La Gamba

Created by the team from the famous Applebee’s Fish in Borough Market, La Gamba is a breezy riverside tapas restaurant that looks onto the Queen’s Walk at Southbank Centre.

The restaurant is the first permanent South Bank venue for the Applebee brothers (the sons of fishmongers Joy and Graham who first opened their Borough Market fish stall in 1998).

The menu takes its inspiration from the north-western Galician region of Spain and the best of British produce, and of course there are some great seafood dishes sourced from top-notch local independent suppliers.

The tapas menu changes regularly to reflect the best of the season and there's plenty of classics alongside the kitchen's own excellent takes on Spanish favourites. Stand-out dishes include the gambas al ajillo with jamón, tortilla del día and slow-cooked pork cheek in Pedro Ximénez.

At weekends, two large seafood paellas are cooked out on the terrace, served at 1pm and 6pm, and if you're here in the morning they also serve breakfast (think bocadillos, pan con tomate and Spanish lattes) from 9am. Meanwhile the weekday set lunch menu (£25, available 12pm-5pm) is great value and gives you a taste of everything.

In the summer, their fruity sangria goes down a treat and of course churros with chocolate is always the perfect dessert. The terrace is first come, first served, and on a sunny day it's one of the best spots on the South Bank to sit with a drink and watch the river go by.

Perfect for a quick bite and a drink or a celebratory dinner, with this being tapas and everything arriving as soon as it's ready, La Gamba is also perfect for grabbing a bite before a show, concert or film screening.