Morpeth Arms

£20 / British, Vegetarian options

58 Millbank, London

Opening hours

11AM-11PM

Sunday 12PM-10:30PM
Monday 11AM-11PM
Tuesday 11AM-11PM
Wednesday 11AM-11PM
Thursday 11AM-11PM
Friday 11AM-11PM
Saturday 11AM-11PM

Cozy Riverside Pub with Spooky History

In the heart of Westminster lies The Morpeth Arms, a pub gilded with classic charm and sporting an undeniably fascinating backstory—perfect for those looking to marinate in London's storied past while nursing a pint. Now, it's not just your run-of-the-mill boozer; it sits prettily along the Thames, affording panoramic peeks at MI6 across the water, which frankly could be enough to brew a Bond-inspired martini all by itself. Inside, you're met with a cozy display of dark wood, leather sofas, and sepia-tinted tales of espionage. Upstairs boasts the infamous 'Spy Room,' offering not only whimsical past lives of double agents but also serving serene river views. All of this with a floor crew that seemingly moonlights as local history buffs, taking time between orders to expound on the whispers of agents past.

In terms of cuisine, The Morpeth Arms enchants as much as it disappoints—which some might argue is truly a quintessentially British experience. On stellar days, you've got crisply pie-crusted steak feats or fish and chips succinctly golden to warm any dreary soul passing through the doors post-Tate visit. But there's a fair share of misses—vegetables turned to plasticine and gravies bordering on puddle thinness. Yet, quenched with plentiful assorted ales and wines curated by cheerful barkeeps like Lucy and Ant, these culinary lapses somehow get threaded into the warm tapestry of the pub's atmosphere. There might be establishments with more culinary finesse but as it stands, there’s a special roll-call about pubs with as much heart and hearty stories like the Morpeth. And really, when Lucy reveals the underground bones where Millbank Prison once kept its cells, not even a burnt Yorkie can dim the intriguing aftertaste stirred here. It may not be pinned down as culinary sheer brilliance, but as a salon steeped in heritage, drinking in nostalgia along perhaps a misplaced marrow sip, The Morpeth is one haunt I'd sophomore without glossed hesitation. — Milo Tastemaker