The Riverfront

This stretch of the riverfront is one of the South Bank’s most iconic under-bridge locations, where a sea of second-hand books & Benugo’s all-day bar & kitchen create a bottleneck of hungry & thirsty literates. There’s a hopping atmosphere here at weekends, when the terrace is prime people-watching territory (pick one of the civilised tables or lean back in a brightly coloured deckchair on the other side). The menu is typical of the Benugo chain, surfing the cross-Channel wave for salt beef & horseradish sandwiches, cottage pie, chicken Kiev & bavette steak. To drink, the large bar dispenses cocktails, a commendable choice of wines & a handful of draught beers such as Sharp’s Doom Bar or Duvel Green at higher-than-average prices (expect plastic mugs if you’re supping alfresco).