Populated by an eclectic mix of cuisines, Balham’s hub – the triangular patch just next to the station – has some long-standing local gems and peppy new upstarts. And after assiduously trying each and every one…
…we had a very long nap.
But then we collected ourselves, and wrote this: the Best Restaurants in Balham…
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Caminata
Generous starters, soul-lifting pasta and legendary waiters, who – in between chatting to the regulars – zip around tables serving crispy wood-fired pizzas topped with pancetta and gorgonzola, goat’s cheese croquettes drizzled in honey, and choice picks from the regularly rotating, Italian-leaning wine list.
Details: 96 Bedford Hill, SW12 9HR | Book a table at Caminata
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Milk
Mariell Lind Hansen
Milk does brunch. An event which – any Balham local will know – requires fortitude, determination and resilience, given the hour-long queues that form outside every weekend. Weather the wait and you’ll be rewarded with some of the best breakfast action in South London, running the gamut from poached eggs with burnt butter hollandaise to the Nutzilla French toast (with tonka bean chantilly, white choc caramel, strawberries and candied pecans on their home-made brioche). On weekends, the menu contracts to make room for their legendary pancake specials, which almost look too pretty to consume.
Details: 18-20 Bedford Hill (entrance on Hildreth Street Market), SW12 9RG | No bookings
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Milk Run
Theoretically, this newborn sibling to Milk should help to halve the queues… but realistically it’s just going to double the number of visitors descending on Balham in search of a treat. There are a handful of tables to sit-in here, but Milk Run’s main function is a grab-and-go bakery offering some next-level pastries. What’s on offer changes daily, according to the creative machinations of head baker Gladys – but you can always be assured of an excellent sourdough. And be warned, the hype has already skyrocketed within days of opening, with pastries selling out in a matter of hours…
Details: 16-18 Ritherdon Rd, London SW17 8QD | No bookings
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Gurkha’s Diner
An excellent Nepalese spot that can count Michel “three Michelin Stars” Roux Jr. amongst its fans. The place is old-school smart, with fancy flower arrangements and huge floor-to-ceiling windows – a suitably refined spot in which to sample the crowning glories of Himalayan cuisine, from lamb momo (steamed dumplings) to patina patre (bread with mint), pork cooked Eastern Nepalese-style, and spicy Khorshani chicken.
Details: 1 The Boulevard, Balham High Road, SW17 7BW | Book a table at Gurkha’s Diner
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The Apple Blue
This café has nothing to feel blue about – its all-day brunch and lunch dishes deliver on both style and substance. Shun breakfast basics for aubergine curry with panko-crusted egg; a towering English muffin stack filled with a spicy hash brown, fried egg and maple bacon; or the outrageous Dutch Baby pancakes (essentially a giant Yorkshire pudding cradling kefir fried chicken, a fried egg, and lashings of maple syrup). And the supper club plans in the pipeline can only point to good things…
Details: 212 Balham High Road London SW12 9BS | No bookings
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Burning Rose
Balham was wanting for a really excellent Thai restaurant, until these guys rose to the challenge. And by ‘these guys’, we mean Aussie entrepreneur Dennis Turner (co-founder of the internationally-renowned Thai restaurant group Aylmer Aaharn), and chefs Matthew Albert (of World’s 50 Best restaurant Nahm in Bangkok) and Bertie Procter (Rosa’s Thai). Together they’ve created a rare beast: high-quality cooking in a relaxed, neighbourhood setting. Highlights on the menu include the crispy deep fried chicken thighs with nahm jaew dipping sauce; the tom yam fish ball & rice noodle soup; and to finish, the indulgent Thai ice cream made with condensed milk, Thai tea and crushed peanuts.
Details: 7 Chestnut Grove, Balham, SW12 8JA | Book a table at Burning Rose
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