Best restaurants in Hammersmith
Published 08 March 2025

*Crisp Pizza is relocating to The Marlborough in Mayfair in Autumn 2025.*

Holed up within the Chancellors pub on Crisp Road (just behind Sam’s Riverside), this hugely popular pop-up stands out from the crowd because its pizzas are baked comparatively ‘low and slow’ in electric bread ovens. The texture of the crusts is everything (crisp outside but chewy within), while the toppings are mostly traditional favourites – the artisan pepperoni version with San Marzano tomatoes, fior di latte and hot honey was our pick of the bunch. Wines from the pub’s updated list go down well, and outdoor seating is a bonus in fine weather. Be prepared for long (but totally justified) queues.

Quite a caricature of a French bistro, complete with bentwood chairs, gingham tablecloths and workaday glassware, this neighbourhood favourite ensures that diners’ expectations are focused mistily across the Channel even before they sit down. The menu also delivers, from soupe de poissons to steak frites, but stay with the theme to get the best from it: salty samphire with roasted garlic prawns or crispy confit duck with soft-textured Puy lentils, say. The house dessert – a 'petit citron' posset – is worth holding out for, and readers have raved about the warm pot au chocolat. Drink French wines by the carafe and stick to the weekly set menu (or the daily deals) to keep things reasonably affordable. 

An offshoot of Master Wei Xi'an in Bloomsbury, this latest offering from chef Guirong Wei is a short walk from Hammersmith Broadway, on the ground floor of a modern development. Inside, the slate-floored dining room is festooned with lanterns and filled with tightly squeezed tables, while service is super-friendly. We enjoyed thinly sliced pig's ear laced with pleasantly numbing chilli oil and tons of garlic, followed by big bowls of signature Xi'an biang biang noodles with beef and chilli sauce, as well as hand-pulled noodles with minced pork, beansprouts and cucumber – all reasonably priced. To drink there are exotic-sounding cocktails and a handful of wines.

Opposite Sam's Larder and round the corner from Sam's Riverside, this corner café is Sam Harrison’s updated version of a greasy spoon. Inside, it’s unpretentiously done out with brown leather and pops of colour, while the menu trades in full fry-ups, pancakes, Brixham crab crumpets, lunchtime salads and satisfying platefuls such as peas on toast with bacon on the side. Breakfast tea comes in a pot with a white porcelain cup and saucer and there’s a small menu of cocktails, wine and beer for those looking to kick-start their weekend. No bookings, so expect queues for weekend brunch.

Sam Harrison’s ‘wow factor’ brasserie has quickly become a local institution, where friends are cherished and first timers are welcomed with arms open wide. It's joyous, buzzy, unpretentious and a godsend for the neighbourhood – especially as the man himself and his wonderfully accommodating staff help to create that special frisson of ‘show and anticipation’. The glorious setting by the river ‘feels a million miles from central London’, while the airy, clean-lined dining room (lots of light and glass) emanates an invitingly civilised glow. There’s also a much-in-demand outdoor terrace and a ‘spectacular’ bar – don’t miss the ‘oyster happy hour’. As for the cooking, seasonality rules and the kitchen is big on provenance, supporting local suppliers and the community (‘they even use ingredients from a farm on a nearby inner-city school,’ observed one fan). The result is a rolling roster of refreshingly straightforward but creative dishes noted for their bold, up-front flavours. Seafood platters go down a storm, but also expect anything from mussels with ‘nduja, spring onion and samphire to lamb rump accompanied by potato terrine, purple sprouting broccoli and wild garlic. Devotees of cheeseburgers, spatchcock poussin and lobster rolls won’t be disappointed, while those who are sweet of tooth can delight in desserts such as buttermilk panna cotta or rhubarb pavlova with lemon curd. Sam’s set menu is one of the capital’s bargains and locals descend in their droves for the terrific Sunday lunch blowout. There are also ‘special wines to discover’ from a well-chosen list offering affordable access and a decent selection by the glass. 

Only a handful of London restaurants can genuinely claim to be ‘iconic’, and this glamorous spot on a Hammersmith backstreet is one of them. Launched by Ruth Rogers and the late Rose Gray in 1987, the River Café’s mission was to bring the seasonal pleasures of artisan Italian cuisine to the capital. Almost 40 years on it’s still a cool prospect, frequented by a well-heeled crowd who love to eat (and be seen) here. The dining space is filled with luminous colours, while an outdoor terrace with riverside views is the perfect summery spot. As for the food, everything depends on impeccable supplies from Italy and nearer home, all attuned to the calendar. The culinary approach may be understated but ingredients are treated with the utmost respect – from a plate of fabulously sweet, wood-roasted Scottish langoustines with garlic and parsley to a magical dish of cannellini beans, summer girolles and parsley with a slice of crostino that could have come straight from a Tuscan farmhouse. For dessert, the much-copied chocolate nemesis still reigns supreme. Service is charming to a fault, although all that fame and legacy can cost a small fortune – especially if you delve into the mighty Italian wine list.