A friend who lives part time near London made a reservation for us at this restaurant with a beautiful view. Many of us live or are from Austin, TX so when we found out we'd all be in London at the same time, he suggested this place to meet. A couple of us arrived a bit early and they were able to seat us while we waited for the rest of our party. The food was very good and the view was amazing! If I could, I would rate the experience 4.5 stars but I am giving it a 4 because they were out of brine for their salt & vinegar martini and the service was slow. We had to wait a long time for our food and had to flag people down. One of the people was a member of the museum so we got a 10% discount on our total bill. However, I wouldn't mind going back again on another day so I can try the martini! read more

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Excellent food with sweeping views of London, located on the top floor of the National Portrait Gallery. We enjoyed an unhurried lunch with Gayle's Rabbit Tagliatelle was delicious and not something she would normally eat at home. My choice of Free Range Chicken Cordon Bleu (with Potato Salad) was also a tasty step out for me. We also shared a carafe of white wine and bread for the table. The online reservation system was easy to use and eliminated any concerns over getting a table. Strolling through the National Portrait Museum when lunch was finished was a happy bonus. read more

Portrait Restaurant - British Near Me - London, XGL

Five star view and tasty food, but overpriced. Still, that view. Yes, please! Portrait Restaurant on the top of the National Portrait Gallery boasts really fantastic views of downtown London, Big Ben, the London Eye and Trafalgar Square, along with more brass cupolas than I realized London had, until you find yourself at this fantastic vantage point and see that its really a town full of ancient towers and cupolas. (Must look up more often!) The food at Portraits is actually quite good, but pricey. Entrees ala carte are basically the same price as a fixed meal with either starer and main or main and dessert, so you may as well splurge and get something more substantial at lunch. Not all all kid friendly, this is a fancy, traditional spot full of white suited waiters and multi course meals, which I hadn't realized when I booked. Still, coming here with an older child of nine, there wasn't anything on the menu kid-appropriate. It would be nice if they might realize that not all patrons are going to want a three course lunch, or some overly gourmet main. Clearly, they could care less about a stubborn American mom who is desirous of a rooftop view of London that she drags her well-behaved child to subsist on a croissant and orange juice at lunchtime --ahem! Bad mummy. For me, nicely cooked fish, fennel, grapefruit and spinach entree, and a very creamy cauliflower soup along with a bread basket for 25 pounds (gasp) was a nice, satisfying and expensive experience. Keep in mind this is a very generous lunch, and you may be sleepy while wandering about the gallery. Next time, will come for breakfast --a better value certainly, and the view is something worth repeating. read more

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We had an amazing lunch with friends at the Portrait Restaurant...the view and the ambience is simple breathtaking! Sitting on the top floor of the National Portrait gallery, this place is a complete gem. The service and staff was phenomenal. The table setting was elegant and the menu really topped off the entire experience. Going to the restaurant was a real treat especially since the museum is already free (and SO worth it!) I would definitely make it a point to visit and eat here while in London! read more

Portrait Restaurant - Ed Sheeran and I :) - British Near Me - London, XGL

Come for the view, but definitely stay for the food. Located discreetly on top of the national portrait gallery (also totally worth a visit) at the ever so busy Trafalgar Square , the Portrait restaurant offers a fabulous view of many famous landmarks in Westminster, a delicious seasonal menu, and a lively but surprisingly peaceful atmosphere that's so rare in this area. I ordered the bouillabaisse, which is a lighter and more lunch appropriate version of the famous Marseille dish. The fish was cooked to perfection. I also tried lamb from the tasting menu, it was tender, flavourful and an absolute delight to eat. On to dessert, the chocolate saint-émilion was rich but not overly sweet, the spiced roasted pineapple with lemon sorbet was refreshing, yet interesting with a slight kick of chili. The festive cocktail, lemon drop Bellini, was beautiful, easy to drink and not as sweet as it sounds. For someone who has trouble finishing any alcoholic drinks, I drank up the last drop. The service was also impeccable from beginning to end. To me, the Portrait restaurant was a pleasant surprise. I didn't expect to have a such an exquisite meal in a gallery but I enjoyed every aspect of it. I'd highly recommend anyone to pay a visit. read more

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Came here for afternoon tea with champagne which ended up costing us around $140. Wouldn't have minded the price had the service been better. Our original server disappeared without any explanation midway through the meal, assuming he got off work. A girl replaced him but rarely checked on us. The food itself was okay but definitely left more to be desired. Service was bad. read more

Portrait Restaurant - British Near Me - London, XGL

Here's a little secret: come in the morning. You can grab a coffee, tea, boiled egg or toast and get the same views without a major spend. The only downside to this strategy is that the views are to the East, so the morning views come with the sun in front. This makes photos (all from indoors) a bit more tricky, but also gives you a taste of what you might experience if you come here at other times in the day. read more

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This place is a hidden gem!! It is located on the 3rd floor of national portrait gallery (not the same entrance as the national gallery) and the view is amazing. You can see everything from the London eye to Westminster abbey. We came here for afternoon tea. Afternoon tea is only from 3:30 to 4:30 Thursday to Saturday I think and the tea set is around £30 per person. Each person gets 3 savory items, two scones, and 3 desserts. Personally, I think the scones are the best and the desserts were not impressive at all. You also get unlimited tea. You're basically paying for the view. Small tip for people who don't want to spend a lot of money - just order one/two set and share the food. The others can just get the tea. It's cheaper that way ;) read more

Portrait Restaurant - The view - British Near Me - London, XGL

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Duck Song Before joining the achingly hip crowd gathered for the Late Shift Extra at the National Portrait Gallery, we couldn't resist having dinner at the Portrait Gallery. This rooftop restaurant has the most breathtaking panaromic views of London, particularly on a sunny day.We tore ourselves away from it, to order our main, the confit of duck, presented on an island of creamy mash, surrounded by a lapping sea of red onion gravy. The duck was cooked perfectly, encased in a thin crispy skin which was golden brown. The mash was smooth and well seasoned, while the red onion gravy was a revelation. My dessert of raspberry and apple crumble, arrived with a tiny side jug of custard, which took the edge of the fruit's combined tartness. My other half unfortunately went for the chocolate pot which was lovely, but far too large a portion for something so rich. Late Shift Extra We finished dinner and headed downstairs to Room 20 - The Reform Room. A beautifully proportioned room, full of paintings of notable British historical parliamentaries and reformists. In front of an epic execution of The House of Commons, 1833, drawfed by the sheer scale of the canvas stood Andreya Triana. This tiny, bare footed powerhouse singer songwriter, treated us to an emotive, soulful tinged delivery of six excellent songs. Accompanied by a keyboard/mixer and talented guitarist 'Matt' , she ended her set with a brilliant electro choral reworking of the Eurythumics"Sweet Dreams". Her voice soared over a deep, pounding bassline, that had the whole audience rocking. All in all a great Friday night ! read more

Portrait Restaurant - View from the Portrait Restaurant - British Near Me - London, XGL

Great view! The NPG has been reconfigured such that where the new stuff once was is now a for-pay exhibition. We were just popping in to see what was new. We did one of the quick galleries - the hallway on the second floor outside the Tudors. Then we got in the elevator and saw "Restaurant, 3rd Floor." We decided to start a pub crawl to our dinner reservations there. It's a view that you will not get anywhere else in London. My friend said, "What church is that roof from?" (We know all the churches in central London.) We went through about 4 roofs when he finally said, "NO! The one that looks like shells on it." I replied, "That's the top of the National Gallery!" There was a party of 10 who looked like university students having a last afternoon tea before their final exams and graduation. Perfect for such an occasion. read more

Portrait Restaurant - A view like from nowhere else! - British Near Me - London, XGL

Personally, it's all about the view (and classy ambiance). I went with three other friends to the bar, and we all gushed over the view above the National Gallery. The view is rather magical because you don't see the hordes of tourists & activity on Trafalgar Square below, only the classic architecture surrounding the area. It almost felt like I was in St. Petersburg or Prague. The wine prices were reasonable and the bar service was just fine. My friends ordered queen olives as our bar snacks; I don't even *like* olives, but these were absolutely delicious! It was like a "Sword and the Stone" experience. For that, Portrait Restaurant will always have a special place in my heart ;) One of the best (and unique) views of London. Come during sunset! read more

Portrait Restaurant - The bar view during sunset. What's not to love?! - British Near Me - London, XGL

This is one of my all-time favourites for afternoon tea and somehow it still remains a well kept secret - shhhh. You can't beat the view across Trafalgar Square and if you opt for a pot of tea and scones only rather than going for the big deal tea, it doesn't break the bank either. I have yet to meet a visitor who was not impressed. read more

Have to say I was pretty taken with this place. The location and the view is spectacular, the room itself is very nice, service is friendly and efficient and you're 'forced' to walk through some pretty spectacular rooms full of fantastic paintings en route to the restaurant from Trafalgar Square. We came in search of breakfast on Saturday morning expecting a long line but were pleasantly surprised to be seated immediately. Menu is short but comprehensive despite which two of us ordered the bacon and egg sandwich whilst the third member of our merrie band had pancakes with fruit. Portions were on the small side it has to be said but delicious nonetheless so we weren't complaining. The coffee was surprisingly good and we set off to face a day's sightseeing suitable fortified. We'll be back. read more

Lovely light-filled restaurant inside of the National Portrait Gallery. Spectacular view of Westminster, my first sighting of the London Eye was from inside of Portrait and it really got me excited about the week we'd be spending in town. This was one of our first meals in London as we were staying right off of Trafalgar Square. The food and the service were wonderful (why is the butter so delicious???) Just a lovely little gem. After our meal, we wandered around the museum. Free admission! What a luxury. Take note, US! read more

Portrait Restaurant - British Near Me - London, XGL

I loved it. Most museum restaurants are great and this one is one of the very best. Excellent service and a stunning view of Westminster Abbey and beyond. The vanilla bourbon tea was one of the most delicious teas I have ever had and I highly recommend it. The museum is free so coming in and up to his oasis is highly recommended. read more

Lovely view of the city with great cuisine. 2 course lunch is about £30. I had interesting experience. My steak was not cooked the way I had ordered. They brought the steak 2nd time which was cooke exactly the same as the 1st steak. The manager came to talk to me, and the waiter offered me the 3rd plate. I told them it is fine since I have to go (first steak arrive late). They did not charge me for the steak and offer me any dish I want on them. Even thought it was weekday lunch time, the restaurant was full. Mistake can happen especially during rush hour. I gave them five star because they had the right attitude about the mistake. And mushroom soup was incredible. Do make reservation since it gets full even weekdays. read more

When we first arrived I was concerned it could be a snooty kind of place with uppity staff and tiny portions. I was so please to find I was completely wrong. My wife , daughter and I had arrived for brunch at about 11:20am on a weekday and were greeted by very friendly maitre D who seated us immediately. We had a table at the window with an awe inspiring view of the city. We had booked earlier but were one of only three groups of diners in at that time. It did get busier at about 12:15 so I would suggest booking to prevent disappointment. Our waitress was a stunning 6ft tall Germanic amazon who evidently spent more on manicures and shoes than I do on cars and houses. On seeing her I surreptitiously eyed the menu to see if there were any hidden surcharges such as an arm and a leg for service but apart from the usual 12% there were none. My wife was enjoying my awkwardness immensely and suggested I ask her out! The food was beautifully prepared which was expected with a nice portion size which was not. The dishes themselves were fantastic. It was wonderful to see English food being presented in such an appealing way. The dish I relished most was the black pudding which was on wilted spinach and topped with a poached egg and devilled sauce. This was perfect as everything seems better with a poached egg. I balanced out the meal with the smoked chicken Caesar salad which was nice but not as monumental as the black pudding which even the picky 9 year old thought was "Yummy". Our daughter had the soup of the day which was pumpkin (she's 9!) and chips which were enormous and perfectly cooked being golden and crisp on the outside with a fluffy center. My wife had the goats cheese and red onion tart with rocket which was also delicious. I still won with the black pudding! The amazon was attentive and professional and made a fuss over our daughter which was duly appreciated. The dining experience was a excellent from start to finish. The price is moderate to high but well worth it considering the location view, quality of food and that Heidi Klum's younger sister works there! The majority of the tables are along the Southern windows so you will have a perfect excuse to wear your cool Ray-Bans during lunch as it does get very sunny. The photo's do not do the place justice. read more

You absolutely can not beat the view here. Large windows open up to a view of Nelson in Trafalgar Square and across Whitehall to the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and the London Eye. The space is airy as you would expect in a museum, but the food is a bit better. Expect fancy yet typical British food, with the exception of Fish and Chips (impossible to make fancy!). Ask for a table by the window, or in one of the newer booth areas where at least one person gets to look out. Do make a reservation, as it gets quite busy. Don't be late for your table. read more

So I was very excited to come to this restaurant as my sister had recommended the view and the food. When I arrived on the 3rd floor I asked the hostess for a table for one. She answered 'just one' and I answered yes. This is pretty common in restaurant. It drives me mad but I will get over it. What came next, I wasn't expecting. She asked me if I had read the menu.... I answered yes.... She then started checking the computer and asked if I had a reservation. I answered no ( my blood was boiling now!). There was literally 9 people in a restaurant that holds over 100 people by my count. She eventually seated me Now no matter what the food it like, this is all I will remember. I am not a second class citizen because I am eating alone! Or whatever reason she thought that I could pay for me brunch! Please sort out your hostess read more

lovely afternoon tea spot. Get away from the otherwise ticky-tackiness of Trafalgar Square and enjoy expansive views of London while you sip and nosh on great afternoon tea and treats. Relatively inexpensive at 25pounds per person - there is more food than one normal person can consume. As expected the scones and clotted cream and jam were DELICIOUS. The beet/onion/goat cheese sandwich was also a highlight. The desserts (macaron, chocolate dessert, eclair, fruit tart) were for the most part good. Additionally, the National Portrait Gallery is really an enjoyable destination - a very pleasant surprise. read more

Book a table in time with the sunset! Great for a surprise with a loved one. It is small, so I would definitely book ahead. There are lots of teas and fancy cakes* to be shared (or not). Don't be in a hurry because the service is very slow for such a small space. Double check the times when they are open. Different menu at different times. Give yourself time to sit and relax. Service is in no rush either. *Def not vegan read more

I'm teetering between 3 and 4 stars. The location, as everyone says, is amazing. We got seated right by the window, so we had an amazing view of Big Ben, Trafalgar Sq, etc. It was really beautiful! It's also nice that it's not directly visible from the museum and somewhat hidden on a different floor. Unfortunately, it's distracting to take it all in when the restaurant is so loud. I feel like I could hear everyone's conversations but my own. The food was also a solid 3.5 out of 4 stars. I had the gazpacho which was really great, but the ice shot in the middle filled with oil that kept spilling made it less good. I also had the baked saffron rice stuffed tomatoes - it was again much too oily! The rice was a little dry within the tomatoes but the Romesco sauce was too oily for me. The person I was with had the smoked salmon/waldorf salad to start which was good, and then the mackerel which he said was nothing special/not great. Given all of this, I will give the final 4 stars because the service was phenomenal. They were so attentive throughout the whole night and gave a birthday surprise to the person I was with! read more

I'll be completely honest... if the company wasn't paying, then I probably wouldn't have had lunch here! I love good food, but sometimes the price can put you off. I will say that in making a group booking for our lunch, it was fairly easy. If you go over a certain amount of people, I believe it was 8, then they have a form they send you and you have to go onto a reduced menu. The only thing about the reduced menu I did not like was that they were asking us to commit to 2 or 3 courses without knowing what would be on offer on the day we had lunch. After a bit of negotiating, they did let our group order off of the normal lunch menu since there were just 9 of us. I was really excited about the Globe Artichoke Salad! I did order the crab cake to start with. It was delicious and I thought it was the right consistency... sometimes it is too mushy or too dry, but this was just right. The salad looked beautiful and it tasted lovely, with the exception of the potatoes. They were blue/purple and I was expecting them to taste wonderful, but they really didn't have any flavour... in fact the consistency wasn't even nice... not sure if that was the potato's fault or whoever cooked its fault. For dessert I had the caramalized walnut tart with clotted cream. Talk about sweet! It was so good though! It reminded me a lot of Pecan Pie, but the walnuts cut a bit of the sweetness and I really enjoyed it, especially with the cream! Everyone else seemed to enjoy their food as well... no complaints at all. We were seated next to the window and while the view was nice, I wouldn't say it is the best view ever because a lot of it is the top of the National Gallery. read more

The Portrait Restaurant, located in the top floor of The National Portrait Gallery, has an amazing view of London. Breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, is served daily. Contemporary British fare is accompanied by a nice selection of wines (including British vintners) and cocktails. Lunch is served daily. Dinner is available on Thursday, Friday, and Saturdays. Great place to chill after work or with the gal pals or pre-theatre. www.npg.org.uk/portraitrestaurant read more

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Restaurants that are well known for stunning views as well as those placed within museums and other cultural institutions and tourist attractions often have a reputation for being overpriced or for making quality and taste a secondary concern. On the contrary, I found, in addition to a gorgeous view in a fab setting, that my lunch at Portrait was deliciously good value. With a world class collection of art below thos top floor eatery featuring stunning views of many of London's most noted landmarks and the menu in the capable hands of head chef Katarina Todosijevic, this is a winner of a place to eat. More about the chef here: http://londonist.com/2010/08/chefspective_katarina_todosijevic_h.php A very good restaurant for a date or catching up with an old friend! read more

Excellent view of London (and quite a bit of rooftop). You get in via the gallery so you can't help but look at a few paintings. The room has lots of lights and beautifully designed (if slightly reminiscent of the 80s industrial design movement). I'm also sure its been in countless films. The service was excellent; attentive but discrete. I didn't notice the food: I' sure you're not really supposed to come for it anyway. read more

Portrait Restaurant - British Near Me - London, XGL

While aimlessly wandering the National Portrait Gallery we stumbled on the Portrait restaurant, unaware of its existence. As it happens I was starving and there was a table for two available. The view is astounding, which made me fear the worst for the food, which quite often takes second or third place from a gorgeous view. But fear not, the food was delicious. My cod with lentils was very tasty and my partner's bass with mushrooms was a exquisite. I expect us to return. read more

Came here for a first date and it was a great choice. Good choice of Wines + cocktails at the bar, really friendly, helpful service and a fantastic view over London's skyline. Only slight gripe is that last food orders are at around 8.15, and the restaurant closes around 10.30, so we felt a bit rushed at the end of the evening. Food was excellent, and 2 courses each with wine came to about £80 read more

I feel this restaurant was over-rated. Our waiter only showed up twice-once to give us the menu and once to stop by and take our drink order. I had to stop him and ask for water. By the time he came back for water, we are ready to go.I ordered the Hake. It was ok. A bit too rich for me. Hubby's angus steak was really good and tender and juicy. Overall, the food was ok for me but the customer service could be better. read more

What a delight! The food, rooftop views of London, presentation and staff are all wonderful. We were there for Sunday brunch and enjoyed the special roast beef with yorkshire pudding of course. My daughter had the chicken with polenta, looked plain and boy was it tasty. The chicken liver appetizer is a home run, my 11 year old daughter had never tried it and ate half my order. The panna cotta dessert was delightful. Also, the flower salad is beauutiful and delicious. We enjoyed the experience so much we return again for lunch the same week. This is a hidden gem located on the top floor of the Portrait Gallery Museum--Do not miss this delightful experience. read more

Food was over salted and all the courses, service was also very poor. For the price it is not worth the time, try somewhere else!

Delicious food, gorgeous views, a bit pricey but well worth it! Make reservations because the restaurant was packed the evening we dined. Manager Gigi was extremely personable and you could tell he took great care of every party as he stopped by the table to chat. read more

It was a perfect night for us. The pre-theater menu was really delicious with reasonable price and the staff were incredibly kind and helpful. The night view of the top was amazing too. read more

I didn't know what to expect from a restaurant, purported excellent views or not, established near a tourist-laden icon of London, Trafalgar Square. Firstly, the place commands a fairly elite presence. Although a restaurant, they serve only breakfast and lunch, so most of their patrons tend to be local professionals, not tourists. Business attire (suit) is suggested if you want to fit in, but probably not mandatory; reservations are highly suggested; being escorted by someone who is a regular there doesn't hurt. Be prepared to pay higher prices for food which would be considered fair-good if presented from a street-level cafe. As with any establishment with a view, the prices of the food do not reflect the quality, rather they reflect the height at which the kitchen is perched. Not bad food, just not Earth shaking. Fall/Winter in late afternoon provides the most dramatic view in my opinion. read more

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Dining at the Portrait Restaurant for tea or dinner is a fab experience. Menu selection is well chosen, meals well portioned, and the service attentive and kind. Wine selection is great as well. What makes it tremendous is the view! A delectable meal with family and friends while watching the sun set over Trafalgar Square while visiting London. What could be better? read more

All the stars go to the view, everything else is as you would expect: fine, a bit pricey, worth the visit.

Loved this place. The food was good - mid range but well prepared. The view - one of the best in London. Truly amazing. Not many people seem to know about this place, and we were sent downstairs to the cafe at first, then we asked for directions to the "Restaurant" and went up an escalator to this amazing little place. The hostess can be a little flustered, but the bar staff (we ate at the bar) were super friendly. Just stunning views of the square and London. Excellent place to grab a solid bite of food, and a view to send pictures home of. read more

i have been once there for a coffee ,but, i really wanna go again for a meal. Its a lovely place to catch up with friends and socialize. Lovely service and view. read more

We came here as tourists. This was a pretty fun spot to grab lunch after a concert at St Martin in the Fields. The food was pretty solid, the service was decent (for London...sigh), and the best part, was the view! It's not that high up, but London's not filled with skyscrapers so it got all the great tourist sights in there. Pretty fun for a tourist. It's all the way at the top floor of the museum. Just keep going up and you'll find it. read more

Pleasant restaurant, good food, efficient service and of course a great view. Quiet hideaway for afternoon tea.