Vivat Bacchus in City of London, Westminster

Perhaps lacking in atmosphere given the location, but hearty food and a good selection of wine (plus good company) more than makes up for that on a winters evening.

Fun evening - bubbly but not overbearing atmosphere - very helpful/ friendly/ attentive staff - and great food. Thanks and see you again

Great food and service. Busy restaurant. Would definitely return.

Food was super pricey - for example you have to pay £4 for cheese on a burger, but you aren't told about it. Steaks are good but come with nothing and sides are £6. Food was ok, service was ok - had to ask for mustard 3 times and it took 10 mins to process a discount code.

Good wine selection and server was really helpful in letting us try a few samples before we made our decision. We were there for most of the afternoon / evening on a Friday and we well looked after throughout. Main improvement would be to please tell your customers before the kitchen closes - we tried to order some snacks towards the end of the evening and were told the kitchen is closed (it had close about 10 minutes before) and they couldn’t accommodate anything hot. When we asked why someone hadn’t told us (as then we would have ordered a bit earlier) we were given a pretty stroppy response that basically we had been there all evening so what were we complaining about. Really not a great note to end what was otherwise a really great time and not consistent with the great service we had received from many other staff throughout the rest of the evening.

Incredible food and very helpful staff 10/10

I’m reviewing this place on behalf of customer service and good vibes. I lost my SIM card this morning and needed an emergency wifi to connect to and Toyosi offered me to use her hotspot which was really kind of her and highly appreciated. Even tho I didn’t eat or anything still was a great experience and a kind welcoming. Really deserves staff of the term for that I tried to go to every hotel/restaurant on this road and everyone said no but she kindly offered. Meant a lot. Would highly recommend to come here

I must confess that I'm not a big steak fan, and perhaps that's a factor here, but my other six colleagues like a braai and our experiences were comparable. On the upside some of the dishes were excellent: the starters of crocodile samosas and tomato croquettes went down well while the main course lamb shank looked fabulous. We also very much enjoyed the puddings of crème brûlée and the cheese board. These desserts were very much the highlight. On the downside the ostrich steak was both average and cold while some of the other steak options were surprisingly parsimonious. This meanness extended to things like the chips and side dishes which were noticeably small. This wouldn't be so bad if the menu prices were manageable but when you're paying £30+ for a steak, £12.50 for one samosa and £5.25 for a small pot of chips then you expect more. Maybe it wouldn't have mattered if the staff hadn't been flat-out waiting tables or we could hear each other speak over the very high level of background noise (oh for some soft furnishings) but it did matter. So Vivat Bacchus turned out to be a mixed bag for our group. Some parts were good, even excellent, while others were trying and close to disappointing.

The menus lacks diversity and has a limitations for vegan eater.

Wonderful pan seared cod to go with a first class South African wine called Bartinney Chardonnay. Atmosphere was brilliant as for a city on a Wednesday a real vibrant restaurant in the beating heart of Farringdon. Service was very good and attentive. A great meeting point for clients, colleagues and friends!

During weekdays this is a very popular spot with a buzzy ambience. As London steak restaurants go Vivat Bacchus was probably reasonably priced; for us though the food seemed expensive. For starters we tried the crocodile which felt chewy. The steaks were nicely cooked and my peppercorn sauce was enjoyable. The chips were also good, but small in portion. The desserts were affordable with the chocolate moose quoted as being "Good". Staff were friendly and professional.

Another great group dinner, the VB team always take care of us!

Very friendly and personalised attentyfr waiters, good meat

Good ambience and service. However food is not a standout. Wine is very good but pricey.

I organised a welcome drinks reception and three-course dinner for a corporate event at Vivat Bacchus. I can confidently say VB must be at the top of your list for venues to consider! I liaised with the warm and exceptionally organised events team throughout, primarily Kyle and Yvette, who were rapid in responding to any changes and considerations, and updated me frequently on any important matters. They made arranging this event easy and as stress-free as possible. They were also transparent and upfront, which was very refreshing. On the day, I was greeted by the wonderful Jamie. She was our host for our private event in VB's beautiful Franschhoek room, and was an excellent orchestrator who not only kept the event running smoothly throughout, but also reacted sensitively and effectively to changes in our party as they came and left. She was an absolute delight to speak to and work with, explaining all the fabulous dishes to the party at each course, and filled me with confidence as an event organiser. She was accompanied and complimented by the very impressive Ali, a sommelier with South African expertise. He had pre-planned welcome and dinner drink choices for our group, and shared his thought process with me beforehand on his selection of reds for our chosen menu. He went the extra mile to share his passion with us, with an explanation of New World wines and the South African vineyards and techniques, and many commended him for his knowledge and professionalism throughout the night. On that note, I recommend the incredible 2017 De Toren Fusion V, a sumptuous red that needs to be tried to be fully appreciated. The large venue was beautifully laid out, with a private bar area, cloak room, dedicated toilets for our private party, and a walk-in display wine cellar. The food itself, of course, was simply exceptional - we selected the Braai menu, given the international nature of this event, and it was beautifully presented with generous portions, accompaniments, side dishes, and any added options. The sharing style made the dinner more dynamic, which was excellent for networking, and everyone got involved with conversation in a way set menus might fetter. The highlights were the lekker chicken sosaties, incredible steak cuts cooked to perfection, and peppermint crisp tarts. As a corporate event venue, organiser, and guest, I had an exceptional experience with VB. I place them at the top of the list for any event considerations in the London area, with their competitive pricing and what they offer for the cost, and I will gladly be considering them for future events whether it be with individuals or post-conference celebrations. Bravo! See you soon!

Friday night date and our first visit to Vivat Bacchus. It was exceptional. The service was just the right timing and very friendly, also with good recommendations. Felt the staff enjoyed being there, which always makes a difference. Food and wine were excellent. We will absolutely be back!

Fantastic! I started off with a cocktail (which was only ok) but then got the trio of snacks add-on. This was an excellent start of olives, beef jerky, and beef sausage sticks; they all hit the spot. For the main I had the ostrich filet at the recommended medium rare. It was deliciously cooked and tasted very much like beef. The absolute highlight of the meal for me though, was the Amarula crème brulée. My goodness! The custard! The l caramelised sugar! And the portion! I think for the first time ever I found this serve size of crème brulée more than adequate and I was actually satiated. Will definitely come back!

Unbelievable ribeye steak. Shared 1.1kg between 3 and it was amazing. We also shared a few bottles of incredible red wine.

I really loved everyone of the staff here very good service all rounded , would recommend to anyone

A wonderful and authentic South African experience. Superb wine list and great customer service

Wonderful food and service as always.

Lovely place, tasty food and corteous staff - will go back!

Our waitress was amazing making great recommendations for appetizer and meal selections.

Group of 6 met up for an easy going lunch . The team at Vivat Bacchus were great from start to finish . We brought 3 bottles of wine in and they served it well and charged reasonable corkage . Food , service and atmosphere nice and friendly . Great choice and very happy to recommend .

Booked a table for 10 for our work team meet and from the start of my reservation to the end of the evening, I couldn’t fault the restaurant but more importantly, the staff! Sooo accommodating and friendly! The food was amazing and the service even more! Thank you so much!

They have a cheese room! Also amazing food, great staff and the wine is unbelievable.

Really tasty food and definitely a must try for people who love trying new food - with crocodile and ostrich on the menu amongst other things! The atmosphere is lovely and the staff are very attentive.

Been here several times and never disappointed. Sharing ribeye as well as the braai board are excellent. Great wine as well.

First of all- lovely staff! I would come back just because of them. Then really good food and excellent wines. Will absolutely come back. The Swedish and the Canadian/Ukrainian girls 🥰

Wonderful food and lovely staff. We enjoyed a great birthday meal here, delicious food for meat eaters and veggies. The staff were super kind and welcoming. Would definitely visit again.

Good food for a dinner alone on a business trip. Nice to try something a little different

Very nice food and wine. Service is friendly but very slow. also dislike being put next to loud tables when there is other tables free.

It was fabulous and definitely want to go again! Great experience!!

Authentic South African food. Great customer service and even more delicious food, so glad we found this gem! Highly recommend

The wine manager Cheryl was especially helpful in finding a good wine for me. Excellent starters too!

Really good value lunch menu Beef carpaccio and rib eye Excellent selection of wine.

The wines are fantastic look forward to visiting again, for food.

Our first visit and definitely not our last! We arrived early as we had a theatre booking later but it was nice to have a quiet environment to chat and relax over dinner. The food and drink menus were varied and the food was delicious. A lovely selection of desserts to finish. The staff could not have been more helpful. We would highly recommend the restaurant.

There were only 3 tables occupied on a Friday night.

Pedro served us with tonight and everything was perfect - we followed his suggestions and the food was amazing! Great environment, wine, food and desert! Absolutely recommend!

Ag nee wat! You folks always deliver. Had a business lunch there and it was fantastic as always. I can't find better steak and extensive wine list anywhere.

The Food was fantastic - good selection of meat and wine. Service was fairly average, the waiter was quite slow to respond (and it wasn’t hugely busy) plus he didn’t seem to know what the menu options were. Apart from the service, I would come here again as the food was very good and good value for money

The food is excellent! My favourite is the cheese room - such an excellent selection. Impeccable service - great wine recommendation. Ashima in particular was so friendly and helpful. Looking forward to going back!

Great food and wine at the restaurant that I haven't been to in more than 10 years. The menu is perfectly sized and cooked to perfection. We were early diners on a Friday. Thanks to the team for all their attention and for the complimentary pickled rhubarb, which is exquisite.

Delicious food and good service . They have a set menu which is a great value for what you get and if you’re a drinker the wine list it’s really good . We’ll be back .

Amazing service and even better food I’m proud to be South African 🇿🇦

The atmosphere is nice and stylish. African restaurant. We ordered sirloin and grilled fed chicken. It was very delicious. Bread and water were extra charged.

My recent visit to Vivat Bacchus was nothing short of exceptional. From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with warm smiles and a welcoming atmosphere that immediately made us feel at home. Special thanks to Thanos and Hoover, who truly elevated our dining experience. Their kindness and friendliness were remarkable, and they paid such meticulous attention to detail. It was clear they were dedicated to ensuring our visit was perfect. The food was exquisite, the ambiance delightful, and the service impeccable. Thanos and Hoover’s efforts made all the difference, and we left feeling incredibly satisfied and eager to return. Vivat Bacchus has certainly earned our loyalty, and we can’t wait to come back!

Wonderful food and the atmosphere is great especially if taking clients out for lunch however, the service wasn't up to par which let the experience down.

Went to lunch here with a friend on recommendation about the food and was more than surprised. The food is fantastic and I was shown some really good wine. special mention to the staff for being so attentive and friendly. I recommend the sharing board, great place to go with friends. Will be back to try out the cheese room.

An excellent restaurant in the heart of the City. We have visited The London Bridge restaurant of Vivat Bacchus, but this restaurant, whilst the same menu, was a completley different experience. The Matre D' was superb, she really understood the importance of detail from the menu to accomplanied wines and liquors, and incredibly personable, the food was delivered attentively, on time, and prepared with superb texture and presentation. Truly a very memerable visit in a resturant that understands the importance of the experience..

Had a wonderful meal at Vivat Bacchus. The waiter came and explained the menu to us and we had a shared meat platter which was delicious. The highlight was The Cheese Room where you go to select your cheeses (after tasting of course) - another sharing platter with nuts and chutneys and honey. I’d definitely go back .

Delicious meal. Perfect hamburger

Very good attentive service. Fantastic staff (best I've had in London), Graham and company made us feel attended to, with good advice on what elements of the menu work with the rest. Pricy, but felt worth it all included. Had more expensive meals that left me feeling worse. Calm, relaxing atmosphere. Worth a visit.

Went for dinner last weekend and the overall experience is absolutely devine. From the cozy atmosphere of the restaurant to the sumptuous meal plus the impeccable service ot the staff who looked after us. We started with rose wine paired with biltong and droewors, honestly it’s the best appetizer to get. We had the Rib on the bone as our main meal, it blew me away with how perfect it was, the flavor, the texture of the meat, it’s just phenomenal. It’s a good portion to share for 2-3 persons. We finished it off with Amarula Creme Brulee, and it did not disappoint us as well. Overall it’s 10/10 experience and I cannot wait to go back again.

The service was good, we had an excellent wine, the atmosphere was perfect, and the food was good, but for my concept the quality-price ratio was not the best, I really expected more from the food, for how expensive it was, I think in a Rodizio would have eaten something similar and for much less, but it's a matter of taste. can be tried

Took a large group of colleagues here - service and food was faultless. Ali the manager was amazing, his cheese knowledge is impeccable as is his sense of humour!

Excellent food, wine, service and general ambience at this restaurant. My first time here but certainly won't be my last!!

Very accommodating and lovely food too

My favourite after work quality wine restaurant. Great for taking the work team as well.

Good place for a business lunch.

I love this place been coming here since 2005!!!

Fantastic service. Thoroughly recommend the braiii board. Thank you for helping us celebrate our parents 54th wedding anniversary!

Delicious food and excellent service!

I attended Vivat Bacchus with my father for my birthday trip to London. The food was impeccable, we started with some of the speciality biltong which was so flavoursome. I had the steak it was cooked beautifully and finished the meal off with a cheeseboard each dimension was fantastic. What really stood out for me was the service, offered to take our coats as soon as you walk in, once our wonderful server discovered it was my birthday she gifted us a glass of champagne and wouldn’t accept payment for some of our drinks later on. A truly great experience I couldn’t have felt more welcomed by the staff and was overwhelmed by the generosity. Next time I come down to London I will definitely be returning.

Our second visit to Vivat Bacchus in Farringdon and it was amazing. The manageress remembered us from the last time (which was in 2023), down to the wine we chose! The service was fantastic, and the food was divine. My fillet was perfect. Do yourself a favour and make a reservation!

Absolutely wonderful. Went for a birthday celebration and the food was great.- atmosphere is intimate and cosy. Will come back

Absolutely stunning meal. The steak was divine and cooked to perfection. The cheese room is amazing and a great touch after a lovely meal. The manager Anna is wonderful and prepared us the best cheese board we’ve ever had. This restaurant has been here a long time, long may it continue!

This is a brilliant venue with marvellous staff - plus the food was excellent

Hi, our names are Paul and Joshua and we are 8-year-old twins. We went to Vivat Bacchus with our parents last night and ordered some biltong and olives to start, rib-eye steak and chicken for a main and we had a large cheeseboard to finish. We ate like kings and the food was delicious. We can recommend the rib-eye steak, it was cooked perfectly and we enjoyed taking small pieces off of the bone once we had finished. When we finished our main course, the lovely waitress Anne took us into the cheese room where we tasted and selected our very own cheeseboard, mum and dad were very impressed with our choices. We can't wait to go again and we are saving our pocket money so we can get a larger steak next time!

Eight of us for a business dinner. All had starters, all were amazing (special shout out to the carpaccio that was recommended by the wonderful head waitress). All had steak. Cooked perfectly and as requested medium rare. Sundries were a delight, as was the exquisite crème brulee. Wine was paired perfectly, and with that, the food, the great service and ambience made for a very pleasant evening with work colleagues.

Always wonderful to be hosted by Anna, Thanos and team

Anna and Thanos… could not ask for better hosts, the wine is fabulous and the Don Pedro dessert is a must! Till next time!

Went for a business lunch, good food and service.

Great place to meet friends, especially if they like meat. However the restaurant is fairly loud and it can therefore be difficult to hold a conversation without resorting to shouting. Food wise, the menu offers mainly meat & veg dishes. Well cooked but sadly portion sizes are on the small side. Service excellent. Wine list designed to go with the food (i.e. meat). Pricing seems a bit full given the portion sizes.

Nice atmosphere, nice food, and the best crème brûlée I've had

I love Vivat Bacchus. Whether a working lunch, Christmas party or evening dinner with friends. Always a fabulous successful outing

We wore celebrating the life of our friend that passed away a few months ago we wore about 18 of us, the service we received was outstanding i don't remember the name of the lady that served us i presumed she was the manager, she was very helpful she explained all the options we had and the food was excellent, i highly recommend this place not only for the quality of the food, the service but also it has a very tranquil atmosphere, we will be back again

Had a great dinner with friends, very good service and delicious food. Thank you for a good experience, will be back for sure!

5☆ place for a glass of wine and tasty food!lovely place to share memories!i had a great time with my friends! Thank you Thanos for making us feeling welcomed!

Great spot in the City for drinks, snacks and meals. Excellent atmosphere, attentive staff (in particular Anna!) and consistently good food. Highly recommended.

Really good food, really good wine. Great service!

Stunning evening Anna and Ali looked after us so well, best people, best place in London

Cosy atmosphere and delicious food. Outstanding service

Great place for large groups or intimate meals

Been hosted by this amazing restaurant twice with work. 2nd to none, the best time, food and people in London.

I was recommend the restaurant for a birthday meal, the food was great, the staff were incredibly lovely and went out of their way to make sure I had a good experience. Will be coming back to try more of the menu.

Steak overcooked, had to change. Stuff were rushed and inattentive. Better food/service elsewhere for less money

The pork, cod and rib eye were outstanding. Also the wine was reasonably priced. We had a lovely evening.

Excellent South African style restaurant you to try the chicken it is outstanding.

Fabulous dinner. Great atmosphere. Superb Cote de Boeuf and Chocolate block. Our server, young lady and Ali we excellent. Well done

Excellent service and even better food. Everything was delicious 😋

As a South African, this place was fantastic. Was part of a work function and we had a private room (Franschoek) and picked from a set menu. I had the snoek pate, dorado for main and then probably the best Malva ever - even better than I make. All the food was phenomenal. We just ordered tons of the house wine and I had the Sav Blanc which went very well with the fish dishes. Service was perfect as well. Highly recommended

Excellent service. Diego was very helpful. The ox cheek was exceptional. Highly recommended

have been many times to Vivat Bachus but yesterday will be our last time. Whilst the food is good the price of wine is extortionate and unnecessary. We paid our bill and crossed the road to have another bottle of wine between the four of us. It’s taking the mick!!!

Recommended by a friend, went here with my partner for dinner. We had an amazing evening, food was delicious, staff is very friendly, attentive, and the overall feeling of this restaurant is very lovely. 10/10 would recommend

The restaurant has a warm and relaxing ambiance, the food is absolutely great and staff is friendly and attentive. First time here and we had a lovely evening.

We had a fantastic time. Anna made our stay super special and got us everything we asked for. Just make sure you order the Boerewors in advance. Next time I will call ahead :D

It was great! The service was very nice and the food was delicious! I would definitely come back here❤️

Fine dining and exquisite menu options. The food was incredible and not a single dish let us down. It's clear that the restaurant takes good care with each dish. The ingredients are fresh and all the flavours are tied together well. As a South African, the food was surprisingly close to the real thing and I really enjoyed the gourmet spin on the traditional dishes. Staff are evidently well trained and were very attentive. The restaurant had a fair number of patrons but was not too busy, leaving a quiet but pleasant atmosphere. Just something to note, I believe that the restaurant is closed on weekends.