Hey, do you remember back in 1984 when the Duke of Edinburgh opened the Topolski Gallery on Southbank? Nope neither do we, but we do remember whisperings back in March that it would become a café/bar.
Fast forward to now and we have the new bar and café; Topolski.
Launched in collaboration with the Topolski family and with the support of the Southbank Centre, the new opening is a café by day and a bar by night. That perfect balance for the people working around Waterloo who want a retreat, away from the office and then somewhere to let their hair down once the day is done.
The new venue, with its industrial and handmade feel, replaces the former Topolski Century art bunker. Very much part of the Southbank’s cultural DNA. An official war artist during the Second World War, Feliks Topolski was a Polish-born expressionist painter who moved to Britain in 1935 at the age of 28. The menu and ethos of Topolski reflects the artist’s eye for eccentricities and interest in world culture. The new bar and café continues to exhibit Topolski’s work as part of the interior design for the space, which has been created by B3 Designers (Bubbledogs, Paesan, Trishna, Le Gavroche).
The concise menus take their cue from a range of central and Eastern European cuisines. Featuring quality sourced produce presented in a clean and simple manner, the menus, from Company of Cooks chef Bruce Wilson and Claire Clark offer breakfast, lunch – served from 11.30am-5pm – and small sharing dishes in the evening.
Breakfast include granola, soured cherries and blueberries or rolled oat porridge either on their own or with a selection of toppings of Greek yoghurt, honey and thyme roasted figs, bramble jelly, fresh honeycomb or Golden promise apple cinnamon compote. Plus, music to our own ears… both lunch and evening menus offer a selection of sharing platters of cheeses and cured meats!
The menu wouldnt be complete with complimenting Topolski’s Polish heritage so expect Drozdzowki (sweet polish buns) and eastern European staples such as beef goulash
In the evenings, the bar provides a new drinks destination for the workers, residents and visitors to Southbank. Offering a reduced food menu in the evening, a mixture of small plates and sharing platters of cured meats and fishes are offered, alongside a carefully selected wine list, Prosecco on tap, house-infused vodkas and array of craft European beers.
Definitely a welcomed creative addition to the SouthBank with a side of culture for good measure.
Opening hours: Monday-Thursday: 8am-12am Saturday: 8-1am Sunday: 8-11pm
Twitter: @bartopolski
