Millie's Lounge at The Ned

There’s no denying that the restaurants on the ground floor of The Ned hotel are some of the most eye-catching dining spaces in the City. Right by Bank station, this Soho House and Sydell Group project opened to plenty of buzz, and for good reason too.

The space has art deco interiors straight from the 1930s, including a slew of emerald-green pillars and soft-pink booths, and is essentially a luxurious take on a food court. British-American mash-up Millie’s Lounge is one of eight dining options open to the public and is suited to night owls, staying open until 3am some nights.

The menu features staples from both sides of the pond, ranging from traditional afternoon tea, to mac ’n’ cheese and BBQ short ribs. Our starting snacks of crumbly, runny scotch egg and a crispy, herb-flecked sausage roll impressed, but were soon outdone by the main – perfectly cooked golden cod, served with tartare sauce, mushy peas and chunky, skin-on chips.

Desserts were less enticing, but the likes of a packed, slightly sour cherry sponge ticks comfort food boxes. To drink, there are fun cocktails like the Nedgroni and a selection of international wines. Just be prepared to loosen your belt; portions at Millie’s are huge, meaning a three-course meal is quite the stretch. That and scatty service take away from what is otherwise a very pleasant dining experience.

It's impossible to overlook the architectural beauty of The Ned, but we would argue that Millie’s Lounge is the most Instagram-friendly of the hotel’s heap of ground-floor restaurants. 

Millie’s Lounge is an all-day British restaurant and bar, which courts the millennial crowd with its vintage-style interiors. Following the 1930s look of the whole of The Ned, Millie’s Lounge is punctuated by studded vintage tub chairs and baby pink banquette seating decorated with richly patterned scatter cushions, while double-height ceilings and gorgeous verdite columns add a real sense of grandeur.  

Millie’s Lounge is perhaps best known for its traditional afternoon tea, which is served from Monday to Saturday. The luxe offering sees dainty finger sandwiches and a selection of sweet treats served on bespoke Burleigh china tea sets, while guests can also tuck into warm scones slathered with clotted cream and seasonal jam. There is also the option to add a glass of Champagne to proceedings, if you are feeling extra fancy. 

The a la carte at Millie’s Lounge champions classic British dishes such as sausage rolls, Scotch eggs and fish and chips served with mushy peas and tartare sauce. This being The Ned, there are also a few more high-end options available, including half or whole roasted lobster served with chips, or a hefty 1kg Porterhouse steak accompanied by thick-cut chips and bearnaise sauce. Vegan diners will be glad to know that they haven’t been forgotten about either, as they can tuck into a plant-based patty from Beyond Meat, which is finished off with vegan cheese. 

Puddings at Millie’s Lounge are just as classic as the rest of the menu, showcasing sweet treats such as sticky toffee pudding and black forest trifle. If you’re arriving towards the end of the evening, there’s a late-night menu of mac ‘n’ cheese bites and miniature lobster rolls.