Just across the river from Westminster and central London, Vauxhall is one of London’s low-key excellent spots. Discover the best pubs in Vauxhall with this cheeky guide.
There’s definitely a sense that Vauxhall’s become the new ‘it’ place for London locals and visitors alike. Maybe it’s the modern character immediately visible in the swanky new apartments they have zooming up in Nine Elms.
It might also have something to do with excellent selection bars and restaurants they’ve got.
Or that their pubs could give any other London boozer a run for their money.
Read on for the best pubs in Vauxhall.
The Best Pubs in Vauxhall
Tamesis Dock
A vibrant barge moored right on the Thames? Oh yes. Tamesis Dock is a pub like no other and offers unparalleled views of amazing London landmarks.
You can’t do better than a panorama of the London Eye, Battersea Power Station and the Houses of Parliament as you sip on a pint, or excellently crafted cocktail for that matter.
They Tamesis have some of the best cocktails in London, and a very extensive selection of them. That and the view, also make it a pretty romantic location when the mood is right.
All of the above should be accompanied by something delicious from their food menu, and maybe even some music at one of their special events.
The Black Dog
The Black Dog is a great local gastropub in Vauxhall with a rustic vibe, open kitchen and dramatic stained-glass arch behind the bar, and the large windows that let the natural light pour in, even over the winter months.
Their casque ales and craft lagers rotate regularly, as do things on their food menu – a large draw for foodie crowds from around the city.
The fare nods to all the pub classics, but done with a slight Spanish/European twist.
We definitely recommend ordering the scotch egg as a bar snack, some pubs just go above and beyond with their scotch eggs and this is one of them.
Food wise, this is the very best of Vauxhall pubs. No wonder they’ve cleaned up their fair share of awards.
The Riverside
An amazing pub right on the River Thames, The Riverside also has amazing views of London.
Slightly away from the hustle and bustle of Vauxhall, it’s got an amazing garden terrace with panoramic views of the London eye and the Battersea Power Station.
Their very stylish restaurant features a delicious menu with excellent British classics, freshly caught seafood and hearty dishes.
The revamped bar serves a range of must-try wines from organic red to Pierre de Bry Champagne.
And if your a gin fan, they have a very large gin selection along with some tasty craft beers and cask ales.
Hungry? We recommend their burger. Simply amazing.
The Rose
The Rose is known by many as one of the best pubs in Vauxhall. It’s a beautiful Victorian watering hole with vintage furnishings and a modern, circular bar, and wonderful views of the Houses of Parliament.
Situated right on the Albert Embankment, known as “Ye Olde Rose” to many, this pub has been here for generations, and even survived the odd chlorella epidemic or two.
It’s a great place to go on your own or with friends and experience a true ‘good old English pub’.
It’s got a no-nonsense ethos to it, the staff are attentive and friendly and overall it’s just a great place to go for a pint.
Not to mention the food is delicious, we’ve never had a bad meal at the Rose.
Mother Kelly’s
Mother Kelly’s isn’t just a normal pub, but more like an industrial beer bar and shop under the railway arches with some of the best draft and bottled beer London has to offer.
It’s cool. It’s really cool. If you’re a beer geek then you cannot miss out on going to Mother Kelly’s.
It’s a fantastic beer venue with a big emphasis on London and UK breweries. They do ⅓ pours at really decent prices which means you can sample more of what they do best.
And beer is what they do best. They have over 22 different kinds of craft beer on tap alone, and regularly bring in new guest beers.
We love the London Black Nitro Porter – a beer that actually tastes like chocolate.
The Jolly Gardeners
The Jolly Gardener is a wonderful pub. Built in the 1880s, it became very famous over the years, not least because one of its local entertainers was Charlie Chaplin’s dad, who used to boost the place’s profits by encouraging punters to stay for another drink.
The place was recently taken over by a group of friends who’ve used a wealth of knowledge in London’s pub trade to keep the place true to its origins.
Chaplain senior isn’t there, but there is an honest menu of food and a no-frills welcoming atmosphere to the place.
It’s truly one of London’s hidden gems, we love this pub a lot and we love the history behind it.
Whatever you order, you’ll taste the love that’s been put in by people that genuinely care.
