputation for serving the best and, without doubt, some of the best value lunches in Docklands. This is one of the very few independently owned bars in Canary Wharf and the moment you walk in you notice the difference! The staff are friendly, professional and efficient. The kitchen produces a wide variety of excellent, freshly prepared food. Everything from Door Step Sandwiches to a superb Thai Chicken Curry; the menu is several pages long and with sandwiches starting at £2.95 (including French fries and salad) and an average £5.95 for a main course, it represents excellent value.
The Waterman's Arms (London)
Address: 1 Glenaffric Avenue, Docklands
Millwall, E14 3BW
T: 0202 7093 2883
Glenaffric Avenue, in common with a number of other exotic sounding streets in this area, is named after a ship that was built here. The Waterman's Arms is in the Island Gardens Conservation Area. It is listed Grade II for its architectural merits, and also has the merit of being a welcoming pub / restaurant. The food is traditional English, and £5 is likely to see most appetites satisfied: double that for a traditional Sunday lunch. Beer is Taylor Walker House Ale and Calder Cream Ale. The short wine list covers the main bases at reasonable prices.
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