Only eight miles southwest of central London, you could easily think that Richmond is just a well-positioned launchpad for the glitz and glamour of the capital’s celebrated hotspots. But - while the likes of Soho, Marylebone, Belgravia, and Mayfair are all easily accessible by train and tube - spend just a few hours in Richmond and you’ll soon be caught in its seductive web, with no desire to leave. Without question, Richmond is one of London's most desirable areas in its own right: deeply cherished for its breathtaking riverside location, beautiful green spaces, historic architecture, and a highly sophisticated social landscape. There’s a real buzz in this leafy, elegant market town - and its top-class restaurant scene is a manifestation of this. With so much to choose from, here is our expert guide to the best.
Chez Lindsay
This Richmond institution is as authentically French as you can possibly get, without actually crossing the English channel. Overlooking the River Thames out the back, it’s a warm, inviting ‘creperie’ that - for more than three decades - expertly built a devoted following for its tasty Breton cuisine, under the inspired guidance of now-retired Lindsay Wotton. Wisely, its new owners haven’t tinkered with this winning formula. The seafood and galettes remain ‘just so’, as per the delicious savoury pancakes. The atmosphere of Chez Lindsay is also completely intoxicating. There is a real homeliness and informality that makes you feel you are among family, while the menu is flexible and there is an ever-changing specials board which flexes your tastebuds with bistro classics and regional specialities. Again, Richmond draws you in - no need to go to France to experience its world-class cuisine.
Petersham Nurseries
A secluded haven just to the south of Richmond town centre, Petersham Nurseries is a distinctive greenhouse restaurant with myriad exceptional qualities. The greenhouse itself is absolutely stunning - enveloped with tumbling, climbing bougainvillea, set in front of a stately 17th century home (owned by the aristocratic Boglione family), and always warm, even if there is deep snow on the ground outside. The seasonal produce it uses comes from said ground, inspiring Petersham’s kitchen garden to hit such heights that it proudly boasts a Michelin Green Star. Not only is this testament to both its incredible quality, and the restaurant’s commitment to sustainability; there is, for example, a machine that converts food waste into water. Overall, the atmosphere is rustic, magical, and rarefied - in fact, it's something of a celebrity hideaway: Madonna and Mick Jagger are among its A-lister fans.
Scott’s
Proving that it’s difficult to leave Richmond to head into central London once you’ve experienced the area, central London has made its way to Richmond. Mayfair in fact, in the fine form of Scott’s - a hugely celebrated seafood restaurant that is firmly embedded in the psyche of sophisticated diners in W1J, and is now having the same effect on the TW9 postcode. Nestled on the banks of the River Thames, it boasts one of the best scenic restaurant views of anywhere in the capital, and it goes to every length in echoing all the glamour of its Mayfair counterpart. Scott’s has a reputation for world-class service, and this you can expect, along with supremely cooked and eclectic dishes: fillet of cod with chorizo, monkfish and tiger prawn masala, Cornish pollock Kyiv, and Dover Sole meunière.
Adesso
If Chez Lindsay is a lovely little slice of France in Richmond, then Adesso is a potent portion of Sicily in south west London. Close to the bustling high street, with passionate owner Gino at the helm, Adesso specialises in modern Sicilian and Italian dishes with an emphasis on fresh, seasonal ingredients, and its menu is charmingly rustic: handmade pastas, gourmet pizzas, and classic Sicilian recipes with a twist. The food is majestic - as with most authentic cuisine - but what Adesso truly specialises in is ‘x-factor’ ambiance. It’s utterly welcoming, and can be anything you want it to be: dress up ‘to the nines’ and take a crowd of family and friends for a special evening occasion, or just slip in for a quick work lunch with a colleague. The wine list deserves special mention: carefully curated, with an onus on Italian vintages.
The Bingham
This elegant country house-style boutique hotel is well known for its immaculate Georgian architecture and peaceful riverside location - and its suitably stylish ‘Riverhouse’ restaurant. The space itself is like something from a jazzy film set - a vast yet cosy gold-accented room, enhanced with eye-catching chandeliers, and, in good weather, a decked patio that allows for al fresco dining while the River Thames laps against the towpath nearby. The menu is ‘modern European’, with eclectic, standout dishes such as fondant potato and warm tartare sauce, and turbot on the bone with purple broccoli. As with many of the best Richmond restaurants, there is a focus on seasonal, locally sourced ingredients. This being a hotel, guests can enjoy it all day: breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, or dinner is available throughout.
Swagat
Curry houses of authentic quality will always succeed, and Swagat is a roaring, lip-smacking success. While it has been described as a “hidden gem” in the past, perhaps the secret is out -its refined take on traditional Indian cuisine, allied to a cosy but classy dining environment, ensure that Swagat is immensely popular. The menu offers classic favorites like butter chicken, biryanis, korma and lamb rogan josh but there is a good range of lesser-known and regionally specific dishes, while vegetarian and vegan options are plentiful. Staff are knowledgeable and enjoy making considered suggestions.
Surrounded by peaceful, majestic natural beauty but with a buzzing, sophisticated town centre at its heart, Richmond can seem like the best of both worlds, and indeed it is. The restaurant scene boasts a similarly beguiling mix: old-school glamour interspersed with rustic cosy comfort. Perhaps it's worth trying out everywhere - if not everything - you can manage.
