The Best Restaurants in Hammersmith

The River Cafe is the ideal lunch spot for catch-ups and relaxed vibes, while still delivering quality, elegant meals. Luckily it was a sunny day, so we were able to enjoy the fresh breeze and scenic views from their outdoor seating. But don’t worry—the interiors are just as aesthetic. They have crisp tablecloths and pale-blue walls that give off total “by-the-sea” energy.

Don’t let the name fool you—this isn’t a typical happy-go-lucky café. It’s a proper Italian fine-dining restaurant. Their menu changes seasonally, which usually scares us (when we love something we want to know it’ll be there every time). But here they keep things familiar, just adding clever twists. We started with the calamari—grilled, not fried!—and it was still insanely moreish. It comes topped with fresh red chilli and peppery rocket.

For mains we went for the linguine with parsley, lemon, chilli, and Devon crab. They do have a long list of meat options, but we’re convinced we hit the jackpot with this one. Perfectly cooked pasta and that sweet, delicate crab. Finally, we had to end with their homemade gelato—the toasted-almond flavour was pure autumnal heaven.

Have to try: Homemade gelato
Perfect for: Lunch catch ups with good views
Approx price for 2: £150 with drinks

The Gate in Hammersmith is a modern restaurant–café hybrid serving both vegan and vegetarian dishes. The food here is seriously aesthetic — so get the Insta stories ready.

To share, we started with the plantain fritters, which came with the dreamiest coriander and coconut chutney. We probably should’ve stopped there to save room for mains, but the starters were too tempting (and let’s be real, there’s always room). We also got the crispy courgette, stuffed with a pea and mint purée. So fresh, so light, so good.

For mains, it had to be the green Thai curry, because when has that ever disappointed? Instead of chicken, it came with aubergine, sweet potato and mushrooms, and honestly, we didn’t miss the meat one bit. Served with jasmine rice, the rich coconutty flavour properly came through and tied it all together.

Have to try: Thai green curry
Perfect for: Meal out with friends/ family
Approx price for 2:  £30-£70

Potli is a super casual Indian restaurant with homely, colourful interiors, so we just knew the food was going to be authentic.

Come here hungry, because the starters alone are worth the trip. And of course, no one can skip a curry at an Indian spot. We kicked things off with their house speciality: the butter chicken samosa. This gorgeous creation arrived piping hot, packed with creamy butter chicken, and—as if that wasn’t indulgent enough—came with a side of extra buttery gravy. We expected the pastry to be soggy with all that sauce, but it stayed perfectly crisp. Nailed it. Another must-try is the sesame chilli paneer, an Indo-Chinese dish that hits that sweet-and-spicy jackpot. The paneer is tossed with peppers and onions for a crunchy, flavour-packed bite.

Since we’d basically already had butter chicken for starters, we forced ourselves to branch out for the main event. Instead of our usual go-to, we tried the lamb shank rogan josh. The lamb melted in our mouths, and the rich gravy was spiced to perfection. We scooped up every drop with fluffy peshawari naan and fragrant pilau rice. Let’s just say we needed a solid half-hour to recover after this feast.

Have to try: Butter chicken samosa
Perfect for: Family meal out
Approx price for 2: £40-£60

Faber is bright, elegant, and refined—exactly what we’d expect from a wine-and-seafood restaurant. It’s perfect for date nights or anyone with more grown-up tastes. Maybe not the spot to bring the kids; let’s just say chicken nuggets won’t be making an appearance on the menu. That said, there are a few options for pickier eaters, like fish and chips or a classic steak.

We started with the cod cheek skewers served with a moreish tartare sauce and crispy capers. Absolute perfection, and honestly the best way to keep ourselves from immediately ordering fish and chips as a main. (It was a close call—fish and chips just always slaps.)

For mains, we went for a selection of sharers. The Brixham cuttlefish and spring onion croquettes were standouts—perfectly crispy and even better with the mystery sauce they came with. Another surprise hit was the chestnut gnocchi. Technically a veggie option, but the texture and flavours were so good it stole the show.

To round things off, we couldn’t resist something sweet. The brown-butter madeleines, topped with chocolate, were the light, elegant finish we didn’t know we needed.

Have to try: Cuttlefish and spring onion croquettes
Perfect for: Date night
Approx price for 2:  £70-£90

Sam’s Riverside is another elegant spot with top-tier views. Perfect for sipping wine, sharing picky bits, or settling in for a full-on quality meal.

Their cocktail list reads like a novel, so of course we had to dive in. On a sunny day, a fruity drink is non-negotiable. Our favourite was the lychee and lemongrass martini: earthy, floral, and the kind of cocktail that just pairs with everything. Especially our starters of lamb kofte croquettes served with a creamy, dreamy tzatziki. The mains looked pretty decadent, but since it was a lunch vibe, we (for once) didn’t go too wild on the starters.

The absolute must-try? The buttermilk chicken schnitzel. It comes with sun-dried tomatoes and capers for a hit of freshness and tang, plus a rich parmesan mayo. We added a side of tenderstem broccoli marinated in green harissa for a little extra health, and had zero complaints. Comforting yet refreshing all at once.

For dessert, we kept it properly British with a trifle… but this was no ordinary trifle. Think banana, toffee, and a crunch of toasted almonds. Honestly knocks the original clean out of the park.

Have to try: Buttermilk chicken schnitzel with parmesan mayo
Perfect for: Work lunches
Approx price for 2:  £70-£100 with drinks

Indian Zing is a local favourite, always delivering homely, comforting meals that never miss. We kicked things off with their masala negroni—a creative twist for sure, though we’ll admit we still prefer sweeter cocktails. It did pair nicely, however, with the basket of poppadoms (a non-negotiable, obviously) and the cutest little flight of chutneys.

The menu balances all the classics with some fun modern twists. A standout starter was the samosa chana Greek yogurt. Think of it as a savoury granola bowl… okay, maybe don’t, that might sound weird. But it’s basically crispy samosa pastry with peas and chickpeas on a bed of Greek yogurt, drizzled with sweet tamarind and date relish. The flavours in this dish are unbeatable—refreshing yet indulgent.

For mains, we went straight for Zing’s chicken jalfrezi. Fair warning: this one packs serious heat. But the depth of flavour makes it a must-try. The sweet, fluffy peshawari naan was the perfect sidekick to cool things down and scoop up every last drop of that fiery sauce.

Have to try: Samosa chana greek yogurt
Perfect for: Family meal out
Approx price for 2: £40-£70 (with drinks)

Yep, a full-on pizza joint had to make the list. Crisp Pizza W6 delivers quality, indulgent pies loaded with fresh ingredients. It’s perfect for sunny days with its outdoor seating and a cold pint in hand. These are New York–style pizzas—something London isn’t short of—but not everyone nails it. This place absolutely does.

We had to try both their styles while we were here: the traditional pies and the crisp-sliced. The cheese pie was pure decadence—comfort food at its best and definitely one to share (plus a pint of water to wash it down!). Then we went for the Vecna crisp-sliced, their New York style. Some thin pizzas can be dry, but this one struck the perfect balance. A crisp base with plenty of sauce and a generous load of toppings—mozzarella, pepperoni, hot honey, and parmesan. Crispy yet saucy… we don’t know how they do it. And of course, every bite got dunked in their garlic and herb dip. It’s just protocol.

Have to try: Vecna New York style pizza
Perfect for: Casual, quick lunch
Approx price for 2: £20-£40

Chez Maiss is a modern, sleek spot tucked inside Hammersmith Broadway shopping centre. We can’t lie—the name threw us off at first. We were expecting French brasserie vibes, but it’s actually full-on Mediterranean with a Greek twist. No complaints here—Greek food is more our speed anyway.

We kicked things off with the pitta and dips, because obviously. You can order just one dip, but variety is everything, so we splurged on the trio for £16.50. It came with hummus, baba ganoush, and labneh—three classics done perfectly. We also couldn’t resist the volcano shrimp. Mediterranean? Not exactly. Think tempura prawns in a spicy Korean sauce with a side of mayo. Untraditional, but ridiculously good.

For mains, we went with the shish tawook—perfectly seasoned, juicy chicken skewers served with a refreshing slaw and a generous pile of chips. And while it might sound random, the mac and cheese here is a must-try side. Does it “go” with the meal on paper? Not really. Do we care? Absolutely not. It’s creamy, indulgent, and satisfies every craving.

Have to try: Chicken shish tawook
Perfect for: Tapas style lunch
Approx price for 2:  £55

We kicked things off with the burani, a creamy mix of cooked spinach and homemade yogurt sauce. Sounds simple, but it’s packed with flavour and so moreish. Another winner was the dolma felfel—bell peppers stuffed with rice, lentils, herbs, and a tangy tomato dressing. Perfect for sharing (and probably too filling for one), but absolutely worth ordering.

For mains, we went with the tah-chin: crispy saffron-infused baked rice layered with egg and yogurt, filled with shredded chicken and aubergine, served alongside a rich stew. Remember those school lessons about a balanced plate of food? This was exactly that—carbs, protein, greens, and plenty of flavour.

We were pretty stuffed but couldn’t skip something sweet, so we wrapped things up with their refreshing mango smoothie.

Have to try: Stuffed peppers
Perfect for: Family meal out
Approx price for 2: Around £60 including drinks

101 Thai Kitchen is a true local favourite—and impossible to miss with its bright baby-pink exterior and matching interiors. It’s a laid-back spot, perfect when you’re craving an authentic, flavour-packed Thai meal without any of the fuss.

We kicked things off with crispy prawn wontons, which were dangerously addictive. Another classic starter was the chicken satay, grilled to perfection and served with that rich, peanutty sauce. Ugh, delicious.

For mains we had to stick to our go-to: the chicken panang curry. They don’t mess around with spice (and they warn you!), but the flavour is so incredible it’s worth every fiery bite. Paired with warm sticky rice, the heat balances beautifully.And honestly, if we felt a cold coming on, it’s definitely cured now.

Have to try: Crispy prawn wontons
Perfect for: Family meal out
Approx price for 2: Around £45 including drinks