SOUND Cafe, situated within The Cumberland Hotel at Great Cumberland Place, London W1H 7DL, offers a vibrant dining experience with live music seven days a week. The menu features American-inspired dishes such as burgers, slow-smoked ribs, and plant-based bowls. Guests can enjoy a variety of beverages, including specialty coffees and award-winning cocktails. The venue also includes a sports bar with multiple screens showcasing live sports events. The interior boasts modern decor with an open kitchen and a stage area for performances, creating an energetic and trendy atmosphere.
What each source says
- Open Table 4.5 5,449
- Google Places 4.5 3,522
Bar length is review volume, so you can see how much weight sits behind each score. Captured 2026-08-21.
What visitors single out
Liked
- Attentive Service The service is frequently praised, with staff members being described as attentive, friendly, and quick to top up drinks during bottomless brunch. Many reviewers specifically call out individual servers by name, highlighting the positive impact they had on their experience.
- Good Value Bottomless Brunch Deals The bottomless brunch is frequently mentioned as excellent value for money, especially when purchased through deals like Travelzoo or Wowcher. Reviewers noted the generous portions, unlimited drinks, and overall affordability.
- Lively Atmosphere with Entertainment The restaurant offers a vibrant and entertaining atmosphere, with live music, drag shows, and retro music videos playing. This makes it a great spot for celebrations and fun outings with friends or family.
- Tasty and Varied Food Options Many reviewers enjoyed the food, with the burgers, pulled pork, and apple cobbler receiving specific praise. The menu also offers vegan and gluten-free options, catering to different dietary needs.
- Unique Robot Servers The use of robot servers to deliver food adds a fun and quirky touch to the dining experience. Although they require human assistance, customers find them to be an entertaining novelty.
Criticised
- Cocktail Sweetness Several reviewers found the cocktails to be overly sweet and syrupy. This may be a drawback for those who prefer less sugary drinks.
- Inconsistent Food Quality While some reviewers raved about the food, others found it to be just okay or even disappointing. Issues like dry chips, overcooked steak, and cold dishes were mentioned, suggesting inconsistencies in the kitchen.
- Loud Environment The restaurant can be very loud, making it difficult to have conversations. This may not be ideal for those seeking a quiet and intimate dining experience.
- Potential Crowds and Wait Times The restaurant can get very busy, especially during brunch hours and events. This can lead to longer wait times for drinks and food, potentially impacting the overall enjoyment.
- Service Inconsistencies Though many reviewers praise the service, some have experienced issues such as slow drink service during busy periods or staff forgetting cutlery and napkins. These inconsistencies can affect the overall dining experience.
The longer read
SOUND Cafe garners high praise for its bottomless brunch deals, vibrant atmosphere, and attentive service. Many reviewers specifically call out the bottomless brunch for its value, with free-flowing Prosecco and other drinks, and generous portions of tasty food. Several reviewers mention purchasing deals via Groupon, Wowcher, or Travel Zoo, and feeling welcome despite using vouchers. The service consistently receives positive feedback, with multiple reviewers highlighting specific staff members (Leo, Zak, Rafael, Dmytro, Camille, Josh, Dario, Gabriele) for their friendliness and attentiveness, ensuring glasses are always full. A unique feature noted by several reviewers is the presence of robot servers, which adds a fun and modern touch to the dining experience. The atmosphere is frequently described as lively, vibrant, and concert-like, with many reviewers enjoying the live music and entertainment, particularly the drag brunches. The decor is also praised as modern and bright. The food generally receives positive reviews, with the burgers (especially the Sound Cafe burger and London double-decker burger), pulled pork, and apple cobbler being mentioned as standouts. While some reviewers found certain dishes (like the chips) to be dry or the brownie too sweet, the overall consensus is that the food is enjoyable and well-presented. Several reviewers who had previously visited when the restaurant was the Hard Rock Cafe note that the SOUND Cafe retains the positive aspects of the previous establishment while offering its own unique vibe. The restaurant is also noted to be accommodating to dietary restrictions, with vegan and gluten-free options available. A few reviewers mentioned that the noise level can be high, making conversation difficult, and one reviewer noted a long wait for drinks due to short staffing, but these issues were generally outweighed by the positive aspects of the experience. The restaurant's location near Marble Arch and Oxford Street is also convenient for many visitors. Repeat customers are common, indicating a high level of satisfaction and a willingness to return for future meals and entertainment.
A synthesis of third-party reviews supplied by Mindtrip travel index. Not written by Breaks.
Getting there
- Phone
- 020 7479 5078
- Website
- sound.london
| Mon | 11:00 - 23:00 |
|---|---|
| Tue | 11:00 - 23:00 |
| Wed | 11:00 - 23:00 |
| Thu | 11:00 - 23:00 |
| Fri | 11:00 - 23:00 |
| Sat | 11:00 - 23:00 |
| Sun | 11:00 - 22:30 |
Against the neighbourhood
Rated 4.5 against a median of 4.4 across the 70 places to eat we hold for Marylebone, where the most-reviewed is Carlotta.
Booking
Still deciding?
- What type of live music is performed each night and how does the schedule vary throughout the week?
- Which plant‑based bowls and other vegetarian dishes are available on the menu, and how do they compare to the meat options?
- What awards have the cocktails won and which signature drinks should I try when visiting?
- How many screens are in the sports bar and which major sporting events are typically shown?
- When is the best time of day to experience the ambiance, live music, and service at Sound Cafe?
Where this comes from
Venue records are drawn from the Mindtrip travel index, which aggregates place data and review signals from Google Places, Tripadvisor and booking providers. Ratings are reproduced per source rather than merged into a single number. Distances to nearby venues are computed here as great-circle distances between the published coordinates, not walking or driving routes. Comparison figures are medians computed across the venues we hold for the same neighbourhood or city.
Source: Mindtrip travel index, captured 2026-08-21.
What this page cannot tell you
- Descriptions and review summaries are supplied by the source index and are reproduced as published; they are not independently verified by Breaks.
- Ratings and review counts are point-in-time snapshots and drift constantly. Check the venue's own site or the rating provider for the current figure.
- Opening hours change seasonally and at short notice. Confirm with the venue before travelling.
- Category labels come from the source index and are occasionally wrong — a venue may be filed under a type that does not match how it trades.
- Straight-line distances understate real walking distance, especially where a river or railway sits between two points.