Most Clapham Junction eateries are situated along the neighbourhood’s main drag, Northcote Road. There, you’ll find everything from charming cafes serving nutritious plates, like Uncommon, to quirky pubs offering a varied menu and ultra-fancy craft beer, like The Draft House.
If stellar food and drink aren’t enough to keep you occupied, 200 acres of Clapham Common on a sunny day is perfect for an afternoon stroll or picnic with friends. This glorious patch of green is also renowned for its festivals during the summer months and trendy Christmas market over the festive season.
While you’re in the area, why not head over to Battersea. Just a 10-minute ride away, Battersea Power Station offers a delightful shopping experience and is home to some brilliant entertainment and leisure destinations.
Struggling to find a Clapham Junction taxi? Try booking a minicab with Addison Lee instead.
Where to drink
Bar Social
If you’re looking for somewhere lively to sink a fabulous cocktail in the Battersea, Clapham area look no further than Lavender Hill’s Bar Social. Set over three floors (sounds bigger than it is), this fun and vibrant bar is the ideal tonic to all those places that just take themselves a little bit too seriously. And while the decor can generously be described as muddled, it says nothing of the high quality drinks these guys bang out on a nightly basis. Indulge your more shameless side in here and throw off the shackles of swanky speakeasies and family oriented gastropubs. This place is all about the party.
245 Lavender Hill, London SW11 1JW
www.barsocial.co.uk/
The Railway Tavern
If you’re on the hunt for a cool local hangout, the Railway Tavern is a great option. The stylish and contemporary interior offers its own unique appeal and has a character that caters to all. Pop in for a great atmosphere, epic craft beers, and perfectly poured cocktails.
18 Clapham High Street SW4 7UR
www.therailwayclapham.co.uk/
The Falcon
Very much on the Clapham side of things here, The Falcon is one of those pubs you drive past and always think to yourself you must pay a visit to. Sometimes these mentally annotated drinking houses flatter to impress and fall short once you get inside. The Falcon is not one of those pubs. Its warm yellow exterior and terraced garden are every bit the inviting tease to what turns out to be a top notch boozer. Rustic but clean; cosy but spacious. This is a pub that scratches all of your south London drinking itches and more. It also serves up some excellent fodder to keep you on premises long after the cask ales have taken hold.
33 Bedford Rd, Clapham, SW4 7SQ
www.thefalconclapham.co.uk/
Where to eat
Humble Grape
Technically a wine bar but it serves such excellent food pairings, we thought it deserved a shout anyway. Slink into the Humble Grape’s basement canteen and you’ll feel as though you’ve been transported to the bodegas of southern Spain. Its cool stone and oak interior is about as inviting a place as you’ll find in Battersea, and you can expect to be greeted in with matching fervour. The wine list is exceptional but what really makes this place stand out for us is the great choice of grazing boards to go with them. Choose from sandwiches to a rich tapestry of cheese and meats. You won’t be disappointed.
2 Battersea Rise, SW11 1ED
www.humblegrape.co.uk/wine-bar-battersea
Banana Tree
Satisfy your cravings with a taste of Banana Tree’s award-winning Indo-Chinese food. Experience small bites like steamed chicken dumplings or spicy Thai wings, and then move on to a selection of aromatic curries or pad Thai noodles. This restaurant has an abundance of flavours to woo the tastebuds.
75-79 Battersea Rise SW11 1HN
bananatree.co.uk/
Sinabro
For desirable French cuisine, try fine dining at Sinabro. This bistro offers an ever-changing menu that relies on classics done well. Fixed price set menus provide courses that change every two weeks, giving guests a unique experience every time they visit.
68 Battersea Rise SW11 1EQ
www.sinabro.co.uk/
What to do
Clapham Picturehouse
One thing south London does seem to still have a lot of his excellent independent cinemas. Intimate, personal and ultimately alluring, this is a cinema which celebrates the art and craft of every film it shows. Which is not to say it only screens art house cinema either. No, they celebrate the merits of the blockbuster just as much as the work of the obscure auteur. It’s got a great little bar in it and if you’re feeling peckish after the movie there are several terrific little restaurants nearby.
76 Venn St, SW4 0AT
www.picturehouses.com/cinema/Clapham_Picturehouse
Battersea Park
Skirting alongside the river Thames between Battersea Bridge and Chelsea Bridge is Battersea Park. Once just a soggy marshland, the 200 acre area was reclaimed from the jaws of the Thames to create an idyllic little retreat on just this side of the river. A popular spot with runners, cyclists and yoga enthusiasts, the park is an ideal retreat for a gentle stroll on a summer’s day. At its centre you’ll even find a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it children’s petting zoo. Boasting a fine selection of mammals, birds and reptiles. Which may seem a touch out of place until you realise you’re but a stone’s throw away from the famous Battersea dog’s home.
SW11 4NJ
batterseapark.org/
Battersea Arts Centre
South London is possessed of many cultural hubs and homes. From theatres to dance halls, the energy of the capital’s southside has always been sourced from its hugely talented and dynamic creative pool. One place those artists choose to commune is the excellent Battersea Arts Centre. Serving primarily as a theatre but also as a great place for dance, art and music to come and flourish, the centre is always alive with creativity. Check their website to see what’s on right now.
Lavender Hill, London SW11 5TN
www.bac.org.uk/
