Date spot in South Bank and Borough
Scootercaffe
Settle in at a scruffy, much-loved café-bar in an old scooter repair shop, with a vintage Vespa in the corner and a small courtyard out the back.
Lower Marsh, Waterloo
Address: 133A Lower Marsh, London SE1 7AE- Café
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
- Cosy
Why it's a good date: Coffee by day and a drink in the evening, with old records on and no fuss. It doesn't take bookings, so just turn up, and it's handy before or after something on the South Bank.
More from our South Bank and Borough guide
London Eye
Jubilee Gardens, South Bank
Address: Riverside Building, County Hall, Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7PB- Activity
- Rain-proof ☔
- Mid-price
- Romantic
Ride the giant wheel on the river for a slow half-hour loop above Westminster, the Thames and the South Bank.
Why it's a good date: Touristy, yes, but the view is worth it, and a clear evening around sunset is the time to go. Book ahead online rather than queueing on the day.
Photo: Danbu14, CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped and resized)
Restaurant Story
Tooley Street, Bermondsey
Address: 199 Tooley Street, London SE1 2JX- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- A treat
- Romantic
- Foodie
Book Tom Sellers' tasting menu, a run of playful, inventive courses rooted in British flavours, in a calm modern dining room by Tower Bridge.
Why it's a good date: Keep it for an anniversary or a big occasion, and give it the whole evening: the courses come at an unhurried pace and it's all about the food. Book well ahead.
Bao Borough
Stoney Street, Borough
Address: Bao Borough, 13 Stoney Street, London SE1 9AD- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
- Foodie
Share Taiwanese bao and grill plates at Bao's late-night grill house under the railway arches on Stoney Street.
Why it's a good date: Moody and fun, with trains rumbling overhead, and the market right outside for a wander first. It takes bookings, which saves queuing.
