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High above the South Bank, OXO Tower Brasserie pairs one of London’s most recognisable riverside settings with a dining experience that feels considerably more relaxed than its landmark address might suggest. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame the Thames and St Paul’s Cathedral, while an open kitchen and live music give the room an easy sense of energy. For a long lunch, evening drinks or dinner overlooking the city, it remains a distinctive way to experience this stretch of London.
A London Landmark Above the Thames
OXO Tower has been part of the South Bank skyline for decades, its illuminated windows spelling out the building’s famous name above the river. The Brasserie sits on the eighth floor alongside OXO Tower Restaurant and Bar, placing diners above the bustle of the riverside promenade and within easy reach of Tate Modern, the National Theatre and the wider South Bank.
Its position is a large part of the appeal. St Paul’s Cathedral rises across the Thames, with the City skyline extending beyond it, giving the Brasserie a particularly strong sense of place. The outlook is unmistakably London without relying on the more familiar panoramas around Westminster or Mayfair.
An Open, Lively Dining Room
The Brasserie takes a relaxed approach to its impressive setting. A large open kitchen forms part of the room, bringing some theatre to the experience, while floor-to-ceiling glazing keeps the river and skyline in view. The interiors are contemporary and spacious rather than overtly opulent, which suits the more informal dining style.
Live jazz is a regular fixture and becomes part of the atmosphere rather than dominating it. Together with the open kitchen and busy dining room, it gives evenings a sociable character that works equally well for dinner and drinks. There is no formal dress code, although the setting naturally lends itself to smart-casual dressing.
The Menu at OXO Tower Brasserie
The menu takes a modern British approach, with produce sourced from across the UK appearing alongside Mediterranean and European influences. Its structure also suits different appetites, moving through snacks and starters to substantial mains, grilled meats and dishes designed for sharing.
Smaller plates offer a useful introduction to the kitchen. Crisp courgette flowers are paired with Rachel cheese and truffle honey, while hand-dived Orkney scallop comes simply with lemon butter. Seafood features prominently among the starters, including Scottish mussels with cider and fennel, charred Newlyn sardines with chilli oil and capers, and Dorset crab with grapefruit, chilli and citrus dressing. Burrata with gooseberries and elderflower vinegar provides a lighter vegetarian option.
The main courses remain relatively concise. Norfolk Black chicken breast is served with morel and Cradle Valley Chardonnay sauce, while North Atlantic cod comes with langoustine sauce. Loch Duart salmon is kept simpler with lemon and olive oil. The native lobster linguine with shellfish bisque is one of the richer seafood choices, while paccheri pasta with courgette pesto and spiced lion’s mane mushroom with Nutbourne tomato dressing broaden the vegetarian and vegan selection. A roasted pork knuckle with apple sauce is intended for sharing.
The grill gives meat a more prominent role. West Country bavette is served with OXO house butter, while the West Country sirloin on the bone comes with red wine sauce. There is also a Whitley Manor Iberico pork chop and a Rhug Estate ribeye on the bone for sharing, accompanied by watercress and béarnaise. Sides such as Koffmann fries with rosemary and garlic, Jersey Royal potatoes and Tenderstem broccoli keep things straightforward.
Seasonality is evident throughout the sample menu, particularly in ingredients such as gooseberries, elderflower, Jersey Royals and Nutbourne tomatoes. Individual dishes are therefore likely to evolve with the produce available.
Cocktails, Wine and Drinks
The Brasserie lends itself naturally to starting with a drink, particularly when the terrace is open. The cocktail selection covers familiar favourites alongside house interpretations. The Passionfruit Martini combines Crystal Head vodka, vanilla, passion fruit and Champagne, while the Champagne Cocktail brings together cognac, Grand Marnier, bitters and Champagne. A Classic Negroni keeps to a more traditional combination of Tanqueray No.10, Campari and Martini Rubino.
Wine is equally important to the dining experience, with the broader OXO Tower drinks offering suited to anything from a glass before dinner to bottles selected for a longer meal. Given the Brasserie’s sociable character, drinks feel comfortably integrated into the experience rather than treated as a formal accompaniment.
The Terrace and London Views
The terrace is one of the Brasserie’s strongest draws. Running along the eighth floor above the Thames, it opens the experience directly onto the London skyline, with St Paul’s Cathedral providing the most recognisable focal point.
Daylight brings greater detail to the river and surrounding architecture, while evenings shift the emphasis towards the illuminated City skyline. Tables beside the glazing retain much of the visual impact when conditions make the terrace less appealing, which prevents the Brasserie’s defining feature from being entirely dependent on good weather.
Its South Bank position also makes the restaurant particularly convenient for an evening built around the area’s theatres and cultural venues. Equally, the setting has enough presence to make the meal itself the occasion.
Polished, Easy-Going Hospitality
Service reflects the Brasserie’s position between casual dining and a more formal London restaurant experience. The atmosphere is energetic and the kitchen is deliberately visible, so excessive ceremony would feel misplaced. Instead, the emphasis is on attentive hospitality delivered within a lively dining room.
That distinction is important when choosing between the venues within OXO Tower. The Brasserie is the more relaxed option, suited to diners who want the setting and sense of occasion without the formality associated with the neighbouring Restaurant. It also makes the venue versatile enough for lunch, pre-theatre dining, cocktails or a longer evening meal.
Sunday at the Brasserie
Sundays have their own character here, with the Brasserie serving a dedicated Sunday roast alongside its regular live music. It is a particularly natural fit for the setting: a leisurely lunch overlooking the Thames followed by time along the South Bank requires little additional planning.
The roast offering changes with the menu, so the specific choices are best treated as seasonal rather than fixed. This is also one occasion when the Brasserie’s relaxed atmosphere works especially well, giving a traditional London Sunday lunch a polished setting without making the experience overly formal.
OXO Tower Brasserie occupies an appealing middle ground in London dining. The cooking draws heavily on quality British produce, the atmosphere has enough energy to feel current, and the eighth-floor position supplies something few restaurants can replicate. The Thames, St Paul’s and the City skyline remain central to its identity, while the kitchen and dining room give the experience substance of its own.
Location: Barge House St, London SE1 9PH
