10 places to eat near the Tower of London

Would you like to know where to eat near London Tower? Read on!

Isabel Catalán

Isabel Catalán

7 min read

10 places to eat near the Tower of London

Tower of London | ©Denis Doukhan

If you're going to visit the Tower of London, you might also want to know where you can go to eat in the surrounding area, before or after visiting this millenary fortress, so you don't have to walk too far if you work up an appetite.

Take pencil and paper because in this post I present you 10 fantastic restaurants where to eat near London Tower. Also, remember that you can always book a food tour of London, where you can sample up to six courses of traditional British cuisine including a secret dish.

1. Pret a Manger sandwiches

Visiting Pret a Manger| ©Marco Verch
Visiting Pret a Manger| ©Marco Verch

Pret a Manger is a great place to grab a quick bite to eat near London Tower, either before or after a visit to the tourist attraction if you don't have much time for a long break.

The nearest restaurant is located just behind the Tower of London souvenir shop, near the pier. At Pret a Manger you can order delicious sandwiches, wraps, sandwiches and salads to eat in or take away - even soups for those cold, rainy days in the city!

The prices are cheap and the quality is pretty good, so it's definitely a place to check out during your stay in London.

  • Address: Unit 3 Three Quays Walk, Lower Thames St, EC3R 6AH.
  • Recommended dish: The Italian Prosciutto sandwich.

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2. Ping Pong dim sum

Dim Sum| ©ProjectManhattan
Dim Sum| ©ProjectManhattan

If you fancy a bit of Asian food, another place to eat near London Tower is Ping Pong restaurant where they make great dim sum at a very reasonable price.

They also have other delicious dishes on the menu so I recommend you try a little bit of everything, but the duck baos, spring rolls and prawn dumplings are not to be missed.

The Ping Pong restaurant is quite big and beautiful. There are sometimes music sessions inside the restaurant, so the atmosphere is very pleasant.

  • Address: Unit 3, Tower Bridge House, St Katharine Docks, London E1W 1BA.
  • Recommended dish: The duck baos.

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3. Bodean's BBQs

Enjoying Bodean's Good Food| ©Jamie Nichols
Enjoying Bodean's Good Food| ©Jamie Nichols

After exploring every inch of the Tower of London you're bound to work up an appetite. At Bodean's you can feast on a tasty barbecue at this restaurant near London Tower.

There's plenty on the menu that you'll love if you're a meat lover. From ribs and burgers to sandwiches and hot dogs. Although if you want to eat a bit of veggie, there are also salads (to which you can add meat, of course).

Don't leave Bodean's without ordering the chocolate brownie... your mouth will be watering!

  • Address: 16 Byward St. London, EC3R 5BA.
  • Recommended dish: Smokey Joe's burger.

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4. Emilia's Crafted Pasta

Good Pasta from Emilia's Crafted Pasta| ©Andrew M
Good Pasta from Emilia's Crafted Pasta| ©Andrew M

If you love Italian food, near London Tower you can also enjoy delicious fresh handmade pasta dishes at great prices at Emilia's Crafted Pasta.

The place is small and cosy. It's very comfortable inside, especially when the sun shines through the windows. It is a very pleasant place to eat overlooking the quayside. They prepare the pasta on sight and the service is quite fast. Something to keep in mind if you leave the Tower of London on an empty stomach.

I recommend ordering the pasta bolognese and carbonara, both of which are very tasty - you'll want to come back to Emilia's Crafted Pasta!

  • Address: C3, Ivory House St Katharine Docks, London E1W 1AT.
  • Recommended dish: Pasta Bolognese.

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5. White Mulberries snacks

Visiting White Mulberries| ©Richard M
Visiting White Mulberries| ©Richard M

White Mulberries is a café near London Tower where you can grab a quick bite to eat for lunch or a snack.

It has a fantastic riverside location so on sunny days you can take advantage of the outside terrace to enjoy a relaxed meal, but if you want to continue your route through the streets of London you can also buy takeaway items.

On the menu you can order sandwiches, toast, eggs and sweets too. If you fancy trying brunch in London, head to White Mulberries and you'll be in for a treat. What's more, their selection of coffees is one of the best in the neighbourhood.

  • Address: D3 Ivory House St Katharine Docks, London E1W 1AT.
  • Recommended dish: Scrambled eggs with avocado.

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6. Tapas at Bravas Tapas

Enjoying Tapas at Bravas Tapas| ©Joe S
Enjoying Tapas at Bravas Tapas| ©Joe S

Sandwiches, burgers and Italian pasta are great, but if you fancy a change of pace and want to try new flavours without straying too far from the London Tower area, Bravas Tapas is a restaurant where you can sample traditional Spanish flavours with a twist.

A very pleasant place with an "al fresco" terrace next to the quayside where on sunny days you can enjoy some delicious tapas accompanied by Spanish wines. The menu is full of flavour. I recommend ordering several portions to try a bit of everything, just as you would in Spain: a bit of cheese and Iberian ham, some croquettes and some patatas bravas or a bit of octopus with some Padrón peppers. It's like eating the Mediterranean in one bite!

If you plan to visit Bravas Tapas after going to the Tower of London, I advise you to book a table first because the place fills up easily. However, if you arrive without a table, the service is very attentive and they will try to find you one.

  • Address: Saint Katherine Docks, East Smithfield, London E1W 1AT.
  • Recommended dish: Grilled octopus.

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7. Slug & Lettuce BBQ Chicken - Tower Bridge

Visiting Slug & Lettuce| ©BT3rd
Visiting Slug & Lettuce| ©BT3rd

Another restaurant to eat near London Tower if you're on a budget is Slug & Lettuce - Tower Bridge. A stylish place with a very modern décor, it is situated close to the riverside and has the Tower of London as a backdrop - the views are beautiful!

The menu is full of international dishes, but you'll also find British offerings- something for everyone! A good sign is that it's not just tourists who come to eat here, but also locals and office workers from the surrounding area.

If you want to get the food right, order the cheesy nachos, BBQ chicken wings and calamari- it's finger-licking good! As well as the food, Slug & Lettuce - Tower Bridge also has a great range of wines, beers and cocktails to boot (after seeing the Tower of London the bloody Mary will seem very appropriate). The service is very friendly and the prices are pretty good, so you'll leave with a smile from ear to ear.

  • Address: Unit 1 Tower Bridge House, St. Katharine's Docks, London - Tower Bridge E1W 1AA.
  • Recommended dish: BBQ chicken wings.

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8. A traditional afternoon tea at Vicinity at The Tower Hotel

Enjoying a cup of tea| ©Melike Benli
Enjoying a cup of tea| ©Melike Benli

One of the most beautiful views you can enjoy in London during your trip is of the River Thames with the Tower of London and Tower Bridge in the background. How about taking in this beautiful scenery while sipping a classic afternoon tea?

The Vicinity restaurant at The Tower Hotel is the place to be as it has a prime location on the north bank of the Thames.

If you want to enjoy English afternoon tea, Vicinity serves it from 12 noon to 5pm. You can choose from a wide variety of teas (plain, with milk or with lemon) and enjoy it with delicious sandwiches, scones with jam and cream, as well as a variety of fabulous cakes and tarts.

Afternoon tea is an experience not to be missed in London and the finishing touch to a very British day.

  • Address: St Katherine's Way, London E1W 1LD.
  • Recommended dish: Afternoon tea.

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9. The quiche lorraine at Côte Brasserie

Good Food at Côte Brasserie| ©Domenico V
Good Food at Côte Brasserie| ©Domenico V

If you are passionate about French cuisine, not far from London Tower you will find Côte Brasserie. This is a nice restaurant with an unbeatable view of the Thames, London Bridge and the Tower of London, especially from the terrace.

The atmosphere is very pleasant and the prices are good for such a touristy area. As for the food, the menu is extensive, although they do have special weekend dishes. I recommend you try the chicken breton and the quiche lorraine. They are delicious!

As for desserts, there is also a lot of variety at Côte Brasserie, but the custard with caramel and chocolate fondant are on another level. They are the finishing touch to a fantastic meal.

  • Address: Tooley Street Hay's Galleria, London SE1 2HD England.
  • Recommended dish: The quiche lorraine.

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10. Mei Ume's sushi

Enjoying Sushi| ©cottonbro
Enjoying Sushi| ©cottonbro

A Chinese and Japanese-inspired restaurant to eat at near London Tower is Mei Ume, an elegant and tastefully decorated place where you can feast on seafood.

It's not the cheapest option of all, but you'll love it for a special, romantic evening. The service is very attentive and although all the dishes are delicious, I recommend that you ask them for advice so that they can help you choose the dishes you like best, as the menu is very extensive.

In any case, dishes such as sushi, prawn tempura, Peking duck and frozen mochis are not to be missed on your table, and neither are the cocktails. They are delicious and the Mei Ume restaurant's delicate way of presenting them is marvellous.

  • Address: 10 Trinity Square Four Seasons Hotel London, London EC3N 4AJ England.
  • Recommended dish: Sushi.

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