CLAPHAM
Here’s our guide to the best things to do in Clapham and all the places to eat, drink and visit in Clapham. From antique markets to gastro pubs, here are the most interesting spots south of the river.
Clapham’s a historically wealthy part of SW London (that’s actually south of the river) and, as a result, can be thought of as a little… boring. Though it’s obviously been through a lot of changes in its long history – the neighbourhood started being referred to as a distinct area as early as 965 AD – Clapham is now known as a prosperous area once again (and home to many a celebrity, Margot Robbie for one) after a period of gentrification that started in the 1980s. It’s got that suburban vibe that’s really popular with some city dwellers – and with others, not so much.
Whatever your opinion of Clapham though, it’s certainly not boring. It’s still London and that means there’s still a lot of great things to see and do here. First up, Clapham’s got good food – in fact, it’s home to some of the city’s best restaurants. There’s Adam Byatt’s Trinity, which holds a much-deserved Michelin Star and is the perfect spot for a special occasion. On the more casual side of things, Byatt also runs Bistro Union, plus there’s No 32 The Old Town, The Pepper Tree and The Rookery to choose from. Don’t miss the Venn Street food market on Saturdays either.
As for other sights to see, there’s the famous Clapham Common if you fancy a walk in the park, or head a little to the east for a stroll down Northcote Road. As well as fab drink spots like Northcote Records and the Northcote Arms, there are other great gems along this strip such as the Northcote Road Antiques Market that’s stocked with everything from retro design pieces to vintage jewellery.
Trinity in Clapham has been feeding Londoners since 2006 and after a complete re-design of the restaurant chef Adam Byatt also now has ‘Upstairs’. It is a much more casual affair than the traditional restaurant below, but there is definitely no compromise on the cooking. The changing daily menu of small plates is perfect for sharing and they have a ridiculously long wine list too. Upstairs has taken Trinity to new levels (literally) and is defo one worth climbing the stairs to.
Darwin & Wallace specialise in neighbourhood restaurants mostly found in West London villages. Clapham’s No 32 The Old Town serves up everything from breakfast to dinner, craft beer, clever cocktails and has a fine-looking roof terrace. The menu features classic British dishes with modern ingredients; think beef and black pudding croquettes, mussels marinière with fries and the No 32 house burger. The service at No 32 The Old Town is pretty attentive and the staff are friendly, happy to help and full of recommendations on drinks to suit your mood. As far as neighbourhood joints go, this one ticks all the boxes.
Nestled in and amongst a row of coffee shops and pubs on the south side of Clapham Common, the Pepper Tree is a neighbourhood gem offering its customers a variety of Thai dishes. You can expect super speedy service, a menu to suit those who love spice and everything nice and food served from brekkie to dinner. All bases covered. Tables are communal, it’s aptly decorated green and red (the colour of peppers, duh?!) but the best thing about this place is its value for money with big dishes of creamy curries, spicy stir-fried meats and steamy soups for under a tenner. For neighbourhood Thai dining in Clapham, it pays to go to The Pepper Tree…
a. By mid-evening the restaurant is full of professional young Claphamites – some enjoying the full menu, others just dropping in for drinks and bar snacks. It’s a quintessentially British menu, with everything from Welsh rarebit to steak and chips to Cornish mussels cooked in Perry cider. Service is very friendly and well-informed, with staff able to talk about the ingredients and their provenance. Bistro Union puts the ‘great’ in Great British food.
The Rookery in Clapham is a proper neighbourhood joint – a small kitchen and grill on the outskirts of the Common. Here, they pride themselves on creating simple, seasonal dishes with personality, and providing interesting beers and wines from small and independent suppliers. The cured meats board makes for a nice light starter and the giant house cheeseburger, which comes with coleslaw and a huge mound of fries, is a winner too.
Name sound familiar? That’s because its sister bar Northcote Records is just across the common on the other side of Clapham. This branch on, you guessed it, Venn Street, is pretty much more of the same, with drinking, dancing, pizza and music to the late hours. But then again, change isn’t always necessarily a good thing, right?
Foodies be warned: this market might just be the undoing of you and your bank balance. Venn Street Market is giving independent producers and farmers the opportunity to come face-to-face with consumers every Saturday. From fruit and veg to bread, fish, eggs and street food, this food-lover’s paradise is a great place to pick up fresh produce and hear about its provenance from the people in the know.
Minnow is a romantic neighbourhood restaurant that’s got your next hot date written all over it. The entrance is adorned with flowers and greenery, there’s a long marble bar for pre- and post-drinks, and a pretty mosaic floor leads to a secret walled garden out back for al fresco reservations. The menu is as elegant as the surroundings, with modern, seasonal dishes that sing with freshness and innovation. Must-tries include squid with lemongrass, lime and ginger; beef shin, black mooli and smoked pork skin; and caramelised watermelon with blood orange and Campari sorbet.
Joe Public may operate out of an old lav, but expect more than just your bog standard pizza. Creating whopping 20inch Californian style pizzas – served either whole or by the slice – Joe Public’s toppings include everything from fresh fig, gorgonzola, prosciutto and pine nuts to tender roasted lamb, purple potato, feta and black olives.
CLAPHAM COMMON
As it’s one the biggest green spaces south of the river, The Common has become a popular festival site, but it’s defo worth a visit once all the stages have disappeared. It’s packed with sports facilities and home to a fair few joggers, yet it never feels overcrowded. Check out the three ponds and make sure you pass by the iconic late-Victorian bandstand… it makes for one hell of a pic.
TRINITY
If you’re in South London and looking for a spesh meal out, then Michelin-starred Trinity is the place to go. Trinity occupies the ground floor of this two-storey space whilst Upstairs, you guessed it, can be found upstairs. Chef Adam Byatt is in charge of the food and he’s serving up some seriously upmarket food, with Trinity classics such as minestrone of blue lobster, duck egg raviolo and toasted oat, malt & Clapham honey soft serve all featuring on the menu. And not only are the interiors on point, but with there’s also an impressive open-plan kitchen and elegant outdoor terrace to take advantage of too.
SORELLA
Think Amalfi coast but down a Clapham backstreet. Sorella is an Italian neighbourhood joint serving up traditional and seasonal food that hones in on all that owner Robin Gill loves about the Italian attitude to cooking and eating. And just like the rest of Robin’s restaurants (Bermondsey Larder, Darby’s and Rye by the Water), the menu is full of some stand-out dishes including the likes of smoked duck and black garlic arancini; Dexter beef bavette, borlotti beans and salsa verde; and apricot & frangipane tart with milk gelato. These guys really know their stuff.
THE PIG'S HEAD
The Pig’s Head is Clapham‘s new pro-planet pub, founded by husband and wife duo Scott and Maria Hunter who are also behind three other London pubs, including one of our fave Sunday roast spots The Princess of Shoreditch. Here they’ve transformed an old boozer into a chic, cosy spot that’ll fool you into thinking you’ve escaped into the country and not just south of the river. Featuring a 40-cover dining room and 60-cover bar space, sustainability is the drive behind both food and drink with a fully carbon-neutral menu that champions UK farmers and producers. As well as plenty of veggie and vegan options, when it comes to meat they work with regenerative farmers and butcher whole animals on-site. Drinks-wise, you can expect locally-sourced craft beer, English wines and small-batch spirit producers.
THE ROSE & CROWN
All-female-led pub you say? That’s what we love to hear. The recently refurbished Rose & Crown (also known as Clapham’s oldest drinking establishment) is serving up some pretty decent Sunday offerings and let’s face it, if you’re going to have a decent Sunday roast, girls run the world. All jokes aside, if you’re down for a classic roast, give their pork belly or roast beef a whirl – they both come with Yorkshire puds, braised red cabbage, honey-glazed carrots, and beef dripping roast potatoes (!) all smothered in delicious gravy. If you’re feeling extra indulgent (and we advise you do this), add in a side of gratin cauliflower cheese and some hispi cabbage for good measure.
Ever wanted to know what the inside of a secret treasure trove looked like? Visit the antiques market on Northcote Road and you can find out. The Tardis-like indoor market, which is set out over a couple of levels, is home to a wealth of vintage goods, from antiques to retro design pieces to jewellery and much, much more. Be prepared to rummage and be prepared to haggle – but take it from us, it’s worth it.
The MEATLiquor site on Northcote Road, where Fixed used to be, may their smallest restaurant yet but they’ll still be slinging out all the hits, including the Dead Hippie, Monkey Fingers, buffalo wings and triple burgers, as well as all their lethal cocktails and floats.
Though now the fourth location in this restaurant family, Macellaio RC Clapham still feels like a neighbourhood gem. Pouring exclusively Italian wines, with no less than 100 different labels behind the bar, and serving dry-aged steak chosen from the butcher counter set directly amongst the tables in carpaccios, ragus, or thick cuts cooked with rock salt and Tuscan extra virgin olive oil, it’s the perfect spot for all the carnivores out there.
BIRD & TIE
If you like your chicken hot and spicy, then fly on down to Bird and Tie. Inspired by the owners’ visits to family in the USA, the spot specialises in Nashville hot chicken, spicing up the birds with both a dry rub and hot oil. There are varying levels of spice you can go for, from Southern fried to the ghost chilli ‘Poultrygeist’, and you can have your chicken in a sandwich, as wings, on top of loaded fries and stacked on pancakes at brunch time. There are a range of sides and sauces on offer, and if you need some help cooling down from those hot birds, order up a frozen daiquiri.
CHER THAI EATERY
After 14 years running Thai kitchens across London, chef Att and his partner Air opened Cher Thai Eatery just before lockdown in 2020, and it has since become one of Clapham’s best neighbourhood joints. With dishes like deep-fried whole seabass with tamarind sauce, river prawn glass noodles, krapow gai kai dao, larb chicken salad, tom kha soup, and yellow curry noodles, it’s the place to come when you want a real taste of Thailand.
TSUNAMI
Tsunami has been going in Clapham since 2001 (including a major refurb in 2015) and it’s still the place to come for sushi in SW4. While there is a range of Japanese dishes like agedashi tofu, chicken gyoza, shrimp tempura and beef teriyaki on the menu, the sushi really is the star here – there’s a range of nigiri, maki and temaki on offer but you won’t want to miss the tuna & truffle mayo and the Tsunami special rolls. Pair it with sake, Japanese beer or a tasting set of Nikka or Suntory whisky.