SAMA Bankside, Upper Arch

Nice little place in a busy working area. Very friendly service. Got our Pizza in a reasonable time. Very tasty Pizza with superthin crispy base, lovely sugo and a lot of cheese. Definitely worth a try!!!!

If you’ve been living under a rock—or perhaps under a railway arch in London—you might not have noticed the city's rather industrious refurbishing spree over the last decade. Yes, our dear old capital has had a facelift, and Bankside is a gleaming testament to this urban renaissance. Once the grim underbelly of railway arches, Bankside is now a vibrant hub of modernity, filled with all sorts of curiosities and, more importantly, watering holes. Enter SAMA Bankside. Nestled under the rumbling trains, this bar is the epitome of what the new London stands for: busy, modern, and efficient. It's the sort of place that caters to the masses—sharp suits and even sharper cocktails. Now, don’t get me wrong, SAMA is an impressive establishment. It ticks all the boxes of contemporary chic: the lighting is dim but not dingy, the decor is stylish without being pretentious, and the service is swift enough to keep the most impatient of city dwellers content. It's the kind of place where you could easily imagine a group of young professionals clinking glasses after a hard day's work, their laughter mingling with the steady hum of the city above. But—and here's the rub—it's not for someone like me. You see, I crave a bit more soul, a bit more character. SAMA, for all its virtues, feels a bit too polished, too clean. There's a sterility to its perfection that leaves me longing for the grittier, more lived-in corners of London's pub scene. The kind of places where the walls have stories to tell, and the barstools have seen generations come and go. That said, I can still appreciate what they’ve done with the place. It’s a masterclass in modern bar management, and there's a certain satisfaction in knowing that even the once-dingy underpasses of our city can be transformed into vibrant social spaces. So, is SAMA Bankside worth a visit if you find yourself in the area with a parched throat? Absolutely. Will it become your local haunt, brimming with character and old-world charm? Probably not. But in this new, efficient London, perhaps that's just fine. For those of you with a thirst and a penchant for the new and shiny, SAMA Bankside is your oasis. For the rest of us, the quest for that elusive, soulful watering hole continues.

Great location and venue. Excellent staff. Could not recommend them enough. Approachable and accommodating