Set along the Thames in the borough of Richmond upon Thames, Barnes is one of London’s most picturesque riverside villages, just 30 minutes from central London. Rich in culture, Barnes was once home to the Olympic Studios, a legendary recording venue where The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, and Jimi Hendrix all created music, and it has long attracted artists, writers, and musicians ever since.
Today, the greenery of Barnes Common makes it popular with walkers and families, and independent bookshops, artisanal grocers, and restaurants cluster around the green. From traditional Italian food to authentic Lebanese, the village feel of Barnes is matched by a dining scene that is small but remarkably diverse.
OMM Restaurant
OMM (meaning Mother in Arabic) brings the warmth and generosity of homemade Lebanese cooking to White Hart Lane, Barnes. The restaurant has an interior intended to embody the calm of being in Lebanon itself, with a cobalt blue throughout the dining space, and olive greens inspired by Lebanon’s ancient olive groves.
The menu is just as traditional. Cold and hot mezzés include hummus, labné, baba ghanoush, and warak inab. Fresh from the grill, there are skewers such as chicken kafta, lamb kafta, taouk, and lahim meshoué, whilst vegetarians are offered a range of specialities including deep-fried pumpkin and cracked wheat parcels, filled with onions, chickpeas and baby spinach. Shawarma and falafel are amongst the wraps and sandwiches, and desserts keep to Lebanese classics and sweet puddings. Food at OMM is abundant in flavour but never heavy, the service is warm, and the setting ensures that everyone leaves feeling a little more connected to the heart of Lebanon.
Arte Pizza
Arte Pizza, previously known as Arte Chef, combines Italian café charm with a strong focus on pizza. Found at 58 Church Road, it is bright and welcoming, with a wood-fired pizza oven serving as the focus of the space, and a garden offering al-fresco dining for sunny days.
The ‘All Day’ menu stretches from pastries like croissants and cannoli to hearty salads such as Bufala (buffalo mozzarella with mixed vegetables) and Tonno (Italian tuna with onion and greens). The real highlight, though, is the pizzas. Neapolitan in style, they range from the classical Margherita, to more adventurous options such as Salsiccia e Friarielli (pork sausage with Neapolitan broccoli) and Rebby (Red onions, pancetta, mozzarella and spicy nduja). The traditional Italian pick-me-up, tiramisu, is a menu highlight, and an extensive wine list accompanies, with wine being served by the glass or by the bottle. Whether stopping off for a casual lunch or a full dinner, Arte Pizza is the art of flexibility. Its authentic pizzas, quality ingredients, and friendly service make it a cornerstone of the Barnes dining scene.
OKA Barnes
At 88 Church Road, OKA brings Pan-Asian dining with a strong Japanese influence to Barnes. The décor is stylish but relaxed, with long leather seats, neutral tones, and a contemporary feel that suits both mid-week meals and special occasions.
OKA balances raw, fried, and grilled dishes with flavourful sauces, finishing touches, and plenty of choice for different tastes. To begin, there are lighter starters such as miso kimchi soup, vegetable tempura, and wakame seaweed salad with pickled cucumber and fried tofu. For something more substantial, options include soft shell tempura crab with jalapeño sauce and lime mayo, shichimi-spiced baby squid with sweet chilli mayo, and beef teppanyaki with fillet beef strips. On the sushi and roll side, OKA has a broad selection, including tuna and avocado, and unagi with a sweet soy glaze. Sides and additional elements include egg fried rice, stir-fried greens, and an OKA side salad, with multiple sauces and dressings to complement the main dishes. After a riverside ramble, OKA makes the perfect place to settle in for sushi and more.
Riva
Riva has long been a fixture on Barnes’s Church Road, serving visitors and locals alike with traditional Italian cooking. The interior is understated with white table linens and simple prints, whilst the focus remains on the cooking itself, and the restaurant’s longevity speaks to its loyal following.
The menu includes classic antipasti such as burrata with Parma ham, carpaccio di manzo, calamari fritti, bruschetta al pomodoro, and insalata caprese. Pastas, too, are central, with staple Italian dishes such as lasagne and penne arrabbiata appearing alongside rotating seasonal options. Fish and meat mains vary but include grilled sea bass, lamb, or veal, whilst desserts like tiramisu and affogato round things off. What sets Riva apart is consistency. For decades it has offered carefully prepared northern Italian cooking, supported by a well-chosen Italian wine list. Riva offers dining that feels like part of a tradition with its reliability, depth of flavour, and attentive service.
The Brown Dog
In the charming village of Little Chelsea, The Brown Dog is a gastropub in the backstreets of Barnes with roots dating back to 1898. Today, it remains family and dog-friendly, with a strong community feel. The establishment retains many of its original architectural features and character, and is a Barnes landmark with heart.
The Brown Dog takes its sourcing of ingredients seriously, working with British producers to enable the menu to shift with the seasons. Sample dishes include starters such as celeriac and Jerusalem artichoke soup with apple and rosemary, or king prawns with chilli, parsley, and garlic. Mains range from braised mutton pie with French beans and mash, to roast hake with samphire and brown shrimp. Desserts often feature sticky toffee pudding with honeycomb ice cream, or orange and almond cake with Greek yoghurt. A Sunday menu, set menus, and a well-curated wine list complement the offering. The Brown Dog serves the hearty, seasonal and generous food you long for from a neighbourhood pub, but with the finesse that makes it worth seeking out.
Barnes may be small, but its restaurants reflect the same balance of tradition, quality, and community that gives the area its character. From homemade Lebanese at OMM, Neapolitan traditional pizza at Arte Pizza, to sushi and pan-Asian plates at OKA, classic Italian at Riva, and traditional pub dining at The Brown Dog, each spot offers something unique. Together, they show why Barnes is more than just a pretty riverside village, and proof that some of London’s best meals can be found away from the city’s main stage.
