Things to do in Canary Wharf: Best restaurants, bars and more

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Jochan Embley23 October 2018

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Canary Wharf is associated with one thing above all: money, and lots of it.

The tiny concrete jungle is an absolute powerhouse of business, home to some of the world's richest firms and smartest corporate minds.

As such, its reputation as a going out spot is somewhat dim. But there's more to this cluster of skyscrapers than might meet the eye, with a deceptively enticing range of places to eat delicious food, drink marvellous cocktails and a great deal more.

Main attractions

There are a number of seasonal events in Canary Wharf that run throughout the year. In the winter, Canada Square Park is transformed into an ice rink, while during the warmer months there are open-air cinema screenings, street food markets and various other pop-ups.

Trying to escape the concrete jungle for something altogether more green? Visit the Crossrail Place Roof Garden, a domed nature oasis full of exotic plants. Keep an eye out for one of the many cultural events — from live music to theatre performances — that take place there regularly.

Restaurants

Bokan

Dinner with a view can be found at Bokan, situated on the 37th floor of the Novotel hotel. It offers a spectacular vista over the Docklands and the London skyline. The food has a pan-European breadth to it, although it’s the British ingredients that shine, such as the Hereford 28 day-aged sirloin and the Josper-grilled Welsh Malard duck. Head up to the bar space for some cheese and charcuterie.

The Narrow, Gordon Ramsay’s gastropub, might not be his finest London outpost but is still a solid venture, serving the classics — beer-battered haddock and chips, cumberland sausages and mash, and the like. The panoramic views out over the Thames are a major selling point, too. Those in search of pub grub a little closer to the centre of Canary Wharf — in a place that boasts similarly excellent views — should head to the Gun. It’s a Fuller’s pub that serves up some very wholesome, comforting food. The Sunday roast might just be one of the best in London.

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Great for both working lunches and as a place to unwind in the evening, Plateau sits four floors up and looks out over Canada Place. The food is of a contemporary French persuasion, with flavours as sleek and poised as the chic surroundings. The seafood is the best, so be sure to order it for your main.

Roka is all about good fun — in Japanese, the word refers to the energy and atmosphere of a meeting between friends, and you can find it in good supply here. The sushi and sashimi platters are impeccable, but the meat, cooked on an open robata grill, is delicious too. The famous black cod is superb, but expensive.

Dumpling enthusiasts should head to Royal China Canary Riverside, which offers up dim sum with a refined, white-tablecloth touch. Just remember that it is only served at lunch, as is traditional — be prepared to get there before you’re actually hungry and wait, as the dumplings can attract quite a crowd.

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Pizza Pilgrims have opened up branches across London at a pretty rapid rate, but the quality of the food hasn’t diminished at all. There’s an outpost in Canary Wharf, serving up all the Neapolitan-style favourites, from spicy nduja to classic margherita. The bases are soft, doughy, with a plumped up crust and rich tomato base.

With all the charm of a decadently stocked New York steakhouse, Goodman is one for the carnivores. A lot of the meat is sourced from Yorkshire, but there’s also a selection of American and Galician offerings, all aged on site and charcoal grilled for optimum smoke factor.

Tapas comes courtesy of Iberica, helmed by the Michelin-starred executive chef, Nacho Manzano. The croquetas, made to the same recipe passed down by Manzano’s grandmother, are a real highlight, but the paella is well-worth indulging in too.

Indian soul food can be found at Chai Ki. Choose a few sharing plates and tuck into the flavours plucked from the country’s many regions (the coconuts prawns come very highly recommended). For breakfast, nip into the adjoining Toddy Shop, or visit later in the evening to try out its excellent spirits list, which includes plenty of gin.

Boisdale are a group of Scottish men’s dens — places of single malt whisky, cigars and fine wine. There are a number across London, and the Canary Wharf haunt stands out for its cigar “library”, which allows patrons to sample the wares before they make a purchase. The food is not a priority — it’s reliably good, not spectacular — but this is the place to visit for the atmosphere above all.

Bars and pubs

The Merchant

Canary Wharf’s pubs and bars are packed with the area’s suit-clad workers, shaking off the stresses of the day with the aid of some liquid relaxation.

The Merchant is one of the newest pubs in the area, but has already slotted into its surroundings pretty nicely. There’s a decent selection of beers and ales on tap, with heated outdoor seating area making it a favourite all-year-round.

Right next to Canary Wharf station is the Henry Addington, sandwiched by swanky offices and offering a boozy retreat from the all the noise and confusion. The drinks range — across cask ales, wines and spirits — is impressive. Wondering where that name came from? It’s the former prime minister who treated George III while he was suffering a bout of madness, of course.

The Gun, mentioned in our round-up of the best restaurants, is also well worth popping into even if you’re just thirsty rather than hungry. The waterside terrace is one of the best drinking spots in the area when the weather agrees, but even if it’s cold and miserable outside, you can head inside and make the most of the open fire.

The Ledger Building is a grand old Wetherspoons pub, with white pillars flanking the entrance and plenty of seating space inside. Of course, as is the case in pretty much any Spoons, the drinks are markedly cheaper than anywhere else in the vicinity.

A little further out, towards Limehouse, is the Grapes, a fixture of London’s social scene since the the 16th century. It’s a popular, cosy spot, and these days is owned by Evgeny Lebedev, Sean Mathias and Sir Ian McKellen (one of McKellen’s staffs from the Lord of the Rings is housed behind the bar).

Away from the pubs, Boisdale is one of the most popular watering holes. As mentioned before, it’s good for a bite of food, but the most fun is to be had indulging in the alcoholic offerings. It’s all about the whisky here (and lots of it), but there is plenty of fizz and other cocktails available.

Bokan, the previously mentioned restaurant, also has a bar, just above it on the 38th floor. The drinks are great, offering up the whole shabang from wine to craft beers, but it’s all about the views here, looking out across the London skyline.

For wine, there’s only one place to go: Davy’s. The famed wine merchant has an extensive collection ready to be sampled, many of which you won’t find anywhere else. There is plenty of good, hearty food to complement it all with — think burgers, seafood and steaks.

Rum & Sugar is dedicated to the spirit it’s named after, with over 200 varieties on offer within its bare-brick interiors, accented by dashes of Caribbean decor. It’s a big place that hums with chatter and laughter once it gets close to full capacity.

Coffee shops and cafes

Taylor St Baristas has a number of branches across London, including this one in Canary Wharf. It’s a popular place, with queues sometimes snaking out the door at peak times, but its coffees and loose-leaf teas are worth waiting for. Canary Coffee, based on the ground floor of the same Novotel that houses Roka, is a popular place with the guests at the hotel, but the quality of its coffee makes it well worth a visit if you’re in the area. Mouse Tail Coffee Stories sources its beans from all over the world, but roasts them all in London. The espresso is the best drink on offer, but it’s worth noting that all small and large coffees cost the same price — works for us. Trying to kick the caffeine? Go to CPress, which specialises in 100 per cent organic juice drinks. They’re not the cheapest in the world, but they are delicious.

Nightlife and Music

Live music and nightlife is, as you’d expect, rather hard to find in Canary Wharf. Boisdale is one of the few good places for live music, offering up jazz, blues and soul all nights of the week. Jools Holland is a patron, and they do get some pretty big names in to play, from Horace Andy to Alexander O’Neal.

In terms of nightlife, the best bet is to stay in one of the pubs or cocktails bar until late, and then head further into central London, where everything begins to liven up.

Arts

Canary Wharf may not be blessed with any art, but it is home to a fair amount of art. There are various sculptures dotted around the area — they mostly go unnoticed by all the workers hurrying into and away from the office, but they’re well worth seeking out if you have some time to spare. They are broadly clustered around Cabot Square, Canada Square Park and Jubilee Park. Check out this map to plan your sightseeing route.

The Museum of London Docklands, situated on the north-western corner of the North Dock, is free to enter. It’s the smaller sibling of the Museum of London near St Paul’s Cathedral, and has a particular focus on the capital’s Roman history. It’s very child-friendly, with plenty of hands on exhibits and workshops running throughout the year.

Most Instagrammable spots

Canary Wharf skyline

Crossrail Place Roof Garden

Canary Wharf DLR station

Canary Wharf Underground station

How to get there

Underground: Canary Wharf (Jubilee)

DLR: Canary Wharf, Heron Quays, South Quay, West India Quay