Not too sure we need to review this one… It’s a Starbucks. You know what you’re getting, and it does what it says on the tin. Decent coffee, PSLs from September to November (if you know, you know) and your standard selection of pastries, toasties and cakes for a quick bite on the go.

Located conveniently halfway up Victoria Street, just far enough from the crowds of tourists in Parliament Square. It has a good few tables for a semi-quite coffee and breather in between meetings or if you’ve got an hour to kill to clear your inbox. If this one doesn’t suit your fancy – there are two others a stone’s through away on Broadway and Palmer Street.

Halfway down Tothill Street and festooned with flowers, The Sanctuary House is a great little breakfast spot if you’re after a classic full English or eggs benedict to set you up for the day. Come back at lunch for a selection of pies, burgers or fish and chips, and return later after work for a couple of cheeky pints before jumping on the tube home.

You can’t really go wrong – classic pub grub, good amount of seating, and London Pride on tap.

One floor below ground underneath Methodist Central Hall is a sprawling café, hidden away from the hustle and bustle of tourists snapping pictures of Westminster Abbey and Big Ben. Brightly lit, free WiFi, and decent coffee – this may be the place you’ve been looking for to get your head down and clear your emails in between meetings.

A small but decent selection of sandwiches, cakes and cookies is backed up by old classics – the trusty jacket potato and quiche – that add to the slightly old-school work canteen vibe of the place. Everything’s very reasonably priced (based on our last visit) and the fact you’re almost certainly guaranteed a seat and a bit of peace and quiet, make this – oddly – a bit of a (literally) hidden gem in Westminster.

The Blue Boar markets itself as ‘a real local in Westminster’, though this gastropub is far from the more traditional boozers you would find on Parliament Street. With a more well-polished and elegant bar area, and offering sofas and arm chairs for seats to eat at, the Blue Boar is a must visit if you are looking for a calmer and more sophisticated setting for a classic pub meal near Westminster.

Offering all the usuals you would expect on a pub food menu (scotch eggs, fish and chips, steak, burgers), the Blue Boar’s slightly pricier bill makes up for quality of the food and service, with a few vegetarian and vegan options to choose from. There is also an extensive alcohol list, including wine, cocktails (and cocktail carafes), and even Jeremy Clarkson’s Hawkstone lager.

While it attracts tourists, the space offers plenty of roombetween tables and enough time for a sit down meal that it does not feel tootouristy. There are also plugs and space to pull out a laptop should you beafter a working lunch.

Craving English breakfast staples? Look no further than Crumpets, a cosy, tucked-away café just within sight of Buckingham Palace. As its name suggests, this café specialises in warm, toasted crumpets with a choice of 12 toppings. Alongside this British classic, you’ll also find a full English and Paninis. Unlike your traditional English café, Crumpet offers a twist as it specialises in Sri Lanken-inspired dishes, adding a unique flavour to the traditional café offerings.

With a few scattered tables, Crumpets is perfect for a solo dining experience or if you’re meeting up with a colleague. While you’re more likely to spot tourists here than MPs, Crumpets is a charming place to start off your busy day.

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Tucked between One Birdcage Walk, Central Hall Westminster and the Queen Elizabeth II Centre, this charming pub serves as the perfect watering hole and purveyor of no-nonsense pub grub. It has resisted the urge to transform into a gastropub to suit tourist desires, and continues to provide that homely pub feel with décor to match. Reflecting its unique location to Parliament, it even sports a division bell!

You can’t go wrong with their fish and chips, sausages and mash or steak and ale pie, and a pub with Singha on tap is always to be trusted. Room on the ground floor is limited so be sure to find yourself a table in one of the dining rooms above or below the ground floor – that is, if you can beat the tourists to one. If they are to be believed, it has even served Bill Clinton and Angelina Jolie!

Built in 1694, Walkers of Whitehall is a unique pub located off of Whitehall. Operated formerly as a bank, it serves cocktails and food in the old bank vaults downstairs, while the upstairs of the bar operates as a standard pub. The pub is arguably less touristy than its counterparts in Westminster, largely due to the quite street its sits in.

While there is no outdoor seating, the atmosphere is similar to the Red Lion as you will find many people, largely civil servants, pouring out into the streets after Parliament is let out. This location is perfect if your company is looking for classic pub food and a quieter alternative to the Red Lion.

Fun fact: next door to the pub contains one of the entrances to the secret government tunnels built during WWII.

This classic Westminster pub sits at the heart of Whitehall. Known as a place many politicians frequently go to, this Fuller’s location is rich with history as marked by its elaborate ceiling and various politician portraits. Going to this location will transport you back to conference season, as it may feel that everyone works in parliament and is ready to network.

Aside from the very frequent MP spotting’s, the pub offers all the standard drinks and classic English mains. You may be able to find a seat during the day, but be warned that you may need to stand outside once Parliament is let out!

If you’ve ended up with a 2 hour gap between meetings and don’t want to trapse back to the office, you really can’t go wrong by heading to the Royal Quarter.

With plenty of space, coffee and free WiFi –  grab a spot on a bar stool against the window down the back and whip your laptop out for a more productive afternoon than you expected. If you’re there over lunch, the ‘Mediterranean & European Cuisine’ on offer caters to pretty much every taste… and to the delight of the Navigate team there’s even that coup d’état: the all day breakfast menu.

Open ‘til 8 during the week (9 on Fridays) you can get away with sticking around for a while; although the Navigate team is yet to pull an all-dayer.

Off one of the streets of Westminster and right opposite the Defra building lies this small contemporary Italian restaurant, serving both lunch and dinners Monday – Friday and dinner on Saturday. It’s completely glass wall which is open when hot makes for a more al fresco dining experience, though there is enough tables to be more hidden from the windows if required. Though small, the restaurant had an easy going vibe, perfect for a catch up over some pasta and a glass of pinot.

The stand out here is definitely the set lunch menu, costing just £26.50 per person for two courses or £31.50 if you’re hungry enough for three, though it is worth noting that the restaurant caps the set menu for up to 6 guests. The wine list is extensive, with wine ranging from £10 per glass to almost £1000 per bottle so there is something for everyone. There is lots of different fish, meat and of course pasta dishes on offer but it is worth checking the menu in advance if someone has any dietary requirements.

A few minutes’ walk from Vincent Square lies Rochester Café, a local café that offers all day breakfast, sandwiches, salads, desserts and pastries. This local shop is the perfect place if you don’t know your company’s preferences, as its lunch options include various sandwiches and salads, with its daily salads including pasta, seasonal vegetables, rice, and meats. Meanwhile, its all day breakfast ranges from a full English to acai bowls.

Its drinks menu offers a range of coffees and teas, costing around £3-4, with options of soya, almond, and oak milk for an extra charge. It also offers a selection of pastries and cakes (I recommend going for the brownie). While the café lacks in outlets, the space is quiet enough to have a team meeting or send off some emails while on your lunch break.

Open from Monday to Saturday, Bonne Bouche serves as the perfect cosy café to catch up with a colleague over a cup of tea and a cake. While this bakery has sandwiches and light lunch items, what it really specialises in is its sweet desserts. This German/Swiss inspired patisserie offers various cakes, muffins and cannolis, and of course includes English classics, mince pies and sausage rolls. It also offers up a full English, should the mood take you!

While they have six shops around London, their Victoria location lies between Victoria Station and Westminster Abbey, allowing it to be the perfect location for those catching up with a colleague on your way into Parliament. The prices are comparable to a standard chain in the area, with its croissants costing slightly less than Costa’s pricing.

Just off Victoria Street sits this independent, laidback cafe with an impressive selection of baked goods, sandwiches, salads and more (highly recommend the lemon and pistachio slice). It also serves fantastic coffee, so if you’re a coffee lover be sure to grab yourself a cup.

Off the beaten track just enough to avoid getting too busy, this cafe offers a relaxed atmosphere for a catch up with colleagues or some solo working out of the office, with plenty of handy plug sockets dotted around. Be aware that it is only open on weekdays and it shuts at 4:30pm, so don’t get caught out on timings.

Tucked away a street over from St James’ Park, the Two Chairmen is a small but cosy pub which is packed with history. Believed to be the oldest public house in Westminster, dating back to 1729, it got its name from the two men who used to carry sedan chairs for wealthy patrons frequenting the cockfighting theatre next door (which was occupied by HM Treasury for a short period until 1734). And talking of the Treasury, you might spot some familiar faces if you time it right, with the Two Chairmen a firm favourite among Treasury staffers and MPs after major fiscal events.

Although it is off the beaten track enough to avoid being swamped by tourists, given the limited capacity, booking has to be recommended if you are after food. It serves an array of quintessential British pub food, alongside veggie and vegan alternatives such as the pulled mushroom chilli. There are also a handful of lighter options for lunch, including cheese toasties and steak sandwiches, as well as an entirely separate gluten free menu. And of course a fully stocked bar!

Open from 8am – this is a great breakfast spot in a location as close to Parliament as you can realistically get. The Old Queen Street Cafe has become a go-to for politicos since it opened in 2022, serving as the perfect meeting spot to be accompanied by salmon and spinach baked eggs. Serving lunch and dinner too, you are sure to find yourself nudging past a Permanent Secretary or former Secretary of State catching up with an old colleague or plotting their next move, as you make your way to a table.

The venue has some impressive private dining and events spaces upstairs for up to 100 people and is fast becoming a staple on the Westminster circuit, and can get very busy so make sure you book to avoid turning up to no space. MPs would be chancing it to make it back for the division bell but it’s probably the closest you’ll get to a decent lunch in Westminster and still – just maybe – make it back through the lobbies in time.

If you like eggs – each and every way – you’ll like the Black Penny. Hidden behind the new office blocks on the opposite side to York Road from Waterloo Station, is the Black Penny’s Southbank location – one of three around London at the time of writing. A great little spot for a pre-work breakfast meeting (assuming you like eggs) or a tasty bite to eat at lunch, where you can grab a delicious salad, a salt beef bun, or – if you really fancy it – a mized meze board.

The place opens at 8am, fills up quickly and has even quicker service – with coffee and breakfast (did we mention the eggs?) in front of us before we’d barely started a conversation. It was both a Tuesday and a tad too early for a Mimosa, but if Parliament’s in recess and you’re feeling that way inclined, the bar had enough bottles behind it to sink a small ship, let alone whip up a good cocktail.

Less than a 10 minute walk from Westminster Hall lies a small independent coffee shop, a relaxing a cosy change from the chains that are typical for the area. With its neutral colour pallet, the café provides a relaxing refugee for colleagues to sit and catch up over a cup of coffee or, if you’re solo, as a place to finish up any work as it is equipped with power plugs (although it does implement a no laptop rule on the weekends).

Nostos offers the typical café pastries including banana bread and croissants, but its real selling point is its specialty coffee, which is evident by the specialty items it sells.  The seating inside includes one long table with 10 chairs and additional ‘bar-style’ seating wrapping around. If the weather permits, there is additional 4-person seating outside. With the quiet and communal atmosphere, this spot is perfect for a quick meeting with a colleague or as a place to impress a coffee connoisseur.

Tucked away just off Victoria Street, Chez Antoinette offers a range of casual to formal dining options depending on the time of day. Presenting both a breakfast and all day menus, the restaurant has pastries, coffees, wines, and various traditional French foods that make it perfect for both a quick coffee or a sit down meal. With seating both inside and out (weather permitting), the tables are far enough apart that even during its busiest time you will be able to hear your company.

If you’re there for a three course meal, the timings will give you the chance to fit one to two glasses of wine along the way. The menu offers sharing starters, including two options of charcuterie boards as well as individual starters. Meanwhile, the mains have gluten free, vegetarian, and vegan options. Leave room for dessert! The star of the show is their dessert menu, which features homemade tarte au citron meringue, crème brûlée and chocolate cake, ice creams and dessert wines.

Situated in the recently redeveloped New Scotland Yard building just across from St James’ tube, Farmer J opened in June 2023 and is a great little addition to the area if you’re looking for a coffee and a catch up with a colleague, industry contact or need a moment to yourself between meetings. Think: Gail’s meets Dalesford.

Quick service, great coffee, good breakfast pots, toasts and rolls and a cracking selection of made-for-you salads for a healthy takeaway or eat-in lunch. Decent amount of seating for a café in the area but lots of demand mid-morning so fills up quick.

Could suit as a place to meet up with an MP you know well who wants to duck out of Westminster for a breather, but not really one for the old school types who may turn their nose up at the music, exposed ceilings and Gruyere & Leek Croissants.

Nestled off Piccadilly Street, Compane offers those on the move the ability to grab a quick coffee with a colleague before going about their day. While it does not serve as an ideal work place, this location is perfect if you’re planning to meet someone for a quick chat or on your way to a function in the heart of London. Serving Allpress’ signature expresso, the coffee selection includes the standard flat white, as well as various options for lattes, with the option of substituting dairy-free alternatives (almond, bonsoy, or oat).  

With their coffee prices managing to be lower than Pret, you may want to grab one of their pastries that are supplied by St. Johns Bakery each day. It offers filled doughnuts, croissants and cinnamon buns. If you choose to sit and chat, there are tables outside the café within the boundaries of the Princes Arcade, allowing for some privacy from the tourists on Piccadilly Street, save for the few that choose to wander in.

Hidden inside Westminster Chapel, New Acre Cafe is a spot to head to if you’re in need of somewhere to sit for an uninterrupted few hours close to the bustling streets of Westminster, be that to work or for an hour’s peace and quiet. Equipped with plugs at tables and bar-stool like seating, taking a work laptop here affords the privacy and peace necessary for this to be the perfect working spot. Despite potentially feeling like a tourist trap (it being inside the Chapel) New Acre have managed to create a relaxed, quiet vibe for the place.

The coffee is good (all the usual options expected) with a range of dairy-free milks (oat, soy, coconut) though the food options are limited so this is maybe one to avoid if you’ve got a sweet tooth or craving for something more substantial.

Bonus points go to the café for offering a small selection of board games (and a selection of children’s toys) for customers to use to pass the time away.

Coffee, cookies, and cheese and marmite croissants, Formative Coffee is a relaxed café perfect for a one to one but with different sized tables if you decide the coffee is good enough to bring a small convoy. With their own specialty coffee beans available in any way you take it, what Formative does, they do well. However, while they go beyond the average coffee shop pastries and cakes the food offerings don’t warrant a full lunch time stop. The Navigate team recommend the brownies, the Praline filter coffee or the Earl Grey muffin.

What it lacked in physical receipts and toilets, it made up for in normal cafe prices (for London), a feeling of relative privacy and the chance (if you’re that way inclined) to try a £10 espresso shot featured in the World Barista Championship.