10 Best Restaurants near Richmond Park, London

10 Best Restaurants near Richmond Park, London

Isabella Plantation Richmond Park – By CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=66189

Where is Richmond Park?

Richmond is a neighborhood in south-west London, with the River Thames passing through and including a high number of parks and open spaces. Founded in the 16th-century after the building of the Richmond Palace, the town and palace were associated with Elizabeth I. In the 18th-century, the Richmond Bridge construction was completed, and many terraced-houses were built around Richmond Green and Richmond Hill.

Now a days, Richmond is now a part of the Richmond upon Thames London Borough. It contains a population of almost 22,000 people, and has extensive retail economies in the area. A famous landmark of the Richmond borough is Richmond Park, sitting at the top of Richmond Hill.

The Richmond Gate provides an entryway to the park, a national nature reserve and conservation site. This park is the largest of London’s Royal Parks, and contains over 600 deer. There have been numerous cafes, restaurants, and shops built around the park area, due to the consistent stream of visitors that flock to the area. We have compiled the 10 best restaurants near Richmond Park, for when you have a sunny day off of work.

10) Pembroke Lodge

The Lodge in Richmond Park – By George Barret, Sr. (circa 1728/32-1784) [Public domain]

A Grade II historically-listed mansion near the park, this lodge sits on high ground with extensive views of the Thames valley, Windsor, and Surrey. Containing 11 acres of manicured grounds, the surrounding areas also include memorials to famous literary figures and artists.

The building was inhabited by John Scott Oliver from 1929-1938, but was then taken over by the government after World War II for use as a tea-room. Now, the building is back under private ownership. The lodge is the home of The Hearsum Collection, a charity that preserves the Richmond Park heritage.

Pembroke is open for weddings, special events, and used as a cafe during the day for the park visitors. The interior’s walls are decorated with beautiful art work, and the atmosphere is more like a mansion than a restaurant. It feels as if you’re dining at your friend’s home – a very wealthy friend. The tea and cakes here are perfect for an afternoon snack while wandering around the beautifully-kept gardens. You can take a tray, fill up your plate with whatever you choose, and then sit outside on a warm day. The prices here are low for London standards – and for the beautiful view you will enjoy while eating your scone and clotted cream. For less than £5 you can enjoy a sweet treat and admire one of London’s most visited parks.

9) The Gate

This restaurant creates a neighborhood vibe – friendly staff, warm atmosphere, and a good energy permeate the air. The food is seasonal and contemporary, combining some traditional elements with unique spins. The decor is unpretentious, and is welcoming to anyone who wants to come in for a pint and a bite to eat.

The restaurant has both indoor and outdoor seating available, with the glasshouse letting in ample natural sunlight. The terrace is open during warmer months to enjoy the sun while sipping on a cold pint. Inside, the restaurant has plant decorations, wooden furnishings, and an open-air type of feel, which allows the restaurant to seamlessly integrate between the outdoor and indoor seating options.

Head chef John Pollard created a modern-day brasserie that focuses on modern techniques and comfort food to warm you up on the coldest of days. If you come here for dinner, there are tasty starters available for around £4, like the calamari with saffron aioli or the parmesan arancini with kimchi sauce. For a main dish, we recommend trying the grilled lemon sole with parsley and samphire. Or you could try the unique seafood burger, flavored with avocado and chili sauce.

There are plenty of vegan and vegetarian options as well. The kale tagliatelle with goat cheese is unbelievable, and the vegan shepherd’s pie with miso gravy will make you forget the times when you ever did eat meat. The extensive cocktail list here is another reason to come as well, with classics like the Mojito combined with innovative options like the Rosehipster – a mixture of two gins with tea infusions, rose syrup, bitters, and topped with prosecco.

With the comfort food, botanical-inspired atmosphere, and wide range of menu options, this restaurant is a great place to come for dinner, afternoon tea, or even weekend brunch.

8) Revolution

Located right in the center of Richmond, this restaurant serves up tasty dishes, unique cocktails, and provides unbeatable views of the Thames. Outdoor seating here feels like you’re resting on the water, with a sun-trapping deck that has comfortable seats and lets in the breeze from the water.

The menu here is contemporary fare, with appetizers like chicken wings, nachos, and hummus. Revolution seems to take their wings seriously, with a sharer of 20, 50, or 100 wings available on the menu. This place would be a great spot to head with friends to share a few plates and enjoy the sunny, summer weather.

For a main, there is a variety of poultry available, like half roast chicken and fish & chips, pizzas, burgers, sandwiches and salads. We recommend trying one of the burgers – after all, there’s about 15 different options you can choose from. For vegans and vegetarians, there are four options for you as well. We liked the bacon and cheese blackened chicken burger, the smashed Mexican beef burger, flavored with avocado and tomato salsa, or the smoke king – the leading man here in the realm of burgers. Three beef patties, bacon, cheese, BBQ sauce, ketchup, mustard, friend onions – and that’s just for one order.

With an extensive menu, river-side seating and panoramic views of the Thames, and a cozy interior make this a perfect spot to come any time of year. You can rest assured that everyone will find something they like to eat here, the atmosphere is relaxed enough that all are welcomed, and the views are unbeatable.

7) R & H cafe gallery

This cafe was made to honor the owner’s parents, and continue their legacy of positivity and caring attitudes. The owner here wants to enrich his customers’ lives through quality food, drinks, and a good atmosphere. He takes great pride in the coffee he serves, and it is widely touted by the customers that they have the best coffee in London.

The food here is Persian, and is created with fresh ingredients, family recipes, and simplicity. There isn’t anything too fancy on what you’re going to order, but the flavors and combinations of textures make it absolutely delicious. The food is prepared from scratch, so just relax in the calming atmosphere while you’re waiting a little longer for your meal – after all, they’re not going to reheat anything for you.

Open for breakfast and lunch, you will find something different than the traditional English here. Try the feta cheese cucumber, walnut, tomato, and unlimited bread to split between you and a friend. For breakfast, the nargesi is incredible – fried spinach, onion, walnut, garlic, and eggs, served with a slice of bread and fruit. For a special lunch, try the shishandaz – roasted butternut squash, pomegranate molasses, walnut sauce, served with a slice of bread and yogurt.

The flavors here are unique, the dishes are different than you’re used to, and the atmosphere is inviting and relaxing. We love it here, since it’s going to surely be a individual experience that you won’t find anywhere else in Richmond.

6) Oliveira Organic Vegetarian Kitchen

This organic vegetarian kitchen attempts to show people how you can flexibly eat a vegetarian diet, enjoy the food, and see what nature has to offer. They use organic farming products to try and fix the societal errors we have created, and venture back to a time when food was – well, just better.

They serve breakfast on the weekends from 9 am – 2 pm, with options like eggs benedict, acai bowl, pancakes, and vegetarian faux gras. For lunch everyday, there are various starters available, like sweet potato pierogis and Korean dim sum stuffed with kimchi. Pastas and risottos are featured, with an interesting sea-flora risotto, containing nori algae and phytoplankton, and spaghettoni pasta, with live yeast and 30-month-old Parmesan. The mains are bigger dishes that contain the same flavor quality, with options like harissa chataigne in tamarind sauce – described as grilled Caribbean breadfruit, marinated in harissa, glazed in tamarind sauce, and served with parsnip mousse.

The flavors and dishes here are unique, organic, and fresh. We love knowing that everything you could possibly order is sourced organically, and is good for not only your body, but for the planet as well.

5) Al Boccon Di’vino is Non Solo Vino

This Italian-Mediterranean restaurant serves up traditional Venetian food, a long list of fine wines, and an atmosphere that appears to be straight out of Italy. The intimate and family-friendly space has gained a great reputation amongst customers, and has ensured locals to keep coming back for years to come.

With tasty seafood, large-portioned pasta dishes, and the homely atmosphere, it feels as if you’re eating dinner at a relative’s house. For starters, we recommend trying the asparagus salad with pancetta and mozzarella. The mains are just as amazing – prawns in a tomato sauce, rigatoni in a pancetta sauce, spinach and mozzarella ravioli – there’s unlimited options to choose from.

The combination of traditional Italian dishes with a little bit of Mediterranean flair makes this a great spot to bring the family,  for an informal and friendly spot.

4) Gaucho

This restaurant is on the banks of the River Thames, featuring an interior steakhouse and a waterside terrace. The atmosphere here is incredible – in the middle of the terrace stands one of London’s oldest Plane trees. The panoramic glass-walled-exterior provides extensive views of Richmond Bridge and other various sights while you’re comfortably sitting at the inside bar.

After walking through Richmond Park, head here for a long weekend lunch. An added bonus: the restaurant is dog friendly all week/all year long. A set lunch here, from 12 – 7 pm, will cost you £29 for three courses. Starters range from pan-fried artichokes and mushrooms to lamb empanadas, and the mains give other choices like steaks and aubergine milanese. If you’d rather choose a-la carte dishes, there are many options to choose from, with starters, steaks, cheese boards, mains, and sides.

With an upscale atmosphere in the middle of a park, this restaurant somehow manages to balance fancy food and ambiance with a relaxed vibe.

3) Bingham Riverhouse

Featuring more perfect views of the River Thames, this restaurant focuses on fresh and seasonal ingredients. Head Chef Andrew Cole ensures that service is friendly, responsive, and professional. With a relaxed, local-feel, and imaginative space, the ingredients really shine in all of the dishes here.

The cooking and the dishes utilize fresh produce, and combine traditional elements with unique spins, adding a hint of nostalgia to the finished products. The rooms are all different themed, with various colors, offering something for everyone’s liking. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, any day is a great time to stop in this lovely spot.

Try the buckwheat pancakes for breakfast, the 3-course lunch menu for £28, and the 3-course dinner menu for £45, with dishes like roasted hake, beef sirloin, and salt-baked carrots. No matter when you choose to visit this establishment, you won’t be dissapointed.

2) The Dysart Petersham

This family-owned and run restaurant is driven by the principles of shared values, passion for food and wine, and using quality ingredients. The restaurant is inside an arts and crafts building from 1904. Being restored to highlight as many original features as possible, the space is unique and features extensive wood-detailing, creating a homely atmosphere.

The main rooms here face over Richmond Park, letting in natural light and providing views of the ample green space. Outside, the garden is full of blooming flowers, decorative carvings on the exterior of the building, and tables during the warmer months.

The use of nature, a historical building, and the perfect location makes this a great spot for a bite to eat, a fresh vegetarian dish, or a glass of red.

1) Petersham Nurseries Cafe

If you ever want to feel as if you’re dining in the Secret Garden, come here. The outdoor terrace is covered with flowers, wicker chairs, hanging plants, and trellises. The restaurant combines charm and sophistication, using Indian blinds, old furniture, various paintings, and set within a glasshouse.

The food here is always seasonal, and stems from Italian-influenced recipes. For starters, we recommend trying the burrata with chili, bitter leaves, and pomegranate, or the chargrilled purple sprouting broccoli. For a main, the cauliflower, chickpea, and carrot tagine with basmati rice is incredible. For meat-eaters, the Haye Farm pork, sage, and capers is also a great choice.

No matter if you’re vegetarian, a meat-eater, or just want to come in for a glass of wine or cup of coffee, everyone is bound to enjoy the magical atmosphere of this charming cafe.

Richmond Park is a hub for unique – and incredible – cuisine

Richmond Park is a lovely outdoor space that makes it feel as if you’re out in the countryside – while you’re basically in central London. The space around Richmond Park is just as special as the park itself, with charming restaurants, various shops, cafes, pubs, and a cute town center in Richmond. No matter what you’re in the mood for, the wide selection of eateries around Richmond Park is sure to satisfy anyone’s cravings.