Pennethorne's Cafe Bar in City of London, Westminster

Dreadful place, I came in, it's a self-service type of place, you have to find a menu yourself when queue to the bar to place an order. I asked for a glass of wine that was £8 on the menu and they tried to charge me £11.90 for it. I asked why and none seemed to be able to explain, neither did they apologies. The staff behind the counter was pretty rude so I left.

Lovely spot that I booked in advance for an important reunion afternoon tea, in an airy spot and I'd followed up by email. Sadly they first hadn't reserved a spot by the window that could have been opened then said they didn't arrange the afternoon tea as the OpenTable booking wasn't clear. The woman was dismissive and not keen to make any welcome or adjustments. We went elsewhere and won't book again especially as there was no kindness in approach to making us welcome.

Very stingy ingredients and expensive for extremely mediocre food, wouldn’t come back

Very nice place. Service was fine. Had the tuna salad, wasn’t the best I have had but ok.

Located in the West Wing of Somerset house (beautiful building&courtyard). Ambience, drinks, prices, service are "ok". However not a place we would like to come back.

Okay, first of all, we should have drawn attention to this at the time, but our drinks were brought to an outside terrace for us, and by the time we realised how diluted and watery they were, it was really too late to carry them inside to request new ones; quite a long walk, in any case. What was clear was that the wine goblets were 90 per cent full of shaved ice with a bit of orange Aperol colour showing at the very bottom. I checked later about the amount of Aperol recommended in an Aperol Spritzer and it is 50-60 ml minimum. What we had cannot have been more than 25 ml at the most. Furthermore, one goblet had more orange colour than the other, indicating that no measure had been used. Cardinal rule in catering/bar tendering: ensure that like drinks/dishes are identical, otherwise you risk antagonising one of the recipients! It is anybody's guess how much Prosecco was in there, but I estimate a quick splash or thimbleful. Again the officially recommended quantity is 90 ml. Our drinks were simply watery and presumably depended for much of their liquid content on the melting shaved ice! I would really like to have given this venue 5 stars, based on previous good experiences and the general usual atmosphere, service and quality of cocktails/wine; but we simply could not let this recent experience pass without the bar manager being made aware of what happened. Aperol Spritzer was not listed on the menu, but the cost transpired to be £12 (the steepest I have seen for this particular drink). The cost of the two Aperol Spritzers was, thus, £24 plus "Charges" of £3 – which is an alternative and slightly underhand way of meaning "serving charge". The service charge in the UK is still optional under the law, and is paid at the discretion of the client if he/she feels the product and service have been of merit. If you, Bar Persons, take payment in advance and apply that charge, please, at least, have the decency and professionalism to create drinks worthy of the reputation of your establishment, otherwise you simply mock your customers and will receive a commensurate response! The Bartender who served us was new to me, but the name on the receipt states "Operator: Neresh". I am sure drinks at this establishment can only improve on future visits.

Walked in here to grab a bite before a concert not realising that they only had small plates to go with the wines, but were pleased to find some delicious and high quality food to keep hunger at bay.

A bit on the pricey side for drinks but given the real estate that’s to be expected. I go here mainly for coffee and it’s always delicious! Really enjoy the mocha here - perfectly balanced.

Lovely atmosphere pity about the mouse running around

Sadly the most inviting seat in the bay window is so high that feet are left dangling, but makes sense when river views are always at such a premium (can't sit there too long), and there is another window seat with the same view. I never intend to have more than one cocktail here before going for dinner, but they are so delicious......

Had a mulled cider and it was just perfect. Staff is lovely and the place is authentic and cute.

Genuinely baffled by this place. Had a meeting here and after I paid, they refused to give me the receipt. Said they needed it. And couldn't print another? Mind blown. Vibes are also a bit dead so if you need somewhere to work go literally anywhere else in the area.

service was good and the food is great

Amazing bar. I had a lunch after my business meeting. I had a egg royal and was delicious. Will be back soon.

Yesterday's lunchtime catering was non existent. Freezing cold day we were looking forward to the hot soup featured on the chalkboard . On ordering we could only get muffles from the masked waiter, (which is no longer obligatory to wear) who made no attempt to lower his mask for our understanding. All the while the chef preparing food in full view wore no mask!!! At long last somehow we got the picture: Because of a function going on in the next room and staff shortage, no lunch order could be taken until the function was over! Two elderly gents at the next table were already waiting for 50 minutes! We settled for the two remaining tired croissants that COULD NOT BE HEATED UP, only in a sandwich maker. We asked for some cheese and or jam to make those somehow palatable. Croissants are made of puff pastry and as such should not be flattened! What we therefore got out of the sandwich maker was a flat mass of greasy dough, with a big slab of butter. No of jam or cheese. Staff shortage alas can happen, but why was not the chalk board wiped clean instead of keeping the appearance of normalcy? And...In the first room of the bar we saw two man who did get their soup and were rather aggressively defensive about it too. What was going on? Unfortunate situation true, but so badly handled

Make sure there is no private function on before you arrive!!!! On the chalkboard there is the soup of the day featuring and some beef stew. We are sitting down in good faith, looking forward to the hot soup on such a cold day. Waiter arrives and we are trying to order. Behind his mask (which is no longer obligatory to wear) all we hear is 'murfle, murfle'. Not a single word is understood. On asking to repeat just more murphle, murphle is coming through, no attempt to lower the mask for clarity. We at long last get it, there is a function going on in the next room with only one chef catering so no order can be taken until the the function is over! Please note two elderly gents at the next table were already waiting for 50 minutes! We are hungry and settle for the two remaining croissants that CAN"T BE HEATED UP, only in the sandwich maker. We are promised some cheese and or jam to go with it. However what we get is two completely flattened something, looking like pancakes only not nearly as edible, with a big slab of butter. Three questions: 1, If no lunch could be served why is the choice is still on the chalkboard? 2, in the first room of the bar we see two man who obviously did have their soup and were rather aggressively defensive about it. What was going on? 3 Why was the establishment open at all, if because staff shortage they actually could not cater, not us at any rate? Completely unprofessional handling of the situation!

Had a delicious lentil soup and toasted sandwich at a very reasonable price. Staff were friendly and helpful. Lovely lady behind the counter even came running after me when I forgot my hat. Lovely place for light lunch.

Lovely environment, beautiful looking location, it was an amazing time that we had

Fantastic location, excellent service, could benefit from a broader drinks menu

mi novio me llevó a almorzar aquí el día de San Valentín y fue absolutamente perfecto. la bienvenida que recibimos fue cálida y amable, y el servicio en general fue rápido y cada miembro del personal hizo todo lo posible para hacernos sentir bienvenidos. ! Llegamos un poco antes de lo que sirvieron el almuerzo, pero tuvieron la amabilidad de guardarnos un hermoso asiento junto a la ventana y nos reconocieron cuando regresamos. tenían opciones de comida increíbles para los dos (soy vegano y él tiene algunas alergias) y el café era MAGNÍFICO. estuvieron atentos, siempre asegurándose de que la jarra de agua estuviera llena, ¡y nos hicieron sentir muy atendidos! !

Time was when Somerset House contained the divorce registry when lawyers paced up and down the corridors to attend court hearings. Nowadays it has been transformed into an arts and entertainment centre containing a number of ever-changing restaurants and bars. I was disappointed to find a branch of Fernandez and Wells temporarily closed for refurbishment. Elsewhere Tom Aikens’s bar and restaurant appears to have been replaced by a couple of even more upmarket ventures in the shape of restaurants from Bryn Williams and Isle of Skye Gyngell. Pennethorne’s is a stylish bar spread over a number of rooms with an onsite kitchen in front of which is the area I chose to sit. It was a relaxing experience reclining in a green leather chair at a marble table with a view of backlit wine and spirit bottles. I enjoyed a large bottle of cider. But the food was a bit limited. Other than salads the only dishes available were a soup or the stew of the day, today a beef rending. The barman told me it was a stew with tomato and rice, but there was only rather chunky pieces of beef on a rice filled bowl. Not a lot of taste to it and it came so quickly I wondered if it had either been microwaved or initially cooked much earlier perhaps in a large vat.

Cultural and relaxed. Amazing! Will go back asap.

I thought this place was supposed to be somewhat classy, but not in our recent visit. At an early stage we asked the waiter to turn the music down. He shrugged and said, it is Friday evening, and the music is playing in the other room, too, presumably meaning "If I turn it down here, it will be too quiet in the other room." I replied that we would find somewhere else to gather and drink, at which point he went to turn the music right down. However, halfway through our bottle of wine the music had been turned up gradually to what had been the previous noise level. The space itself is elegant and does not feel geared towards youngsters who would be the sole clientele appreciating such club-like sounds. Furthermore, I am not sure why the establishment thinks it appropriate to charge a service charge for a bottle of wine brought to the table. We had to fetch the wine list from the bar in the first place, and we had to go to the bar to get and pay the bill, as the staff had, apparently, more important things to attend to.

This is potentially a great bar, with a good offering of food and wine. But what's the point if at 6pm the music is so loud, you have to yell to make yourself heard?

Located just of the Strand, in the side of Somerset house, this is handy for a quick lunch. Sadly on our visit service was slow and disorganised. We ordered two sandwiches from a small choice on the menu. Sometimes a small choice is good - it means whatever is on the menu will probably be done really well. They weren’t complex sandwiches and the place wasn’t overly busy. Twenty five mins after ordering they still hadn’t arrived. We were informed that our order had been delivered to, and eaten by, other guests. The sandwiches were reordered and we waited again. Staff did apologise and offered 20% discount on our order. It was a nice gesture but I feel my positive experience is more valuable than a couple of pounds discount and would rather have basic service and an order which arrives sooner. We were offered a bowl of salad as a gesture of goodwill on top of the discount. It finally arrived after we had finished our sandwiches! The food was ok. Not exceptional and certainly little different to similar sandwiches we could have ordered from one of the many coffee chains close by. Perhaps we should have been more impressed with the surroundings as this is clearly style over basic substance. On a positive note the coffee was excellent. There won’t be a repeat visit. London has masses of choice so we won’t be disadvantaged.

Ordered eggs benedict, all eggs cold and 2 undercooked..... Also some tables occupied with people who did not have food or drink, while I had to wait.. Disappointed.

Good food and wine. Service could be better.

Convenient place to meet for a quick drink and chat

I popped in here before a meeting in Somerset House. Took ages to get served, the drinks were stingy and not that special and I had to wait ages for the bill. It cost £9.05 for a tiny cup of hot chocolate and a coffee and because I was in a hurry, I didn’t realise the cheeky member of staff had added an unadvertised 85p to my bill for service. I’m furious and will never set foot in this rip off of a bar again. Beware of hidden charges and spend your cash elsewhere. Totally not worth it.

It can be a bit of a zoo in this part of town when trying to have a drink outside so this was a nice surprise. A few tables on Waterloo bridge side with massive amounts of room between them - definitely not squashed! Bar was well stocked and good serviced. Also was very impressed by some of the tapas/ charcuterie boards that saw others having ... looked good!

Staff were great: pleasant and attentive but was too loud for a quiet meeting contrary to one review article I read.

Ansprechendes, altes Gebäude und geschmackvolle Räume. Hatten nach unserer Landung in London noch einen halben Tag, an dem wir noch ziemlich viel in der Innenstadt herum gelaufen sind. Danach war ein Drink fällig und ein Platz zum Ausruhen. Bekamen gleich einen Tisch (war keine Stoßzeit). Karte mit Getränken und Speisen gerade richtig für eine Pause. Personal sehr freundlich und zugänglich.Waren ca. zwei Stunden dort, zum Ende füllte sich die Bar dann. Hätten wir mehr Zeit gehabt, wären wir sicher nochmals eingekehrt, aber wir wollten auch noch andere Bars und Pubs ausprobieren.

I regularly have meetings here with a client based in Somerset House. I can't comment on food, but the coffee is nice enough and the surroundings quiet and comfortable.

Met with friends before dinner in this relaxed bar , almost pub like in a good way and had great cocktails and service - really good value

Exceptional service here (take a bow Bruno) and friendly too. Good selection of cocktails and my favourite bourbon.

Good place to get some work done if you don’t mind the noise. Waiting staff were a mix of really friendly and a bit dismissive. Would come here again for a drink with friends.

I love the restaurants and bars at Sommerset house, but this bar is such a disappointment. The service is inattentive and my cocktail lacked the main ingredient- the alcohol itself. I was fooled by the photos on the internet, it made the place look trendy, but instead it was droughty and uninspiring. Such a shame....

Not a bad wine list and a few cocktails, limited beer selection and nothing on tap.

Really disappointed with our visit. One particular staff member was totally uninterested in serving - so much so it was like being served by a robot. No atmosphere, no personality, no human touch to the place. Ordered a Hendricks that was given with no garnish whatsoever. Expected something for £9.50! Won’t be going again.

ロンドンの中心街、シティに続くストランドの大通りにあります。サマーセットハウスは美術館ですが、その中にレストランが数か所 あります。真ん中の広場は、毎冬スケートリンクに変わります。このバーはウォータールーブリッジにの近くに位置します。店内は、シックな感じで、サマーセットハウスの職員さんが多い印象を受けました。私はフルーツティーをオーダーし、席に着きました。中から外のストリートも見えます。奥も広く、昼間でしたがランチを楽しむ人がたくさんいました。お会計はバーカウンターでしました。場所がわかりづらいのですが、秘密基地みたいでワクワクします。ｗｗ

It was a private party and the service was excellent and delicious food.

Absolutely atrocious rude service. I walked in assuming it was open and saw no signage of a private party and was told to get out immediately as though I intentionally gate crashed. the catering staff need to learn to provide proper signage and how to provide good service. I've been at this bar previously and enjoyed my time but won't be returning. I'd advise finding other areas to patron in the area.

Nice ambiance, food is ok but the service is not good.

Like this place. Food stopped after 4pm. Can enjoy tea and on toast menus at lunchtime and dinner time. Great service. Central location.

Feisty cocktails (I'd recommend the G & Tea or The Architect), a decent wine menu and good service. Laid back ambience means it's perfect for catching up with friends and while they take booking, it's rarely rammed unlike many of the noisier, more expensive bars and pubs nearby.

Great setting. Bad wines and service, that's a pity.

Really enjoyed the food. Nice atmosphere. Would definitely return.

Estábamos reunidos con un amigo y eligió por Pennethorne su ubicación dentro de Somerset House, donde visitamos algunas de las exposiciones de antemano y vimos las familias yendo y viniendo de las fuentes en el patio grande.

Just a very nice place. Not too busy and a good place to talk.

Beautiful food and lovely surroundings. Music too loud otherwise perfect for lunch

Es increíble cómo muchas "reuniones" tienen lugar en bares de café en todo el mundo.

He pasado aquí muchas veces y siempre pensé que en la noche parecía realmente atractivo. Estábamos en la búsqueda de un lugar para una bebida tranquila que en 7. 30:00h de un sábado por la noche es difícil de encontrar. Fuimos allí y éramos los únicos clientes, así que realmente nuestro deseo para una bebida tranquila. Totalmente diferente al del primer bar que estaba tan probamos con música ruidosa que no podía pensar.

Thoroughly enjoyed afternoon tea here. Great service, ambiance, food and drinks.

Paramos en el Bar Pennethorne para comer y nos decepcionó en cada nivel. Llegamos y nos sentamos en una mesa; el restaurante no estaba lleno. Rápidamente nos dieron menús y eso fue el sobresaliente de nuestra experiencia el almuerzo. Después de unos 20 minutos literalmente tuve que pare a un servidor a la orden. Pedimos dos sopas de zanahoria y una 'calentito' sandwich. Unos 20 minutos más tarde, nuestro sopas llegó sin el 'calentito'. Nuestro servidor desaparecieron y nunca reapareció, ni nuestro 'calentito'. La sopa estaba caliente, pero carecía de aderezos. Por suerte encontramos el camarero que nos trajo algo de sal.

A properly soup never eaten before!! Congratulations for the lovely staff. Nice bar. The manager was very friendly. Well done. I’ll be back soon.

Great plater of food and cocktails that I had not herd of, yum.

We visited for afternoon tea with a cocktail ( good deal on Groupon ). The setting is lovely quite dramatic and a little dark but we liked it. Waitress was very friendly and efficient. Afternoon tea was OK but little basic, we had open sandwiches in egg and smoked salmon with a quiche. Fortunately, I like eggs but my sister who was with us doesn't so it only left her with the smoked salmon to eat. The desserts were OK but I have to say the small donuts tasted a little stale. To be fair it was the day after the bad snow so not sure if they were using up food. The display of the food was clever on picture frame trays. The cocktails were OK I had some chocolate combination which was a little flavourless and there was only a choice of two and the option had bitters in it which personally I dislike.

I visited on a Friday lunch time with a friend, having previously come here for cocktails one evening before eating at Spring.

Quite small portions of afternoon tea. When we asked for more of the sandwiches we were told that the chef only has enough bread for the number of bookings in the system and can’t make any more food. So clearly untrue. Staff were lovely though.

I don’t know what had had more thought put into it, the decor or the guests. Both incredibly stylish if a little contrived. Certainly not a place to go if you haven’t got lemon tipped hair or a remarkable moustache. It serves drinks with a small collection of ‘plates’. All very chic and modern and not too pricey. Certainly in the same league as it’s elegants surroundings.

Pennethorne's Bar is a quiet oasis in Somerset House. The rooms still had original features. We ordered a snack lunch which was quite delicious but my friend thought it pricey. Herbal tea was good (no tea bags). Service wasn't memorable. It's been a month since I had lunch there and I don't remember much about the service. Atmosphere was quiet and we liked that. Probably will return if in the area.

If you need to get away from the noise and crowds of the Strand or are visiting Somerset House, this is the perfect place for a quick and simple lunch.

Mi hermana compró un cupón para cócteles y un plato para compartir para nosotros dos. Tuvimos una noche realmente encantadora, lo mejor por el personal hospitalario y, en particular, Jameson el gerente.

Nos hemos parado aquí varias veces mientras visitábamos exposiciones en Somerset House, y de los cuatro lugares hay que encontrar este preferible como los otros son demasiado caros o no muy cómoda para sentarse. Está en el ala nueva, con vistas a Lancaster, y un agradable ambiente rodeado de obras de arte y con techos altos. El servicio siempre ha sido rápido, eficiente y amable, y es un buen lugar para detenerse y relajarse, o simplemente para tomar un té, un café o una bebida sin alcohol, o para una comida ligera como sopa del día, ensalada o un bocadillo tostado.

Fuimos allí para recepción ceremonia civil de mi hijo. Qué gran espacio, techos altos, muy espacioso y elegante decoración. La terraza por la noche con vistas a pone el puente de Waterloo. Canapés maravilloso y el personal (en mano) no podría ser más servicial.

Como parte de nuestro día de la boda el 1 de abril de calle, queríamos tener bebidas y canapés en Pennethornes. El equipo Pennethornes fue excelente, desde la organización y planificación del evento con los gerentes de la profesionalidad de los camareros y las camareras...

Pasé una noche en este bonito bar, durante un viaje de negocios, nos tomamos unas copas y algunos aperitivos, bien se muestran en tabla de madera chooping. El ambiente es muy acogedor y el personal es estupendo.

Es un fantástico Pennethorne pequeño bar escondido en las entrañas culturales de Somerset House. Situado en el ala nueva (lejos de las zonas más transitadas de SH) Este bar es un lugar perfecto para unos cócteles antes de la cena (que son excelentes, y el personal del bar están dispuestos a la orden del menú), un buen café, reuniones de almuerzo o cena. Tener servicio de mesa en un bar es un agradable cambio para Londres. Sin duda regresaremos a probar el menú de comida.

£3 por un café es ligeramente por encima de la media de la zona. El café estaba por encima de la media. Parece un lugar agradable para tomar una copa en un fin de semana

I love Pennethorns! I spent many evenings here during 2016. The staff remember your regular drinks and are always smiling. I would sit in the Drawing a Room across the corridor as it was a bit quieter. Beautiful room with lots of character. The main bar area is nice too but can get quite busy with difficult acoustics.It's not the cheapest place but is the best. The mushrooms on toast are to die for. Couldn't get Chips :-(

Great little place to pop into for a drink, great staff and beautifully decorated.Although didnt eat, the food looked good so will next time try .Go in and relax before going of to the theatre or when coming back

Nice, classy little bar and a great stop for anyone walking up the North bank

Abbiamo solo bevuto due bibite, dopo la visita alla Somerset House, ma abbiamo visto che il locale, molto carino, offre tutta una serie di cose interessanti da mangiare. Ci torneremo

Hands-down the best espresso in London. The first time I came I had to get a second, just to check that it was really that good. Truly perfect for those who love feeling both classy and caffeinated.

I was spontaneously visiting Pennethorne's Bar during a business visit to London and caught into the area while reviewing a display at Somerset House. What a positive surprise to remember and share forward: a beautiful, english-style interior in dark colors combining black, blue, glass and brass, divided between a few longitudinal spaces. My selection of a Lavender cocktail paired with a collection of fine British meats, served with pickles and freshly baked baguette - was a small celebration over a plate. Loved the young vibe, combining creative locals, few tourists who crossed upon the bar during a visit to Somerset house and Londoners. Convenient seating, super-kind service and an overall happiness to the foody. Will come back.

Lady on reception in Somerset House recommended this so when I went in, I waited and waited, chef ignored me until I asked if anyone was serving and he pointed down to the bar. Saw the waitress and said the lady had recommended it and I just got a blank look. Had carrot cake (amazing) and a cup of tea, surroundings are lovely. The only reason I didn't give 5 stars is because of the miserable waitress who stayed miserable without. I wouldn't go back just because I didn't feel welcome....real shame

I cannot praise the lovely Deena who heads up the Pennethornes bar highly enough and her warm approach and efficiency meant that I felt I was in extremely capable hands for my husband's surprise retirement party last night. The drinks were chilled and the bar bites delicious - the truffle crisps were a real talking point.Do support this delightful venue, you will not be disappointed I promise. And all this with the stunning and historical setting of Somerset House - London at its finest.

I met a business colleague for an early evening drink and some tapas. The drinks were served at the table, lovely tapas which demonstrated a flexible approach to responding menu variations.Just lovely

Needed to take a half hour break to cool down (! - there were a few days of summer in July) so dropped in here. Very handy for the Courtauld gallery and other parts of Somerset House and just across Waterloo Bridge from the confusion of the South Bank. There are also tables outside set back from the road.Nice quiet atmosphere, helpful friendly staff, good cafe menu as well as the bar for cocktails, used by the staff of the various art administrations as well as visitors. really good lemon tart and a higher class of cold ginger beer than you can get at most places!

A lovely bar attached to the equally nice Somerset House, the bar has outside seating and excellent staff. The 3 waitresses on duty during our drinks were all fantastic and friendly despite being very busy. Nibbles and great drinks too, all food looked appetising although we had already eaten.

Lovely little place in Somerset House, great cocktails & snacks. Not good for gluten free but otherwise I love this place

Pennethornes was one of the venues involved in London Wine Week, so we stopped in to see what wines they were offering. There were two flights each with three glasses, one red and one white. They were decent and varied offerings (we tried one of each) without being amazing. The place itself wasn't too busy which is handy if you want a table and a drink if you're in the area, but it struck me as being otherwise unremarkable. Thought the waiter was a little odd at first but once I got on his wavelength, he was okay.

I seem to be going cocktail-crazy lately. From New York SATC tours and Soho basement bars to homemade attempts, it's been fun experimenting. Now, I believe I have found my newest favourite cocktail bar here in London town: Pennethorne's at Somerset House. Not only are the cocktails absolutely delicious, but they also serve tapas dishes, and you can enjoy it all on an alfresco terrace. The cobbled courtyard is nestled in the grounds of the new West Wing of Somerset House, between the Strand and Waterloo Bridge. With the Thames just over your shoulder, this little Victorian haven is one for Londoners in the know.I was invited along to sample the new Spring menu and the eponymous cocktails. A beautiful Thursday evening in London, the iconic Somerset House set the scene for this elegant bar in the West Wing. Named for the architect whose Victorian designs can be found all over our city, Pennethorne's interior has high ceilings, inky dark walls, arched windows and décor inspired by Pennethorne's Grand Tour of Europe. Outside on the cobbled courtyard, the bustling West End not a stone's throw away, the secluded setting has a cosy Victorian vibe where you can enjoy alfresco cocktails away from the usual tourist trails and the river breeze.Greeted by Mercedes, a name in keeping with the opulence of the bar, we walked through several champagne-swilling parties to our leather and velvet banquette. Mercedes, and the bar manager, Jo, treated us like VIPs all evening, recommending cocktail after cocktail and presenting us with a tapas-style feast representing their artisan menu inspired by Pennethorne's travels to Spain, Italy and France. Not usually a huge fan of olives or mushrooms, I'm now converted. The gordal olives were soft and flavourful while the mushroom toast had recently been taken off the menu, but so many regulars demanded it back it's now featured again. And it's easy to see why, all the food is simply cooked with seasonal ingredients and presented beautifully, tasting delicious.Ham and cheese croquettes melt in the mouth, while the soft centred eggs are complemented beautifully by Spanish bacon. The frittata, though slim, is packed with flavour and more than filling. One of the cheeses has a red wine skin. Need I say anymore?The real reason we were here, of course, was for the cocktails. There were many post-work people supping champagne, there was a couple enjoying a wine flight and there was craft beer on tap. But we were here for some classic elegant drinks. First up was the Somerset and The Royale. Vanilla Galliano, Lemon, Passoa, Passionfruit and Pineapple served in a coupe glass and garnished with an edible flower was the Somerset - sweet, fruity and slightly fizzy. The Royale was a twist on the classic, with Martini Bianco, Peach Vodka, Strawberry Liqueur, Chocolate Bitters and Prosecco, again with an edible flower to give it a real sophistication. Both delicious. The ever-attentive Mercedes took the liberty of bringing us the second round, this time The Herbalist and Lavender Fields. The Herbalist was fruity but with a kick of cracked black pepper and garnished with fresh coriander - made with in-house infused coriander gin and strawberry liqueur. Lavender Fields was fresh and fizzy, with Bombay Sapphire gin, green tea, fresh apple juice, ginger syrup, and lavender bitters. On top, of course, a purple flower.For dessert, Pennethorne's just serve cocktails. My kind of dessert! Instead of calorific stodgy sweet pudding, we were treated to two more cocktails, as recommended by Mercedes, and once we tasted them, we could see why they were the perfect end to a meal, and no better substitute for dessert. El Patron was made with Coffee Patron, coconut rum, Amaretto, pineapple and chocolate bitters. All the elements you need in a dessert, creamy and sweet, looking like a cute Guinness in a martini glass, tasting like chocolate pudding in liquid form. The final cocktail, The Strand, finished the evening off perfectly, a blend of whiskey, cassis, homemade honey syrup, walnut bitters and ginger ale. A nightcap before heading back out to a bustling Thursday evening in Covent Garden.Without a doubt I will be returning to Pennethorne's, both for the food and for the cocktails. The exclusivity of the bar and the Victorian vibe of the courtyard in the sunshine makes it one of those hidden gems that we who live in London love to about, but can't keep it a secret.

A nice establishment. Full of students, limited selection of drinks. Found it rather claustrophobic. Polite service, clean

I couldn't agree more with the review below that something's gone wrong with this place. I have been coming for ages as I work nearby - the room is so beautifully decorated and the tea is particularly good and strong! But recently the service has been SO bad - on a recent visit I even overheard the waitress slagging me off to a colleague as I left, which was weird, because she'd spent the hour previous ignoring me. Something I did in a past life maybe?If you can bear the treatment for the tea then do it. Otherwise there are a million nicer places.

Having just visited the Sony Photo Exhibition (which is fantastic) we wanted a light lunch and decided to pop into Pennethorne's having had a great tapas style lunch here on our last visit to Sommerset House. What a mistake and what a rip off - the charcuterie platter consisted of a few dried out slices of salami and ham served with stale bread and the tiniest sliver of butter - so disappointing as the location is fantastic.

I've been in somerset house before, but a friend told me that a new cocktail/restaurant was hidden in the new wing of the building. I went with a friend for a quick chat and dinner. Pennethorne's elegant and decadent style of the bar was so cool and the tapas menu made our experience even better. I didn't expect to have those fabulous tapas, specially mushroom on toast. Our waiter recommended us some eggs and bacon with a tasty truffle mayo on the side, totally superb. I missed a desert after dinner though. I will definitely come back to try their cocktails menu with some friends.

Pennethorne's benefits from the superb environment of Somerset House (west wing) - its exquisite high ceilings and tall Georgian windows. It has been done up with great care. The menu of snacks and salads is imaginative and well cooked. However, the food was served on anything but a plate (my sandwich adorned with cress arrived on a wooden board, and the salad in a tiny dish, which ensured that the second I touched either of them, bits of food ended up on the table and the floor). The main problem however was the noise. At 3.30pm in the afternoon when the people there, like us, clearly wanted to chat with each other while having tea or coffee, or have a quiet time by themselves, the throbbing, loud night-club style music was really disturbing. When my friend and I asked politely for the volume to be turned down, we were first told by the waiters that it was 'impossible' and that they were 'not allowed' to alter it, and then by the manageress that it was a 'concept' provided by an outside firm, and that therefore it could not be modified. This was clearly nonsense but our request was ignored and the manageress gave no impression that our opinion as customers was valued; on the contrary, we were made to feel that we were the ones in the wrong. Pennethorne's has a separate room on the other side of the corridor, where we suggested the music could be turned down, but we were told that this, too was impossible (why??). It's a great shame that such an elegant place is ruined with inappropriate music, both in terms of its type and of its volume. In short, great location and food, pity about the rest.

This cafe and bar located in Somerset House is a little gem, with wonderful decor it oozes with London charm. Great for coffee, lunch or cocktails with wonderful service and atmosphere ... Well worth a visit.

Last year we visited this bar for our Christmas celebration and had a great time so this year we went again. It did not disappoint. The service was cheerful and professional. Just look around and someone will notice and come over. When I dropped my knife immediately another arrived. Beautiful decor and lovely bar snack food - recommend the mushrooms on toast and scotch egg. And you must try the cocktails!!! Delicious. We loved is so much we immediately arranged to met again at this lovely venue.

Beautiful decor, friendly staff, great atmosphere. Pennethornes is a great place to meet for coffee, lunch, tea, cocktails and wine. Love it.

Came here for pre Dinner drinks, as a guest for a friends office Staff Christmas Party. The place would make a perfect date joint!It sits within the glorious Somerset House and has an extremely attractive and characterful interior. The place oozes atmosphere and I must remember it for a future date venue.Although we stuck to the admittedly good Prosecco, the bar looked like it had a decent range. The staff were very friendly and overall I cannot fault this place, so I definately recommend it!

I've been here for lunch, coffee, afternoon beers after work and evening drinks over the last few months, and each time the weekly food menu and drinks amaze me. A few weeks ago I had the best salmon and avocado burger I've had in London, and only last week I had the tastiest (and most filling!) crab and mayo wrap in London, with brilliant prices. Each week the menu offers something new, innovative and exciting, and I keep looking forward to the next week.The staff are incredibly kind and welcoming and offer great service. Lunch time here is relaxed and very efficient, and it can be great for a lunch meeting or simply to disconnect on your laptop. By the evening Pennethornes is gearing up for cocktails with fantastic ambience music and dimmer lighting, which goes excellently with the decadent interior designing. On top of this, you're in the heart of Somerset House, a great cultural hub in the heart of London, and within a few feet of the Victoria Embankment. It's a mere twenty five minute journey by River boat from Canary Wharf - what more could I want in the centre of London?

We came for dinner as a Corporate event - starting with a fantastic 'Culinary Experience' followed by dinner in the private dining room across the hall. The Culinary Experience was ready by the time we got there, and we were welcomed by Deena and her team. When we were ready, we moved into the dining room where we had a fantastic meal - starting with Prosecco and Canapes to Teas and Coffees. All food was spectacular, and had great feedback from all guests. The staff were brilliant - professional and friendly. I would recommend it for anyone who is hosting a Corporate Function. Thanks for the experience.

I went to the Pennethorne's for coffee and a slice of their homemade Carrot Cake but after seeing the amazing display of their infusions I ended up trying one. The knowledgable bartender recommended a hot infusion cocktail with cinnamon and lemon garnished with fresh rosemary. The ambience was retro with the dark wood and the old fashioned lightbulbs and the dim lighting created a very pleasant atmosphere. The staff were all friendly and very accommodating. The location is second to none, being set in the west wing of the fantastic Somerset House right next to Waterloo Bridge. I would recommend to visit this all day cafe/bar whenever you are in the area.

Friendly and chilled out bar in a great location.

I have been frequenting this place since it opened, but after a visit today, I shall NEVER visit again!I hadn't been for abut 6 weeks. I arrived at 5.34pm, my friends were already there, with cocktails. I wanted a coffee.....as it is an 'all day cafe bar' I was informed that if I had arrived 4 mins earlier I could have had one, but unfortunately the machine had been switched off. SWITCHED OFF??!! At 5.30?!?! I was angry, but accepted it. 5 mins later I saw a pot of tea walk past to another table. I grabbed the waitress and said a pot of tea would be more than acceptable . 'I'm sorry, but they ordered that tea earlier' Right ! No tea either then!!Do yourself a favour! Walk another 3 mins and go to the Delaunay! It serves tea coffee and alcohol ALL DAY!! So people of all tastes can enjoy time together !

A modern take on a retro Parisian cafe bar in London. Imaginative cocktails and good beers served throughout the day couple with cafe food in a great atmosphere. Busy during the week but quiet at weekends and a great respite from the tourist traps only yards from the door

Really excellent coffee in fact. Breakfasts are tasty, staff are friendly. Nice decor. Bit over priced but not horribly so.

Very conveniently located on the corner of Waterloo Bridge and Aldwych in one of the Somerset House buildings (the New Wing) The best entrance is from the Waterloo Bridge side.As a place for a quick lunch then this ideal. The selection of meats was slightly pricy but excellent quality. I had the Summer Garden non-alcoholic cocktail ( I had to get through the the afternoon !) which was refreshing and different. My companion was a non dairy eater and they took great pains to check that her choice contained no dairy products - I know an establishment should expect this type of request these days but there is something about the way it is dealt with which marks out the professional restaurants.Will definitely use this again when the opportunity arises.