Espresso Bar

The Tate Modern Espresso Bar has got so much going for it — great views from the balcony looking out over the Millennium Bridge, reasonably-​priced coffee, great seating space, and free wifi — except for that most crucial of qualities: good coffee. It’s sad, really, given that it’s meant to be an espresso bar.
Ever since I learnt that the Tate Modern roasted its own coffee, I’ve been wanting to give this a go. Sadly, much like plenty of London cafes, that’s more of a gimmick than a strength. I ordered a flat white. It wasn’t on the menu, but the server offered it to me in two sizes — small or large — which is a bit of a travesty as any flat-​white-​loving person knows. In any case, it had no body to speak of. It was pretty much mild coffee-​flavoured milk.
I was rather frustrated because, well, I wanted so much to believe in the hype. If there’s so much effort being put into the coffee, then all I can say is this is a great big waste. Or maybe the coffee *is* good but the baristas don’t know how to get the best out of it. That’s definitely a possibility.
If I’m so disappointed, why am I giving this three stars? Simple. The views cannot be beat. And for London, the prices are pretty reasonable. I’ve paid more for weaker coffee (but never more than once from any one place). But, if you’re in the area, and it’s a weekday, and coffee is really important to you, my advice would be to walk over the bridge and head into the City for a decent cup of coffee.

Damn fine eats. Doubly so since it’s just a museum café. Everything is a bit more expensive than it would be on the outside, but the sandwiches and juices are fresh and the java is hot and delicious.
Besides, it’s a great break for tired museum feet and waiting for the special exhibition lines to thin down a bit!

As far as museum café bars go, this one is topnotch. Not only is the espresso rich and strong, the baristas know their lattes from their cappuccinos. They have a really appetizing selection of fresh-​looking sandwiches and salads, plus smaller healthy snacks — something that is generally so lacking at comparable art venues.
However, this little café’s greatest asset is the view to be seen from its location on the Tate Modern’s 4^th floor; an inspiring and relatively relaxed perch to wander up to even if you don’t fancy looking at any art, but find yourself Bankside.