When it comes to the best restaurants in Richmond, locals and visitors alike are spoilt for choice. The Thames-side neighbourhood offers up a little slice of country life in the capital, home to the largest Royal Park in London as well as miles of charming riverside walks – not to mention being the locale for the hit Apple TV+ show Ted Lasso. But it also has a buzzing food and drink scene more than worth travelling to the south-west for. From decadent seafood platters at Scott’s to the perennially popular Petersham Nurseries, we’ve rounded up the best Richmond restaurants.
The best restaurants in Richmond
Scott’s Richmond
It was Scott’s in Mayfair that put seafood on the map when it first opened in 1968, and now the legendary venue has brought its unique take on crustaceans and caviar to TW9 to create one of the best restaurants in Richmond. You can’t fail to be impressed by the opulent space, which features floor-to-ceiling windows that make the most of dreamy waterside views and a grand two-storey dining room filled with shimmering columns and chandeliers. Marvel at the smartly waistcoated waiters as they weave between the velvet banquettes, proffering silver platters of oysters and baked spiced crab, and be preprepared for a party vibe on the weekends, when a live DJ takes to the decks.
4 Whittaker Avenue, Richmond, London, TW9 1EH
scotts-richmond.com
Petersham Nurseries
Hidden away in the backstreets of Richmond sits Petersham Nurseries, one of the most magical spots in all of London. Entering the bougainvillea and jasmine-strewn restaurant here is like being transported to the Med, right down to the excellent Italian-inspired menu (it’s owned by the Boglione family, whose patriarch, Francesco, hails from Turin). On weekends the place is packed with well-heeled locals hosting family lunches, feasting on pumpkin gnocchi, truffle tortellini and fresh seasonal vegetables from the kitchen garden. Afterwards you can peruse their enchanting shop, filled with the sort of artfully curated furniture and knick knacks that decorate the restaurant.Â
Church Lane, Richmond, London TW10 7AB
petershamnurseries.com
The Fat Badger
It seems the Gladwin Brothers can do no wrong with their brand of hearty, sustainability-focused food. Following on from the success of The Shed in Notting Hill, Rabbit in Chelsea and Sussex in Soho they opened Fat Badger in 2021, which swiftly cemented itself as one of the best restaurants in Richmond. The menu is made up of all things ‘wild, foraged and locally grown’, including sustainable livestock from the Gladwin’s family farm in West Sussex. Don’t miss the mushroom Marmite éclairs with egg confit, cured Chalk Stream trout with rhubarb and Sussex dry aged sirloin steak with salted caramel jus. Â
15-17 Hill Rise, Richmond, London TW10 6UQÂ
thefatbadger-restaurant.com
Peggy Jean at Riverside Green
Riverside views don’t come much better than those at Peggy Jean. Housed in the beautifully restored former Jesus College Barge (which has been brought back to life by Mark Edwards MBE, who delivered the Gloriana barge for the Queen’s Jubilee), it’s a picture-perfect spot to enjoy a laidback meal on the Thames. By day it’s the place to come for Aussie-inspired brunches, but at night it transforms into a sophisticated restaurant that’s a firm favourite in the summer for idyllic sundowners served with calamari and T-bone steak cooked over an open fire.Â
Bridge Boathouses, Riverside, Richmond, London TW9 1THÂ
daisygreenfood.com
Steven Edwards at the Bingham Riverhouse
Situated in the elegant Bingham Riverhouse Hotel, rumoured to be created by Lady Anne Bingham in the 1820s, this is the perfect place to come for a celebratory meal or special occasion. Helmed by Masterchef the Professionals winner Steven Edwards, the focus here is on seasonal tasting menus based around the local produce available to them – standout dishes include venison saddle with parsnip, guinea hen with pumpkin and sage and Edwards’ signature Dippy Egg, a duck yolk with nasturtium root and onion.Â
61-63 Petersham Road, Richmond, London TW10 6UWÂ
binghamriverhouse.com
Gaucho Richmond
With its glass-panelled walls offering fantastic riverside views and its enviable location on Richmond’s much-prized towpath, this outpost of the popular Argentinian steak restaurant is a long-time favourite with the locals. Come to try one of their sustainable steaks – all of their beef is 100% carbon offset, as part of their roadmap to becoming net zero – in the low-slung, boathouse-style dining room, paired with a bottle of something from their excellent wine list. In the summer their terrace is one of the hottest spots in Richmond, with people flocking here for their legendary seafood/steak barbecues. Â
The Towpath, Riverside, Richmond, London TW10 6UKÂ
gauchorestaurants.com
