Best Restaurants In Clapham

Why we recommend: No.32 is one of those rare venues that genuinely works at every hour, morning coffee, weekend bottomless brunch with views over Clapham Common, Sunday roast with a killer Bloody Mary, or cocktails on the rooftop terrace until late. It's a proper neighbourhood anchor in Clapham Old Town with 1,700+ reviews to back it up.

Perched on The Pavement overlooking Clapham Common, No.32 The Old Town is one of the area's most versatile and best-loved spots. The rooftop terrace is the headline act, a first-floor perch above the Common that's hard to beat on a sunny afternoon. Come the weekend, bottomless brunch runs Saturday and Sunday from 11am, with 90 minutes of unlimited drinks and indulgent brunch dishes. Sunday roasts are equally worth planning around, don't skip the cauliflower cheese.

Why we recommend: Megan's has built a loyal following in Clapham Old Town for good reason, generous portions, beautiful interiors, a terrace that actually gets used, and a brunch menu that hits the spot.

Draped in botanicals, trailing plants and the kind of soft lighting that makes everyone look good, Megan's Old Town is one of Clapham's most photogenic spots and one of its most reliably enjoyable. The all-day menu spans everything from healthy grain bowls and eggs Benedict to slow-cooked lamb and mezze plates that are genuinely worth staying for. Friday Fizz is exactly what it sounds like. 

Why we recommend: Botanica Hall earns its place on any best-of Clapham list by doing Italian properly and backing it up with one of the better cocktail programmes in the area. 

Botanica Hall brings a handsome, high-ceilinged Italian to Clapham that swings between relaxed neighbourhood dinner and properly lively night out depending on the hour. The food, slow beef rigatoni, freshly pulled pizza, golden arancini, is the real deal rather than an afterthought, and the cocktail list is good enough to linger over well past dessert. It's also one of the more versatile spaces on this list, with event hire that scales impressively for larger groups. Book ahead at weekends.

Why we recommend: A secret terrace, handpicked wine on tap, tapas-style small plates and genuine romantic energy, Vagabond on Northcote Road is the kind of spot you want to keep to yourself.

Wine bar and restaurant in one, Vagabond sits on Northcote Road and does things quietly and well. The headline is the wine, a self-pour system that lets you work your way through handpicked bottles from around the world at your own pace, matched with a concise small plates menu built for sharing. The secret terrace out back is exactly as it sounds, a hidden alfresco spot that's genuinely hard to get a table on once word gets out in summer. 

Why we recommend: Self-dispense booze, velvet furnishings, small plates that actually deliver, Hannah earns its spot near Clapham Junction by being one of the more interesting all-rounders in the area. 

One of the best restaurants near Clapham Junction, Hannah leans into the wine bar-restaurant crossover with confidence. The room is all glistening chandeliers and plush velvet, the kind of place that feels like a find even when it's busy. The food, miso-doused black cod, charcoal lamb, thoughtfully put-together small plates, sits several notches above what the relaxed atmosphere might suggest. The self-dispense wine system means you're never waiting for a top-up, which in our book is always a point in anyone's favour.

The Northcote is one of the best restaurants in Clapham Junction, blurring the line between revered pub and gastro haven. If you're looking for a top spot for seasonal fare and top-quality bevs, this really is a strong contender.

Sitting on St John's Hill, The Plough is one of the best Clapham restaurants and bars. It's stocked full of all your favourite drinks, including a selection of craft beers and real ales produced by London's most famous breweries, which are perfect for washing down all those hearty plates.

The Belle Vue mixes contemporary touches with traditional pub values to create a wonderful place for you to eat in Clapham. Expect a deliciously modern menu, complete with lots of vegan and vegetarian dishes, plus updated British plates to boot.

Perched on the edge of the common, The Little Orange Door is one of the top 10 restaurants in Clapham. The menu is made up of all-day classics, from juicy burgers to truffle-topped fries, washed down with a selection of handcrafted cocktails.

While you may know Northcote Records, and its sister site Venn St. Records, better for its stellar lineup of live music, it also slings out some seriously sensational slices. Make your way over to this poppin' haunt for pizzas topped with sliced salted beef, spicy calabria sausage and gorgonzola.

The Windmill is one of the best restaurants in Clapham Common, located right on the green. Not only is it superb for sunny, summer sips, but also a tip-top munching session. Chow down on bountiful brunches, delicious dinners and sensational Sunday lunches.

Ideal whatever the weather, The Nel totes slinky interiors and a pretty alfresco terrace which overlooks Clapham Common. Brunches here are made of things like banana pancakes and pork shoulder benedict, while the all-day menu showcases seafood linguine plus a chicken and truffle salad.

Head to Little Bird Battersea for an eclectic mix of international dishes and a range of delicious cocktails, to be enjoyed in gorgeous surrounds. They serve everything from grilled pork bao buns to falafel tacos and lemon pepper chicken wings at this cosy restaurant.

Clapham locals know La Rueda for its combination of authentic tapas, handcrafted cocktails, and a lively rooftop terrace. Expect classics like patatas bravas, croquetas, and paella made to order, paired with sangrias, Spanish wines, and signature cocktails.

Weekly specials include Tapas Tuesdays, Happy Wednesdays, and Thursday sangria jugs, plus DJs on weekends make La Rueda the ultimate Spanish night out.

If you're looking for tasty tapas in Clapham, it's hard to top La Terraza. Pull up a pew at the bar, bag a table with your mates or slink off to the terrace to tuck into sensational Spanish small plates.

We're talking patatas bravas con chorizo, croquetas de pollo and pulpo a la parrilla. The drinks list is just as dreamy, packing in classic cocktails, fine fizz and international beers.

Why we recommend: The Michelin star is the headline, but Trinity's real pull is that it never feels like it. Adam Byatt has been cooking out of 4 The Polygon since 2006 and has somehow built one of London's most decorated restaurants while keeping it rooted firmly in the neighbourhood.

Clapham Old Town's finest, and arguably one of the finest restaurants in South London full stop. Downstairs is white tablecloths and four courses of exceptional seasonal Anglo-European cooking at £155 a head for dinner, with dishes like honey soufflé made with Clapham Common honey that feels almost designed to belong here. Upstairs is a different beast entirely , casual, buzzy, sharing plates, Bib Gourmand-awarded and considerably easier on the wallet. Whether you're splashing out on a special occasion or just want some of that Byatt magic without committing to the full tasting experience, Trinity has a version for you.

Looking for sushi in Clapham? A contemporary space mixing stunning woods with luxurious leathers and Oriental trinkets, there's a range of sushi, nigiri and sashimi bites to savour here. Their masterclasses make excellent team building activities, and there's a strong selection of signature cocktails - each offering its own Far Eastern twist - for a post-dinner tipple.

Only a short walk from Clapham Common you'll find Sorella, an award-winning Italian restaurant from the same team behind The Dairy and Counter Culture. Its interior is rustic with shabby-chic dark, panelled walls and tables and the space fronts an open kitchen where the produce-led menu comes to life. Inspired by the Amalfi coast, dishes include homemade ricotta topped with truffle honey and pumpkin seeds (£6.50), tagliatelle with pork and 'nduja ragu (£17.50), plus caramelised white chocolate cremoso, rhubarb and shortbread (£8.50) for dessert.

Why we recommend: Overlooks Clapham Common, run by genuinely hospitable people, open all day, and its BYOB Sunday roast, winner of the Great Clapham Roast Off two years running, is one of the best value evenings in SW4.

The pastel green facade and silk roses climbing the pergola give Minnow an unmistakable look on The Pavement, romantic, considered, and independent in every sense of the word. Inside, it's low lighting, jazz, period panelling and cosy corners that feel designed for lingering. The kitchen turns out modern seasonal European dishes from brunch through to dinner, with lamb rump, pan-fried plaice and a caramelised watermelon dessert with Campari sorbet among the standouts. Aperitivo hour runs daily from 3pm with cocktails at £6 and house wine at £5, which makes it one of the better early evening options on the Common. If you only go once, go on a Sunday.

Why we recommend: The dough is fermented for 24 hours using a mother yeast that's been alive since Berberè launched in Bologna in 2010. It's genuinely why the pizza tastes better here than almost anywhere else in South London.

Tucked down pedestrianised Venn Street with olive trees outside strung with lights, Berberè brings a proper slice of northern Italy to Clapham Old Town. The menu is short by design, a focused selection of sourdough pizzas made with organic tipo 1 flour, Fiordilatte mozzarella from Naples and toppings that range from the classic Margherita to the brilliant Diavola with spicy salami and nduja. The aubergine pizza with walnut pesto and smoked ricotta is the dark horse. Ranked in Italy's 50 Top Pizza guide, dog and child friendly, and with a festoon-lit terrace that fills up fast on warm evenings, book ahead.

Cosy, buzzy and effortlessly cool, Ploussard brings Parisian bistro energy to Battersea Rise. With an open kitchen, warm wooden tones and a lively atmosphere, it's great for everything from a casual midweek catchup to a super polished date night.

With Matt Harris in the kitchen, one half of the duo behind cult fried chicken outfit Other Side Fried, the menu leans toward modern European cooking with a heavy French influence. Standout dishes like lamb and anchovy crumpet or perfectly cooked fish finished with rich, punchy sauces, are just some of the reasons this place features in the MICHELIN Guide.

The Aussie brunch institution that helped put Clapham on the map for morning eating, Brickwood has been drawing queues outside its Clapham Common spot for years, and for good reason. Expect exceptional flat whites, a menu built around proper brunch done right, and that relaxed, sunny-side-up energy that makes it worth the wait. Order the Brickwood burrito or go for grilled sourdough toasties, either way, you're in good hands.