Taste Tooting’s Top 10 Bars and Pubs
Welcome back to my #SummerSoundbites series! Carrying on from my previous blogs of Top 10 Restaurants and Top 10 Cafes and Brunch Spots, it’s now the turn of Tooting’s drinking establishments. Whether you’re looking for the best cocktails in Tooting’s lively Broadway Market or just want to relax in a cosy corner with a Real ale, then Tooting has something for everyone. After sampling what Tooting has to offer I’ve listed the top 10 places that I think tick all the boxes.
1.Brick & Liquor — on Mitcham Road is a local, friendly bar all about cocktails and sharing food. Taking inspiration from classic neighbourhood bars in New York, but still managing to retain a cosy, familiar feel. Book a table for drinks after work, brunch on the weekend or even head there for a nightcap, Brick & Liquor really does cover all bases. The cocktail menu is vast so whilst you’re working your way through it (the Salted Caramel Espresso Martini is particularly good) order a few items from their sharing menu (the Spinach & Ricotta Arancini are delicious). Alternatively, grab a seat at the bar and watch the barman knock up your favorite tipple in front of you, you won’t be disappointed. The staff are super friendly and helpful and the cocktails are delicious — it’s easy to see why Brick & Liquor calls itself a neighbourhood bar.
2.Tap 13 — in Tooting’s Broadway Market, is a brilliant concept from Donostia Social Club, the people behind The Tapas Room. Its Tooting’s first zero waste tap bar with no bottles, no cans, no disposables and no straws — just 13 taps serving 2 types of cocktails, 4 varieties of wines (including a prosecco), 2 types of ciders and 4 different beers. So you can do your bit for the environment whilst enjoying a tipple or two, what more could you wish for?
3. The Imperial Durbar — is situated at Tooting Bec on Trinity Road this little gem of a bar serves chai tea and coffee with a selection of cakes and pastries in the day and then come 5pm turns to bohemian evening fare of spiced cocktails and giant Maharajah sized gin and tonics from all over the old Empire’s trading routes. You can even order yourself a curry from the neighbouring Cardamon Club by dialling 9 from a vintage telephone in the Mess Hall, which provides a direct line of communication to the curry house. Wait for your meal to be delivered, which comes packed in its own Tiffin Boxes, ready for you to enjoy in the comfortable surroundings of The Imperial Durbar. A perfect night out!
4.The Wheatsheaf — A large independent, local pub serving delicious food and great beer in the heart of Tooting Bec. It’s a great place to meet friends and family, enjoy drinks in the bar or feast in their dining room on hearty seasonal food. Their menu ranges from small plates, including gnocchi, tuscan sausage and pork ragu to mains of sea bream fillet, seafood and coriander oil with an also pretty good pizza menu. They also have a good beer garden, complete with its own disco ball! It’s a really great family friendly pub.
5.Goldfinch — On the site of the old Little Bar on Mitcham Road, Goldfinch is fairly new to the Tooting scene but it’s definitley started with a bang. It has a cozy atmosphere, friendly staff and most importantly … great cocktails.
6. The Hill Station — A quirky Himalayan-inspired bar in Tooting Broadway Market. The outside of the 12-cover space is an exact replica of a hill station in Nepal and the drinks are themed — there’s even a yak’s milk cocktail on the menu. There’s a range of cocktails, beers or wines with ingredients sourced locally from the Markets with their very own home infused gins and vodkas. Get there early if you want to get a seat!
7. The Antelope — Founded in the 1800s by Barclays, a company once known for their beer-brewing and nowadays as global financiers, the building at 76 Mitcham Road has been a mainstay for Tootingites for generations. The pub consists of a spacious open bar and seating area, grand dining room, lounge and garden at the rear, so there’s plenty of room for everyone. They serve an ever-changing selection of regional and locally sourced real ales, as well as a selection of the finest wines and spirits with their kitchen rustling up Modern European pub fare using the freshest and locally sourced ingredients.
8. The Selkirk SW17 — A gorgeous Victorian pub with a beautiful walled garden on Selkirk Road, just off the main road (and just out of earshot). The Selkirk is a great little pub which is all about great food and a relaxed, friendly place to eat it. They make as much of it as possible on site, from curing their own bacon, to baking their own bread. An excellent drinks menu as well as a great food menu of small plates, mains, sides and desserts, cheeses and coffee — something to keep everyone happy. A proper old school style boozer!
9. Graveney & Meadow — sits in the heart of Tooting on Mitcham Road, where you’ll find a unique all-day community café and bar serving great coffee, craft beer, cocktails, and a great food menu. During the summer months the kitchen moves into the outdoor ‘Salvador Lane’ barbecue, taking advantage of the vast outdoor seating area. The menu includes pulled pork in a bun, hot dogs, and of course burgers. Their homemade cakes are excellent and include Guinness cake with cream cheese and bourbon icing and flourless orange and almond cake topped with ganache. On Friday and Saturday evenings there are DJs, and on alternate Sundays live jazz from 3pm. Their recently refurbished, colourful, sprawling beer garden and outdoor bar are perfect for summer days… and nights!
10. The Castle — Established since 1832, the fairly newly refurbished pub is a proud feature of Tooting’s bustling high street, serving an impressive array of real ale, craft beer, cocktails and more. Their bar area is the perfect space for drinks with friends and their restaurant, known as the Orangery, is ideal for brunch, lunch and dinner. They also have a fantastic large beer garden, complete with eight seated huts that can be hired for all manor of celebrations. Not forgetting their resident Burger Shack, serving a selection of burgers and fries to the hungry garden dwellers. Last but not least, nestled at the back of the garden you’ll find The Big London Bake, which is Tooting’s own Great British Bake Off style cooking competition housed in it’s own marquee. How much fun can you possibly have in one place?
Thanks for taking the time to read my blog, I hope you found it useful and any comments are always welcome. Please don’t forget to follow me on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Until next time! x
