Clapham’s Best Restaurants: A Local’s Guide
By
2 days ago
The best of the south west
Clapham is known for its nightlife-focused high street – but there’s much more to the neighbourhood than Infernos. From Michelin-starred institutions in the Old Town to common-side bistros, this pocket of south London might be famous for its brunch offer, but is home to a whole host of great food spots. Local C&TH writers Tessa Dunthorne and Ellie Smith share their picks for the best restaurants in Clapham.
Best Restaurants in Clapham
Trinity
Holding the award for Clapham’s only Michelin star is Trinity in the Old Town, headed up by Adam Byatt. When the restaurant opened back in 2006, the mission was to serve great food that was ‘seasonal, inspirational and, above all delicious’ – and that hasn’t changed, despite its ever-growing acclaim.
View this post on Instagram
At its core, Trinity is a neighbourhood restaurant; clearly high-end, but never stuffy or pretentious. Set menus are the name of the game, with dishes changing seasonally – though the Classics menu is a six-course extravaganza of some of their signatures, such as crispy pigs trotters, shellfish ravioli and turbot cooked on the bone.
Address: 4 The Polygon, London SW4 0JG
Upstairs at Trinity
Upstairs at Trinity is, as expected, upstairs at Trinity restaurant. Where its downstairs arm is grown-up fine dining, Upstairs is more about casual(ish) sharing-style plates like duck heart skewers with gherkin ketchup, or sherry-braised pork cheeks with polenta and parmesan.
View this post on Instagram
It also boasts Michelin recognition – it has a Bib Gourmand – and the Sunday lunch club here is a cult thing, selling out four courses at £40, week after week.
Address: 4 The Polygon, London SW4 0JG
Tirak
Tirak is a new pan-Asian spot that opened on Clapham High Street in August. And it’s punchy: local owners Natalie and Matt, with the steer of head chef Marcus Kong (Khao Bird), have drawn together a concise menu of drama-laden dishes.
View this post on Instagram
Start with sharing plates – like the little chicken momos, made in collaboration with Daisy Beale of Magic Momo – before moving onto huge sharer mains. The biggest diva on the menu is its whole deep-fried sea bass; this crispy fish arrives curled around a mound of herb salad and a zingy nam jim jaew sauce on the side and is a delight to dole out. Loved the momos so much to start? You can bookend your dining experience with dessert dumplings that drip with chocolate. In warmer months, the windows open the Terracotta-hued restaurant up for a front row seat to watch Clapham’s high street go by.
Address: 102-104 Clapham High St, London SW4 7UL
Tamila
Fans of North London’s The Tamil Prince and the Tamil Crown will be grateful for its first venture south of the river. Located on Northcote Road, Tamila isn’t a regurgitation of co-founder Prince Durairaj’s (admittedly brilliant) hits.
View this post on Instagram
It’s a faster, more casual concept: sit elbow to elbow on packed bench seating and share – new addition to the menus – fluffy dosas smothered in curry mutton, (for veggies a chilli cheese). Other menu big-hitters include its half Tandoori chicken, paired with a refreshing mint chutney, and paneer tikka with pineapple chutney. The drinks menu is well worth a gander, too, with cocktails like the Pondicherry spritz bringing an Indian-twist to classic recipes.
Address: 39 Northcote Rd, London SW11 1NJ
Crispin at Studio Voltaire
This 50-cover restaurant was praised by food broadcaster Jimi Famurewa as ‘subtly miraculous’ when it opened in 2024. Tucked away in one of London’s most exciting – but hidden – commercial galleries, Crispin at Studio Voltaire is the brainchild of Dominic Hamdy (Crispin group).
View this post on Instagram
Here, chef Michael Miles presents a British and European-inspired menu, evolving seasonally. The current menu presents grilled lamb neck (with broad beans, goat’s curd and peas) alongside the kind of mouthwatering pasta you’ll recall from Miles’ Manteca days, like an anchovy, garlic and chilli tagliatelle. The space itself is minimal, ceding spotlight to the gallery room next door and its exciting revolve of exhibitions. But it’s still inviting, whether you’re pitting off for lunch, with a vino from its low intervention wine list, or just stopping by for coffee and a cake.
Address: 1a Nelsons Row, London SW4 7JR
Minnow
It’s easy to be lured into Minnow by its eye-catching exterior: a green façade is adorned in flowers, while Parisian-style al fresco tables perch on the fringes of Clapham Common. Inside is equally pretty – but Minnow isn’t all style over substance. Owner Chris Frichot grew up at the Michelin-starred Knockinaam Lodge Hotel in Scotland – which his parents owned – so hospitality is in his blood. He opened Minnow alongside wife Saba Tsegaye, the name reflecting their aim to be a ‘small, but fiercely independent fish in a big pond’.
View this post on Instagram
Open all day from breakfast through to dinner, the eatery serves up modern European dishes with a focus on fish: think sea bream ceviche, cod with cauliflower velouté and pan-fried squid. The Sunday roasts are also a highlight, with current offerings including roast beef or chicken with all the trimmings, or a vegetarian option of chargrilled hispi cabbage.
Address: 21 The Pavement, London SW4 0HY
Sorella
If you’re craving a holiday but can’t get away right now, you can find a slice of the Amalfi Coast in Clapham. One of Robin Gill’s London ventures, neighbourhood restaurant Sorella has a welcoming family feel – hence the name, which translates as ‘sister’. The menu follows a traditional Italian format – cicchetti, antipasti, primi, secondi, contorini and dolci – but with a Gill twist. There’s lots of fermenting and preserving alongside interesting flavour combinations: crispy belly is served with pickled walnut ketchup, for instance, while cured salmon is paired with grapefruit and radicchio.
View this post on Instagram
All this sits nicely alongside a concise Italian wine list and a selection of seasonal aperitivos. The team behind the restaurant recently catered the wedding of Jesse Burgess (Topjaw) and Taura Lamb – if that doesn’t tell you enough.
Address: 148 Clapham Manor St, London SW4 6BX
