Emma Step on the gastronomy in London
We’ve all eaten on a bus, haven’t we? Greasy kebab and chips after a night out? Well, Bustronome is a bit different, think champagne, wine and multiple courses against a backdrop of London’s most famous sights.
That’s right, this is a fine-dining restaurant on wheels!
So, just to be clear, this is not a hop-on, hop-off bus. Once you are on, you are on for the ride so relax and let the waiters ply you with food and drink for the duration of the leisurely drive through the capital.
The slick and smart Bustronome bus exceeded our expectations. Pass the onboard kitchen and take the stairs to a welcoming glass of champagne under a glass roof offering a unique panoramic view of London.
Unlike other bus tours we’ve done, where the upper deck is open and you may get rained on, the glass roof here ensures that you can enjoy the experience without worrying about the weather. Also, rather than relying on a tour guide to point out the famous sites and stories behind them, each table comes with a map of London and is equipped with an audio pen so that you can listen at your leisure and replay the audio if necessary. Simply by pointing the pen at the relevant location on the map.
We started off from Embankment travelling East to Tower Bridge and West to Kensington via a city full of sights in between.
Here’s a view of Tower Bridge you don’t usually see from a bus!
Young and old were happily taking photos in between courses.
The menu
The food
We started with bread & soft butter, canapes of green olive tapenade bruschetta, a glass of Champagne and were each offered still or sparkling water.
First Course: crab & artichoke “gateau” with tobiko in a light crab & wasabi sauce
Second Course: Crispy roll with goats cheese and three ways beetroot
Third Course: Seared tuna, carrot puree, girolle mushrooms & tarragon sauce
Fourth Course: Roasted guinea fowl with curcuma & almonds, warm peach & avocado salad, fondant potatoes
Fifth Course: Young Saint-Jude cheese & jam
Sixth Course: Strawberries & ginger pavlova, ginger sorbet
And here are some more photos from our bus tour.
Verdict
Bustonome is undoubtedly the best bus tour we’ve ever taken. Great food, paired wines and a glass roof so you can see without weather spoiling the show.
The food was also excellent so well worth the money when you consider that you are getting a tour and food. Without wine, lunch is £65 and dinner is £105. For the matched wines included lunch is £85 and dinner £135 – there is also an extended wine pairing option for £150 with dinner. If you would like the wine with dinner note that pre-paying is required as the bus is not licensed to sell alcohol on board. Children are charged £40 for lunch and £50 for dinner.
The bus also has the swishest bus conveniences we’ve ever seen and used! Our only negative is that the air-con was a little too chilly at times, perhaps it’s where we were seated, but we’d recommend bringing a cardigan or jacket just in case.
We also forgot to check if the bus had Michelin tyres, LOL!
TL;DR
+ A great way to take in London’s sights in a relaxed and elegant way
+ Food to a very high standard
+ Great wine too
+ Best bus toilet we’ve ever seen
– Air-con was too cold at times
Where
Bustronome London, Coach Bay 40B, 25 Victoria Embankment, London WC2N 6PB
Transport
Tube: Embankment (Bakerloo, Circle, District, Northern lines)
Reservations
Bustronome London booking page
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Disclaimer: we received a free meal and tour prior to any COVID-19 lockdowns and it was genuinely excellent and the best bus tour we’ve ever taken.
