Guide to the best restaurants in Putney and Barnes

This New Zealand-inspired brunch spot in Putney takes brunching up a notch with its classic menu with a twist. You’ll find everything from brioche French toast with spiced poached plums and pulled-pork Benedict tossed in hickory hoison sauce on the menu. Dine in-house or, if you visit throughout the warmer months, opt to sit outside for brunch al fresco-style.

Get a taste of lively Middle Eastern cafes at this Lebanese restaurant on Lower Richmond Road. It’s become a neighbourhood favourite over the years, with a menu brimming with fragrant dishes, like slow-cooked lamb stew and pickled baby aubergines. It’s cosy and intimate inside, and it feels like you’re dining in a familiar space. There’s also a selection of outside seats for those warmer days.

Home SW15 is an upmarket modern European restaurant serving international food in a modern, shabby-chic setting. They’ve won several awards for their excellent food and service, including The Good Food Guide’s title of London’s Best Local Restaurant in 2019. Food highlights include baked figs with gorgonzola, honey and balsamic and poached sea bass with creamed leeks and oyster mushrooms.

If unlimited food, drinks and beer sounds like your kind of jam, then you’ll love Yum Sa in Putney. This vibrant restaurant serves a menu of modern Thai fare in a cosy, dimly-lit setting, the kind that would make for an excellent date spot. The menu is chock full of dishes influenced by traditional Thai cuisine, like charred chilli garlic tiger prawns, crispy baby squid and steamed pork dumplings.

This independent pie and mash shop is housed in a brick archway in the heart of Putney and specialises in mouthwatering homemade pies. Everything is prepared using the finest British produce, all locally-sourced, featuring everything from pumpkin and ricotta to chicken and portobello mushroom. There’s a selection of local craft beers and ciders to choose from, and depending on when you visit, there’s also a live DJ spinning the freshest tracks well into the night.

This Italian spot in Putney has been a neighbourhood favourite for years. Set in an idyllic riverside setting, you can pair your meal with quaint views of the neighbouring Thames. They serve a menu of the finest Michelin-starred Mediterranean fare, like nettle tagliatelle and whole wood-roasted pigeon, alongside an extensive wine list comprising bottles from all over Italy.

Blades is a laid-back restaurant in Putney serving a mouthwatering menu of authentic Italian dishes in a relaxed, casual setting. There’s a large grill where most of their food is cooked, including seafood like swordfish and sea bass and juicy steaks. They also serve a range of pasta dishes and other Italian classics. There’s also a handful of tables out the front which are perfect for dining alfresco street-side when it’s a little warmer.

The Duke’s Head is a classic British boozer serving traditional pub grub in a warm, cosy atmosphere. It’s a quintessential English pub with Victorian accents, featuring tall ceilings, roaring fireplaces and big, bouncy chairs. Enjoy riverside drinks throughout the summer months, or wrap up warm for chilly alfresco winter evenings. Every Sunday, they serve an excellent roast with all the trimmings.

This small Japanese restaurant on Upper Richmond Road in Putney has only a handful of seats, and it’s very no-frills, but people come here solely for the food. Enjoy a variety of sushi, which is prepared fresh at the visible central sushi bar, alongside mouthwatering tempura, noodle dishes and other deep-fried delights best washed down with a glass of Japanese sake.

Awesome Thai does what it says on the tin: awesome Thai food made by a team of Thai chefs. All of the authentic dishes are made from scratch, with the option to request yours to come extra spicy if you like levelling up with the heat. The restaurant is intimate and cosy, making for a nice spot to catch up with an old friend. There’s a handful of streetside tables for alfresco feasting throughout the warmer months.

This Naples-inspired Italian restaurant is run by two friends who grew up surrounded by their authentic Italian family recipes. Their joint love of food led them to open Arte Chef together, where they serve a menu of Italian classics in their cosy deli cafe restaurant. Enjoy everything from pizzas and paninis to salads and desserts, all of which have been crafted with a southern Italian influence.

Riva Restaurant has been plating up northern Italian specials since it opened more than 30 years ago. Their menu is primarily inspired by the Lombardy region and features dishes like polenta and creamy risotto. Celebs seem to love it here; acclaimed chefs Jamie Oliver and Gordon Ramsey have listed it as one of their favourite places to dine.

Church Road specialises in modern European dishes made with seasonal ingredients from British suppliers and farmers, focusing on what’s in season. It’s a small neighbourhood restaurant that prides itself on its warm and welcoming hospitality. You can expect a menu of creative dishes, like Cornish crab bisque with black olive cream and double-baked cheddar soufflé with melted leeks and mushrooms.

Alma Café in Barnes is the place to go for a classic breakfast or brunch. They centre their menu around nutritious, whole foods that don’t compromise on flavour, ensuring that the ingredients used are (mostly) organic and filled with nutrients. Their menu changes based on what’s in season, and everything is locally-sourced. Enjoy a range of dishes, like crab eggs Benedict and fluffy American pancakes, alongside a selection of juices and smoothies.

This contemporary Indian restaurant is a venture by three friends, Yogesh, Sunny and Harry, who spent their childhood helping on their family farms in northern India where they learnt how to milk buffalos, churn butter and pick fresh, seasonal vegetables. They later decided to open Elā & Dhanī in London as a way to showcase the delicious flavours of aromatic Indian cuisine. The menu is chock full of mouth-watering Indian specials, like Malai tikka, as well as a list of zingy cocktails.

Step straight into Spain at Casa Manolo's Putney branch, where Iberico ham and Spanish cheese and wine come by the bucketload. This tapas bar and restaurant serves small sharing plates and Spanish wines inside its rustic setting on Putney High Street. It's cosy and intimate and would make for a pleasant date spot.

Get a taste of Brazil at Brazillian restaurant Preto, where unlimited spit-roasted meat from a Brazilian Churrascaria barbecue is carved right in front of you at your table. Feast on everything from authentic feijoada (Brazillian beans with pork), pão de queijo (cheese bread) and coxinha (chicken croquettes), best washed down with an ice-cold beer or glass of wine.