St Katherine's Dock
St Katharine's Dock is one of London's little-known treasures.
Nearest tube: Tower Gateway
Once one of the capital's most succesful docks, St Katharine's is now home to tall ships, luxury yachts and a plethora of stylish bars, pubs and restaurants.
Ebb (St Katharine's Dock)
Address: Ivory House, St Katharine's Dock
E1W 1AT
T: 0207 702 9792
A relaxed, comfortable place to settle down for a refreshing coffee, a ciabatta and a tasty pastry. Our favourite coffee house in St Katharine's Dock, and judging by its popularity on a rainy January morning, we're not the only ones to have a high opinion of it.
Fab Bagels
Address: St Katharine's Way, Wapping
T: 020 7702 2828
Friendly bagel takeaway whose repertoire also stretches to crepes and panini. The window sign promises "fine deserts". Popular with local office workers.
Lightship Ten
Address: 5a St Katharine's Way, St Katharine Docks
E1W 1LP
T: 020 7480 6116
Built in Copenhagen in 1877, this is the oldest lightship in the world. Once used to light up dangerous reefs, she now lights up the more peaceful waters of St Katharine's Dock. The food is modern European, including some Danish flavours. There are changing set menus, including a glass of champagne, about £20 for two courses or around £23 for three. The à la carte menu works out at £30 or more a head. Function possibilities range from drinks on the top deck to banquets in the lower deck restaurant.
Mala
Address: 2 Marble Quay
E1 9UH
T: 020 7480 6356
Marble Quay was where the expensive and upmarket marble for stately homes was unloaded. By the same token, this well established Indian restaurant was among the first to bring stylish and upmarket eating to London Docklands.
Medieval Banquet
Address: Ivory House, St Katharine's Dock
E1W 1BP
T: 020 7480 5353
Quite the most unusual establishment in St Katharine's Dock. For £39.50 a head, you can enjoy a four-course meal as the guests of Henry VIII, his fighting knights and dancing wenches. The menu features a cauldron of chicken and all the beer or wine you can drink. This is followed by a late-night disco, though here the entertainment departs a little from the medieval theme. This Beefeater 'experience' is unsurprisingly popular with foreign visitors.
Riverside Cafe & Bar
Address: Albert Embankment, Lambeth Pier
Westminster, SE1 7SG
T: 020 7401 7575
After taking a brisk riverside walk, the Riverside Café and Bar is ideal for that steaming mug of hot chocolate to warm you up and the wide selection of delicious cakes will give you the energy to go that little bit further. A small café with a huge personality, the place has a slight Italian feel and it is very relaxing to sit and watch the river flow by. You could end up staying all afternoon.
Starbucks (St Katharine's Dock)
Address: Cloister Walk, St Katharine's Dock
Westminster, E1W 1LA
T: 020 7680 1125
Pretty much like every other Starbucks coffee shop the world over, just with a better view. There's a wireless Internet facility for those who like to combine laptop and latte.
The Aquarium
Address: The Ivory House, St Katherine's Dock
Bermondsey, E1W 1AT
T: 020 7480 6116
Just as aquaria are devoted to displaying fish, the Aquarium restaurant is devoted to cooking the freshest of fresh fish. Indeed, some say that it almost preaches the virtues of eating fish. But the dockside location is appropriate, the décor is ultramodern, Billingsgate fish market is not far away, and it is good to go with the tide. Non-fishy dishes are available. Good amuse-bouches.
The Dickens Inn
Address: St. Katharines Dock, Tower Bridge
Bermondsey, E1W 1UH
T: 020 7488 2208
As Charles Dickens wrote in The Uncommercial Traveller, "Come, cheer up, my lads. We've the best liquors here. And you'll find something new in our wonderful beer!" This historic building, dating from 1799, was originally a spice warehouse. Today, it offers visitors a complete choice, from pub food in the snack bar to two restaurants, one specialising in pizzas and the other offering a wide à la carte selection. Depending on your mood, your appetite and your next appointment, you can spend as little as £5 or as much as £25 a head on food.
Tower Thistle Hotel
Address: St. Katharine's Way
Bermondsey, E1W 1LD
T: 020 7481 2575
Spectacularly located by Tower of London, the Thistle Tower Hotel's bars and restaurants all offer superb views of either Tower Bridge or St Katharine's Dock. Water Café offers a wide selection of international a la carte cuisine with prices at about £10. The Carvery offers traditional English roast, carved freshly for you, at an extremely reasonable £19.95 for 3 courses. CoMotion is a modern European coffee shop serving a selection of Costa Coffee and light snacks. The Thames bar opens daily at 3pm (12pm on a weekend) offering the elegance and charm of a traditional British bar with contemporary cocktails and a wide selection of beers. And finally for dessert there is the only Häagen-Dazs Ice Cream shops in the whole of London. The Thistle Tower caters for every taste!
Tradewinds (St Katharine's Dock)
Address: 50 St Katharine's Way
Bermondsey, E1W 1LA
T: 020 7702 4588
St Katharine's own members' club, Tradewinds serves the well-heeled yachting community of the Dock but also offers enticing traditional fare to non-members. Somerset pork casserole, fillet steak and chicken cordon bleu are typical menu items. Main courses cost around £15-£20 - as you'd expect for such a prominent lockside location - but the set menu offers a reasonably-priced entree into the yachtsman's lifestyle.
contact us
print page