The best restaurants in Wimbledon

This local Italian serves up sunny Mediterranean food in a contemporary setting of oak floors, bare tables and comfy leather seating. Food comes from an open kitchen and the menu covers the usual pasta, risottos and thin-crust pizzas, with back-up from antipasti assemblages and classic mains with a twist – perhaps panko-crusted calf’s liver with caramelised onion and creamy mash. Tuesday night is pasta night and there’s slow-roasted porchetta on Sundays.

We’re big fans of Chango’s street-food pitches, so the arrival of its first permanent restaurant and wine bar in Wimbledon Village was good news for the neighbourhood. Done out like a rustic deli with a few tables, this outfit is all about hand-crafted empanadas (the South American cousins of the Cornish pasty) – although there are some well-reported Spanish-style tapas too. In short, an atmospheric spot with decent food, quaffable Argentinian wines and sweet staff too.

It may be part of a nationwide chain, but this branch of Côte brasserie is arguably the best place to eat in Wimbledon Village. Expect smart, glossy interiors (rattan furniture, mirrored walls, floor tiles etc) and a menu of pure-bred bourgeois classics ranging from moules marinière and warm roquefort salad to cassoulet, beef bourguignon, poulet breton and signature steak-frites. Formule breakfasts, plats rapides, affordable set menus and a thoroughly Francophile drinks list complete the picture.

Originally a local watering hole for ramblers and dog-walkers on Wimbledon Common, the born-again Fox & Grapes is now a snazzy gastropub-with-rooms fronted by TV chef Paul Merrett. You can still drop by for a pint and a chat, but food’s the thing in the parquet-floored dining room. Come here for pub-grub crowd-pleasers (steaks, burgers, beer-battered fish and chips) as well as poshed-up plates of smoked chicken salad with lentils, red pear and candied cashews.

The first London outpost of a Thai chain with branches across the UK, Giggling Squid brings its own brand of Thai zing to Wimbledon Village. At lunchtime, you can pick from various tapas-style small plates or go for a two-dish meal combi; in the evening, the kitchen raises its game for a 40-dish menu that spans everything from the best-selling salt-and-pepper squid to slow-cooked ‘chubby cheek pork’, plus the usual Thai staples.

An iconic local landmark surrounded by 34 acres of parkland on the fringes of Wimbledon Common, stately Cannizaro House was taken over by the Hotel du Vin group in 2015 and is now run as part of its portfolio. It’s still a popular stomping ground for pram-pushers and walkers, while those wanting a bite to eat should head to the light-filled orangery for the best value. Alternatively, enjoy a glass of wine on the terrace.

This Ivy Café roll-out in Wimbledon Village has all the aged mirrors, wildflower prints and impeccably straight-backed waiting staff you’ve come to expect from the brand. The all-day menu is textbook Ivy (a global mash-up covering everything from shepherd’s pie to crispy duck salad) and the cooking’s nothing special – although the post-match people-watching is sure to be spectacular. Nab a table and watch the stars roll in. Expect packed houses for brunch and afternoon tea.

A 2019 addition to the Megan’s cute brunch-tastic mini-chain, this branch is a shoo-in for Wimbledon’s ladies who lunch and girlie parties out on the town. The lively brunch offer brings everything from baked green eggs and vegan earth bowls to half-baked cookie dough topped with pistachios and salted-caramel ice cream, while things get bottomless at the weekends. The food’s decent enough, but it’s mainly about the vibe, the pretty floral surrounds and the socialising.

A short stroll from Wimbledon station, this branch of the Danish import features the brand’s trademark Scandi design and an equally stylish line-up of user-friendly dishes. We suggest loading up on the grilled ‘sticks’ (skewers), they’re better than the sushi. Try the chicken-and-squid sausage with miso aioli if you’re feeling adventurous. Friendly staff, a youthful vibe, swift service and plentiful seating make this an ace venue for between-match platters or post-game cocktails.

If you fancy some Centre Court star-spotting with your pad thai, head down to this Wimbledon Village favourite, where tennis memorabilia and Thai artefacts jostle for position in the window, and you may well spy Venus Williams or Maria Sharapova sitting at a neighbouring table. Carved buddha statuettes, jade-coloured plates and floral displays set the scene, while the menu covers all the usual suspects – from chicken satay and green papaya salad to jungle curries, drunken stir-fries and noodles.

An SW19 destination in an area full of chains, this Gallic bistro does a roaring trade throughout the year – although it puts on a grand-slam show during Wimbledon fortnight, when opening times are extended and a special menu prevails. If you manage to net a booking, you’ll enjoy sweet and courteous service, plus a menu of refined dishes ranging from the signature white onion soup (with soy glaze and a gruyère croûton) to chestnut mont blanc with coffee meringue.