An afternoon at The Booking Office

Whilst I’m all about giving the latest trends in cuisine and dining experiences a go, every now and then it’s nice to put the matcha aside and get back to basics. So, when I went to The Booking Office with some colleagues for a few (too many) glasses of pre-Christmas bubbly, I just knew I’d have to return with my ‘new to London’ boyfriend in tow. 

Like many young couples, our busy careers mean that we have to make the most of our weekends together. We want to explore and immerse ourselves in this great city, but also soak up as much of each other as possible, which is why The Booking Office was the perfect place to kick-start a boozy afternoon.

With its high ceilings, gothic arches and alluring mood lighting, The Booking Office has an atmosphere that is intimate yet lively—the perfect setting for a few cocktails, good conversation, and a sneaky kiss or two when the wait-staff aren’t looking.

Upon arriving, we were greeted with a long line of eagerly awaiting visitors. Luckily, I’d booked our table online earlier that week—allowing us to be whisked straight past them, right to our waiting table.  

After taking a few minutes to admire the stunning Victorian architecture and indulge in a few minutes of people-watching, one of our favourite pastimes, we turned our attention back to the ever-tricky decision at hand—which drink to order first.  

From fruity cocktails and indulgent wines to top-notch craft beer and spirits, The Booking Office’s extensive drinks menu doesn’t leave anyone yearning for more choice.

Anyone who knows me knows that I get terrible ‘order envy’ and, as always, Tom won the first round with his gin-based Sling Long and Prosper—however my Ring of Roses, with its lovely fusion of vodka, lavender and Veuve Clicquot, certainly didn’t disappoint.

One thing that can be said about the cocktails at The Booking Office is that they are strong, like, really strong, and quite quickly we realised that, if we wanted to be able to put one foot in front of the other on the way out, we were going to need something to line our stomachs.

We opted for the Mediterranean Traveller sharing board and were happily taken aback by its size when it arrived. With another round of drinks in hand, we dug into what could only be described as a cheese-lovers utopia.

Beautifully presented on a wooden board, we enjoyed every single bit—however particular stand-outs had to be the artichoke and spinach dip, and the manchego because, let’s be honest, there’s very few combinations quite like chilli and cheese.

At £20, the platter proved to be a fantastic choice. In fact, the food was so delicious and so plentiful that we actually ditched our dinner plans and left The Booking Office feeling completely satisfied and a little bit tipsy.

Located in Kings Cross & St Pancras Station, I love that The Booking Office is a destination in an area that is otherwise only known as a starting or finishing point in a journey. Within its iconic red-brick walls, you feel a thousand miles away from a bustling modern train station, but not so far that you forget the building’s rich history.

My favourite thing about The Booking Office is that it’s not ‘trendy’ because it doesn’t have to be; its beauty is in the seamless fusion of British heritage and modern sophistication, and it’s this that will stand the test of time.