RI Bar + Kitchen in City of London, Westminster

Superb service in an historic location. The Royal Institute is a magnificent monument to centuries of scientific endeavour.

Our group of 7 was seeking a pleasant venue not far from Green Park after visiting the Bomber Command Memorial. One of the girls was very familiar with this amazing place and as it was mid-afternoon, some chose tea while others requested wine (we didn't actually dine there). The venue lends itself well to a relaxed get-together & we were lucky enough to have the space to ourselves for a couple of hours. Nice service, lovely surrounds and a feeling of being in a welcoming lounge room!

Went here with a friend for lunch. Seated quickly but booked in advance. There was a big group in so the waiter was rushed trying to serve everyone all by himself. He was the only person it seemed who was dealing with customers. Though he was polite and apologetic we had to ask for more drinks and waited a small time for the dessert menu. My main gripe with restaurant was the portion size of my main. I ordered the spinach and ricotta pasta as a main but was clearly a starter sized portion. In comparison to my friends chicken main I felt aggrieved that mine was so small. Not worth the £12 by any standard. A real shame. Otherwise a nice spot for a quiet lunch and conversation.

The Bar and Kitchen is in the heart of the Royal Institute; I regularly use the cafe and the more formal restaurant. The wifi is excellent and the cafe offers a peaceful location to catchup on email before heading off to meetings nearby. Coming from a scientific background I find the location particularly inspiring but don't feel intimidated its bright and airy and the coffee is good. The restaurant usually has a £10 offer at lunch time that includes main and a glass of wine -excellent value for Mayfair. Beware that sometimes both are closed for private events or when the RI is hosting a large convention. The fish finger sandwich is my fav.