The best restaurants in Wimbledon

From the Gladwin Brothers (the posh countryside siblings behind The Shed in Notting Hill and Rabbit British Bistro in Chelsea), the Black Lamb says that it’s all about ‘hunter-gatherer’, farm to fork style dining. The menu switches up week on week, but favourites like mushroom Marmite eclairs and the hearty beef wellington stick around most of the year. A significant chunk of the wine list is courtesy of the Gladwin family’s Nutbourne Vineyard in West Sussex, where the brothers grew up. 

Good Fortune Club is bright and buzzy with a sprawling menu of Cantonese dishes, the best known of which is its handmade dim sum. Stop by with a large, hungry posse to pack your table with bamboo steamers and sample har gau (shrimp-filled dumplings,) xiao long bao (pork soup dumplings), cuttlefish cake and more.

This branch of Megan’s cute brunch-tastic mini-chain, is a shoo-in for Wimbledon folk who lunch and evenings out on the town. The lively brunch offer brings everything from shakshouka baked eggs and 'posh' kebabs, to half-baked cookie dough topped with pistachios and salted-caramel ice cream. The food’s decent enough, but it’s mainly about the vibe, the pretty floral surrounds and the socialising.

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.

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.

Of its four south-west London outposts, DropShot’s Leopold Road location serves up hefty brunches on the daily. The portions here are breathtakingly generous, and the tennis-themed menu goes well beyond the standard eggs benny or avocado on toast; think mozzarella and chilli jam-filled potato pancakes andbig fat slices of French toast laden with monterey jack cheese and fresh pesto, or loaded with tiramisu cream and berries. The coffee is fantastic, too.

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. 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.

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. 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.

It may be part of a nationwide chain, but this branch of Côte brasserie is one of the best places 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.

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, 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.

Giggling Squid brings its own brand of Thai zing to Wimbledon Village, serving everything from the best-selling salt-and-pepper squid to slow-cooked ‘chubby cheek pork’, plus the usual Thai staples.

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. 

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. Every Mon to Fri they also serve a £19.17 two-course menu, in tribute to the year 1917, the year The Ivy opened.