London Barnes Restaurant Guide

“Tucked away among the terraces of Barnes’s cute ‘Little Chelsea’”, this “longstanding food pub” is these days rather more gastro than boozer, and attracts “local ladies who lunch with its tasty cooking”. “Dogs, kids and menfolk are equally welcome” – the latter two more in evidence at the weekend.

“A neighbourhood treasure”, this well-run tea shop near the river in Barnes serves “every kind of tea possible”, plus “super cakes and sandwiches”. It’s “highly sought-after” for its afternoon teas – “you’ll need to book for a cuppa and a slice of cake at busy times”. More substantial meals for brunch/lunch can be “disappointing”.

“Barnes at brunch” is to be found at this “family-friendly” brasserie, on the ground floor of a complex created from legendary recording studios (The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Ella Fitzgerald, Madonna, Prince… the list goes on) and which also incorporates an indie cinema and “very cool” members’ bar. Fans say you get “decent food at reasonable prices” here at any time. Sceptics that “it has nice surroundings, but a limited and dull menu, which is pretty well executed, but just serves a purpose, nothing more”.

This “great local Thai” in Barnes owes its enduring popularity to its efficient and “welcoming” family owners and its handy position in the centre of the more villagey bit of SW13 (directly opposite the Olympic Studios indie cinema).

“The superb setting on the Thames by Barnes Bridge” provides appropriately “lovely views over the river” for this famous Cornish fish and seafood brand’s London outpost. But while fans do applaud “fresh fish at its best”, a huge proportion of sceptics discern a “tired” performance with “perfunctory” service and “uninteresting” food that can be plain “poor”.

These “busy and bustling fusion restaurants” offer a “wide choice” of East Asian dishes, headed by “Japanese-style favourites” – including various sushi or sashimi options and miso black cod – that are “competently and surprisingly well prepared”. Israeli-born founder Ohad Kastro celebrates the 10th anniversary of the original launch in Primrose Hill this year; branches in Soho, Marylebone, Chelsea and Barnes have followed.

“High quality reflects the Phil Howard influence” at the Elystan Street chef’s relaxed operation on his home turf in Barnes, launched in 2019 with business partner Rebecca Mascarenhas, on the site of their previous, less ambitious offering, Sonny’s (RIP). It’s “a cosy yet elegant” use of the space, with food “better than at your average local, and with a very good wine list”.

With the closure of Hammersmith Bridge, this Barnes stalwart of over 30 years’ standing is no longer an easy Uber ride away for much of the fooderati (it’s oft-cited by celeb chefs and the foodie in-crowd as a go-to Italian). Perhaps that’s why feedback on it post-pandemic is very much more limited and more local than it was in times gone by. Devotees, though, still say it’s an “old favourite”, with “the same dependable Northern Italian cooking… What more can one ask?”

Opened in September 2023, this mid-Victorian pub in Barnes with a balcony overlooking the Thames is now run by Patty & Bun owner Joe Grossman, who grew up nearby and has hired a top-class chef and management team to deliver something special. Look out for some snazzy snack in the bar downstairs and whole fish and steaks cooked over coals in the dining room upstairs.

A trio of childhood friends who grew up together in the Punjab joined forces to launch their first venture (meaning cardamom and coriander in Sanskrit) in early 2022 in Barnes. The locals are rapturous: “loving this new Indian and the staff are so nice!”

An “ambitious newcomer” in Barnes, where veteran hospitality operator Christian Arden has transformed a former pub (fka The Tree House) to the tune of £400k, with chef Anthony Demetre (of Arbutus and Wild Honey) consulting on the menu. “The food is really good, fully deserving of its recent rave review in the Telegraph from William Sitwell!”