15 Festive Dining Experiences in SW London & Surrey

Get in to the Christmas spirit with these fabulous places to dine out on your doorstep…

E 

at among a starry blur of riverside lights of Richmond, dig into a tasting menu or delve into one of south west London’s most Instagrammable food & drink havens with our local guide to festive dining experiences.

Whether you’re in search of family favourites with significantly yuletide twists or a Michelin-starred evening for two – we’ve got you covered this Christmas.

1 

PETERSHAM NURSERIES, RICHMOND

With its tucked away setting in gorgeous Petersham, the glasshouse restaurant at Petersham Nurseries (pictured top) is stunningly decked out with festive foliage and flowers. Take a stroll along Richmond riverside, before a pre-lunch peruse of the charming shop to pick up some new green additions to your home from the nursery. Reward such strenuousness with a 3-course set menu, priced at £65 including a Bellini. The seasonal menu might include the likes of roasted duck breast & confit leg or Dover sole with mussels.

2 

BELLEVUE, TRINITY ROAD

For Francophiles residing in Wandsworth, Chef Pascal’s Bellevue is a top choice. It serves up classic, seasonal French cuisine as well as a few surprises. You’ll find traditional escargots, fois gras and magret de canard on the menu alongside dishes with a modern twist. It also has a wide range of French wines and choice of cider from the Brittany and Normandy areas. Set in a former greenhouse, it offers diners a chic and relaxing setting to eat and drink. With earth-tone interiors such as brown-panelled wood and pale green banquettes, it delightfully reflects the nearby common.

3 

SMOKE & SALT, TOOTING BROADWAY

A more recent addition to Tooting Broadway’s food scene, Smoke & Salt is going all-out in the lead up to Christmas, offering diners extremely reasonably priced set menus. Featuring twists on classics such as pigs in blankets and baked Alaska, the six-course Seasonal Menu is a sure-fire winner at just £32 per person, with a welcome aperitif and wine to accompany each course at an additional £30pp. The addition of Monkfish Kiev, Helford Blue Cheese and a Creedy Carver Duck course in place of the traditional turkey level things up to the restaurant’s epic Christmas Feasting Menu.

4 

TONY PARKIN AT THE TUDOR ROOM, EGHAM

Located in Great Fosters, a luxury country house hotel in Egham, the award-winning Tudor Room is revered for its use of first-class ingredients – many of which come straight from their kitchen gardens. Promising to take guests on a unique gastronomic journey in an inimitable setting, diners can excite their taste buds with a selection of tasting menus, with current dishes including Orkney scallop with cauliflower, cucumber & horseradish, and fallow deer with onion, puntarella, sweetbread, lingonberry and venison sausage. Guests will be treated to excellent service in an historic dining room full of character.

5 

WINTERLAND, FULHAM

Particularly popular with south west London’s millennial / gen Z crowds thanks to its notably Instagrammable set up, Winterland returns once again. Choose what scenes will grace your social feeds as you choose between fur-covered sofas, winter chalets, forest cabins or translucent igloo seating. Once seated, social bubbles will be kept merry with gooey fondues, fresh sourdough pizzas and a host of creative cocktails – including hot boozy ones for those particularly frosty afternoons.

6 

CHEZ BRUCE, WANDSWORTH

Idyllically situated overlooking Wandsworth Common, Chez Bruce is a high-end French brasserie offering a taste of the continent. The interior is understated, with a minimalist white colour scheme that only draws more attention to the flavours on the plate. The menu is quintessentially French, with a quality cut of meat or fish alongside tempting sides. Pick from the traditional Chateaubriand with hand-cut chips and béarnaise sauce, or opt for Wild mushroom arancini with onion and thyme velouté, Waldorf dressing and Jerusalem artichokes. There is also a function room upstairs where private parties can enjoy food in an intimate setting with views over the green.

7 

TRINITY, CLAPHAM COMMON

Situated in the heart of Clapham Old Town, Trinity’s core ethos is a dedication to seasonal ingredients, something which has earned it its Michelin star among other accolades. On the menu you’ll find dishes such as short rib of beef with smoked bone marrow and wild turbot with winter greens. All are plated to perfection and the setting is stylish and sleek.

Join Adam Byatt and Liberty Wines’ managing director, David Gleave, who are set to host a truffle-centric extravaganza above Trinity on Monday December 7, with dishes ranging from Strozapretti Cacio e Pepe with white truffles, to truffled galantine of Landes duck. The dinner costs £260 per head and bookings can be made via Trinity’s website.

8 

BINGHAM RIVERHOUSE, RICHMOND

There’s much to be enjoyed during the approach to Christmas at the Bingham Riverhouse. Enjoy a brand new festive menu this month as it reopens for discerning diners. This year, the popular 5 course festive menu will feature courses including line caught plaice, celeriac puree and lovage, and a Granny Smith parfait, roasted apple, accompanied by an apple sorbet. Culinary twists on comfort classics are a welcome addition to this festive feast, coming in at just £55, with a dippy duck egg & soldiers, parsnip & onion course acting as interval. Indulge yourself further with their accompanying wine flight for £70 per person.

9 

THE JAPANESE GRILL AT BEAVERBROOK, LEATHERHEAD

Beaverbrook Hotel has an air of elegance amongst the rolling Surrey Hills countryside. And while the hotel has several dining options it’s their Japanese Grill which has proved a continuous win with guests. With ingredients fresh from the gardens, there is a wide range on offer for fans of this Asian cuisine – tuck into their popcorn shrimp with spicy mayo & ponzu for instance. Meanwhile, enjoy the breath-taking landscapes of the estate from your seat as east meets west on your palette. Whether a sunny winter’s afternoon or snowy evening, you’ll be sure to find the atmosphere delightfully warming.

10 

THE IVY BRASSERIE, WIMBLEDON VILLAGE

With an arch of shiny baubles over the door, this is one of our top picks for festive restaurants. The Ivy Brasserie vibe is chic meets leafy suburbs with Chesterfield sofas, fine art, and huge outdoor area perfect for sipping drinks with friends or loved ones. The Ivy is a popular spot for brunch – with dishes such as lobster scrambled eggs and chicken Milanese with truffle. Head to the Wimbledon Village restaurant for dining delights and perhaps some celeb-spotting.

11 

THE GOOD EARTH, VARIOUS LOCATIONS

A standout Chinese restaurant that is thoroughly deserving of its reputation. The restaurant offers healthy and authentic meals with a traditional Chinese spice that brings a real taste of China to south west London. The setting is sophisticated and sleek and elevates the eating experience to a fine dining evening of food. Pick from popular favourites including steamed sea bass with spring onions and ginger, the sautéed fillet of monkfish, or ramp up the spice with a birds-eye chilly recipe for Shanghai chilli chicken. With restaurants and takeaways across the area, from Wandsworth to Esher, diners are never too far from their Good Earth fix.

12 

THE ALEXANDRA PUB, WIMBLEDON

Putting on a spread of typical British pub fare, the Alex in Wimbledon is your go-to option for decent grub. Go for a homely pie and gravy or a hearty roast to complete your winter weekend. Aside from British pub food, the menu showcases fresh and seasonal ingredients cooked by talented resident chefs. Take to the roof for a visit to the loft bar where a heated patio makes for great socialising territory with friends.

13 

SORREL BY STEVE SRAKE, DORKING

Surrey’s Michelin starred destination restaurant, Sorrel by Steve Drake, will once again be feeding the discerning masses this year. Showcasing Steve’s creative approach to food, the menu is set to feature dishes including salt baked celeriac adorned with Tunworth, black truffle, pickled mushrooms and chicken juices. Add some pizazz to your evening with sommelier recommended wine accompaniments.

14 

BRINKLEY’S KITCHEN, WANDSWORTH

A contemporary restaurant with an open-plan layout awaits. The food is modern and eclectic, with Mediterranean influences as well as East Asian touches to the menu. The interior is light and airy with plenty of light flooding in from the nearby Common, and there is a delightful patio area with a roof that opens during the summer months. There is an excellent cocktail bar at the heart of the restaurant which offers an extensive and inventive cocktail menu.

15 

BILL’S, REIGATE

Family favourite Bill’s has announced the festive overhaul of its Reigate branch for households looking for a meal alongside uplifting décor. Guests can expect to enjoy a variety of new cocktails, alongside some Christmas twists on the new menu and a colourful Christmas neon-inspired installation. With other branches including Putney High Street and Richmond, you’ll be sure to spot some seasonal touches across their restaurants.

CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS…

Dec your halls with these gorgeous ideas

Here’s what to wear over the festive season