Guidebook for Greater London
Food Scene
Amazing pan con tomate bodes well at this buzzy bar and kitchen, where a series of small rooms lead back from a cosy front room with a marble bar. From the shortish, largely traditional tapas menu, morcilla scotch eggs, salt cod fritters, and stuffed baby squid are particularly commendable. Sherry lovers will be pleased to see manzanilla en rama on the wine list.
33 Einheimische empfehlen
The Little Taperia
143 Tooting High StAmazing pan con tomate bodes well at this buzzy bar and kitchen, where a series of small rooms lead back from a cosy front room with a marble bar. From the shortish, largely traditional tapas menu, morcilla scotch eggs, salt cod fritters, and stuffed baby squid are particularly commendable. Sherry lovers will be pleased to see manzanilla en rama on the wine list.
If the question is posed, go for spicy at this pleasingly priced Sri Lankan stalwart. Start with the Traditional Sri Lankan and Apollo Banana Leaf Special menus, and don’t order rice, rather share a stringhopper fry (fried chopped noodles) or kothu (fried chopped paratha). But do investigate the other menus for gems such as chicken or prawn 65, devilled mutton, and mutton fry. The aubergine curry is superb, as are most of their veg dishes. Book ahead for evenings, and BYO beer or wine. PS: zero shame in asking for a doggie bag.
18 Einheimische empfehlen
Apollo Banana Leaf
190 Tooting High StIf the question is posed, go for spicy at this pleasingly priced Sri Lankan stalwart. Start with the Traditional Sri Lankan and Apollo Banana Leaf Special menus, and don’t order rice, rather share a stringhopper fry (fried chopped noodles) or kothu (fried chopped paratha). But do investigate the other menus for gems such as chicken or prawn 65, devilled mutton, and mutton fry. The aubergine curry is superb, as are most of their veg dishes. Book ahead for evenings, and BYO beer or wine. PS: zero shame in asking for a doggie bag.
If you like Formica tables and metal cups and jugs, you might enjoy this excellent value South Indian dosa café, which covers the same sort of ground as Apollo Banana Leaf — so stringhoppers, kothu, chicken 65, aubergine curry, etc — if a shade less brilliantly. Their dosas are ace, though, especially stuffed masala dosa, and the podi and rava dosas. The Chettinadu curries are recommended if you crave plenty of gravy.
12 Einheimische empfehlen
Dosa n Chutny
68 Tooting High StIf you like Formica tables and metal cups and jugs, you might enjoy this excellent value South Indian dosa café, which covers the same sort of ground as Apollo Banana Leaf — so stringhoppers, kothu, chicken 65, aubergine curry, etc — if a shade less brilliantly. Their dosas are ace, though, especially stuffed masala dosa, and the podi and rava dosas. The Chettinadu curries are recommended if you crave plenty of gravy.
New in Broadway Market, a diminutive, cash only, BYO Japanese joint serving half a dozen blackboard "tapas" of gyoza, karaage and tempura, with yakitori featuring on Fridays. Fast gaining a cult following among the market’s denizens.
Hinata
24 Tooting High StNew in Broadway Market, a diminutive, cash only, BYO Japanese joint serving half a dozen blackboard "tapas" of gyoza, karaage and tempura, with yakitori featuring on Fridays. Fast gaining a cult following among the market’s denizens.
Intriguing wine bar and shop on Tooting Market with an interesting, left-field selection of wines, and a kitchen serving a full menu by a changing roster of food pop-ups. Current dishes might include a beef bourguignon slider or smoked garlic roast cauliflower with chard and caramelised walnuts.
6 Einheimische empfehlen
Unwined in Tooting
21-23 Tooting High StIntriguing wine bar and shop on Tooting Market with an interesting, left-field selection of wines, and a kitchen serving a full menu by a changing roster of food pop-ups. Current dishes might include a beef bourguignon slider or smoked garlic roast cauliflower with chard and caramelised walnuts.
Drinks & Nightlife
You're making your way down South for one reason and one reason only, the beer gardens. So where to find a hidden gem this side of the river? Join The Wheatsheaf as their boozy garden space isn't just cosy and akin with fairy lights, there's craft beer and pub classics on the menu.
40 Einheimische empfehlen
Wheatsheaf
2 Upper Tooting RdYou're making your way down South for one reason and one reason only, the beer gardens. So where to find a hidden gem this side of the river? Join The Wheatsheaf as their boozy garden space isn't just cosy and akin with fairy lights, there's craft beer and pub classics on the menu.
A brilliant pub in Tooting that gleams with Victorian charm and historic flair, The Selkirk is the perfect space for those all important pints. Not only bringing about ales and draught drinks aplenty, try their private dining room for a stunning and classic British space.
21 Einheimische empfehlen
The Selkirk SW17
60 Selkirk RdA brilliant pub in Tooting that gleams with Victorian charm and historic flair, The Selkirk is the perfect space for those all important pints. Not only bringing about ales and draught drinks aplenty, try their private dining room for a stunning and classic British space.
The hybrid of all hybrid bars in Tooting, Gorringe Park is a space like no other. Not only do they host regular movie nights in their boutique cinema and a brilliant beer garden, there's a Library Room for cups of coffee and the milling over of pints aplenty.
24 Einheimische empfehlen
Gorringe Park
29 London RdThe hybrid of all hybrid bars in Tooting, Gorringe Park is a space like no other. Not only do they host regular movie nights in their boutique cinema and a brilliant beer garden, there's a Library Room for cups of coffee and the milling over of pints aplenty.
Not just one of the best pubs in Tooting, but one of the oldest, The Castle is veritable proof that the humble British boozer will continue to live on strong. From a beer garden brimming with booths to elclectic and kitsch interiors, there's ale, there's cocktails and there's Sunday roasts.
65 Einheimische empfehlen
The Castle
38 Tooting High StNot just one of the best pubs in Tooting, but one of the oldest, The Castle is veritable proof that the humble British boozer will continue to live on strong. From a beer garden brimming with booths to elclectic and kitsch interiors, there's ale, there's cocktails and there's Sunday roasts.