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Best restaurants in Clapham

Looking for a restaurant in Clapham? We’ve done the hard work so you don’t have to, and have compiled a handy list of the best restaurants in Clapham (yes, yes we know, tough gig, but someone had to eat at them all). Whatever your budget or taste, SquareMeal is here to help, with a selection of the best restaurants in Clapham for every occasion.

Updated on 26 April 2024

Ah, Clapham, it’s a wonderful and weird world where all sorts of restaurants set up shop, from cheap eateries to high end fine dining. If there’s one thing they’re most certainly not, Clapham restaurants, it’s boring. In just a few short steps you can travel from Italy to China via a brief stop in the USA for some of the best burgers in London, and that’s just in the North end.

Clapham, of course, spreads its wings near and far from the fringes of Stockwell all the way down to the busy platforms of Clapham Junction, so finding the best restaurant Clapham has to offer can be a task first and foremost in location. We don’t mean to brag, but we’re considerate so we’ve thought of that challenge. In the overviews below we’ve detailed the location of each restaurant, to make picking one as easy as it can be. There was a time when Clapham was little more than a stop-off on your way to the south London suburbs, and was a bit of a wasteland when it comes to food. These days this is a neighbourhood with a history of growing exciting young restaurant businesses, and Londoners head here from all over the city to visit to look for the next big thing in food. 

Our roundup of the best Clapham restaurants details notes on food, drinks, price point and service from our team of independent critics. We've spent many an evening venturing into restaurants from Clapham North to Clapham Junction, so if you're looking for recommendations, you're in the right place. If you’d like more information on any of the chaps included in our dazzling dining line up then click through to their full listing. There you will find an unbiased review that include details on everything from food and drinks to ambiance and service, so that you can make an informed choice on your next meal (because let’s face it, is there anything more disappointing than a poor plate of food?)

Happy exploring and eating, friends.

Minnow

Minnow

21 The Pavement, London, SW4 OHY

If it’s pretty you’re after you can’t go too far wrong with Minnow, with it’s pastel pistachio walls and sweet garden terrace. Open from breakfast through to dinner, you can expect a modern European menu.

£30 - £49
Modern European
No 32 The Old Town

No 32 The Old Town

32 The Pavement, Clapham, London, SW4 0JE

Here you can expect a gastropub menu that roams from breakfast tacos to lunchtime white wine and garlic mussels. The fairy-lit roof terrace is a real people-pleaser too, so grab your spot early.

£30 - £49
Modern European
Bars
Social Pantry Café

Social Pantry Café

170A Lavender Hill, Lavender Hill, London, SW11 5TG

Warm and welcoming, this petit cafe serves up seasonal food alongside fresh juices and coffee. Kick off your day with homemade carrot cake granola or pop in later for a hunky Ginger Pig bacon sandwich.

Under £30
Trinity

Trinity

4 The Polygon, Clapham, London, SW4 0JG

The jewel in Clapham’s crown, Trinity boasts a Michelin star and is ideal for celebrations or date nights if trying to impress. Confident British cookery features on the set-price three or four course menu. 

Over £80
Modern European
One Michelin star
SquareMeal London Top 100
Ploussard

Ploussard

97 St Johns Road, Battersea, London, SW11 1QY

Just off Northcote Road, Ploussard has the soul of a great Parisian-inspired bistro and wine bar, albeit with a low-intervention wine list that is very London. Expect the sort of seasonal British cooking that is very popular in London at the moment, but particularly well executed here, with little playful touches that mark Ploussard out as something a bit special.

£50 - £79
Modern European
Wine Bars
Eco

Eco

162 Clapham High Street, Clapham, London, SW4 7UG

For hearty pasta or pizza you can’t beat Eco. A feature of Clapham High Street for quite some years now, this place is always packed and come the weekend has a fun, buzzy party atmosphere.

£30 - £49
Pizza
Italian
Bistro Union

Bistro Union

40 Abbeville Road, London, SW4 9NG

You can’t beat comfort food, and Bistro Union do a good line in quintessentially British posh pub grub. Think chicken liver parfait with apricot chutney or slow cooked lamb shoulder with potato gratin for two.

£30 - £49
British
Upstairs at Trinity

Upstairs at Trinity

4 The Polygon, London, SW4 0JG

From the team behind the Michelin restaurant it sits above, Upstairs at Trinity is a relaxed affair. High-end cooking plus a laid-back atmosphere ensures good food is coupled with an equally good time.

£30 - £49
Modern European
Joe Public

Joe Public

The Pavement, Clapham, London, SW4 7AA

We’ve never met pizza we didn’t like, and Joe Public isn’t about to change that. Dishing up dough by the slice, this informal eatery is perfect for a bite before heading to the nearby cinema.

Under £30
Pizza
Tsunami

Tsunami

5-7 Voltaire Road, London, SW4 6DQ

Fresh Japanese fare is the order of the day at this Clapham restaurant. A cleansing miso soup with coriander and chill is a must-order to pave the way for sushi, noodles and teriyaki dishes.

£30 - £49
Sushi
Japanese
Franklin & Baines

Franklin & Baines

68-70 Clapham High St, Clapham, London, SW4 7UL

Franklin & Baines’ up-market steak vibe has proven popular with Clapham’s young professionals, and the location just a stonesthrow from Clapham High Street means its permanently busy. The food is solid too - expect dry-aged British beef and a hefty wine list. That said, there are alternatives for pescatarians and vegetarians too.

£30 - £49
Steak
British
No3

No3

3 Nightingale Lane, Clapham, London, SW4 9AH

Set up in an old police station, No3 is the sort of attractive bistro that never goes out of style. The interiors are stylish and spacious - perfect for lunch or dinner - and an elegant modern European menu leans towards the Mediterranean with dishes like gorgonzola croquettes and guinea fowl with girolles and Madeira jus.

Under £30
British
International
Sorella

Sorella

148 Clapham Manor Street, London, SW4 6BX

From chef Robin Gill (who also runs Darby’s and Bermondsey Larder, among others), this cosy Italian serves unctuous plates of carbs and cheese. The Sunday lunch is good value for a taste of everything.

£30 - £49
Italian
Crispin at Studio Voltaire

Crispin at Studio Voltaire

1A Nelsons Row, Clapham, London, SW4 7JR

Crispin's first outpost south of the river is a brilliant one, turning a cool, arty space at Studio Voltaire into something quite charming, with candles on the tables softening the slightly austere room. The food is outstanding, offering hyper-seasonal, bistro cooking at very reasonable prices, alongside a typically excellent wine list.

£50 - £79
Modern European
Bistro
The Apollo Arms

The Apollo Arms

13-19 Old Town, Clapham, London, SW4 0JT

The Lunar Pub Co’s largest and most ambitious site takes residence in Clapham Old Town, where it serves top-quality modern British food, drinks aplenty and a legendary Sunday roast. Don't miss its stunning secret garden during the summer. 

£50 - £79
Pubs
British
Bars
Fish and Chips

We don't mean to make assumptions, but might you quite like a boozy start to a Saturday? Explore our guide to the best bottomless brunches in London, or prepare to settle into a leisurely lunch and a long afternoon of boozing at one of London's best gastropubs

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