The National Cafe

This review is about the new ground floor café opened in 2023. My friends and I were excited to enjoy some tea, coffee, and a delicious looking cake at the café, so we lined up for quite a while. Unfortunately, we were told by a staff member that there was an issue with the tills and they couldn't serve us. The people behind us in line were not informed, so we waited patiently for more information. When I finally spoke to the manager about the situation, I suggested that they could serve coffee and cakes to customers first and sort out payment later if the tills were fixed quickly. If the issue persisted, customers could have a complimentary cake and coffee as a gesture of goodwill. However, the manager refused this idea. I pointed out that the cakes would have to be thrown away if not consumed that day, but she was not swayed. It was disappointing to see a missed opportunity for good PR and wasted cakes due to poor management decisions. The staff were friendly, but the management could have handled the situation better. I can't provide a rating for the food or price because of the unfortunate circumstances.

I stopped by the cafe for a light meal and cake during lunchtime while feeling famished. However, upon seeing the prices, I promptly left. I understand that London is known for being expensive, especially in touristy areas, but the prices at this cafe were outrageous. £5 for a small cheese scone? The thought of purchasing the lasagne meal option was even more jaw-dropping. It's a shame that the prices were so high, as it would have been a nice way to end my visit to the gallery. The shop was also overpriced, but at least it had unique products that I couldn't find elsewhere.

I spent £5.80 on a tea and sparkling water at the café, which is reserved for espresso bar customers only. Despite taking out the salad I brought from home, I was told I couldn't eat it because the table was reserved for espresso customers. The sign didn't mention anything about outside food not being allowed. Additionally, the café mainly offers highly calorific, processed pastries and cakes with limited healthy options. The serving assistant had to call the manager over to ask me to put my food away. As a National Gallery member who spends over £120 a year, I found this treatment inappropriate after spending £6 at the café.

Conveniently located in the east wing of the National Gallery. We stopped her for a snack. Food was standard cafeteria fare but was quite pricey.

Good, light area dining area just right for a drink or light meal during your trip to the National Gallery. A little pricey for the portions but this is Trafalgar Square so that’s not at all surprising. The staff were pleasant and very helpful.