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Cafes at the National Theatre

The Atrium Cafe

Your perfect spot on the South Bank for morning coffee, lunch and afternoon tea.

Join us on the ground floor of the National Theatre, next to the bookshop, for specialty coffee from Hej, seasonal drinks and a selection of sweet and savoury dishes.

Take a seat within the theatre foyers, or head outside to the riverside square to soak up the sunshine with one of London’s best views.

Opening times

Monday – Saturday 10am – 7.30pm

The Atrium Christmas opening hours:
Monday 23 December – Wednesday 25 December: Closed
Thursday 26 December: 4pm-7:30pm
Friday 27 December – Saturday 28 December, Monday 30 December: 10am-7:30pm
Tuesday 31 December: 10am-4:30pm
Wednesday 1 January 2025: 4pm-7:30pm
Thursday 2 January 2025: Open as normal

Find us on the ground floor just past the entrance of the National Theatre, by the riverside.

No reservations required.

Atrium Cafe, Upper Ground
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Atrium Cafe serves artisan coffee, teas, freshly baked pastries and light lunches throughout the day, as well as wines, beers and English sparkling by night.

Enjoy a selection of seasonal salads, soups and sandwiches, plus house-made sausage rolls and veggie-packed frittatas at our cafe near Waterloo.

Our menu is constantly changing in line with the seasons. Sample dishes include roast butternut squash, feta and sage parcel; pearl barley salad with cauliflower, olives and dates, and blueberry and lemon cake.

A woman with blonde hair, seen from the back, stands behind a counter filled with various pastries and baked goods, including croissants, muffins, cookies, and cakes. The countertop also has espresso machines and coffee grinders.
A woman with blonde hair, seen from the back, stands behind a counter filled with various pastries and baked goods, including croissants, muffins, cookies, and cakes. The countertop also has espresso machines and coffee grinders.
A woman with blonde hair, seen from the back, stands behind a counter filled with various pastries and baked goods, including croissants, muffins, cookies, and cakes. The countertop also has espresso machines and coffee grinders.
View 12 images
Focaccia sandwich being put on a plate in the Atrium Cafe A round table is set with plates of assorted dishes, including salads with greens and beets, a bagel with a lemon wedge, a tray of sandwiches, and a piece of quiche. Drinks include a glass of white wine and a bottle of juice. Forks and knives are placed next to each dish. A round white table top with two cups of cappucino, three plates, each with a pastry, the book A Vision of the World by John Cheever and a What's on Guide. Lemon tart sitting on the edge of a white table with a fork resting on the white plate A person pouring coffee from a small cup into a tall glass filled with ice and milk, creating an iced latte. Next to it is a tall glass of iced black coffee, both placed on a white surface with a stone wall background. A table with lunch dishes of salads, savoury tarts, salmon beigel and soup. and glasses of wine. Runner beans and carrots in sesame seeds being added to a plate of salad in the Atrium Cafe. Tomatoe oand olive salad being served on a plate. A stack of two thick sandwiches made with crusty bread and filled with layers of lettuce, cheese, and deli meat, wrapped partially in parchment paper, served on a gray ceramic plate. A table setting with a main plate of assorted vegetables including carrots, broccoli, and leafy greens, garnished with seeds. Surrounding plates feature a savory pastry, a side salad, a bottle of kombucha, a glass of white wine, and a glass of juice.

Atrium Cafe gallery

 

 

Espresso Bar

A modern coffee shop interior with a wooden counter displaying pastries, snacks, and bottled drinks. Behind the counter, there's an espresso machine and shelves with coffee blends and condiments. A menu board hangs overhead. Tall windows provide natural light.

As you wander along the South Bank, pop into Espresso Bar for speciality coffee, sweet treats and fantastic grab-and-go options.

Perfectly perched on the north-west corner of the National Theatre, next to Waterloo Bridge, Espresso Bar offers the perfect chance for a refreshing pit stop. Come by from 9:30am for specialty coffee from Hej and a sweet treat, or pop by later in the day for cocktails, wine and beer.

Take a seat on Theatre Square or inside the theatre to enjoy your food and drinks, or carry on exploring London’s iconic South Bank!

Open Monday to Saturday, 9.30am to 7.30pm.

The Espresso Bar Christmas opening hours:
Monday 23 December – Thursday 26 December: Closed
Friday 27 December – Saturday 28 December, Monday 30 December: 9:30am-7:30pm
Tuesday 31 December: 10am-4:30pm
Wednesday 1 January 2025: 4pm-7:30pm
Thursday 2 January 2025: Open as normal

 

 

More to explore

On a table outdoors, a selection of small plates of Italian dishes and glasses filled with wine are spread out.

Forza Wine

A faulous selection of “Italian-ish” dishes alongside classic and contemporary cocktails and fresh wines. Open Monday to Saturday, from 12 noon to 12 midnight.

Forza Wine
LASDUN restaurant a dish of Norfolk Leeks, Goat’s Curd & Hazelnut being plated up, sauce being added by spoon from a small steel saucepan

Lasdun Restaurant

Modern British dining experience from the trio behind critically acclaimed Hackney Public House, The Marksman. Open Monday to Saturday from 5pm and Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 12pm-3pm.

Lasdun Restaurant

Free exhibitions

In our large foyer spaces we present theatre-themed exhibitions, free to enjoy during building opening hours.

Exhibitions
A brightly lit bookstore with numerous books on tables and shelves. The central display features colorful children's books and decorative items. Shelves on the sides are filled with books of various genres, and a large open space leads to the back of the store.

Shop

Our shop is the world’s leading premier theatre shop with specialist theatre books at its heart, alongside bespoke and unique design-led gifts.

Shop