Best restaurants in Battersea

Specialising in sourcing organic wines from small, family-owned estates, this mini-chain also offers a wine-friendly small-plates menu in the casual dining space. If you’re lucky, you’ll also hear the cracking back-stories behind the wines from the friendly staff before you treat yourself to some bottles at a very good price.

With a house jazz band that livens up the place while you sample the drinks menu – including local craft beers by Wandsworth’s Belleville Brewing Co – Room 43 also offers a delicious selection of Persian-inspired mezze. We love the succulent chicken skewers, marinated in saffron, yoghurt and lemon.

Rosie Whaley used to work in fashion but decided to give it all up for Pi after getting a taste for the sweet pizzeria life in Florence. With another location in Winchester, the creative and colourful interiors, designed by Whaley herself, plus the generous 20-inch pizzas make for a winning combination in our eyes.

Easy to spot thanks to its green tiles, this pub is usually filled with locals who come in for a much-needed drink – no matter what day of the week it is. In the dining room guests can enjoy wild boar meatballs with roasted carrots and mash, roasted gnocchi with butternut squash, or there’s always a range of burgers to choose from – plus delicious roasts on Sunday.

This Vietnamese gem has been in business since 2008, and it’s only gotten better with age. Excellent service plus fair prices are part of its secret, but the food if definitely the main draw. Expertly marinated char-grilled minced beef served in betel leaves is one of our favourites.

Specialising in Indian street food, Chit Chaat Chai was set up after founder Tania Rahman had plenty of success with her food stall and pop-up. She gave up on her corporate job to set up a permanent spot, that now offers authentic flavours and plenty of finger-licking treats.

Who better to trust with your seafood needs than oyster farmers turned restaurateurs; the Wright Brothers? While you’ll be able to pick from plenty of seafood options, it’s the oysters that really steal the show - there are usually at least six seasonal varieties to choose from, plus deep-fried, smoked, dressed and citrus-marinated versions.

With an impressive alfresco terrace by the Thames, we’re great fans of Francesco Mazzei’s riverside spot – who is also known for Sartoria on Savile Row and Islington’s Radici. The buzzy open-plan dining room is equally great for date nights or large groups and we’re still dreaming about the decadent burrata tortelli with sage and truffle.

Battersea’s Oak is the fourth site from the expanding Out of the Woods Restaurant Group (also behind The Oak in Notting Hill and The Bird in Hand in Olympia). A great bet for romance on a budget, with a charming candle-lit dining room and a large selection of cicchetti, pizzettas and small plates.

With a very modern space featuring a bold open kitchen at the back, exposed brickwork, warm lighting and classy banquettes, this place is all about the low key glamour. But don’t think that leaves the food in second place – their delicious take on Indian cuisine is just as striking.

Described by a diner as ‘just posh kebabs’, you can trust us when we say you won’t mind once you try what BabaBoom has to offer. This modern Middle Eastern also hosts midnight feasts after 11pm and breezy weekend brunches, where the likes of harissa scrambled eggs make their way onto the menu.

Veggies, rejoice – this place is putting vegetarian choices at the forefront with inventive dishes like ‘green’ shakshuka (spinach, chard, nettles etc), courgette and haloumi burgers or avocado risotto with wasabi, asafoetida and basil. However, the omnivores among us can also enjoy steak-frite and piri-piri chicken with smoked sweetcorn.

Gazette is a lovely Parisian brasserie full of olde-worlde atmosphere. While you can laze around on the sofas, you can also enjoy a more formal meal in the restaurants upstairs, where the menu is filled with French classics like good bread & rillettes as well as thinks such as moules marinière or snails in butter.

Part of the Gordon Ramsay group, this stylish neighbourhood spot is the perfect mix of smart enough for a special meal, yet cosy enough for relaxed weekends spent on the leather sofas by the fireplace. While big, the space is divided into smaller rooms that make it cosier – the perfect setting to enjoy chef George Lyon’s British on-trend dishes.

While officially French, this casual wine bar and restaurant doesn’t stick to just Gallic specialties - Italian coppa is listed alongside its mainly French-Mediterranean menu, and you can choose from tapas-style plates or a more formal meal. Add a team of attentive staff and you have a winning spot that one diner ‘can’t stop recommending’.

Vibrant and quirky, it’s definitely worth stopping by boho-chic Little Bird for one of their stylish cocktails. They also serve Asian small plates, including Thai fish cakes, tuna sashimi ponzu, lime and pork dim sum, prawn green curry with sweet potatoes and grilled naan bread, or seared beef salad with cucumber and peanuts.

The slightly more upmarket sister location to the original location at Brixton Market, this family-run Thai restaurant offers all the favourites plus one or two new dishes. It also has a BYO policy which applies no corkage charge – so great if you’re on a budget!

This cosy pub is perfect for a no-fuss meal with friends (bring the whole family, kids are welcome) and do a great line in a Sunday roast. Its location close to Battersea Park also means that a post-dinner stroll is within reach, if you've overindulged on the offerings the modern British menu throws up. 

The Lighthouse is one of the best pubs in the area, with a great eclectic collection of prints & posters on the walls, a wide selection of draught beers and an even better beer garden for when the weather is behaving – but the comfy sofas and open fire will still be there to keep you cosy in winter.