We’re kicking things off with the most bougie spot on this list by a mile — Scott’s Richmond. Walking through the Richmond streets and passing the locals, you’ll quickly understand why and how this place is so loved. You may as well soak in all that luxury and play the part. The bar is spectacular, glowing golden with marble countertops — pure royal vibes.

Looking at that bar, we couldn’t resist, so a cocktail had to be ordered ASAP. The Scott’s Lychee Tini is an absolute must: super light and refreshing. If the interiors weren’t a clue enough, the menus here are undeniably posh. Expect not to recognise half the ingredients, but trust that everything is made using the freshest, highest quality produce. 

Seafood options certainly weren’t lacking, so we figured they must specialise in this. We began with the baked spiced crab, served with garlic and herb toast — packed with flavour and, as always, the bread steals the show. For mains, we went for the Kashmiri monkfish and tiger prawn masala. It was one of the few non-British/French dishes, so we were slightly hesitant, but honestly, they nailed those authentic flavours. 

Have to try: Baked spiced crab and cinnamon doughnuts
Perfect for: Special occasions
Approx price for 2: £180–£220 (with drinks)

If the goal is to transport customers into a mystical enchanted garden, then Petersham Nurseries Restaurant in Richmond absolutely nailed it. Vibrant lavender flowers hang above you, while bushes and greenery sweep across the room. You can practically feel your lungs getting healthier!

We started off with a freshly baked, warm focaccia that we honestly couldn’t get over. Then came the courgette and sage arancini with a refreshing lemon mayo — as far as starters go, this place had us completely sold.

For mains, the menu is kept to a handful of options, which is probably for the best considering how much we stuffed ourselves with appetisers. That said, the mains were just as decadent. We chose the mackerel with smoked carrot purée, pickled onions and radishes – light, fresh, and beautifully balanced. Of course, there’s always room for dessert, so we finished with the strawberry and vanilla pannacotta topped with white chocolate and oat crumble. Who could resist that?

Have to try: Freshly baked focaccia
Perfect for: Catch up with friends
Approx price for 2: £140–£180 (with drinks)

Obviously, this list couldn’t continue without a bougie pub — the area is full of them — and The Watermans Richmond is one of our favourites for sure. It still has that cosy, traditional pub atmosphere, so don’t worry about it being overly extravagant like so many things in London. If the weather permits, definitely grab a seat on their patio; if not, the interiors make the perfect snug hideaway for those typical grey, rainy days.

Luckily for us, we snagged a spot outdoors, and a sunny day calls for one thing: an Aperol Spritz. They’ve got a solid range of cocktails as well as the classic pub staples like wine and draught beer. Since the goal was to indulge in a comforting, decadent main, we decided to keep starters light and fresh. The warm spiced cauliflower curry with butternut squash, charred broccoli, and crispy kale was perfect — a proper texture sensation, and seasoned to perfection.

In classic pub fashion, mains had to be hearty, so we went for the hunter’s pie. Definitely more of a winter dish, but the rich flavours of the slow-cooked venison left us with zero regrets.

Have to try: Poached pear topped with cinnamon biscuit, butterscotch and ice cream
Perfect for: Family meal out
Approx price for 2: £70–£90 (with drinks)

We’re leaning away from the traditional and modern British cuisine and heading to India now with Cinnamon Bazaar Richmond. The interiors are far from your typical curry house — super modern and cutesy with pink décor and fairy lights strung all around. You might think you’ve walked into a chic café instead, but the heavenly aromas quickly remind you otherwise.

We went for their weekend brunch, which lets you add on bottomless prosecco, beer, mimosas, or mocktails for £29. The best part? The menu still features all the classics from their regular lineup, so you don’t need to worry about missing out on the good stuff. We kicked things off with the samosa chaat, and honestly, we never truly knew the meaning of “flavour explosion” until this. The spicy samosa filling with the sweet and tangy tamarind chutney? Dreamy.

For mains, we tucked into the chicken biryani and, of course, no Indian feast is complete without a curry — so the saag paneer made its way to our table. Scooping it all up with fluffy peshwari naan was nothing short of perfect. And because there’s always room for dessert, we finished with the carrot and ginger toffee pudding. This is a spiced Indian twist on a British classic, and utterly delicious.

Have to try: Samosa chaat
Perfect for: Family meal out
Approx price for 2: £80–£100 (with bottomless drinks)

Beirut Street Kitchen in Richmond is a far more casual and cosy spot, serving super homely Lebanese food. The menu is simple, but let’s be honest — most of us end up ordering the same few favourites from any Middle Eastern joint. First up, of course, is hummus, paired with warm bread and pickles. Honestly, we’d call that a meal on its own sometimes.

Next, we went for the chicken wrap, which comes in a Subway-style setup where you can customise exactly what goes inside. Salad? Absolutely required. And the garlic and chilli sauce? Generous lashings, naturally. They also have bowl options if you want something lighter, but honestly, treat yourself — every bite of the wrap guarantees all the flavour you could hope for.

Have to try: Halloumi and hummus
Perfect for: Quick bite
Approx price for 2: £25–£35

Chez Lindsay is an elegant French restaurant that still manages to maintain a cosy, minimalist atmosphere inside.

We started things off culturally correct with a glass of Pinot Gris, perfectly crisp and a perfect match for the starters. It was a pretty miserable day, so the cosy dishes were calling our name. The French onion and cider soup felt like drinking a warm hug — it’s incredible how something as simple as soup can have such a complex flavour profile. But the real standout was the baked camembert, topped with honey and garlic confit, served alongside warm rosemary bread.

For mains, we went for the confit de canard — duck leg confit with braised sweet potato, Swiss chard, and a vanilla-orange jus. That jus absolutely made the dish, adding a sweetness that made it utterly addictive. And of course, we couldn’t leave without dessert: a classic Nutella and banana crêpe, sometimes we come here just for these, and it hit the spot perfectly.

Have to try: Baked camembert and crepes for dessert
Perfect for: Date night
Approx price for 2: £90–£110

Looking for top-tier views of the river? You couldn’t get any closer than Peggy Jean in Richmond. It’s a boat restaurant that literally sits on the river — we’re not exaggerating.

They have an insane à la carte menu, but we actually went for brunch so we could snag an outdoor seat and soak in the rare moments of sun. We started off with their brunch matcha cocktail, something we never thought we’d see before. It was vodka, matcha, lemon, and sweetened with fresh Granny Smith apple flavours. The best part? It felt completely acceptable to have at 10:30 in the morning. And hey, matcha is healthy, right?

The brunch options are annoyingly good — honestly, everything on the menu looked equally tempting. After way too long deliberation, we landed on the Dirty Daisy: crispy tater tots topped with chipotle sour cream, cheese, eggs, green tomato & avocado salsa, refried black beans, and pink pickled onions. Something we definitely couldn’t make ourselves. And of course, no brunch is complete without a breakfast dessert — the blueberry pancakes were calling our names: spongy, fresh, and topped with whipped mascarpone and maple syrup.

Have to try: Blueberry pancakes
Perfect for: Brunch
Approx price for 2:  £65–£80

Finally, an Italian restaurant has made the cut. Bacco in Richmond feels refined and elegant, but the food still carries those homely, authentic Italian vibes.

We began with the gamberi rustici — high-quality king prawns on freshly baked ciabatta, served with a beautifully seasoned, garlicky, spicy tomato sauce. We also ordered a little snack of zucchini fritters to nibble on throughout, and they paired perfectly with a glass of wine.

For mains, it just had to be pasta — there was no way around it for us. The spinach and ricotta ravioli comes with a sage butter sauce and is topped with walnuts. They have plenty of meat options that we’re sure would have been unreal, but there’s something about a simple pasta done this well. That sauce made it almost impossible not to lick the plate clean!

Have to try: Spinach and ricotta ravioli
Perfect for: Date night
Approx price for 2: £55–£70

144 on the Hill is an elegant spot that keeps things fun with a wide range of event like taco and tequila days or afternoon tea. Our personal favourite has to be the Soul Sundays, where they play live music while you sip on cocktails and indulge in a decadent roast.

The tacos here are a winner. We went for the chicken, wasabi, and soy — all tacos are topped with Asian slaw, pickled onions, chipotle mayo, and coriander. Super fresh and perfect for summer. Pair it with one of their tequila cocktails, and it’s an absolute dream. Our favourite was the Fuego Jasmine, a refreshing twist on the classic margarita with tequila, mango, tabasco, and jasmine tea. Perfectly soothing just as the addictive little burn from the tabasco hits.

Have to try: Soul Sundays
Perfect for: Family meal out
Approx price for 2: £45–£60

Megan’s is probably the least controversial choice you’ll find – everyone’s happy here. Whether you’re a meat lover, veggie, vegan, they’ve got you.

We went for dinner, and the vibe inside is the perfect combo of cute and cosy. It has fairy lights giving it that warm relaxing feel, and it’s not cramped either, so you’re not elbow-to-elbow with strangers.

We ordered the sharing platter. This came stacked with hot honey halloumi, feta parcels, pita chips – basically, a picky bits lover’s dream. 

Did we need the cheese fondue after that? Absolutely not. Did we order it anyway? Obviously. And honestly it was probably one of the best things we tried. Bread and cheese is always a win.

If you’re trying to stay a little more health-conscious (unlike us that night), they’ve got loads of lighter Mediterranean dishes too. For example, spicy grilled chicken or open kebabs packed with hummus and salad. Super flavourful and not stingy on the portions at all.

Have to try: the original Turkish cheese fondue
Perfect for: Fun with friends
Approx price for 2: £40 – £60