Reviews of The National Cafe. (Restaurant) in London (London).

The National Cafe

296 Reviews

138 Comments

Restaurant

Modern European restaurant

The National Gallery, Trafalgar Sq, London WC2N 5DN, United Kingdom

Description

Information of The National Cafe, Restaurant in London (London)

On this page you’ll find the address, open hours, more popular times, the contact, photos and real reviews of this business.

This business has received very good reviews from their customers, so probably it’s a place you should try if you are looking for this kind of services.

Map

Open hours of The National Cafe

Reviews of The National Cafe

P. U.

It's not bad but... the prices aren't cheap but you could say it's a donation, the sandwichs were a little dry (not sure how long they had been out), there was a long wait for hot drinks which considering there was not a big queue was surprising. The cakes were nice though, these were not dry and had good flavour. I probably would ensure I ate before coming to the gallery next time and not go to the cafe.

S. W.

Delicious flavors, but expensive and small-ish portions (but then again I'm from the USA!) Friendly wait-staff that answered our questions regarding their menu. It's connected to the Art Gallery, so it is impeccably decorated.

A. P.

This is the fanciest "fish pie" I've ever had! Really enjoyed lunch at the restaurant today. Lovely atmosphere and very attentive service. The food was reasonably priced (£16 for my meal). The coffee was bad - burnt and bitter. Don't order the coffee.

N. D.

Perfect pitstop after spending a few hours viewing the stunning pieces within The National Gallery. Can be a little over priced but I guess you are also paying for convenience There are definitely a lot worse places outside The Gallery

Y. X.

Inspired by the acclaimed impressionist Paul Gauguin’s exotic bright colourful portraits at National Gallery, the limited edition afternoon tea embraces the pistachio and raspberry layer cake, raspberry macaroon and passion fruit tart, along with the aromatic tea and Jean Paul Deville champagne to complete the set

B. T.

Very polite staff and very delicious food. I ate steak rib eye and a salad and had an awesome tea.

K. H.

Surprisingly filling, my friend and I spent 3 hours chatting as we nibbled and slowly got through our Afternoon Tea. The staff were friendly and informative, helpfully letting us know that we could refill our tea, and that loose tea leaves taste just as good with another dose of hot water. It is on the pricey side but perfect for spending time leisurely, when you just need a safe space to chat, dream and forget the world.

C. D.

Very cozy café by the National Gallery. The Breakfast Room just by Charing Cross Road is very pretty and has very nice light and feel. I had the Toast Basket (which had a high number of toasts for the price) and a Chamomile tea made out of real flowers. All very tasty and good quality for the price. I recommend it any time for a quick pick me up or to warm up in the midst of winter.

K. Y.

Not too bad! Food was quite delicious although slightly pricey. We had a nice discount offer though so it was very good value.

A. A. A.

Extremely happy that I reserved a table here! I had Cream Tea at 4PM by myself and I loved it!

A. M.

A quick lunch arrangement.reception is good but the Servers are unfamiliar with the menu. Pancakes are abit dry but that side order green is simply amazing dressing!

F. P.

Big place with very good service really nice food and drink.

S. D.

I chose the cafe for a reunion of my school friends from the mid 60s , I booked a table in advance. On the day our numbers had increased, I visited early in the morning and the charming staff extended our table by 4 places with no problem. We did not all arrive at the same time and we stayed all afternoon. The food and drinks were all delicious, service excellent. The staff were kind and very efficient and accommodating. We will return.

h. j.

First guest on a Saturday morning. Ordered egg Benedict, and they run out of the English muffins. Got my egg benedict on a toast. Not impressive.

S. E.

The National Cafe is very clean, ample. there is a space for food and another one for drinks. the staff was friendly and professional. it was quiet, I finished many work tasks. internet was strong too. generally, I recommend trying it.

J. K.

Great place before visiting the national gallery. You can enter the museum straight through the cafe.

H. G.

This is the first time we have been since the change of management and, while the food was excellent, the service was not. Suffering from Britishness, we waited for our first courses to arrive... 45 minutes later we asked where our food was, which caused a flurry of concern and somewhat disorganised attention, resulting in our first and second courses being brought at the same time. We were also brought an additional dish that we had not ordered. When we pointed this out, the waiter quickly established that they did not know who had ordered it and then invited us to have it as well (it did not appear on our bill.) If you have time and patience to cope with Iberian flexibility with time and detail, the food is certainly worth the wait.

P. L.

Every good gallery needs a good cafe – all that culture is thirsty work – and while not the greatest, The National Cafe fulfills that role. It's nicely sized, and although it's always busy, I've never had a problem getting a seat. Nice coffee and prices similar to what you'd expect in central London, make it the perfect pitstop before tackling the rest of the exhibits.

L. R.

I had the full english and a traditional cup of tea, it was one of the nicest english breakfast's i've ever had! Would highly recommend to anyone passing by. All was reasonably priced and the staff were attentive and welcoming. All around good place to eat or simply relax on a cold day!

N. M.

I didn't even know this cafe existed! We stopped for a coffee. Which was very nice. The food looked great with options for casual at the counter or waiter service. It was busy, but if you think you'll get anything different in central London it must be your first visit!

E. O.

We ate in the restaurant itself, not the cafe. The service is excellent and it is a nice quiet place for lunch right next to the madness thatbis Trafalgar Square. I would recommend making a reservation, it gets busy at lunchtime. The food is not cheap but you get very fresh, tasty ingredients beautifully prepared.

G.

Chocolate bread loaf and strawberry biscuit were wonderful. Egg sandwich good. Expensive as all H@&L. 7£ for a tiny bowl of green lettuce, three mozzarella slices and an ounce of vinaigrette.

j. b.

The food was nice but the acoustics in the cafe are really awful. The constant scraping of chair legs on the hard floor the crashing of cutlery & crockery by staff and the acoustics of many people talking all left me with a dreadful headache. Surely Something could be done to lessen the din ?

E. N.

This is a really nice location to have a nice cream tea or afternoon tea. Scones are delicious! The simple elegance and muted colours of the decor make it a relaxing place for a break when visiting the National Gallery or the area.

P. F.

An elegant dining room, wood panelled and softly lit, that makes you almost forget the ridiculous crowds and noise of nearby Leicester Square. With food provided by Peyton and Byrne, there are some delicious cakes and pastries on offer - I particularly recommend their mini fish pies! It isn't the cheapest place to eat in the area, but you're paying for the quality of the location and the produce. There are several seating areas, and I like to sit in the small corner room - it's usually quiet, as if people aren't quite sure you are allowed in there, thought now I have told you all my secret spot I expect it will get busier! Great tea, great cakes, all very British.

A. W.

Beautiful restaurant, great customer service. The host was so helpful and we had a lovely chat about distilleries in London. The service was very fast but they didn't rush us out either. Food was very good.

K. G.

Nicer than I expected. The clientele is (as you might expect for a museum cafe) on the 'older' side and the decor is somewhat shabby chic but the food was good - I had the super food salad which was delicious. Not a bad option for lunch if you're in the area, but go on someone else's dime if possible.

P. C.

Great food and service. Avocado on sour dough with bacon

K. S.

Based on 1 visit: I enjoyed the cream tea, and it's reasonably-priced, particularly for a museum. The staff were friendly. The decor is very basic, and no windows currently that I saw.

J. T.

Nice place to have a meal if you're visiting the National Gallery. They don't serve their famous scones for breakfast however so a bit disappointing since that's what we wanted to try.

S. D.

Not terribly exciting. Rather limited selection of hot food. Expensive and crowded as it is not very large. They charged me FOUR Quid to add some new potatoes to my chicken plate.

D. P.

We rented the Trafalgar Room for a 'Celebration of Life' event, and pre-ordered Canapes; 5 for each guest. The canapes were the size of a 5p coin, and for £3 + VAT EACH, a total rip-off. However, the service was brilliant along with the staff.

O. H.

This is a great deco spot to stop off for lunch before or after browsing the galleries. It can get busy and has a relaxed atmosphere, so probably not the place if you want something very quickly!

J. B.

Great Art Deco cafe serving food throughout the day from breakfast to dinner. Really tasty food and a wide selection of drinks. Nice place to stop off at for a diner after a day sightseeing.

F. A.

Very nice...sourdough bread is delicious, crudités were fresh & came with amazing beetroot & garlic dip. Sophisticated & relaxed.

S. H.

not many kinds, but I like the dishes here. perfect place to rest after looking around the museum

A. T.

Cream tea was ok. The scones were dry and not warm and the tea selection was limited and basic. Good service.

M. T.

Best gallery cafe I have visited. Lovely cake selection and good lunch choices. Much better than the adjoining restaurant.

D. T.

A pricey, a posh but a lovely place to rest or pop in from Trafalgar Square. Never really had a problem getting a table or you can just go for the self service - great selection

J. F.

Swift and efficient service in this busy cafe and enjoyed a delicious freshly baked fruit scone and tea prior to returning to wonderful paintings to savour.

P. C.

Excellent place for a quick cafeteria lunch, even if not visiting the Gallery. Good quality food and usually not overcrowded.

C.

Fantastic service! Cannot fault it. Perfect place for a quick glass of wine to escape the crowds of Trafalgar Sq and the Strand

T. C.

We had a lovely team Xmas dinner here. The staff were helpful and the food was tasty. Nice surroundings.

R. M.

Self-service food selection and quality was good, but the staff are a little rude and disinterested

M. R.

Fabulous food & wine. Pleasant attentive service & cosy relaxing atmosphere. Great price too

W. L.

Great cafe to have a break while browsing the amazing collection at the museum. It was not crowded so service was fast.

H. D.

Really good value, conveniently located, great food, only fault is ambience, not a lot of it!

J. T.

Considering in centre of London the prices are good and so is the food We had coffe and cake

A. W.

Lovely atmosphere! Bit pricey, but once in a while for a treat, it's OK!

A. P.

Coffee was great! Best carrot cake I've ever eaten.

G. P.

Good spot for a coffee of you're visiting the gallery but there are funkier places just a few minutes walk away.

A. S.

Reasonably good food, very expensive however, and be prepared to wait for a seat at busy times

J. J.

Great food, lovely friendly people and a nice atmosphere :)

S. H.

Waited ages to be served and coffee lukewarm. But cakes were very nice

J. M.

Great spot for coffee and to work in the afternoon. Good food too

D. F.

Great Food!! Excellent English tea and I highly recommend!!!

S. D.

Very elegant and regal experience. Having a meal among the Master's creation is a royal experience.

D. D.

Lovely tea. Crowded but what else would be expected. Someone wiping the tables between customers would be good

M. B.

Great place, my first ever 5 o'clock tea and it was awesome

J. B.

I loved this place, amazing food and fantastic staff!

P. C.

The beautiful French barista easily makes the best coffee in London

J. A.

Food was okay but not as hot as I'd like and not a great range for the cost but filled a hole.

J. H.

Nice cakes and drinks. Reasonable prices for London.

B. H.

Lovely Cafe with great food and professional staff.

P. A.

Good ambiance, food and great service!!

T. A. -. F. L.

Good selection of cakes & cookies. It can be very busy.

n. F.

Wonderful old fashioned cafe to enjoy a rest in central London.

M. B.

Really wide selection of food and drinks - great pies!

C. R.

Cappuccino and chocolate cake is a great choice here.

K. M.

The kidneys were a bit too Brittish for my taste :)

L. T.

Nice cakes, good coffee, fresh smothies

D. M.

Relaxing and healthy good food....with friendly staff

L. L.

Excellent cafe when visiting g galleries

J. C.

Good place for coffee. Good atmosphere.

H. L.

Very quiet and food ok

C. P.

Relaxed cafe with good food at reasonable prices

C. Y. L.

Love it!

P. M. C.

Modern cooking, excellent service

E. H.

Pleasant but limited range and quite expensive.

P. D.

Pleasant but limited range and quite expensive.

C. C.

A good rest after a long museum visit

a. f.

Always good food and service

F. T.

This is the very center of London. Visit is recommended!

s. S.

Loved the feel of the place and centrally located

R. G.

OK sweets and beverages. Hopelessly overcrowded. :(

N. S.

Best restaurants 😋

L. P. Y.

Enjoy time here is a good pleasure

J. P.

Excellent service. Lovely staff.

S. A. R.

Great coffee great service

l. j.

💖

L. B.

Amazing gallery, okay coffee.

D. D.

Good coffee, heinous decor...

M. M.

Good food, terrible service.

S. T.

Good food

L. M.

Fabulous food & wine.

N. B.

Imagine yourself in a French bistri

W. M. H.

Very nice tea

J. T.

Ok but pricey

P. G.

Good customer service

J. W.

Love the sandwich!!!

P. G. A.

Lovely buzz here.

E. C.

Its OK !!

H. W.

Ok

d. a.

Nice

O. L.

Cafe like other cafes ;)

E. N.

Great food

H. E.

Tasty snack.

A. G.

Good coffee

R. T.

very expensive

だ.

(Translated) It is a cafe on the ground floor in the National Gallery. The museum is quite tired so it is perfect for taking a break This is divided into a corner of self service and a corner to order with a table, but we are going to order at a table Cream tea was asked. Tea and scones are delicious (^ ^) Here you can pay by table but service charge is about 8% (Original) ナショナルギャラリーの中の地上階にあるカフェです。 美術館って結構 疲れるので 休憩を取るのにはピッタリのお店です こちらはセルフサービスのコーナーとテーブルで注文するコーナーに分かれていますが、私たちはテーブルで注文をするほうへ クリームティーをお願いしました。 紅茶もスコーンも 美味しい(^^) こちら お支払いもテーブルで出来ますが サービス料が8%ほどつきました

M. G.

(Translated) I recommend this place to all the Italians staying in London, comfortable and kind staff. Excellent typical English tea and I highly recommend the Apple Pie, freshly baked and with caramel cream to pour over it. Great (Original) Consiglio questo locale a tutti gli Italiani che soggiornano in London, confortevole e personale gentile. Ottimi i te tipici Inglesi e consiglio vivamente la Apple Pie, appena sfornata e con la crema di caramello da versarci sopra. Ottimo

J. p.

(Translated) You can also eat afternoon tea in the gallery at the bottom of the gallery! Afternoon tea is on the booking site, the price is reasonable and Tifudo is okay! Include service charge 26.5? Pound. However, I went with my dad, and both of them did not enjoy a lot of things, but Tifford was a little sweet! When I ordered scones, I was not unified with the jam and the small plate that I was putting in the creamed cream. It seemed to give it to me as it was. Our 3-tier tray rusted the fire and gave us a bit of a squeeze .... The other people gave us a modern and straightforward blah blah blah .. If you want to take pictures, you might need to talk about this in advance. (Original) 내려널 갤러리 카페에서는 애프터눈 티도 먹을 수 있습니다! 애프터눈 티 예약 사이트에 보면 올라와 있고 가격도 적절하고 티푸드도 괜찮아요! 서비스 차지 포함 26.5? 파운드 입니다. 다만 저는 아빠랑 갔었는데 두사람 다 단걸 많이 즐기는 편이 아니라 티푸드가 좀 단 편이었어요! 스콘 줄때도 잼과 클로티드 크림 담아주는 작은 접시도 통일 된게 아니라 있는대로 내주는거 같더라고요 디테일한 부분이 좀 아쉬웠습니다. 저희 3단 트레이는 불에 녹슬어서 약간 찌그러진듯한걸 갖다주셨어요.... 다른분들은 반듯한 현대적인거 갖다주셨는데 ㅋㅋㅋ 사진 찍고 싶으시면 이런부분 미리 얘기해보셔야 할수도??

A. A.

(Translated) Buffet at The National Gallery. Everything is very tasty. Prices, in London, biting. But the ticket to the museum itself is free. (Original) Буфет в The National Gallery. Очень вкусно все. Цены, по-лондонски, кусачие. Зато билет в сам музей бесплатный.

Μ. Α.

(Translated) Always at museum cafes there are several choices of sweet coffee and fast meals. I put 3 stars because the sweets we got were dry and obviously for many days. Tasty but surely it would be tastier if it was fresh. The values are reasonable (Original) Πάντοτε στα καφέ των μουσείων έχει αρκετές επιλογές από γλυκά καφέ και γρήγορα γεύματα. Έβαλα 3 αστέρια γιατί τα γλυκά που πήραμε ήταν ξερά και προφανώς πολλών ημερών. Γευστικά αλλά σίγουρα θα ταν πιο νόστιμα αν ήταν φρέσκα. Οι τιμές λογικες

O. A.

(Translated) Very nice cafe. And to a quiet and clean toilet away from the tourist streams ... not unimportant in a big city 😊 (Original) Sehr nettes Cafe. Und dazu eie ruhige und saubere Toilette abseits der Touristenströme ... nicht unwichtig in einer Großstadt 😊

F. V.

(Translated) Good espresso with good choice of desserts. Courtesy in the service. (Original) Buon espresso con buona scelta di dolci. Cortesia nel servizio.

K. S.

(Translated) Good place expensive but former sour vinegar tomato soup 5 was invaluable (Original) Jo hely drága de volt savanyú ecetes paradicsomleves 5 fontértehetetlen volt

A. N.

(Translated) Very nice and nice, but also a lot of people. (Original) Mycket gott och trevligt, men också mycket folk.

B. C.

(Translated) Jedzonko ok but eat quickly and run! !! (Original) Jedzonko ok ale jeść szybko i uciekać! !!

藤.

(Translated) It was delicious normally. (Original) 普通に美味しかったです。

R. S.

(Translated) Swr nice and courteous service (Original) Swhr nette und zuvorkommende Bedienung

B. e.

(Translated) Delicious cakes at reasonable prices (Original) Leckere Kuchen zu angemessenen Preisen

Q. C. d. S.

(Translated) Well. (Original) Bom.

M. V.

(Translated) Car, but nice. (Original) Car, però agradable.

B. F.

(Translated) Super !!! (Original) Super !!!

Y. C.

(Translated) Gorgeous (Original) رائع

M. K.

💟💟💟💟

s. d.

(Translated) Good morning (Original) Buongiorno

P. T.

A. F.

D. B.

P. R.

A. K.

r.

H. S.

И. Ч.

P. j.

D. G.

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