swan restaurant & bar

a walk around the thames on a sunny afternoon can be a treat. the weather is so unpredictable that when you are blessed with a bit of sunshine and warmth, it can really lift your spirits and make you much more sociable. london bridge is a meeting point for some of my friends and i, as it is central for us all to make our way home. it's not a bad spot at all with its bars, pubs, market, places of interest and flow of interesting folk. whilst i have never been to the shakespeare's globe, i have always wandered about the idea of seeing a production outdoors, weather permitting. it must be quite the experience and yes, it is on my to-do list. for now, i was close enough having dinner at the swan which is right next door.

the swan is a bar on the ground floor andrestauranton the first floor. they do not jest when they say they have stunning views, they do, as if you get the right spot you can see all the nearby landmarks such as st pauls, on the north side of the thames.

following a drink in nearby borough market, we visited for a meal as recommended by my dining partner. she had recently had a birthday dinner here and was well impressed. it was busy and although we did not have a reservation, we literally got the best table in the spot. for dinner it was going to be straight to the main course with me having salt marsh lamb rump, sea vegetables, cornish potatoes and cockle butter. i also had a size of peas and enjoyed all elements of my food. the lamb in particular was very tender. eleanor had 400g galloway rib eye steak, watercress, pickles shallot salad with chops and bearnaise. the food is modern british with a flair for making the simple luxurious. because of excellent quality of the food and its proximity to the globe, the crowd are mature and discerning diners.

swanrestaurantis not a place for raucous and informal behaviour. it is much more subtle and formal than that. this is not a bad thing if you want the focus to be on enjoying the food as the lead player, which it deserves. the service also stands out too, with a nice pace in service. in terms of pricing, it is not cheap but at £28.50 for a steak, you work out if you feel this is expensive.

i see swanrestaurantas a romantic location to celebrate quality time with your loved one or good food for your theatre visit.

went for a celebratory dinner with colleagues last week. highly recommended place and i can second that recommendation just for the view of st paul’s across the thames. therestaurantis very beautiful too, the service is impeccable and the food is good, but not great (atleast the vegetarian options). overall a lovely experience, pricey as well.

go to therestaurantupstairs. great views across the thames. excellent sunday roast (complete with cauliflower cheese).

appalling customer service. i booked swan at the globe recently for my mother's 60th birthday via top table. 30 minutes before arriving at therestaurant(my mother having travelled from the north east to celebrate in london), i received a call to say that therestaurantwas fully booked and my booking was no longer valid. the reservationist at therestaurantwas unhelpful and unsympathetic to the point of rudeness, absolving therestaurantfrom any blame and suggesting that such a last minute cancelation was an inherent and accepted part of therestaurantadvertising on 3rd party websites. i was left embarrassed, without plans and totally disgusted with the swans lack of customer care, concern or even slightest hint of sympathy or understanding related to such a let-down. by all means book, and if you get in, it might be nice, but just be prepared to be massively let down and insulted by rude staff for your trouble.