London Hammersmith Restaurant Guide

“If you like dosas, idlis and uttapams”, these “cheap and cheerful” but “spotless and well-run” canteens in the West End (plus Hammersmith and Harrow) are “an excellent choice for very good South Indian vegetarian food” – they’re also “a top option to take a crowd because they’re not fazed by large tables”, and “even carnivores don’t complain” when they try the “tasty food”.

“A wide range of typical Japanese dishes that have not been anglicised, including sushi that’s always fresh and well-prepared (with true tastes, unlike at the ubiquitous chains)”, helps inspire a big fan club for this “homely” chain. They are “not the grandest of places” – with service that’s “quick and efficient” rather than particularly charming – but it “always feels like you are eating in Japan” here; and “they get the job done with decent value for money”. They must be doing something right as they are “always packed” and there are “often queues out the door”. Top Tip – “the bento boxes are particularly good and with generous portions”.

This basic-looking Keralan in Hammersmith is known locally for its “excellent” value – and in particular, “the breadth of its vegetarian options and fish dishes”. Top Menu Tip – “outstanding masala dosa”.

Chef patron Manoj Vasaikar’s “bustling” venue near the entrance to Ravenscourt Park celebrates its 20th anniversary this year and diners remain “thoroughly impressed” by this superior neighbourhood venue – the cooking is “varied and interesting” and its most ardent fans say that “for all the Michelin stars dolled out to fancier Indian restaurants in London, I think this place does things better!”

“Somewhat weird interiors” packed with chandeliers, stuffed animals and other antique-shop paraphernalia mean it’s easy to be “transfixed by the decor” at these four neighbourhood cafés in Hammersmith (which added a new branch near Ravenscourt Park this year). The decor boosts what’s essentially a cheap ’n’ cheerful Thai caff experience: “a lot of the food is deep-fried but always fresh” and it’s “staggeringly good value… and it’s BYO!”

As riverside pubs go, few ooze the ancient charm of this cute, historic Hammersmith hostelry, where James Thompson penned ‘Rule Britannia’ back in 1740. In other respects, nothing about it is game-changing, but the appeal of its cosy log fires in winter and riverside terrace in summer underpin its ferocious popularity (you must book).

Worth knowing about near Hammersmith Broadway, this well-appointed pub is “highly recommended” for its convenient location a few minutes’ walk from the station, its characterful interior, cute outside terrace and – not least – its very decent Italian-leaning menu. “Dog-friendly” is another plus for some.

“The food, from all corners of India, is packed with so much flavour” at this popular restaurant on the strip of eateries near the entrance to Ravenscourt Park. Welcoming service and a cosy, comfy and colourful interior rounds off an experience that remains well-rated all-round.

“A very good neighbourhood gastropub” – this Hammersmith backstreet boozer is no longer No. 1 on TripAdvisor (as it was several years ago), to the great relief of the local residents. The relatively new management are “really helpful” and the “no-nonsense pub grub” is much jazzier than under previous regimes. Top Menu Tip – “Sunday lunch is very good with lots of families happily munching into a roast”.

This “great little yakitori restaurant” near Stamford Brook station specialises in grilled Japanese skewers “cooked to order” as you watch, ideally from a perch at the counter. It’s a “simple local” spot, scoring well for authenticity.

“Somewhat weird interiors” packed with chandeliers, stuffed animals and other antique-shop paraphernalia mean it’s easy to be “transfixed by the decor” at these four neighbourhood cafés in Hammersmith (which added a new branch near Ravenscourt Park this year). The decor boosts what’s essentially a cheap ’n’ cheerful Thai caff experience: “a lot of the food is deep-fried but always fresh” and it’s “staggeringly good value… and it’s BYO!”

“Sam’s absolutely nails it, as indeed does Sam Harrison himself when he’s front of house” at this brilliantly successful venue, whose “fabulous” Riverside location – “with ideal views of Hammersmith Bridge” – invites many comparisons with the River Café just down the towpath. In fairness, “culinary comparisons with The River Caff are rather overblown”: “Sam’s is much better value, but it’s different”: the posh brasserie fare is “not aiming to be in the same league” and rates somewhere between “well-presented-and-delicious” and “tasty-if-unspectacular”. The food is really “part of an overall package” which combines unusually “glamorous, sophisticated and comfortable” decor in a “bright and light interior” with “excellent, friendly and very efficient service”, to create a supremely “convivial” experience that’s “not cheap, but excellent value”: “I always feel happy when I leave”. (See also Sam’s Waterside and Sam’s Kitchen). Top Tip – “the cocktails here are a massive stand-out”.

“High-end vegetarian cuisine” – with “such inventive recipes” – has carved a brilliant reputation amongst veggies and carnivores alike for Michael and Adrian Daniel’s characterful stalwart, which “has been around forever” (well, since 1989). It occupies an attractively quirky space too, over a Hammersmith church near the Eventim Apollo, but – albeit a “really nice and friendly venue” – one or two reporters feel “the venue and service could do with refreshing” (and its two spin-off branches closed this year). Top Menu Tips – “dreamy aubergine dish” and “courgette flower and the red Thai curry and mushroom are both favourites”.

“A calm retreat” that comes as a “pleasant surprise”, just one minute’s walk from the tube gates of Hammersmith: this cosy cellar bar is found in the middle of the Broadway at the foot of Bradmore House: a grade II listed eighteenth-century property rebuilt as part of the area’s redevelopment. The basement forms the in-house eatery for the co-working space occupying the building and anyone else who knows about it, with a short and affordable menu: “I wasn’t expecting much, but this was great!”

“The food is different and good” – inspired by the street food sold on Indian railways – at these funkily decorated canteens, in a nondescript Ealing parade of shops and a somewhat cuter one on Hammersmith Grove. Top Menu Tip – “sharing Thalis are a must, with great flavour combinations and excellent value”.

“More gastro than pub, but jolly good” – this well-known corner-boozer near Ravenscourt Park is “the best ‘local’ you could wish for” and regularly features in our list of London’s top gastropubs. Not only it is superbly atmospheric – “with candles on the tables and a roaring fire in the winter” – but it produces “consistently outstanding food” from the menu scrawled at the end of the room.“Everything on menu is well-thought-through” and “it’s hard to believe they can turn out such consistent brilliance from such a tiny kitchen”.

“Everyone loves this place” – the bustling “café within the Polish Cultural Centre (POSK)” near Ravenscourt Park is “slightly scruffy” but no-one cares given its super-cheap prices: you don’t need fret about the cost-of-living crisis here. “Wonderful and relaxing”, it’s “a great place to talk for ages” with “lovely coffee and really good cakes (cheesecake is fabulous); and they also offer hearty really good Polish home cooking like soups and pancakes”.

“Somewhat weird interiors” packed with chandeliers, stuffed animals and other antique-shop paraphernalia mean it’s easy to be “transfixed by the decor” at these four neighbourhood cafés in Hammersmith (which added a new branch near Ravenscourt Park this year). The decor boosts what’s essentially a cheap ’n’ cheerful Thai caff experience: “a lot of the food is deep-fried but always fresh” and it’s “staggeringly good value… and it’s BYO!”

“A lovely little cafe” near the river in Hammersmith whose serene interior is a surprise given a location barely 100m from the whizzing traffic of the A4. Chef Lindsay Elder and her “friendly” staff provide (somewhat pricey) fancy buns, “great salads” and other light fare to passers-by and West London ladies who either lunch or do coffee.

“The secret is well and truly out now” – “Carl (the owner) makes some of the best pizza in London”, selling out daily from the unpromising-looking Hammersmith boozer he was born in (near the bridge, behind Riverside studios). His ‘pies’ are “insane”, fully justifying “the hype about being the best” created by influencers including Dave Portnoy of America’s Barstool Sports and rapper Action Bronson. A former semi-pro footballer, Carl McCluskey developed his own recipe for NYC-style crisp-base pizza when he took over the Chancellors pub in – yes – Crisp Road when his grandmother retired during the pandemic. He has talked of moving to Mayfair, but as of summer 2024 was still pumping out the pizzas on home turf.