Best restaurants in South London

Proving Clapham to be a serious dining destination, Sorella is a neighbourhood Italian that is smart enough to be a special occasion venue. The team here work to turn out plates of crowd pleasers, so expect sourdough focaccia, beef ragu tagliatelle, veal Milanese, and pea and wild garlic risotto.

No guide to the best restaurants in South London would be complete without mentioning Padella, the pasta place with a cult following and Instagram-famous pasta window. Don’t miss the cacio a pepe signature, Cobble Lane nduja fettuccine, and braised beef agnolotti. You can't book, so aim for less busy timings!

Serving contemporary European cuisine in a small restaurant down the side of Peckham Rye Station, Levan is inspired by the ‘bistronomy’ movement. It’s a relaxed setting, with an open kitchen, seasonal plates, and a great wine list packed with natural low-intervention food-friendly bottles available by the glass.

A veritable Wandsworth institution since 1995, Chez Bruce’s is still just as popular thanks to refined French brasserie dining, seasonal menus, and an excellent wine list. It’s a welcoming spot, dishing up the likes of wild garlic soup, fontina and herb arancini, and braised veal cheek with sweetbread sausage.

London has no shortage of tapas bars, but this is one of the city’s best. Masterminded by celebrity chef José Pizarro, this Spanish spot on Bermondsey Street delivers bold, hearty flavours in dainty serve sizes. Bring a group to make the most of tortillas, jamon, and fantastic Spanish wines.

Dining at Trinity comes with all the bells and whistles of a Michelin meal – from a delightful amuse bouche to petit fours. Rich, decadent combinations take centre stage for a meal that’s all about indulgence. Think Anjou pigeon, Cumbrian Chateaubiand, and whipped ricotta ravioli.

Set on Battersea Rise, Ploussard is an elegant bistro known for its self-assured, contemporary European small plates. The ever-evolving menu surprises with inventive combinations, such as the standout lamb and anchovy crumpet. With its confident cooking and stylish yet relaxed atmosphere, Ploussard delivers big flavours in every bite.

Irish chef Robin Gill opened Darby’s near the new American Embassy following successes with his other ventures. The results are an all-day setup with a bakery, butchery and bar, and a double-height dining room with soft green banquettes and a warm atmosphere. 

Elliot Hashtroudi’s cooking revolves around classic French fare. That means indulgent dishes slathered in butter, a heavy showing of offal cuts, and blackboards chalked up with the specials of the day. It’s classic cooking, reliable, and part of this new French dining wave that we’re all becoming more familiar with.

Hailing from Portugal, Bar Douro has mastered full-flavour cooking suited to most occasions. Come for snacking plates and fantastic Portuguese wines (many of them from the Douro Valley), or stick around for a romantic dinner to make the most of great main dishes with quality Portuguese ingredients.

Known for incredible skewers, flatbreads, dips, and amazing homemade crisps, AGORA stormed into Borough with armfuls of Greek soul, passion, and a dedication to affordable big-flavour menus. In fact, we rate this one so highly that it we made it our London Restaurant of the Year in 2025.

Helmed by Mike Davies, and found in a relatively unassuming spot on Camberwell Church Street, you should bank this one for groups of three plus - that way you can go for a sharing roast on Sundays, or splash out on a wide selection of gastropub small plates and hearty British classics.

Vauxhall isn’t renowned for its culinary contributions to the capital, but Brunswick House fights the good fight. You'll find it sitting on a roundabout, but solid cooking seals the deal. Come for live jazz in the cellar bar, or settle in for a night of British European cooking.

A neighbourhood restaurant through and through, Llewellyns is a Herne Hill favourite thanks to it’s large pavement terrace, inviting candlelit bistro interiors, fresh local produce, and seasonal modern European menu packed with comforting, thoughtfully prepared dishes. You’ll also find an impressive wine list, so it’s great for oenophiles too.

It’s hard to recall a modern restaurant having more hype around it than Story. Feast on Tom Sellers’ innovative dishes, like his infamous beef dipping candle, which melts as it burns and accompanies fresh bread. It's all about the story of British food, delivered as a blind tasting menu.

José Pizarro’s lively but relaxed Spanish spot on Bermondsey Street churns out plates that champion clean, classic flavours. Acorn-fed jamon Iberico is a must, as are croquetas of the day, and mains like presa Iberica, bacalao, and gambas al ajillo with fried eggs and triple-cooked chips.

Babur is part of the furniture in South London’s Forest Hill, having served the locals since 1985 becoming one of the area's most loved Indian restaurants. You’ll find both modern and traditional dishes that showcase the variety in India’s culinary landscape, beyond what you’d find at your local curry house.

Found near London Bridge, Sollip fuses Korean flavours with British ingredients and French techniques. Chefs Woongchul Park and Bomee Ki craft an eight-course tasting menu featuring inventive dishes like daikon tarte tatin and lobster with artichoke milk. The serene, minimalist setting enhances this meditative, artful dining experience.

Headed up by two The Fat Duck alumni, this two-Michelin-star restaurant has been going down a storm. Precise, subtly inventive cooking and a unique wine list help to keep Trivet busy, while an informal fine dining atmosphere maintains its connection to the local Bermondsey area. 

A restaurant and bar that hardly needs an introduction, 40 Maltby Street has been a favourite since 2011. It’s all about slick small plates inspired by the British Isles. Pay close attention to the chalkboard, but everything is good; just bag a seat at the counter and share as many dishes as physically possible.

Balancing traditional Greek cooking with bold and broad Mediterranean flavours, David Carter’s OMA is a relaxed and sophisticated Michelin star spot complete with attentive service, pillowy bagels, skewers and a thrilling atmosphere. All combined, you’ll want to stay for an age. It’s AGORA's big sister, and it’s great for dates.

Another Borough restaurant that blew us away, this one comes from the Som Saa team. It’s all about kolae (or 'golae') skewered grills, slathered in a spiced coconut marinade and charred over the grill. Other hard hitters here include fried prawn heads, and a moreish Phuket-style pork belly.

Led by Cynthia Shanmugalingam, Rambutan celebrates Sri Lankan diaspora cooking in a stylish, welcoming setting. The menu is packed with soulful curries, rotis, and sambols, and the lively open kitchen and warm service make Rambutan a must-visit for those seeking authentic, home-style Sri Lankan flavours

Zeret Kitchen champions Ethiopian cuisine, priding itself on the authenticity of its dishes, which come from family recipes. It’s all about comfort on this menu, so expect plenty of grilled and stewed meats and njera platters, plus some plant-based options like chickpeas in berbere sauce and spicy baked bread.

Elephant and Castle might get a hard time when it comes to its foodie scene, but Paladar goes some way to silence the naysayers. Expect 100% gluten-free sharing plates, an exclusively South American wine list, and save room for purple corn churros with chocolate chilli sauce.

Berenjak brings the spirit of Tehran’s hole-in-the-wall eateries to Soho, serving home-style Persian cuisine inspired by chef Kian Samyani’s family traditions. The menu features small mazeh sharing plates, charcoal-grilled kebabs, khoresht, and vibrant salads, all crafted to evoke the warmth and conviviality of Persian dining.

The description of a museum café is too pedestrian for this calming oasis found at the centre of the lush Garden Museum. Enjoy the bright white dining room while picking between delicious, daily-changing menu items, sipping on coffee, or sharing a bottle of wine.

Located in The Africa Centre, Little Baobab showcases the wealth and vibrancy of Senegalese cuisine. The set menu features dishes like fried plantain, chicken yassa, and thiebou dienne. The cosy, stripped-down interiors and friendly service create a charming space for sharing West African flavours and culture.

Legare is the brainchild of a former Trullo chef and an ex-Barrafina manager. In other words, this is a slick operation. Expect uncomplicated plates of Italian-inspired dishes which let high-quality ingredients do the talking. Expect salt cod fritti, balsamic pork ribs, and ox cheek ravioli with sugo d'arrosto.

Set on a rooftop by Copeland Park on Rye Lane, Forza Wine is known for Italian-inspired small plates, natural wines, casual vibes, and inventive dining. For laid-back seasonal dining with great views and close attention to quality ingredients, this is a must-visit. We’d save this one for summer, but it’s great all year.

Now a London mini group, Brixton is Kricket’s original home. The restaurant’s small plates never fail to hit the mark, thanks to an Anglo-Indian menu of things like Keralan fried chicken with curry leaf mayo, samphire pakoras, plus powerful curries like a Karnakatan pork neck. 

A 50-cover modern European restaurant and counter bar down the road from Clapham Common. Seasonal dishes span modern twists on classics, fresh pastas, and charcoal-grilled meat and fish, all washed down with sustainable tap wines and bottles from exciting smaller winemakers.