Best Restaurants In Somerset House

• Price: ££
• Cuisine: European, Latin American
• Why we recommend: this is one of our top picks for alfresco eats, with a gorgeous outdoor seating area that looks over the Thames. Their menu is pretty varied too, making it a great choice for large groups with different tastes

A vibrant restaurant bar on Somerset House's terrace, Setlist is ideal for outdoor dining. You can enjoy riverside views from their outdoor space, with open-air and covered seating areas, alongside an all-glass interior decorated with colourful patterns.

Their menu spans sumptuous smash burgers, Baja fish tacos and aubergine pizzas, which you can pair with beer, wine or classic and frozen cocktails. They also host regular events here, from live music to spoken word nights.

• Price: ££
• Cuisine: sandwiches, salads, afternoon tea
• Why we recommend: our go-to lunch spot in the area, Café Petiole has a laid-back atmosphere and a menu full of healthy but delicious dishes, and it's almost all vegan as well

A mostly vegan eatery that's open throughout the morning and afternoon, Café Petiole is a stylish all-day spot for a quick bite or leisurely coffee sessions. It was created by chef Rishim Sachdeva, of acclaimed Mayfair restaurant Tendril, and takes inspiration from artists cafes across Europe.

Take a seat in the elegant interior or out on the terrace, and tuck into a menu of flavourful salads, hearty sandwiches and soups - as well as sweet treats like sticky toffee cake and Bakewell slices. They event offer a plant-based afternoon tea.

• Price: ££
• Cuisine: Chinese
• Why we recommend: a homely Chinese restaurant that also has an air of sophistication to it - even boasting a place in the Michelin Guide - Poon's has a decades-long legacy of Chinese cuisine behind it

Describing themselves as 'where you come if you don't have a nice Chinese friend to cook for you at home', Poon's at Somerset House is the first permanent restaurant from Amy Poon, whose family helped shape London's Chinese dining scene. The interior combines tradition and modernity, with Chinese artwork on the walls and a delicate, pale colour scheme.

Having earned themselves a place in the Michelin Guide for 2026, these guys are experts in Chinese cooking. Get stuck into the likes of steamed scallops with glass noodles, golden tofu with diced vegetables and roasted duck salad. To drink? We recommend a Mandarin margarita.

• Price: ££
• Cuisine: brunch
• Why we recommend: a classy, modern coffee shop with a killer brunch menu, WatchHouse has got your daytime needs covered

If it's brunch you're after, then WatchHouse is exactly where you want to be. This cool cafe was named Europe's Best Coffee Shop Chain at the European Coffee & Hospitality Awards for two years running in 2024 and 2025.

Expect bold, modern interiors and a menu that packs a punch, featuring plates like strawberry and mascarpone pancakes, hazelnut overnight oats and a hearty full English. Of course, there's plenty of coffee and cake on the cards too.

• Price: ££
• Cuisine: Eastern Mediterranean
• Why we recommend: offering stunning views and even prettier interiors, Aram By Imad is an excellent choice for high-quality food by a renowned chef - especially if you're sharing mezze-style with friends

Created by celebrated Syrian chef Imad Alarnab, Aram By Imad is a café, deli and restaurant all in one. The vibrant space combines the history of London with a warm, Levantine feel in its decor, featuring a sage green and pink colour scheme, warm lighting and indoor olive trees.

Look out over the river terrace as you dine, on a menu of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern delights. We're talking roasted aubergine salad, slow-roasted lamb shoulder and falafel with tahini, as well as brunch options like poached eggs in labneh.

• Price: £££
• Cuisine: European, British
• Why we recommend: one of the prettiest restaurants in the whole city, Spring Restaurant has transformed a historic space, complete with a mouthwatering menu from Chef Skye Gyngell

A pretty destination nestled in Somerset House's New Wing, Spring Restaurant has transformed a 19th-century drawing room into a beautiful dining space. It features high ceilings and large windows that let in lots of natural light, and there's even an atrium that makes you feel like you're sitting in a garden while still indoors.

Among the gorgeous pink and white decor, you can tuck into a menu curated by Chef Skye Gyngell - the name behind Michelin-starred Petersham Nurseries. We're talking Cornish crab salad, seaweed-cured monkfish and braised rabbit leg. What's more, they are fully free from single-use plastic.