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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.

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.

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.

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.

Science Museum cafes

Daily
Science Museum
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The Science Museum has two main cafes and various smaller ones. You can also bring your own food, which can be eaten in the designated picnic areas.

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
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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.

Science Museum's Shake Bar

Daily
Science Museum
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Cool off at the ice-cream and milkshake bar. Indulge your sweet tooth with sundaes and milkshakes or design your own ice cream tubs. Find the Shake Bar right outside Wonderlab.

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. ​

Scoff & Banter

Daily
Scoff & Banter
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At Scoff & Banter Kensington, we celebrate hearty and contemporary British cuisine, just moments from world-famous museums. Discover a home from home with lovingly prepared seasonal British cooking, using the finest locally sourced ingredients.

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.

The Design Museum Coffee Shop

Daily
10am - 5pm (Sun - Thur) 10am - 6pm (Fri - Sat)
Design Museum Kensington
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The Design Museum has recently opened a brand-new café. Pop in to explore new flavours and ethically-sourced specialities. A selection of drinks, cakes and pastries – gluten-free and vegan options are available.

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.

Serpentine Sackler Gallery & Magazine Restaurant

Tue - Sun
10am - 6.30pm
Serpentine
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The Serpentine Sackler Gallery & adjoining Magazine Restaurant, opened in 2013, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects. The Serpentine is now two contemporary art galleries in the heart of the Royal Park of Kensington Gardens in central London.

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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Afternoon Tea includes finger sandwiches, musically-themed sweet treats, homemade scones and a pot of fine tea, provided by H.R. Higgins Ltd.

Image credit: © 3s Architects & Designers

A Taste of Germany

Daily
Stein's Berlin
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Combine a German film, language lesson or a visit to the library at the Goethe-Institut London with a visit to Stein’s Berlin restaurant. The restaurant offers a journey through all of Germany's kitchen in a well-designed contemporary and cosy atmosphere.

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.

Royal Albert Hall Café Terrace

Open show days
Open from 9 am
Royal Albert Hall
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Soak up the sunshine and take in spectacular views of a London landmark. The Royal Albert Terrace is now open to all visitors during the day, and is the perfect place to relax with a coffee, beer or light bite from their Door 12 Café Bar. Walk-ins welcome.

Japanese Afternoon Tea at Akira Restaurant

Daily
2:30-5pm
Japan House London
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Enjoy a wonderful, relaxed afternoon tea where guests can choose from a selection of beverages including green teas and smoked black teas, served with a seasonal platter of sushi, wagashi - Japanese sweets - and desserts.

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.