National Restaurant Awards: which south London restaurants made it into the top 100?

40 Maltby Street is the best ranked south London restaurant in the National Restaurant Awards. Credit: 40 Maltby Street/National Restaurant Awards

From buzzy wine bars to edgy eateries styled on San Sebastian’s pintxos bars, south London has some incredible places listed at the National Restaurant Awards.

Both 40 Maltby Street in Bermondsey and on-trend Flor in Borough were highly rated by the judges.

So if you’re looking for dinner in south London, then look no further.

If you’re heading into the West End, then check out our guide to all the central London restaurants that made it into to the top 100.

Out east, Brat headlined an array of edgy eateries listed in the top 100.

While in west London, Core by Clare Smyth was the highest ranked London restaurant.

These are the south London joints in the top 100 eateries at the National Restaurant Awards.

12. 40 Maltby Street

Address: 40 Maltby Street, Bermondsey, SE1 3PA Price: £££££

Despite its unassuming address beneath railway arches in urban south London, this is no ordinary wine bar.

The judges said: “Modest in appearance, with a small open-plan kitchen, exposed brick walls and long, high tables, the restaurant is trendy, quirky and quintessentially London.”

The head chef Steve Williams revels in small plates that use seasonal ingriedients.

The day’s menu is written on the chalkboard outside, and there are no reservation options - it’s first-come, first-served.

49. Flor

Address: 1 Bedale Street, Bermondsey, SE1 9AL Price: £££££

This restaurant, which is crammed into busy Borough Market, takes its inspiration from Paris and San Sebastian.

Chef James Lowe’s other restaurant Lyle made it onto the list of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants.

Prices as Flor are relatively accessible, with small plates around £10 and the larger dishes mostly under £20.

The judges said: “The tightly proportioned space has a casual feel with bare brick and concrete walls, floor-to-ceiling Crittal steel windows and a striking cast iron spiral stair case.”

Attention to detail at Adam Byatt’s Trinity. Credit: Trinity/National Restaurant Awards

74. Trinity

Address: 4 The Polygon, Clapham, SW4 0JG Price: £££££

Adam Byatt’s flagship restaurant, in Clapham Old Town, has remained a player in London’s fine dining scene since its launch in 2006.

The judges said: “Byatt and his brigade cook dishes that strike an equitable balance between the classic and the contemporary.”

As well as the lunch and dinner menus, there is a classics menu which serves some of the dishes the restaurant has become renowned for.

These include crispy pigs trotters served with sauce gribiche and crackling, turbot cooked on the bone with coco beans and Provencal tomatoes, and Byatt’s triumphant salt caramel custard tart.

98. Chez Bruce

Address: 2 Bellevue Road, Wandsworth Common, SW18 7EG Price: £££££

The restaurant, overlooking Wandsworth Common, was the site of Harvey’s where Marco Pierre White made his name.

The current custodians are owner Bruce Poole and head chef Matt Christmas, who have worked together for over a decade.

The judges said: “Together Poole and Christmas have out together a menu modern food based loosely on classical and regional French and Mediterranean cuisine.

“Technique is all here, with the restaurant excelling in homemade charcuterie made, slow-cooked braises and offal as well as bread making and classical desserts.”