Giraffe - South Bank

Name: Giraffe - South Bank
Address: Royal Festival Hall Riverside Level 1, London, United Kingdom, SE1 8XX
Telephone: 020 8457 2776
Price range: £25 and under
Rating: 3.4

3.4

1670 Reviews

£25 and under

International

Top tags:

Our biggest restaurant with stunning views over the river Thames, you can find us at the front of the Royal Festival Hall, only moments away from the London eye and all the Southbank galleries & theatres. Often a queue but it moves quickly.

From bottomless brunch, spot of lunch, breakfast or just drinks and nibbles we will be serving you up flavoursome international dishes throughout the day.

With various deals throughout the week you won't want to miss out! Child-friendly restaurant with a variety of breakie, mains and puddings to choose from. Dine in or takeaway, or delivery!

Make a booking

No. of diners

2 people

DateTime

28 May 2024

19:00

Booked 29 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
£25 and under
Cuisines
International, Fusion / Eclectic
Hours of Operation
Mon–Thu, Sun 09:00–22:00 Fri, Sat 09:00–23:00
Phone number
020 8457 2776
Website
https://www.giraffe.net/locations/southbank-centre
Payment Options
AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
Dress Code
Casual Dress

Location
Royal Festival Hall, Riverside Level 1, London, SE1 8XX
Area
Southbank
Parking Details
None
Public Transit
Waterloo
Additional
Beer, Cocktails, Delivery, Dog Friendly, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeaway, Vegan, View, Wheelchair Access, Wi-Fi available, Wine

Popular dishes

What 1,670 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

3.4

3.4 based on recent ratings

3.4Food
3.6Service
3.5Ambience
3.4Value

Noise • Energetic

Loved For

South East London
Child-friendly

1,670 Reviews

CC
CrisC
Cambridge
2 reviews
2.0
2 reviews
Dined 2 days ago
1. Overall 2
2. Food 1
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 3
Out of 6 meals, 3 were enjoyed by my family but the other three were terrible. My daughters pasta with meatballs was really bad. She didn’t like the meatballs and when I tried one the taste was of old meat and they were so dry and overcooked I had to spit them because I could not swallow them. My husband who is celiac got a gluten free burger which was smaller than the children’s meals. He couldn’t have chips as they’re not gluten free but they didn’t offer an alternative side. When he asked for padrón peppers they brought them almost raw. They gave us a good discount for all that but it spoiled our family day out. I’ll never go back.
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TU
ThomasU
London
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined 5 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
A great dinner with 11 friends. Especially grateful for a very nice table.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
London
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on 16 May 2024
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 2
They restaurant is undergoing alterations. Nobody told us, even though we'd asked for a quiet table with a view.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
London
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on 14 May 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 3
As always the service and quality of food on our visit was excellent. However we had not been forewarned of the works immediately outside the restaurant. This is a corporate responsibility, the staff team are not responsible. Initially it looked as if the restaurant was closed, however there was a member of the team based outside to direct us to the current entrance. It would have been much better if we had been informed of the obstacles outside the restaurant. The noise level of the works was intrusive and, again, it would have been better to be warned of this situation in advance. Due to the above I would not be able to recommend the restaurant at this time.
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LW
LucieW
London
2 reviews
3.0
2 reviews
Dined on 12 May 2024
1. Overall 3
2. Food 1
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 3
The service was attentive, but the food was really disappointing.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
London
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on 11 May 2024
1. Overall 2
2. Food 2
3. Service 1
4. Ambience 2
From not having a table I'd booked in advance outside to the wrong order being taken several times, I would not recommend.
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MB
MaryanB
New York City
5 reviews
vip
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on 10 May 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Super fast food delivery which was great as we were heading to the theatre
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WL
WestLondonMama
London
26 reviews
5.0
26 reviews
Dined on 6 May 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
After having a couple of non-descript dining experiences at Giraffe in the last year or so, this experience got me to feel more positive about their offering again! Really good new menu items and just what I look for when visiting Giraffe: somewhere well-suited for a family, which a number of affordable and tasty options for everybody to choose from. The service was good considering how busy it was at the restaurant on this bank holiday. We were really happy with our visit, thank you!
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S
Steve
Hertfordshire
4 reviews
3.0
4 reviews
Dined on 6 May 2024
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 3
We got a table very quickly and the kids food options were pretty good. It's odd - and obviously a choice - not to have chips and ice cream on the children's menu, but it was no problem for the waiter to bring a kids portion of the latter and to charge us less than full price. The adult food was average but OK. Service was if anything a bit over-attentive. My dinner was whisked away while I was still finishing it. It's a restaurant geared to quick turnover of covers and that is both a strength and weakness. Overall, we would return in future.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Oxford
1 review
1.0
1 review
Dined on 5 May 2024
1. Overall 1
2. Food 1
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 1
Terrible salads, chips. You can’t ‘modify’ anything on the menu. Rule based. Intractable.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
London
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 5 May 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Booked ahead of time so we could eat after a performance at the Southbank centre. We were seated immediately on arrival despite a long queue of walk-ins. The server came less than a minute after we were seated. It was really useful that there were books for the children to read at the table as well as colouring in sheets with crayons to keep them entertained. Food arrived quickly once ordered and was hot and well flavoured.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
London
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on 4 May 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Always have good food and the staff are pleasant.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
London
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 29 April 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Server was very nice and helpful would definitely come again
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OT
OpenTable Diner
New York City
2 reviews
vip
2.0
2 reviews
Dined on 27 April 2024
1. Overall 2
2. Food 2
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 3
Definitely kid friendly but kids’ pasta was gluey and inedible. It’s great to have a children’s menu but kids deserve edible pasta too.
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VP
VP90
New York City
4 reviews
4.0
4 reviews
Dined on 26 April 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Service was outstanding. Food was good. Very kid friendly place!
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ET
EmmaT
Yorkshire
1 review
1.0
1 review
Dined on 20 April 2024
1. Overall 1
2. Food 1
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 2
Awful awful food. Dry chicken kebab with barely any meat. Cold soggy pasta for kids. Cold chips.,Very very disappointed. Won’t be going back.
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S
Sade
London
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 20 April 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Easy to book and update booking. Great food and decent prices. Good service. What's not to love.
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9
929hml
London
10 reviews
3.0
10 reviews
Dined on 17 April 2024
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 3
Very limited menu compared to what used to be available
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CH
CathrybH
Lancashire
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 14 April 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The duck stir fry was just amazing and you made my daughter’s day being dairy free desserts are something she has had to give up on!! But not here vegan chocolate fudge cake with vegan ice cream!!! Her dreams came true!!!!
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C
Charlotte
France
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on 14 April 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Great expérience and great service .?thank you very much :)
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JT
JemmaT
Kent
2 reviews
4.0
2 reviews
Dined on 12 April 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 5
Simple food choices for both adults & children. The children’s meal deal was very good value for money with great options.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
London
4 reviews
4.0
4 reviews
Dined on 10 April 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
Always go to Giraffe for breakfast ,never had a bad one yet .
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OT
OpenTable Diner
London
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on 1 April 2024
1. Overall 2
2. Food 1
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 2
The food was not good. Fish was grey, the veggie breakfast not particularly appetising or aesthetically prepared. The flat bread was soggy & over spiced.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
RP
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 23 March 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Giraffe was a great atmosphere and delicious food.
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BH
BrianH
Bath
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on 23 March 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Great service. Food very good. Would go back there.
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K
Konnie
London
14 reviews
vip
4.0
14 reviews
Dined on 15 March 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
The staff were very friendly. They came immediately to take our order. We had a 3 course meal in an hour. Perfect before our theatre planned for the evening. Food quality was mediocre. Cocktails were fantastic
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L
Laura
London
27 reviews
2.0
27 reviews
Dined on 15 March 2024
1. Overall 2
2. Food 2
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 2
I think giraffe is feeling a bit tired. Xxxxxxxxxx
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L
Lucy
London
2 reviews
2.0
2 reviews
Dined on 25 February 2024
1. Overall 2
2. Food 2
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 2
Service was polite, swift and good. Food was on the cold side and didn't justify cost in terms of size or quality - definitely taking advantage of number of families that might be looking for an easy meal on the South Bank. According to men we were dining with the mens toilets were basically in complete disrepair with only one cubicle working - tricky for a busy family restaurant.
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DH
DavidH
London
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 24 February 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Great service. Very quick and lovely food. Great experience for my kids birthday.
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KK
KayK
London
4 reviews
vip
3.0
4 reviews
Dined on 24 February 2024
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 3
Great for extremely quick service. Our mains were on the table within 5 minutes of ordering and all very hot (including the kids which was a bit hard to cool down). Our waitress was very attentive. We had a quick meal which was great with two kids and didn't feel too rushed.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
London
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on 24 February 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Had the breakfast it was very good and good value for money .
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DA
DonnaA
Leicestershire
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on 21 February 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
Great central location, friendly staff, good food.
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HM
HMWal
Bristol
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 18 February 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Great place for meeting up on Southbank, had veggie Sunday brunch
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CC
CraigC
London
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on 17 February 2024
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
Kids sausage and chips were good but kids fish was not much bigger than a fish finger. Bizarre kids side dishes to go with the choices too. Fish and… broccoli or carrot & cucumber sticks! Really? Luckily the restaurant, unlike giraffe, realised that chips were a better and less preachy idea, so provided them as an off menu option. Just add mash for the bangers and you may reinvent a winner🤦‍♂️ Kids drinks were unbelievably small. Suit a 3 year old. 2 gulps for an 8 year old. Pro rata, a pint of beer would be cheaper. Cheese burger was ok. Chips were uninspiring. Staff friendly.
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JM
JasonM
Hertfordshire
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on 17 February 2024
1. Overall 2
2. Food 3
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 1
Too loud! Much toooo loud! Etc etc etc etc etc st
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K
Karen
London
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on 17 February 2024
1. Overall 3
2. Food 2
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 2
Giraffe Southbank was very much an expensive fast food restaurant not the same as I remember previously. The food did come extremely quickly. Not very good vegi options.
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TE
TobyE
London
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on 17 February 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Very good service - attentive and always staff present when you needed them. Food and drinks arrived in good time and were well received by the three of us. Also loved that our 6-year old could borrow a book from the front desk (as well as the usual crayons and colouring in)! What a great scheme - take note other restaurants! Only downsides were: - I hate it when servers try to remember the orders instead of writing them down! I want the reassurance that our order will be correct. - The music was too loud! It's not a nightclub! Turn it down so your diners don't have to shout at each other to converse. - No urinals available in the gents toilets. Blocked off due to some maintenance issue. And the sinks had huge cracks in them. The flush buttons in the cubicles didn't work properly. Apart from that. Highly recommended for pre/post show dining. Good value.
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VM
VickyM
London
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on 16 February 2024
1. Overall 2
2. Food 2
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 1
Sadly the food was not as good as previous visits. The brunch was missing the bacon and the poached eggs were solid. The kids meals were missing the cucumber sticks and the pasta sauce tasted like a tin of chopped tomatoes, no flavour at all. Burgers were on the small side aswell. For the price we paid it was disappointing and choose not to have pudding, we went to the ice cream van outside instead. Such a shame as we would always choose giraffe when visiting the south bank attractions
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OT
OpenTable Diner
London
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 14 February 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Prompt service, friendly staff and accommodated requests for minor changes to orders
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G
Groovin
London
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on 14 February 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 3
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Staff were brilliant, nice setting next to the Thames. Main disappointment was the menu having limited choices... not as good as it used to be sadly when it was food from all corners of the world and you were given a token mini 'Giraffe' to take home. I understand they need to cut down and curb the use of plastic though. Still had a pleasant evening though.
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FAQs

Giraffe - South Bank does offer delivery in partnership with Deliveroo and Uber Eats. Giraffe - South Bank also offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at 020 8457 2776.

Giraffe - South Bank is rated 3.4 stars by 1670 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

No. of diners

2 people

DateTime

28 May 2024

19:00

Booked 29 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Royal Festival Hall, Riverside Level 1, London, SE1 8XX

Additional information

Area
Southbank
Hours of Operation
Mon–Thu, Sun 09:00–22:00 Fri, Sat 09:00–23:00
Price
£25 and under
Cuisines
International, Fusion / Eclectic
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress Code
Casual Dress
Parking Details
None
Public Transit
Waterloo
Payment Options
AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
Additional
Beer, Cocktails, Delivery, Dog Friendly, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeaway, Vegan, View, Wheelchair Access, Wi-Fi available, Wine

Website
https://www.giraffe.net/locations/southbank-centre
Phone number
020 8457 2776

Giraffe - South Bank

Make a booking

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

Popular dishes

Ice Cream Parlour

Cod and Chips

Giraffe G&T

Menu

What 1,670 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

FAQs

Does Giraffe - South Bank offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is Giraffe - South Bank restaurant rated?

Is Giraffe - South Bank currently accepting bookings?

Make a booking

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information