Canteen Food Hall & Bar — Restaurant in London

In defence of the businesses working here. Excellent food choices, absolutely lovely and friendly staff. This is my preferred spot to get coffee in the mornings despite plenty of competition in the area.

My review however is more of the canteen building and the surrounding area itself. Although interesting to look at, there are some serious design flaws for something at the centre of the "design district". The building is a glorified plastic greenhouse. It sweats and is unbearable in the summer and it has a persistently leaky roof when it rains, right into their upstairs seating area.

To list some of the issues. The hard standings area around the canteen sees water runoff flow into the canteen building. I've watched a cleaner helplessly trying to push back the rain as it flows in the front door.

There's bad or no bin placement without ashtrays, so the public (and staff of the design district area) use the flowerbeds as bins and ashtrays. So there's quite a bit of litter, despite there being three bins all squashed together around the corner.

There are signs in the area to direct public to the buildings they're looking for, but all the signs are labelled with just letters and numbers, not business names. So there's always one of two delivery people wandering around lost asking the also clueless public for directions. The map for the area is more of an art piece than a comprehensive map.

Some of the buildings are clad and although not matching or in keeping with the area, showcase some interesting building exteriors. A few of them however just seem unfinished and starkly ugly in comparison, a real let down to the area. There's bare concrete showing rust spots where the rebar reinforcement is near the surface, next to shiny pearlescent buildings it's utterly baffling and seems ill conceived. When I asked when the buildings would be completed, I was told they're apparently finished and are supposed to look like that!

Coupled with the abandoned and stolen lime bikes blocking alleyways and pathways the area is confusing and seems jarring.

There's a cruel irony to Greenwich's "design district" being the worst designed area of the...

Canteen Food Hall & Bar at London’s O2 Greenwich Peninsula, located in the Design District, is a vibrant dining hub featuring a variety of street food vendors from around the world. This food hall offers an eclectic mix of global cuisine, from Mexican tacos by Hermanos Taco House to the Southeast Asian noodle dishes of Choy House. Other unique vendors include Raastawala, known for its Kolkata-inspired kati rolls, Tapas Bravas serving Spanish small plates, and Juk Pou, which brings congee and youtiao to the mix. A standout vendor, Pasta Rebels, offers customizable pasta bowls, adding an Italian twist to the food hall’s lineup.

The two-story structure of Canteen is both spacious and uniquely designed, with an open-air terrace and glass-walled interiors that create a lively yet relaxed atmosphere for dining. Guests can also enjoy a variety of craft beers, cocktails, and eco-friendly wines at the Canteen Bar, which promotes sustainability by sourcing local spirits and supporting reforestation efforts.

Located just steps from the O2 Arena and North Greenwich station, Canteen Food Hall is well-suited for pre-show dining and...

If going to the O2 the Canteen is the place to go to beforehand. Options of different cuisines from around the world (we didn't eat as we already had and found the Canteen by chance) and a number of independent and recognised lagers and ciders as well as wine and spirits, reasonably priced given the location, and far less than you'll pay inside the O2.

The venue was open comfortably before the Killers gig started and as it got closer a covered set was opened at the front, with speakers at the doors also, playing a selection of the bands songs, getting everybody in the mood, with many singing along and generally having a good time.

The Canteen is a quirky but welcoming place, with ample seating including an section upstairs which offers inviting views of one of the capital's most recognisable landmarks.

Staff were pleasant and service was quick.

A two minute walk from both the O2 and North Greenwich tube station means it couldn't be better located.

A place to...