From happy hours and lunch specials to cut-price theatre tickets and free events, there are plenty of ways to enjoy a big day out in South Bank without stretching your wallet.
Here's our round-up of all the best local Happy Hour deals and lunchtime specials to look out for in South Bank!
*Please note that offers are subject to change, be sure to check with your server before ordering that offers are still valid.
January is a long month, but making the progress through these chilly winter weeks that little bit brighter, there are tons of extra special offers this month to take advantage of.
OFFERS: 3 mezze for the price of 2 | Kids Eat for Free | Wrap & Fries £9.95 (12pm-5pm eat-in or takeaway)
📅 WHEN: Until 31 January 2026
Bring some warmth, colour and Middle Eastern flavour into the month with a whole host of great offers at Comptoir Libanais at the Southbank Centre, including three for the price two on their famous mezze options that include creamy hummus, smokey baba ghanuj, crispy falafel and warming soups.
OFFER: Buy a burger or pizza, get another for £1 | Free refills on alcohol-free beers
📅 WHEN: Until 31 January
BrewDog Waterloo's smashing £1 burger offer is back for January. From the mighty Patriot, stacked with bacon, cheddar, pickles, and BBQ sauce, to the Return Of The Veg, there's a huge choice of big burgers on offer. This year the offer is also valid on BrewDog pizzas! To redeem, all you need to do is pre-book a table online. For every burger ordered on the table, you can get a second one for just £1. What's more, there's also some great beer deals on the agenda. Get free refills of BrewDog's two alcohol-free beers the Punk AF or Lost AF. Find out more.
OFFER: 50% off any bottle of wine
📅 WHEN: All day Sun-Wed throughout January and February
The super cosy steahouse and jazz bar The Archduke behind Royal Festival Hall is always a cosy spot. Making this winter event cosier, The Archduke are offering a whopping 50% off bottles of wine. Perfect for those laidback and relaxed evenings in town. No need to register or download anything - simply grab a table and enjoy!
OFFER: 50% off mains and small plates (when you register online for All Bar Rewards)
📅 WHEN: Sun–Fri until 29 January
Keeping the fun flowing well into the New Year, All Bar One on Chicheley Street (right behind the London Eye) is offering a whopping 50% off all mains and small plates when you register online for the for All Bar One Rewards scheme app. Find out more.
OFFER: 50% off main courses when you join the Le Club app
📅 WHEN: All day Mon–Fri, Sat until 5pm, until 7 Feb 2026
Brasserie Blanc’s sumptuous winter menu has arrived and it is packed with French winter classics like French onion soup, beef bourguignon and duck leg cassoulet. Choose any two courses from the à la carte menu or specials board and you’ll enjoy 50% off your main course when you use the Le Club app! Find out more.
OFFER: Two courses for £15, three courses for £19 | Free refills on Lucky Saint and Pentire Spritz
📅 WHEN: All day Mon–Fri from 5–31 January
Cote Brasserie at the Southbank Centre has given their Set Menu ‘a little happiness infusion’ this January. Dubbed ‘the Happiest Menu’, in January you can get two courses for £15 or three courses for £19 when you download the Cote Brasserie app. Dishes on the menu include French onion soup, Steak Frites and pistachio crème brûlée. Especially for Dry January, they are also offering free refills on Lucky Saint or Pentire spritz. Find out more.
OFFER: Buy one main, get a second for £1
📅 WHEN: Daily from 5–29 January
Pizza Express’s famous £1 pizza offer is back for January! Always a favourite, this one is as simple as it sounds – buy one main, and you’ll get the second (whether you favour pizza, al forno pasta or a big salad) for just £1. To redeem the offer you need to join the Pizza Express Club app, where you’ll be able to stack up discounts and grab even more great deals throughout the year. Find out more.
Looking for somewhere for afterwork drinks with your colleagues or a Happy Hour spot for that pre-theatre drink? There's a wide variety of bars offering great value weekday Happy Hours. Here's a look at the best:
HAPPY HOUR: £5 pints, 2 cocktails for £15, £20 bottles of prosecco, £18 bottles of wine
📅 WHEN: Mon–Fri 4pm–6pm (until 7pm with a loyalty card)
The friendly bar at South Bank's very own comedy club Big Belly has one of the best value Happy Hour deals around with something for everyone - plus you can even extend your Happy Hour by an hour if you sign up for their (free) loyalty scheme. The small bar opens out onto a quiet backstreet behind the Sea Containers building and there's an on-site pizza van serving up great value wood-fired sourdough pizzas.
HAPPY HOUR: 50% off house wine, £5 pints, 2-4-1 on select cocktails
📅 WHEN: Mon–Thu 5pm–6pm
Enjoy the relaxed vibe and frank and friendly service of this all-American Philly dive bar just off Leake Street. A popular venue for American expats to come and watch the biggest sports from the US, keeping things authentic, there's also the best of Philly regional cuisine on offer including all-you-can-eat wings on Wednesday for £20.
HAPPY HOUR: 2-4-1 glass of prosecco or house wine
📅 WHEN: Daily from 4pm–6pm
Head upstairs at the BFI Riverfront to their deceptively spacious Balcony Bar that looks out over all the action happening below on the Queen's Walk. A great option for an al fresco drink before a film or to catch up with friends before heading out to an event at one of the many nearby cultural venues.
HAPPY HOUR: £5 espresso martinis
📅 WHEN: All day every Friday
London's homegrown speciality coffee brand Grind has a cosy counter cafe in a prime corner spot at National Theatre. Easing you into the weekend Grind's signature espresso martinis cost just £5 on Fridays. Perfect for an afternoon drink on the terrace before hitting the town or as a pre-theatre drinks destination.
HAPPY HOUR: 2-4-1 seasonal cocktails, select wines and beers
📅 WHEN: Sun–Fri 5pm–7pm
A chic French brasserie and bar in the heart of South Bank’s cultural district. If you fancy a quick pre-dinner tipple, get two for the price of one across a range of different drinks, including wines, beers, seasonal cocktails and mocktails.
HAPPY HOUR: 2-4-1 cocktails
📅 WHEN: Daily 4pm–6pm and then 9pm until close
Serving a mouth-watering mix of Latin American, Indian, Spanish, Portuguese and African-influenced dishes, Las Iguanas is a colourful South American-themed restaurant at Royal Festival Hall. In the summer, their large terrace overlooking the river is a popular stop for evening sundowners and really fills up on those most balmy evenings so make sure to arrive early to secure a spot! Pro tip: Las Iguanas also has an app and you can score some great restaurant vouchers when you sign up for free.
HAPPY HOUR: £6 for a cocktail of the day
📅 WHEN: Mon–Fri 5pm–7pm
Grab a seat at the friendly Italian bistro Locale on Belvedere Road behind County Hall, and indulge in a happy hour sundowner every Monday to Friday. The restaurant offers an extensive list of classic and house special cocktails (all of which have happy hour discounts on them), or for just £6 you can opt for their cocktail of the day.
HAPPY HOUR: Classic cocktails £7.25, premium cocktails £9.25,
📅 WHEN: Mon–Fri 4pm–6pm
One of South Bank's longest-running bars and restaurants, the Archduke and sister restaurant Black & Blue, are both located inside the atmospheric railway arches that run parallel to the Royal Festival Hall. A popular pre-concert destination, the Archduke is also a great spot for an after-work drink.
From fast-casual street food lunches to filling sit-down meals to keep you going through a long shift and great value lazy Sunday feasts – here's a look at South Bank's best lunch deals.
The Butcher's Menu £20 steak lunch, Mon–Sat 12pm–6pm
Situated inside the Marriott County Hall Hotel with glorious views of Big Ben, the London Eye and all the activity on the river, Gillray's fine food is as remarkable as its surroundings. At lunchtimes, you can enjoy Gillray's refined steakhouse atmosphere for less with their excellent value Butcher's Menu. For £20 you get a steak, your choice of sauce, and sides including salad, chips and creamed spinach. For £5 you can upgrade from the bavette to a flat iron steak, or push the boat out with sirloin for £30.
Culture Curious discount: 20% off food and drink
Art Yard is the classy bar and restaurant at the art-focused boutique hotel Bankside near Blackfriars Bridge. Their fantastic 'Culture Curious' offer gives guests 20% off food and drink, provided they can show they have been using their day to be 'culture curious'. Simply show a ticket from your visit to any of South Bank or Bankside's galleries, theatres or other cultural landmarks to take advantage of the offer! Note you need to present your tickets before placing orders.
Wing Wednesdays: £15.95 for all-you-can-eat chicken wings
25% off food and drink for students (all day, every day).
The biggest bar in town, Brewdog Waterloo beneath Waterloo Station has a whopping 60 taps of draft beer, a micro-brewery, co-working spaces, a podcast recording studio, duckpin bowling lanes and even an actual slide! There are always great seasonal deals and specials that are worth looking for (such as kids eat free deals in the holidays), plus competitive always-on offers for students. Take note that to take advantage of most offers, you must book your table online in advance.
Forza Weekday Special: £15 for a plate and house wine or soda (Mon–Fri 12pm–4pm)
The National Theatre's hip wine bar-restaurant Forza has a brilliant lunchtime offer that's perfect for those looking for something a bit different on a weekday. For £15 you can get a glass of one of Forza's house wines (or a craft soda) plus their weekly dish of the day. The kind of 'plates' you can expect include tasty dishes like chicken leg, ‘nduja, fregola and rocket.
Mama's Lunch Deal: main course £8, with soft drink £9, weekdays 12pm–4pm
Students & NHS staff receive a 20% discount all day, every day
Located just off the graffiti-clad arches of Leake Street, Mamuśka! serves up traditional, hearty and delicious Polish food, beer and vodka. The staff are super friendly, portions generous and the atmosphere perfectly unpretentious, making it a great stop for a quick lunch or the starting point for a big night out with friends. On weeknights, look out for a whole host of Happy Hour (4pm-6pm) offers including 3-4-2 vodka slushies and pints.
You don't need to spend a fortune to enjoy a great day out sightseeing in South Bank.
