Tavolino Bar & Kitchen

"If you’re not sure what to say when you meet up with someone you haven’t seen in forever, try ‘have you done something to your hair’. We can guarantee it’s either grown, been lovingly attacked with a pair of nail scissors, or dutifully turned stress-grey over the past 12 months. Another excellent conversation starter is ‘look at that view’, a phrase you can definitely crack out at Tavolino. This Italian restaurant overlooks Tower Bridge, has that whole sentimental European rattan terrace thing going on, and is the perfect place to recount your feeble attempts at learning another language circa March 2020 whilst shovelling some spicy nduja and pork ragu tagliatelle in your mouth. The cacio e pepe is also a winner and on the right sunny day you can’t beat the ultimate catch-up combo, river views and top negronis." - heidi lauth beasley

"With a cold, crisp negroni in hand, the terrace at Southwark restaurant Tavolino can feel like heaven. Rows of green rattan chairs, flirtatious smiles exchanged over courgette fritti, and panoramic views of everyone’s favourite 1886 London poster boy, Tower Bridge. But it is a place that is reliant on the British weather, which is a bit like saying your tax consultant is Jordan Belfort. If the heavens open you can still peek at the bridge against the twinkling night sky from inside the Italian restaurant. Hit up this spot for polite group meals with colleagues centred around a bottle of chianti, or for a last-minute date night that demands tagliolini." - rianne shlebak, jake missing, sinead cranna

"Near: Tower of London/Tower Bridge We wonder if the serious-looking robotic guards that stand outside the Tower of London like cacio e pepe? Or if on their lunch break we’d find them sat on Tavolino’s terrace splitting a margherita before heading back to the castle. Either way, this useful Italian spot is a 12-minute walk across the river and has an excellent view of Tower Bridge. It’s all very dolce vita: expert handmade pasta matched with a heartfelt appreciation for mascarpone and the fact that it isn’t pissing it down. Unless of course, it is. In which case their roomy booths are perfect for a freshly baked focaccia-filled meal." - sinead cranna, rianne shlebak, jake missing

"The fact that Tavolino’s terrace overlooks one of London’s quintessential landmarks—Tower Bridge—means this very well might be one of the best terraces in the whole of London. Serving handmade pasta and proper negronis on a huge, rattan-chaired terrace has something very dolce vita about it. There are big views of the river. There are little kids frolicking in the nearby fountains. And there’s a whole lot of ricotta on the menu. If you come here without getting involved in the ‘nduja tagliatelle or the cacio e pepe, then you’re doing it wrong." - Heidi Lauth Beasley, Jake Oliver, Rianne Shlebak

"You've spent the last 20 minutes watching a silent video in a pitch black room sat on a log. Ah, modern art. It's time to get outside, to an alfresco situation that celebrates London in all its busy, chaotic glory. Tavolino has a huge terrace on Southwark riverside with panoramic views of Tower Bridge, so you can become a little teary-eyed about how much you love this stupid, incredible city while you sip a top negroni. Channel all those feelings into the Italian dishes—specifically a big bowl of cacio e pepe or handmade tagliatelle with fiery 'nduja and pork ragu." - Heidi Lauth Beasley, Jake Oliver, Sinead Cranna