The Bedford is the place to be – one of Balham’s iconic bars, which offers a restaurant and live music venue all rolled into one. Recently refurbished, the Bedford is one of the most extraordinary pubs in town with interiors to seriously impress.
Explore Hildreth Street for some of South London’s secret gems. Popular eateries include Brickwood, a foodie paradise (and the perfect place if you’re looking to cure a hangover). Or why not try Heart of Balham, located off of Balham High Road. This family-run café offers a menu filled with goodness inspired by the Middle East.
Escape and unwind in one of the green open spaces, take a walk-through Tooting Common, or get a ride to grab some loaded fries from Poptata to takeaway and enjoy a picnic and a catch up with friends.
Make the most out of your time in the neighbourhood and explore the surrounding areas. Take a 5-minute trip to Clapham with Addison Lee, so you don’t have to worry about the expense of a Balham taxi.
Where to drink
Balham Bowls Club
Probably the coolest pub in Balham, the BBC is a pub very much in the mould of a working men’s club. If it had been through a bit of a makeover. Whether it’s the tall, dark rooms, the comfy leather seats or the shabby little bar. Somehow the BBC manages to stay relevant and inviting all at once. The ales are constantly on the change to satisfy the beer drinkers, while the food menu also makes for great reading. A list of dishes to share or eat alone, as well as some enviable Sunday Roast choices. Seating both at the front and in its relatively large back garden give plenty of room for weekend drinkers to roll out into the sunshine if the weather allows. Special mention should go to the bar staff who always seem to be having fun.
7-9 Ramsden Rd, SW12 8QX
balhambowlsclub.com
The Devonshire
A bit more of a ‘pub pub’ than the BBC, if you get what we mean? When you first enter the Devonshire, past the modest terrace at its front, you get the idea this is going to be a quirky little pub with room for standing and not much more. The kind of place where old men come to congregate and grumble. But then you notice the bar stretches right through the back into a larger room with ample seating and an open kitchen. Go yet farther back and you’ll find the garden. Loads of big tables and plenty of seating are accompanied by a grill and rib shack. Arguably Balham’s best pub garden.
39 Balham High Rd, SW12 9AN
www.devonshirebalham.co.uk/
Lost & Found
| A popular spot among locals, this little gem isn’t known to the masses. Tucked away from the main high-street, this easy-going bar is located on Bedford Hill. If you’re looking for a cosy night of cocktails, then this might be the place for you. This little bar has all the ingredients for an unforgettable night with its vintage vibe and friendly buzz. |
10 Bedford Hill SW12 9RG
www.lostandfoundbar.co.uk/
Where to eat
The Chicken Shop
OK, so the name isn’t all that inspiring. But let’s put that down to a spot of trendy minimalism and move past it. Because when you do eventually chow down in Balham’s Chicken Shop, you’ll realise all the effort here has gone into making the chicken as delicious as humanly possible. Owned by the guys behind Soho House, this awesome little chicken shack serves up its grilled chicken in a heavenly marinade and a choice of sauces. Go for a quarter, half or whole and then add some sides (coleslaw, fries or corn on the cob) and you’re set. The emphasis here is on group eating which is presumably why beers come served in hearty pitchers where needed.
7A Chestnut Grove, SW12 8JA
www.chickenshop.com/en/balham
Brother Marcus
| The perfect all-day hangout does exist. From all-day brunch to cocktails at dusk, this quirky café has everything you need. Serving delicious delicacies till late, you will find a mouthwatering selection of flavours inspired by Eastern Mediterranean dishes. This eatery is definitely a desirable destination for all food-lovers. |
9 Chesnut Grove SW12 8JA
brothermarcus.co.uk/
Milk
Long the favourite of every trendy Balham breakfast goer, Milk has recently seen its popularity rivaled by newer contenders on idyllic Hildreth St. For our money though there’s still no better place to get your breakfast, brunch or lunch in Balham. Every ingredient here feels like it’s been hand selected by Nordic angels for your pleasure. But even when it’s at its most achingly hip, Milk is still a fabulous place to eat and drink. The food ranges from standard breakfasts to things you’ve neither eaten before nor even heard of. But venture a while into the dark minds of these gastronomic geniuses and you’ll uncover a menu well worth exploring.
20 Bedford Hill, SW12 9RG
www.milk.london/
What to do
Hildreth St Market
We’ve chatted already about the merits of Hildreth St. A lovely little cobbled area that was pedestrianised not long ago to allow its boutique cafes and shops the space to branch out into the road. And while those shops deserve mention on their own, the market which comes by once a week is also worthy of a visit. There’s not too much to it, in that its stalls are quite limited but just to see the florist spanning out like a geometric labyrinth is, for us, a good enough reason to swing by.
The Exhibit
Don’t you just love it when a great bar or restaurant decides to screen new movies in their boutique cinema space – complete with luxury sofa style seating? Balham’s favourite little cinema, gallery and events space also has one of the area’s best loved restaurants and bars. Serving a bottomless brunch every weekend, throwing parties every Friday and Saturday night. They also host gigs and comedy nights and have an excellent roof terrace. Which is mandatory in south London these days. Easily one of the most exciting places to visit in Balham.
12 Balham Station Rd, SW12 9SG
theexhibit.co.uk/
Afternoon Stroll
With no less than three major parks within spitting distance of Balham, you’d be crazy not to venture out and stretch those legs. Wandsworth Common to the west offers a lovely little green area with the magnificent Bellevue Rd along its side (ideal for a spot of window shopping or some lunch). Tooting Commons to the south is broken up into little pockets around clusters of woodland, making it a great place to get lost in. While Clapham Common has a more lively scene. With bars and pubs all around it. Take your pick, set your direction and get strolling!
