Balham Bowls Club

Clever conversions of defunct properties seem to be the stock in trade of the people behind this groovy bar-restaurant (they also own Tooting Tram & Social & The Antelope, among others). The former bowls-club rooms have been transformed into quirky drinking dens, the bowling room itself into a dining room. Much of the old bowls paraphernalia has been left around as decoration. The venue’s oddness attracts good-looking youngish locals in numbers. Drinks are fairly standard, but it’s well worth booking a table for the food. There’s a list of Spanish tapas (Padrón peppers, sardines on toast, patatas bravas) as well as a proper restaurant menu (crab with samphire & asparagus, harissa chicken salad with broad beans & feta). Folk musicians occasionally play in one of the rooms.