SAMA Bankside, Upper Arch
Sama, 3 Robinson Road, London, SE1 8BU -
From
£250 min spendUp to
50 guestsOffers
cateringInternal Catering
allowed
SAMA Bankside is a unique bar, restaurant, events space and late night venue in the heart of London's Bankside on the Southbank between the Tate Modern and Oxo Tower.
SAMA Bankside would not be out of place in Brooklyn or Berlin and is located within Victorian railway arches over 2 floors besides Blackfriars Bridge and was voted "Best All In One Venue" in the Design My Night 2017/18 Awards within 6 months of opening.
The venue specialises in private hire for corporate events, away days, summer and Christmas parties, product launches, wrap parties, weddings and networking events. The space is very flexible and the friendly team is always happy to accommodate your needs and ideas. Send an enquiry to see how they can help you make your event extra special.
There are also private spaces here ideal for meetings and other events where you're looking to be slightly more secluded.
This is an independent company and not part of a chain, offering an individual experience in a friendly space where you can escape from the stresses of city life. A simple stroll up the cobbled slope and you'll feel like you're miles away from the city. Welcome to a completely unique venue experience!
A light airy space with natural daylight, our Upper Arch is perfect for a cocktail reception, after-work drinks party, birthday or engagement party with a raised area at one end and our comfy curved pink booth adding a pop of colour.
This space is semi-private and opens up to our main bar area so it is not possible to have your own music.
This space is usually booked every weekend so don't leave it too late.
Seats 30 or 50 for a standing reception.
Dimensions: 4m x 7.5m
Capacity & layout
Standing
up to 50
Dining
up to 30
Pricing
& opening hours
Weekly schedule
monday
0:00 - 24:00
tuesday
0:00 - 24:00
wednesday
0:00 - 24:00
thursday
0:00 - 24:00
friday
0:00 - 24:00
saturday
0:00 - 24:00
sunday
0:00 - 24:00
Price type: Minimum spend/day
from £500 minimum spend/day
from £250 minimum spend/day
from £250 minimum spend/day
from £500 minimum spend/day
from £500 minimum spend/day
from £750 minimum spend/day
from £250 minimum spend/day
Catering & drinks
Catering arrangements
Catering facilities
Refreshments
Amenities
Disabled access
Heating
Air conditioning
Natural light
Outdoor / Garden / Beach
Table / chairs included
Whiteboards
Public transport
Breakout rooms
Audio & visual
Sound system
WiFi
Other
Please note this is a semi-private area
Space rules
Cancellation policy
100% refundable 5 days before the event
Location
Reviews
Barbara von der Muelbe
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!!!!
Paul Southgate
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.
Claire
Great location and venue. Excellent staff. Could not recommend them enough. Approachable and accommodating
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