Ah, Clapham. Home of Gordon Ramsay, Infernos and more avo-topped toast brunch spots than you can shake a stick (or some chilli flakes) at.
Sure, the majority of its residents may be Lululemon-clad ladies and finance bros, but don’t let that put you off the many brunch, lunch and dinner spots it has to offer.
Whether you’re keen to tuck into crispy pig trotters at Michelin-starred Trinity, duck liver parfait with bread, pickles and copious glasses of wine at Crispin @ Studio Voltaire or a life-changing cone of pistachio gelato at Nardulli, Clapham has something to fill everyone's plate (and belly).
Best lunches in Clapham
No. 32 The Old Town
32 The Pavement, SW4 0JE
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Formerly a run-of-the-mill gastropub, No. 32 The Old Town could easily be mistaken for an über-modern, super-sleek, granite and marble touting joint with more style than substance. But really: both the interior and the food here are top-notch. The price points are high – this isn't a casual pop-in for a sarnie and be back at your desk in 40 minutes jobbie - but if you're looking for a classy lunch spot for creamy beetroot and barley risotto, tangy fried rice with five kinds of veg and kimchi pickled in house or mussels steamed in Cornish Orchard cider, cream, garlic and chives, head to 32. Dine on the first-floor terrace for gorgeous green views of the common even on the greyest of days.
Barsito
57 Venn Street, SW4 0BD
Charcuterie spread at Barsito
Tapas is best enjoyed in the most intimate and traditional of settings and, although Clapham doesn't quite offer the same intoxicating heat and locally sourced produce as, say, Barcelona, it does have Barsito. Bursting with loud waiters, wines by the barrel and small plates of juicy, garlic-covered gambas, spicy, chorizo-laden tortillas and not one but two types of Manchego cheese, it's a slice of Spain in South London. Don't miss the daily specials, often offering the best of seasonal British produce with a Spanish twist, the fruity, rich Andalucian red wines and the itty bitty breadsticks you normally only find in the most authentic of Spanish bars.
Berberè Pizzeria
67 Venn Street, SW4 0BD
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Ranked 5th place in the 50 Top Pizza Awards 2023 – Berberè Pizzeria knows its way around a chewy crust and tangy tomato sauce. Made using semi-whole and stone-ground flours – Berberè's pizzas are better for you than those with a bog-standard refined flour base, which is excellent news because you can then load up on more burrata, provolone, and fiordilatte mozzarella – right? Choose from the classics like a marg, salsiccia with Yorkshire pork sausage and diavola piccante with spicy salami and 'nudja, or go rogue with a smashed falafel pizza. If you've got space, the montanarina's should be on your hit list – deep-fried doughballs topped with tomato sauce, burrata, smoked ricotta and the like.
M. Moen & Sons
24 The Pavement, SW4 0JA
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They're something wonderfully British about a good old butchers, meat hanging from the ceilings and rows of pungent cheese ready to be wrapped in paper and weighed for you. Authenticity-wise, M. Moen doesn't disappoint—it's been open and family-run since 1971, serving Clapham locals and Londoners from further afield ever since. Pop in for fresh focaccia, locally grown tomatoes, cones of chorizo and creamy slices of Sainte Maurede Touraine goats cheese. You'll never look at a supermarket picnic in the same way again.
Best restaurants in Clapham
Crispin @ Studio Voltaire
1a Nelsons Row, SW4 7JR
It's not often you find one of your favourite restaurants in a non-profit gallery – but Crispin bucks the trend. Tucked into the bowels of Studio Voltaire, Crispin brings the cool to Clapham in the form of sustainable tap wines, E5 sourdough and comté croquettes. Helmed by chef Michael Miles, the seasonal menu showcases the best produce that grows on and grazes in the British Isles from small-scale and independent producers. Ensure you don't miss out on the half-roasted chicken served with salsa verde and grelot onion – perfect fodder for sogging up the vino. For those who flock to east London to get your fill of small plates and orange wine – there's now a reliable spot in south west without the commute.
Lina Stores
22 The Pavement, SW4 0HY
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In life, you need those dependable restaurant chains that sling out consistently tasty, good-quality plates of grub. Lina Stores is one of those spots. The latest iteration of its pasta empire has laid its foundations in Clapham on a street corner close to the common with glorious outdoor seating when the sun decides to shine. On the menu is handmade pasta – including all the fan favourites like pappardelle with ragu, spaghetti alla vongole and crab linguine – alongside snaffable nibbles (we’re looking at you, gnudi fritti) and, of course, tiramisu. Wash it down with a couple of Campari spritzes and you have a lovely evening on your hands.
Sorella
148 Clapham Manor Street, SW4 6BX
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Grace Dent called Sorella a "little corner of the Amalfi coast", and she wasn't wrong. Again, this isn't a casual lunch affair, but it is an unforgettable one. Stroll down on a lazy Sunday to pick on (read: devour) crispy, crunchy Nocellara olives, rich truffle arancini balls and energetic bowls of homemade linguine perfectly paired with flaky turbot, chilli and pepper. Plus, anywhere that lets you pimp your dish with extra truffle is a winner in our eyes. Don’t leave without a house negroni—a true Italian treat.
Tsunami
5 -7 Voltaire Road, Clapham, SW4 6DQ
Japanese spread at Tsunami
Japanese in Clapham needn’t consist of soggy edamame and mediocre sashimi — not if you head to Tsunami, where the tuna tataki, gyoza and nigiri are in plentiful abundance. Try the special, delicately rolled tuna, snow crab, salmon, yellowtail, shrimp, avocado, kampyo, tamago, tobiko, cucumber and scallion encased in crunchy, salty nori, and the soft shell crab tempura, complete with umami dipping sauce. Plus, they offer all you can eat brunch at the weekend for just £20 a head. Ready, set… sashimi.
Trinity
4 The Polygon, SW4 0JG
Trinity
As Clapham's only Michelin-star offering, you might expect Trinity to be a tad on the stuffy side, but there's a friendly neighbourhood feel about this fine dining that's difficult to discover elsewhere. Enjoy the best of British produce from Adam Byatt, serving simple starters and more complex mains (spiced pigeon and jowl, we're looking at you). His crispy pig trotters, paired with salty, rich crackling and impossibly light sauce Gribiche, are the stuff of legend on the Clapham food scene, and the buttery, flaky sea trout is delicious, too.
Mama Lan
8 The Pavement, SW4 0HY
Prawn noodles at Mamalan
Two words: smacked cucumber. Oh, would we smack someone for that garlicky, spicy, tangy cucumber. Who knew an all-too-often forgotten vegetable could be so darn delicious? Other than, well, us… and everyone reading this article...For a taste of Beijing in, well, central Clapham, the dumplings at Mama Lan are a must-try. They're one of the few Chinese restaurants where the veggie options on offer are as tasty, if not better, than the meat. Go for dumplings stuffed with sweet, umami wood ear mushrooms, bitter spinach and vermicelli, and to watch Mama Lan herself hand make noodles in front of you.
Best brunches in Clapham
Minnow
21 The Pavement, SW4 0HY
Brunch at Minnow
Rose-adjourned arches and flower-covered ceilings are more the vibe of central London's most 'grammed cafes than Clapham's slightly subtler offerings—apart from, that is, Minnow. Impossible not to notice in the Old Town as silk flowers burst out of the doorframe, it's kitsch but cute, and a subtle reminder that it's not just another corporate-owned chain—quite the opposite. Minnow was opened by husband and wife duo Chris Frichot and Saba Tsegaye in 2017, formerly front of house at Hawksmoor and Caravan. Rather like the fish its named after, it's petite in both physical size and menu options. Head for the ambience, not audacious food: think avocado toast, full English brekkies featuring all the baked bean-slathered sides, or stacks of maple-soaked French toast piled high. Fun fact: a handful of the cocktails are named after famous Clapham figureheads, such as composer Edward Grieg and author Natsume Sōseki.
Megan’s
55-57 The Pavement, SW4 0JQ
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Far from its original nesting ground in Fulham is Megan's, one of London's most talked about brunch spots thanks to its Mediterranean-inspired interior (there's a real-life olive tree centre stage in the Clapham joint) and dog-friendly policy. Fear not—it may be a long way from home, but it's holding its own on Clapham's busy brunch scene nonetheless. For the veg-loving among you, try the earth bowl, made up of avo, kale, chilli, spinach, harissa hummus and quinoa with a pomegranate reduction, or if you've got a sweet tooth, get ordering their famous Nutella and pistachio cookie dough skillet. Worth the sugar high and every damn diabetes-inducing calorie.
Best coffees in Clapham
Doctor Espresso Mama V’s
30 Voltaire Road, SW4 6DH
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Weekends—and most weekdays, come to think of it—just aren't complete without a good (strong) cup of joe. Clapham has several options for you, but Doctor Espresso Mama V's, nestled under a disused railway arch in Clapham North, is, in our humble opinion, the reigning champion. They've got the second oldest coffee machine in London, their 1957 Gaggia Tipo America lever espresso machine pride of place as you enter, coffee beans roasted in Italy and cannoli baked daily to match. Need we say more?
The Common Espresso Bar
10 Clapham Park Road, SW4 7BB
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For an even more intimate coffee spot, head down to The Common Espresso Bar. It's tiny, only seating around eight or so people, but what it lacks in size, it makes up for in cake selection and fresh juices. Opt for the lemon drizzle, if there are still slices left (they go fast), their freshly blitzed green juice, and a steaming americano. Perfection.
Lane Eight Coffee
6 The Pavement, SW4 0HY
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The perfect pop-in-and-go coffee bar, Lane Eight coffee is like catnip for coffee enthusiasts with the kind of interiors that serve as the worldwide symbol for a good brew (natural wood, dried flowers and exposed concrete). The only food on offer here are little takeaway caneles, otherwise the entire focus is on your cup of joe, which keeps things streamlined, getting you in and out quickly. Perfect for grabbing a pre-or-post tube coffee.
Best desserts in Clapham
Nardulli
29 The Pavement, SW4 0JE
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You may think proper Italian ice cream has to come from—yep, you guessed it—Italy, but there, you'd be quite wrong. The seemingly never-ending queue for Nardulli's, come rain or shine, proves as much. Though, we do warn you: step foot in the door and you won't be able to leave without a waffle cone, piled high with smooth, clean, creamy gelato. Classics include hazelnut and pistachio, whilst more adventurous menu options span pear, white peach and a ricotta cheese, fig purée, acacia and walnut combo.
Best drinks in Clapham:
WC
Clapham Common South Side, SW4 7AA
WC interiors
Yes, as the name suggests, this is the one under the loo sign. Word about WC has become somewhat of an urban legend in London, and it's housed in an 100-year-old former water closest nestled deep under Clapham Common tube. It's the perfect date night setting, being both dimly lit and a little bit different, plus they frequently have live soul music. Enjoy your fill of cheese and charcuterie boards and a selection of 23 eclectic wines, including our current favourite, the 2013 Three Monkeys Grenache Shiraz Marato from Australia. It's bright, juicy and with a touch of spice — perfect for with cheese and chorizo.
The Old Town Tavern
29 North Street, SW4 0HJ
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If you've scrolled this whole article on the hunt for where to get a good pint, fear not. The newest pub to Clapham, though not the longest established, is The Old Town Tavern. It offers a fierce selection of twenty beers on tap, plus a whole heap of delicious wines. Pop down after work or to while away a weekend afternoon snuggled by the fire.
