The best restaurants in Clapham, according to our local editors
Clapham may never fully shake off its reputation as the stomping ground for Yoyo push chairs and rugby-obsessed Aussies, but one thing that is changing is its propensity for dreary chain restaurants and identikit bars. The Antipodean influence has seen Clapham punch well above its weight in terms of quality coffee and innovative brunch menus, with numerous standout options including Brickwood, No 32 Old Town, The Table and Cafe Tamra. But now serious supper spots have also set their sights on this leafy pocket of south-west London, with new addresses popping up around the common and beyond. From the buzzy vibe of Crispin at Studio Voltaire to the lip-smacking Italian plates of Sorella via hearty Sunday roasts at The Windmill, here’s our pick of the very best restaurants in Clapham.
Ploussard
Dish to order: Lamb and anchovy crumpet
With cosy wooden booths, a bustling open kitchen and a deceptively simple-looking menu, this blink-and-you’ll-miss-it gem on a busy corner of Battersea Rise is easily one of the sexiest tables in SW11 right now. Created by hospitality duo Matt Harris and Tommy Kempton, founders of Brixtion’s Other Side Fried, Ploussard’s menu reads deceptively simple and unexpected. Start with house bread, served in banana-bread-thick style slabs, and wash it down with a fresh Cape Wrath oyster topped with gooseberry ice and wild garlic capers. The small plate menu changes with the seasonal produce available from Alternative Meats, Shrub Provisions and Natoora. The attention to detail here is a true pleasure, from the paper-thin pastry crunch of the raw beef and mushroom tart to the surprising worcesterberry paired with raw diver scallop and green tomato. The lamb and anchovy crumpet is the star of the show – a gooey, salty, comforting dish that’s an instant hit. Vegetarians should opt for the girolles, hazelnut and smoked egg yolk. Whatever you order, just don’t rush, order a smokey Sage Negroni or a bottle of French wine and settle in for a great night.
Address: Ploussard, 97 St John's Road, London SW11 1QY
Website:ploussardlondon.co.uk
The Windmill
Dish to order: Roast chicken crown and ham hock croquette roast
Where do Claphamites convene for Sunday afternoon reunions? The Windmill, of course – the Clapham Common pub that transports diners to a corner of the Great British countryside, if only for a few hours (it’s also a 42-room hotel, should you be from out of town). The Windmill prides itself on ‘proper pub food’, which is evident in how the team pull out all the stops for its roasts. Whet your appetite over small plates of smoked mackerel pate, cauliflower fritters and steak tartare before the main event, chicken, pork or beef atop all the trimmings. The weekly à la carte offerings are just as delicious, while hunky sandwiches and lunchtime specials maintain a steady stream of hungry locals throughout the day. On summer evenings, the wraparound terrace garden is the place to be before venturing down the high street – arrive well ahead of time or book ahead if you’re eager to secure a table.
Address: The Windmill, Clapham Common South Side, London SW4 9DE
Website: windmillclapham.co.uk
Common Pizza
Dish to order: NYC-style Pepperoni
Clapham Common is officially home to the neighbourhood’s buzziest place for a bite, as Common Pizza pulls in devotees of NYC and Detroit-style pizzas. Settle onto benches in the sprawling open-air space and prepare for your group to be divided, some opting for wafer-thin NYC slices and others diving into deep-dish Detroit wedges. However you take it, the pepperoni is a treat, generous lashings of mozzarella with pickled chillies and a drizzle of scotch bonnet hot honey providing a fiery punch. The roasted pepper pizza offers an indulgent way to get one of your five a day (don’t hold us to that), but there’s plenty to devour besides the classics; the cacio e pepe pizza topped with smoked pancetta lardons, spicy nduja and parmesan is enough to warrant a return visit. Don’t underestimate the menu’s suggestion of sharing the Detroit variety alongside a salad – or come very hungry, it’s a lot to get through on a balmy summer’s evening. Dipping sauces are a must, crispy crusts coated in tangy buttermilk blue cheese and nduja mayo. Should there be room, the £6 tiramisu might just be one of Clapham’s tastiest steals, with pistachio, white chocolate and Baileys coming together for the ultimate sweet finale. Live music draws in the area’s fun, young things Thursday through Saturday, as hands raise to the heavens and voices croak tipsy renditions of sing-along favourites into the surrounding greenery.
Address: Common Pizza, 10 Rookery Road, London, SW4 9DD
Website: commonpizza.co.uk
Crispin at Studio Voltaire
Dish to order: Save room for a comforting pud
Crispin at Studio Voltaire was the talk of the town following its spring 2024 opening – and has remained so ever since, quickly becoming one of the best restaurants in Clapham. The 50-cover restaurant and bar sits within a gallery and arts organisation, so expect a creative crowd and a buzzy environment come supper service; we’d expect nothing less from the sister restaurant to Crispin, Bar Crispin and Bistro Freddie. Dishes utilise the best seasonal produce available, but expect to slather cultured butter on chunks of soda bread before diving into hearty pasta dishes, crunchy salads, underrated cuts of meat and comforting desserts. The wine list dwarfs the food menu and offers something for every taste and budget, from Italian whites starting at £7 a glass to bottles of Domaine AMI Bourgognes for special occasions. Things spill onto the drinking garden and dining terrace during the summer months, creating an al-fresco haven a stone’s throw from the neighbourhood’s hustle and bustle.
Address: Crispin at Studio Voltaire, 1a Nelsons Row, London SW4 7JR
Website: crispinlondon.com
Trinity
Dish to order: Trinity Beef Tartare, smoked bone marrow, mushrooms and Oscietra caviar
Since 2006 Trinity has firmly secured itself as a true London classic, avoiding any of the empty hype and hyperbolic trends that can permeate the city’s food scene. Instead chef Adam Byatt – who also acts as chef director at Brown’s Hotel – has maintained a dedicated contingency of fans, and a Michelin star. One that comes with a very reasonable £90 price tag for four courses. Above the restaurant, Byatt offers an even more accessible offering via the casual small-plates spoon off, aptly named Upstairs.
Much of the appeal here is in the carefully sourced seasonal produce, expertly prepared – in a previous lifetime head chef Harry Kirkpatrick prepared 40 roast ducks a day at Eleven Madison Park in New York. The front of house staff have a joyful enthusiasm for every nook of the menu, right down to where the Hubert tomatoes are grown – an idyllic sounding field in Provence if you’re wondering. The rainbow of tomatoes are so plump and juicy they could easily be mistaken for citrus, served surrounding a wispy stack of pastry that’s topped with Cornish crab hollandaise and a sprinkling of lavender – grown right next to the tomatoes in the same Provence field. Where Adam really flexes his alchemy skills is the signature beef tartar, topped with genius layers of smoked bone marrow, mushrooms and Oscietra caviar. I don't even really like tartare or caviar and yet, this magical dish won me over with its rich umami flavour that practically punches you in the face. Finish the night off on a sugar high with the fluffy Clapham honey soufflé, served with a dollop of beeswax ice cream.
Address: Trinity, 4 The Polygon, London SW4 0JG
Website: trinityrestaurant.co.uk
Lina Stores
Dish to order: Spaghetti alla Chitarra, Amalfi lemon, pink peppercorn and grana padano
Further proof Clapham is becoming a neighbourhood restaurant darling, Soho favourite Line Stores has brought its signature ricotta tre latte and chic peppermint-and-cream awning to the north eastern end of Clapham Common. If you can nab a table – the place has been packed since its July 2023 opening – kick things off with one of their dangerously smooth and strong cocktails (go for the Pomello martini with basil and lemon), before tucking into a pasta and antipasti extravaganza. Plates are made small so you can try a range, from the crab linguine with a perfect chilli bite, to coppa and pecorino brigante, where even the little broad bean garnish is delectable. Everything is lick-the-plate-clean delicious, but just don’t sleep on the Spaghetti alla Chitarra. Recommended by one of the servers, this easy-to-skip dish will transport you to Portofino in one creamy (but no actual cream), zesty lemony bite.
Address: Lina Stores, 22 The Pavement, London SW4 0HY
Website: linastores.co.uk
Cher Thai Eatery
Dish to order: Kraprow Gai Kai Dao
Clapham Old Town may tend to lie on the sleepy side, but this little family-run spot hosts a lively crowd every night. Beloved by many an expat who misses the Thai food so readily available in Australasia (myself included), Cher Thai Eatery readily serves up some of the most authentic Thai flavours in all of London. Authentic and thus, eye-wateringly spicy. If you’re here for the heat, the Kraprow Gai Kai Dao – traditional stir-fried basil leaf and minced chicken – comes with a three-chilli warning. For something more tame but equally tasty, the river prawn glass noodle is the perfect dish, arriving at the table in a clay pot and accompanied with pak choi and celery.
Address: Cher Thai Eatery, 22 North Street, London SW4 0HB
Website: Cherthailondon.co.uk
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Minnow
Dish to order: Eton mess pudding
On any given weekend, Claphamites clamour to secure a table outside on the pavement of this by-the-common hotspot. If the floral-festooned exterior (which sweetly changes with the seasons) doesn’t win you over, the long leisurely brunch will. This is the kind of place that typically starts with coffee and accidentally ends up with cocktails – hence the marmalade margaritas on the Sunday brunch menu. Stay for supper and get set for a brilliantly assured selection of modern European cooking: starters of plump king prawns beautifully bathed in garlic and chilli; mains of moules marinière served with chargrilled sourdough. Much of the menu’s starring dishes are also vegetarian – vegetarian tempura with hummus and harissa, and a juicy Greek-style stuffed aubergine dressed with tomato, parsley, onion and yoghurt. Come for Sunday roasts, cocktail-fuelled Friday nights – and everything in between.
Address: Minnow, 21 The Pavement, Clapham, London SW4 0HY
Website: minnowclapham.co.uk
Sorella
Dish to order: Pappardelle and braised pork shoulder regu
Fans of star chef Rob Gill (The Dairy, Counter Culture) will happily recognise his cooking style at this charming Italian spot. His love for fermenting, pickling and preserving shines through in an Amalfi Coast-inspired menu of home-cured coppa or saucisson with tangy chutneys, whole grilled mackerel with preserved lemon and Negronis mixed with home-brewed vermouth. If there’s only one thing you order (aside from the superlative truffle arancini), make it the rich ‘nduja and pork ragu served over hand-rolled pappardelle – it’s the ultimate comfort-food fix.
Address: Sorella, 148 Clapham Manor Street, London SW4 6BX
Website: sorellarestaurant.co.uk
Bistro Union
Dish to order: Comté gougères
One of the most long-standing restaurants on heavily gentrified Abbeville Road, Bistro Union has all the trappings of a perfect neighbourhood bistro. Owned and run by the same team as Trinity (see above), and there’s not an ounce of Michelin-starred stuffiness: daily-changing snacks and specials are scribbled on thick rolls of brown paper hanging from the walls and simple wooden shelves are laden with wine bottles. For supper, expect elegantly unfussy British-led dishes: rollmop herrings with dill creme fraiche, and burnt aubergine with tomato, rocket and tahini. Options to share include the BBQ sirloin roasted on the bone, served with the fluffiest, crunchiest chips. Puddings are done exceptionally well, too, with crumbles or plum-and-almond tart arriving in skillets with jugs of custard to pour on top.
Address: Bistro Union, 40 Abbeville Road, Clapham, London SW4 9NG
Website: bistrounion.co.uk