Best restaurants in Tooting

Tooting doesn’t try too hard, with all the grit and authenticity a true London neighbourhood should have, but with a sprinkling of gentrification. This exciting mix ensures it’s satisfyingly varied for locals and thrillingly unexpected for occasional visitors. Speciality coffee and independent bakery fans will be delighted with the offering, while foodies looking for something different to sink their teeth into will rush with anticipation to the Afghan, Spanish and Taiwanese outposts.

For more south London restaurant recommendations, check out our guides to the best restaurants in Battersea or the best restaurants in Brixton.

Best places to eat and drink in Tooting

Juliet's Quality Foods

My local happy place and quite honestly one of the reasons I started looking to live in Tooting. This is an Aussie-style brunch spot everyone wants within walking distance. Uber-talented Julian Porter is at the helm and the menu is filled with his travel-inspired dishes. But it’s the trusty classics like Sweet Maria (sweetcorn fritters with grilled halloumi, tomato, coriander, avocado and homemade kasundi sauce) that ensure this cool spot is always busy. I have been known to Deliveroo the dark chocolate, marshmallow and sea salt cookies to my house in sugar-desperate moments. @julietsqualityfoods

Cut the Mustard

While some bakeries produce overly sweet hybrid bakes to follow the trends, Cut the Mustard keeps things classic with unbeatable French-style viennoiserie. This small scale bakery has a handful of branches across south-west London and continues to grow. Expect perfectly poured coffee (from UK roastery Campbell & Syme), buttery pain an chocolats and cakes so moist it will dictate an afternoon tea break. cutthemustardcafe.com

The Little Taperia

This charming restaurant finds itself on every top Tooting eats list for good reason. Spanish classics reign supreme here – pan con tomate, croquetas de jamón and tortilla sit alongside its own creations (morcilla scotch eggs never leave the menu due to popularity). Grab a cosy corner table with a group of friends and make your way through the tempting menu. Open every day for lunch and dinner, it is a failsafe place to have a flavour-filled meal. thelittletaperia.co.uk

Watan

A family-run restaurant celebrated for its warm hospitality and authentic Afghan and Pakistani cuisine. The shiny dining room is expansive and the extensive menu can be overwhelming, so I recommend asking your waiter for suggestions. If in doubt, the Afghani mixed grill is a good place to start – a platter stacked high with delicious marinated meats and fragrant rice. watanrestaurant.co.uk/tooting

Milk Run

Little sister of the hyped Balham brunch hang-out Milk, this bakery and café prides itself on sell-out creative pastries and speciality coffee. The pale pink interiors and terracotta tiles may tick all the Instagram boxes but it is definitely not style over substance here. Choose a special – the team works wonders with seasonal fruit – or opt for my favourite, the crème brûlée danish, a flaky, creamy wonder. milk.london/milkrun

Smoke & Salt

In an area awash with casual dining options, Smoke & Salt offers something a bit more refined but without the pretense. It started out as a pop-up but is now a Michelin-recognised restaurant. The interiors are simple and allow you to focus on the energetic open kitchen. Visit for a special dinner – seasonal tasting menus are surprisingly affordable and often feature wood-smoked and fired dishes. smokeandsalt.com

Daddy Bao

When I lived in Peckham, Mr Bao was my go-to for fun fluffy buns. Now I live in Tooting, its second branch, Daddy Bao, is my local for Taiwanese cuisine. It’s a buzzy place to enjoy a plum wine negroni with fried chicken, handmade dumplings and, of course, a selection of bao (the pork belly with house pickles and roasted peanut is my favourite). daddybao.co.uk