From sweets to charcuterie, South West London has an enormous selection for local wining and dining; here’s our round-up of the best restaurants in Clapham
Words Helen Brown
Mommi
Mommi is a great Peruvian-Japanese-style bar that does tasty late night dining, as well as brilliant brunch. Choose individually from the Raw Bar, the Robata Grill or the Hot Kitchen – all of which are 100% gluten free. Alternatively, enjoy a fully themed menu from the likes of Machu Picchu or the Andean region. They’ve recently launched Weekend Live Music too which means Mommi will take you from drinks to dinner to the dance floor. wearemommi.com
The Dairy
The Dairy, from chef Robin Gill, is Clapham’s effortlessly cool answer to contemporary cuisine. Gill has worked at Noma and Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons and their influences have certainly rubbed off. Dishes are seasonal and locally sourced. They even have their own beehives and rooftop gardens where herbs and vegetables are grown. the-dairy.co.uk
Hache Burgers
Haché knocks the socks of many of its London counterparts. It’s a family-run establishment with a creative menu of gourmet burgers. The roast burger is available on Sundays and is definitely one to tick off the bucket list.
hacheburgers.com
Mama Lan
This excellent Chinese cafe is the second branch of the original in Brixton Village and is one of the best places for dim sum in London. It’s a family run Chinese restaurant which has its roots in the street markets of Beijing. This means each recipe comes with 40 years of experience. For the full shebang, go for the king prawn and Chinese water chestnut dumplings, washed down with a Red Monkey mocktail.
The Manor
This casual neighbourhood bistro crafts contemporary British small plates from local, seasonal produce. It has a live dessert bar – The Sweet Shop – where you can watch the pastry chef play with liquid nitrogen to create ultra-smooth instant ice cream. This and the unique selection of bottled cocktails make The Manor a hidden gem in Clapham.themanorclapham.co.uk
Trinity
Trinity boasts an ever-changing seasonal menu with modern influences served in a stylish monochrome dining room. Boasting a Michelin star, it remains one of Clapham’s best restaurants as a destination for special occasion dining and celebratory splurges. trinityrestaurant.co.uk
Mien Tay
This no-fuss, no-frills Vietnamese diner specialises in authentic home-style cooking from South West Vietnam and received rave reviews from the late AA Gill. While it used to be BYOB, the new wine list is a welcome addition. It consists of 14 wines, sparkling wines and sherry from various artisanal estates picked to complement the menu. mientay.co.uk
WC Wine & Charcuterie
Enter via the original tiled staircase of this former public toilet into one of London’s coolest wine bars. This subterranean hotspot has an ever-changing wine list featuring an eclectic mix of the Old and New World. Alongside this, they serve platters of delicious charcuterie, mountains of cheese and a competent list of classic and contemporary cocktails and London craft beers. wcclapham.co.uk
Like this? Check out the best new restaurants in London this month
