Ping Pong, London SE1

The £91m refurbishment of the Royal Festival Hall on London's South Bank is complete—well officially, at least. Unofficially it's a work in progress, and judging by the number of fluorescent-waistcoated workers still digging holes outside, that progress is slow. Undisputedly complete is the parade of bars and restaurants that runs alongside, perpendicular to the Thames. Ping Pong sits on one end, on what is nominally the suicidal spot, but this place buzzes and bustles like a market stall. Its dim sum-inspired menu is perfect for a lunchtime snack, although it's all too easy to order far more than you can handle, rendering the rest of afternoon a drowsy washout. Perk yourself up with a jasmine flower tea: hot art in a glass.