Ah, leafy Clapham. We’ve spent many an afternoon mingling with the Aussies around the Common, drinking and playing games in Four Thieves at Clapham Junction and devouring the delicacies dished up by Clapham’s restaurants.
Clapham straddles two boroughs, Lambeth and Wandsworth, so things can be a bit spread out.
With that in mind, we decided to split our Clapham restaurants guide into different areas – Clapham Junction, South, Common and High Street – so that you can simply scroll down to your hood.
Not a local? No worries. Plan a trip south for some tasty food with this Clapham restaurant guide or head south-east armed with our list of our favourite places to eat in Peckham.
Clapham Junction Restaurants
Soif
Soif is homely. Like, really homely. The bistro is no secret these days, but it remains one of the best restaurants at Clapham Junction for good reason. The rustic restaurant is basically everything you could want from a French bistro and wine bar. With daily menus scribbled on a chalkboard and arty posters adorning the walls, you’d be forgiven for thinking you’re in Paris.
Food is classic French bistro affair. The fennel-flecked charcuterie is of the highest order, the steak frites features very high-grade meat and the wine list works with a number of small scale producers. Soif remains a popular local spot for its versatility – come for a glass of wine before you start your night, share a plate of charcuterie with a friend or come for a full meal of classic French cuisine.
Price: £££
Address: 27 Battersea Rise, London SW11 1HG, UK
Opening hours: Mon: Closed / Tue – Wed: 6pm – 11pm / Thu – Sat: 12pm – 11pm / Sun: 6pm – 11pm
Contact: 020 7223 1112 / enquiries@soif.co.uk
Pi Pizza
Forget the Franco Manca on Northcote Road. Instead, those in the know head to Pi Pizza on Battersea Rise. Pi Pizza is about the prettiest pizzeria we’ve ever seen. White-washed brick, loads of natural light and a real tree (!) in the main dining room make for a super cosy dining experience.
The pizzas deliver too. Dough is left for 72 hours to ferment resulting in a light and thin pizza with an airy crust. The pizzas are massive and you’re actively encouraged to go halves (or even thirds) on toppings and share. Pi Pizza is the first London restaurant of the Winchester-based chain and has been a real hit with Clapham and Battersea residents.
Price: ££
Address: 4-6a Battersea Rise, London SW11 1ED, UK
Opening hours: Mon: Closed / Tue – Wed: 5pm – 10.30pm / Thu: 5pm – 11.30pm / Fri – Sat: 11.45 – 11.30pm / Sun: 11.45 – 10pm
Contact: 020 7978 5542 / battersearise@pi-pizza.co.uk
Mien Tay
Ignoring the fact that it’s technically in Battersea, our go-to place for pho near Clapham Junction is Mien Tay. This is real deal Vietnamese food. Not much of a looker from the outside, the decor is also kept pretty simple inside. But with food this good, who cares?
Portions here are huge and the prices are very affordable. The aforementioned pho – deep, fragrant and hearty – is enough to lift anyone out of a winter depression, but there’s loads for the more adventurous too, like a whole deep-fried Mekong catfish.
Price: ££
Address: 180 Lavender Hill, Battersea, London SW11 5TQ, UK
Opening hours: Mon – Thu: 12pm – 3pm & 5pm – 11pm / Fri – Sun: 12pm – 11pm
Contact: 020 7350 0721
Clapham South Restaurants
The Rookery
The Rookery charmed us from the moment we first laid eyes on it, before we even had an inkling of how good the food is. The pretty entrance covered in fairy-lights opposite the Common must be a contender for the most inviting in all of London. The inside is just as pretty. Wooden decor and candlelit tables create an extremely romantic vibe. This one’s perfect for a first-date or a romantic evening with your partner.
The food is a mix of British gastropub and European dishes. Think rib-eye steak or beer-battered haddock for the former and roasted butternut squash salad or baked aubergine with goat’s cheese for the latter. The chefs rustle up a fantastic roast dinner every Sunday from 12.30pm too. They come with all the trimmings and there’s also a nut roast for veggies.
Price: £££
Address: 69 Clapham Common South Side, London SW4 9DA, UK
Opening hours: Mon – Thu: 5.30pm – 11pm / Fri – Sat: 12.30pm – 12 / Sun: 12.30pm – 10.30pm
Contact: 020 7732 2256 / therookeryclapham@outlook.com
Milk
Technically in Balham and also technically not a restaurant, Milk still makes it on to our list because the food is that good. The cafe serves up speciality coffee from European roasters like The Barn in Berlin as well as what are surely some of London’s best brunch dishes. The queue outside the door each weekend attests to that. Milk has recently started opening in the evening and currently takes bookings for dinner.
Buckwheat pancakes are our go-to but every single menu item is a winner. These are not your usual brunch dishes either. Everything is given a creative twist, while the presentation is immaculate. White-washed exposed brick walls and the minimal decor help crank the hipster vibes up to 11, but the clientele is varied. It gets busy and therefore loud, and you’ll have to go early and still possibly have to queue. But take our word for it – it will be worth it!
Price: ££
Address: 18-20 Bedford Hill, Balham, London SW12 9RG, UK
Opening hours: Mon – Wed: 8 – 5pm / Wed – Sat 8am – 5pm & 6.30pm – 11pm / Sun: 9am – 5pm
Contact: 020 8772 9085 / julian@milk.london
Elsewhere in London? We’ve got plenty more guides to the big smoke.
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Filipino restaurants in London
The best seafood restaurants in London
Clapham Common Restaurants
The Dairy
The Dairy by Clapham Common station is no stranger to London foodies – perhaps thanks to a rather positive review by The Guardian shortly after opening. Attention to detail and some seriously fine chefs make The Dairy stand out among the competition. The seasonal, mostly British ingredients are treated with utmost respect in inventive ways. Take for example the smoked bone marrow butter that wowed guests from day one.
The menu is large but the attention to detail remains. There are loads of vegetarian options and to get a taste of just how good the food here is, we recommend going for the tasting menu. At £48 per person for seven courses, it’s excellent value for the quality. Quaint, warm and extremely welcoming, it’s no surprise The Dairy remains one of Clapham’s best restaurants.
Price: £££
Address: 15 The Pavement, Clapham, London SW4 0HY, UK
Opening hours: Mon: Closed / Tue – Fri: 12pm – 2.30pm & 6pm – 10pm / Sat: 10 – 2.30pm & 6pm – 10pm / Sun: 10 – 3.30pm
Contact: 020 7622 4165 / bookings@the-dairy.co.uk
Trinity
Unofficially regarded as Clapham’s best restaurant, Trinity remains as strong as ever. Based in Clapham Old Town, the restaurant is formal, but the open kitchen, chatty staff and general buzzy vibe ensure a balanced ambience. The team at Trinity take the freshest seasonal ingredients and create Michelin star winning dishes. The menu changes, but think best of British and European cuisine, like terrines, scallops and fish, always with an inventive and personal touch.
The food is mouth-watering and the prices a little eye-watering. Mains are priced at around £25 upwards, while the four-course menu is £75. However, that doesn’t stop people flocking to Trinity. If you’re looking to impress or splurge then Trinity is for you. Otherwise, it’s probably best to look elsewhere on our list; Trinity is definitely a rare treat.
Price: ££££
Address: 4 The Polygon, Clapham, London SW4 0JG, UK
Opening hours: Mon – Sat: 12.30pm – 2.30pm & 6.30pm – 10pm / Sun: 12.30pm – 2.30pm & 6.30pm – 9pm
Contact: 020 7622 1199 / dine@trinityrestaurant.co.uk
Joe Public
Although not really a restaurant at all, we just had to put Joe Public on our list of Clapham’s best restaurants. The small pizza parlour in a former public toilet opposite the station cooks up huge pizzas and sells them by the slice to hungry locals. There are just a couple of counters and stools to sit on, but there are plenty of tables outside and the Common is nearby too, so a slice to go is always a good idea.
Joe steers clear of the current Neapolitan pizza hype. The pizzas here are Californian style – thin and crispy – and the toppings change regularly. The slices are also massive, by the way. We’re not ashamed to say we are now early morning visitors to Joe Public too. The pizzeria does some fine breakfast butties alongside serving fresh coffee made from Caravan beans. As if that wasn’t cool enough, Joe Public even has its own brand IPA! With loads of other craft beers too, Joe Public is perhaps the best place south of the river for a beer and a slice.
Price: £
Address: 4 The Pavement, Clapham, London SW4 0HY, UK
Opening hours: Mon – Fri: 11 – 12 / Sat: 9 – 12 / Sun: 9 – 11pm
Contact: 020 7622 4676
Clapham High Street Restaurants
Tsunami
Our pick for the best Japanese restaurant in Clapham, Tsunami is no newbie, but it still blows us away. There was a refurb back in 2015 and as a result Tsunami can still mix it with the best. The sushi is to die for, but we’re a fan of some of the more creative dishes, like the truffle tofu or steamed snow crab dumplings.
The restaurant is pretty fancy, but the atmosphere is by no means stuffy. The bar mixes some fine signature cocktails, while there are crisp Japanese beers, sake and whiskeys also on offer. All this makes Tsunami a special place to dine and one where you can easily spend an entire evening.
Price: £££
Address: 5-7 Voltaire Rd, Clapham, London SW4 6DQ, UK
Opening hours: Mon – Thu: 5.30pm – 10.30pm / Fri: 5.30pm – 11pm / Sat: 12pm – 3pm & 5.30pm – 11pm/ Sun: 12pm – 3pm & 5.30pm – 9.30pm
Contact: 020 7978 1610 / clapham@tsunamirestaurant.co.uk
Sorella
Sorella translates to sister in Italian, which is fitting for a restaurant with such a nice family feel. That’s thanks to the refined yet homely interior, although it has much to do with the food too, because Sorella does pasta – really well! The menu changes often, but think crab and fennel linguine or insanely moreish truffle gnocchi. There are some naughty options too, like breaded and deep-fried nocellara olives, and of course indulgent desserts.
With delicious Italian food in a casual setting, Sorella is the perfect neighbourhood bistro, something everyone wants on their doorstep. Luckily it’s here in Clapham.
Price: £££
Address: 148 Clapham Manor St, Clapham, London SW4 6BX, UK
Opening hours: Mon: Closed / Tue: 6pm – 10pm / Wed – Fri: 12pm – 2.30pm & 6pm – 10pm / Sat: 12pm – 2.30pm & 6pm – 10pm / Sun: 12pm – 3pm
Contact: 020 7720 4662 / reservations@sorellarestaurant.co.uk
Sappho Meze Bar
Just next to Clapham North station is Sappho Meze Bar. There’s little from the outside to warn you of the great things that await. That’s because Sappho Meze Bar is all about the food, which is just how we like it. There’s no menu here. Instead, choose whether you want meat, vegetarian or vegan dishes and then you’re left in the very capable hands of the head chef and owner Louis.
A seemingly endless number of small plates of authentic Greek food, full of dips, breads and all sorts of other meze goodness, will then be delivered to your table. Homemade yoghurt with Greek honey is the perfect ending – if you still have room! We love the concept as well as the food, and the value for money is outrageous considering the amount of food you get.
Price: ££
Address: 9 Clapham High St, Clapham, London SW4 7TS, UK
Opening hours: Mon – Sat: 5.30pm – 11.30pm / Sun: Closed
Contact: 020 7498 9009
Mommi
Rounding off our list with something a bit different is Mommi. The place is part restaurant part bar, but luckily for us, it takes its food super seriously. The small plates of Peruvian-Japanese fusion food are a wonder and the variety is mind-boggling. There are vegan nights, a bottomless brunch and even a Sunday menu with different roasts.
Mommi oozes cool and is definitely one for the young crowd. The bar houses South American wines and shakes up innovative cocktails. There are of course tap and bottled craft beers, along with some tasty Japanese whiskies. Things can get rowdy on the weekends with the drinks flowing, but despite being an unconventional restaurant, the food at Mommi is too good to miss.
Price: £££
Address: 44-48 Clapham High St, Clapham, London SW4 7UR, UK
Opening hours: Mon – Thu: 5.30pm – 11pm / Fri: 5.30pm – 1 / Sat: 12.30pm – 2 / Sun: 11 – 11pm
Contact: 020 3814 1818
