We intended to eat at the Southbank Food Market, but our feet were aching, and we wanted to sit down. Through the crowds, we spotted Spiritland at the Royal Festival Hall. The American diner-style menu sounded appealing to us as we were in the mood for comfort food, so we decided to check it out. We were pleasantly surprised by the food and the excellent service. If you’re looking for restaurants on the Southbank, American diner food in SE1 or burgers and hotdogs near Waterloo, you’ll appreciate Spiritland Royal Festival Hall.
“Stop off for comforting American diner-style food, drinks and music at Spiritland Royal Festival Hall next time you’re in the London Southbank area,” Homegirl London
Spiritland American Diner Style Menu
If you love American diner-style food, you’re in for a treat. We ordered vegetarian dishes and left there feeling very content, mainly thanks to all the carbs! We can’t get enough cornbread, but it’s challenging to find a good cornbread in the UK. However, Spiritland got it spot on, and it wasn’t too dry or salty, which is often the case. This one was moist and full of flavour thanks to the maple butter and jalapeno salsa, delicious! We were also considering the grilled corn with chipotle butter but wanted to make room for other options. Also from the snacks section is tortilla chips with salsa and spicy BBQ chicken wings.
We are also big fans of tacos, so the king oyster mushroom with chilli, pineapple relish and coriander was a definite yes. We got two tacos to share, and they were small but tasted pretty good, so they didn’t last long. Prawn ceviche and chipotle chilli chicken were the other options.
The grilled cheese with mozzarella, applewood smoked cheddar, tomato and basil on sourdough were a definite yes from us. Each mouthful was a joy. It’s one of the better-grilled cheeses we’ve had in London. Other sandwiches are tuna melt and salt beef with mustard and pickles. The grilled cheese came with a side of fries topped with Old Bay seasoning, and we didn’t realise, so we ordered a portion of fries. It wasn’t a problem because the fries were excellent.
We deliberated over the falafel burger but felt that our meal would be too much, and we made the right decision. A cheeseburger with 28-day-aged beef, chicken burger with guacamole and shrimp burger were also available. A meat hot dog and a vegan version are alternatives to burgers. Instead, we ordered Mac and Cheese from the sides section. It was okay, we would have preferred it to taste cheesier, but all in all, the meal was great. Other sides are coleslaw, green salad and onion rings. We should have added a salad for greenery like the Waldorf or wedge, but we were in the mood for comfort food.
Unfortunately, we didn’t have room left to fit in any dessert. I would have liked to try the fried apple pie with vanilla ice cream. The strawberry shortbread and brownie were also tempting.
Tacos are £6.50-9, sandwiches £9.11.50, burgers £10-15, hotdogs £8 and desserts £5.50-6.50. The drinks list includes exciting cocktails, beer, wine, soft drinks, coffee, etc.
Spiritland Royal Festival Hall Southbank Centre Information
To find out more, visit the Spiritland Website. Spiritland provides spaces for music lovers with a café, bar and radio studio in King’s Cross. There is a headphone bar in Mayfair and this restaurant and bar in the Royal Festival Hall where you can listen to great music while eating and drinking. The Royal Festival Hall restaurant address is Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX. If you’re walking along the South Bank, take one of the side streets to access Spiritland, which is at the back of the building. You may see the Southbank Centre Food Market, held on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Waterloo is the nearest station. Please check the website for current opening times. They also serve American-style breakfasts, including pancakes, breakfast sandwiches and steak with eggs.
While you are in the area you may like to explore further, here are a few posts that may be of interest:
Leake Street Arches And Graffiti Tunnel
Gabriels Wharf Shops South Bank
Southbank Centre Book Market
Shakespeares Globe Guided Tour
Ten Things To Do In The Southbank London
Author: Homegirl London. Photographs: Homegirl London. I only write about restaurants where I had a good experience. I recommend you further research as restaurant standards fluctuate, as do opinions. Please check if the restaurant is still in business and the opening times before you go. If you discover this restaurant has closed, contact me to remove it from my blog.
