The Best Restaurants in Forest Hill, Greater London, United Kingdom (2025)

Great pub interior, traditional decor, wood panelling with interesting artwork/trinkets/memorabilia. Shows sport and has a good sized outdoor area. They put effort into their hanging baskets. The staff in short sleeve shirts and ties is a touch

This is a hidden gem in Catford, I'd heard about it and the Guinness there too so I was wondering if it was all true, I popped in on New Years Eve, The Guinness is 12 outta 10, the atmosphere, the regulars and all the staff are top notch too, definitely drop into the Blythe there's not many pubs around like this anymore.

THE BEST PUB IN LONDON. Or UK! As a family we’ve been coming here for about 20 years. It’s amazing. Traditional Irish music night every week. No food done by the house but a great pizza truck etc outside and they don’t mind you bringing food in. They have Tayto crisps, all the bar staff have ties and Corn and team are lovely. It doesn’t change even if it’s becoming trendy. A proper pub.

🚇 Catford 🍺 £5.80 Guinness One of the Best Pubs in London. The Blythe Hill Tavern is located in South East London on the border between Catford and Forest Hill. The nearest station is Catford, it’s a ten minute walk to get here. The pub was built in the mid 19th century and started life as The Blythe Hill Hotel. This is three room pub with a public bar on the corner, a saloon to the left and a large room running across the back of the pub. The decor here is outstanding, so much so that it has been Grade II listed by Historic England. The walls are clad in dark wood panelling which originate from the 1920’s. Around the walls are a treasure trove of old signs, posters and mirrors relating to Irish writers, Irish brews and sporting pursuits. Other features include exposed beams, fireplaces that roar in winter, traditional seating and to top in off, a proper pub carpet. At the rear of the pub is a large beer garden that blooms in the summer. The beer lineup was great, there was a decent selection of four revolving cask ales, familiar favourites and of course Guinness. I ordered a pint of St Jame’s Gates finest, my pint was excellent and pleasingly cost less than six quid. There is food available here by way of @vandough pizzas. They serve up 10” pizzas which all cost in and around a tenner. Check their socials for timings. My brother and I arrived bang on opening at met Con the Guv’nor who was warm and welcoming. After ordering our pints we ended up having a great chat with Con about Ireland and London pubs in the 70’s and 80’s and the many characters that ran them. We were also chatting about The Arsenal as we are both fans and visiting Highbury and the pubs around there back in the day, what a lovely fella. The pub hosts Quiz Nights, Live Music, Live Premier League and Rugby. The @blythehilltavern is a Multi award winning pub which is traditional, welcoming, quirky and authentic. This is one of the best pubs I’ve visited, I loved everything about this place and Con the Guv’nor is an absolute diamond. If you have London pub to visit list, put this one at the top. ℹ️ Info correct 17.02.24

Excellent Chinese food in Forest Hill. Very traditional Chinese food, try it, enjoy it. A lovely couple owns this restaurant, and they provide friendly service to every customer Enough space to book for a family party 🎉 or dinner with friend

Always a treat, always delicious! Loved the duck in lettuce leaf starter, the pork streamed dumplings were juicy and moist, the aubergine stuffed with prawn was so good and the combination Hong Kong chicken was fresh, hot and tasty! Service is fast and friendly but not obtrusive, the atmosphere homely and comfortable! Can’t wait for our next visit to try some other dishes, we’ve been a few times now and it’s never let us down!

We had an absolutely delightful dinner at ToFu Forest Hill with a group of nine people. From the moment we walked in, we were impressed by the unique and cozy interior, which created a warm and inviting atmosphere. The food was simply outstanding—each dish was bursting with fresh, authentic flavors that left us all thoroughly satisfied. Despite the variety of dishes we ordered, everything was served incredibly quickly, so there was no waiting around, which is always a plus. The portion sizes were generous and perfectly balanced, ensuring everyone had more than enough to enjoy. We’re already looking forward to our next visit to explore more of the menu. Highly recommend!

If you’re looking for the best Indian and Nepalese cuisine in town, this restaurant is an absolute gem! From the moment we stepped in, we were welcomed warmly by the owner, a lovely lady who ensures every guest has a wonderful experience. The starters were a delightful mix of flavors and textures, highly recommend the cashew-crusted prawns, chicken and lamb momo, papdi chat, and chicken biryani arancini. Each dish was beautifully crafted and bursting with authentic taste. For the mains, the Kashmiri Rogan Josh, butter chicken, and lamb biryani stood out as some of the best we’ve ever had. Pair them with the garlic and Peshwari naan. The service was exceptional, with the staff going above and beyond to make our visit special. We can’t wait to come back and try more of their incredible menu. This place is truly a must-visit!

“Interestingly Indian” is the perfect description for the experience of eating at Riwaz. There is so much love, care and attention that goes into the food and the service at Riwaz. A wonderful family run business, they have very quickly become our favourite food place in the area. We finally had this as a takeout this week and even as a takeout the food is incredible. Firm starter favourites for us are cashew crusted prawns and chicken biryani arancini balls. The prawns are beautifully cooked and spiced with an excellent crunchy crust. Like the arancini balls, lovely crisp outside with a superb flavour and texture inside. We are not vegetarians but our all time favourite dish here so far is the Riwaz Dal Makhani. Lentils that have been cooked for hours. I’ve never eaten lentils that tasty and the spicy, rich texture of the sauce has made this a staple of our dining experience. A surprising favourite for me was the butter chicken. It is not something that I would order normally. But trusting the advice of the owners, they always give great advice on the food and helped us make great choices. With such a variety of dishes, and all so different and delicious. I honestly will not be eating anywhere else for a while! We want to try as many more as we can! Extra compliments must go to the team there. For the design of the restaurant, to the love and attention paid to this excellent menu. It makes such a huge and wonderful difference to be THIS excited about what we are going to try next. This is always helped by the service, which is always so kind and helpful. We look forward to going each and every time and cannot wait to come back again. Thanks Riwaz Team!

THE best Indian restaurants in the area! Perfect place for a night out dinner or a special occasion celebration. Food was absolutely delicious! We had a chance to meet the owners who were the most kind and friendly. We’ll definitely come back. 😊 Highly recommend!!!

Superb food, amazing welcoming atmosphere and amazing service! As I am local I am absolutely overjoyed to have found such a great restaurant in the area, I will definitely be coming back and taking away food for takeaway. The owner is so lovely and you can tell that there is so much love put into the restaurant and the food.

Little hidden gem in south London. The only thing I wouldn’t recommend is the ginger baladin (it is very bitter and has not ginger, I’d suggest to specify it in the menu) apart from that it’s the lightest Italian food I’ve ever had. You can taste the quality of the ingredients. Very nice service.

"This small and cozy spot has something that sets it apart from other pizza places - its exceptional pizza🍕 ! I've had the pleasure of trying over 1,000 pizzas in my life, but this one stands out as truly special. The crust is perfectly cooked, and the seasoning is spot on. I opted for the meaty pizza with a spicy kick, and it was exactly what I was craving. I'm always proud of our pizzeria back home, but this one is truly 100% authentic Italian goodness!" 🇮🇹 We will be back !

I'm obsessed with Nonna Maria's pizza! If you're craving a taste of Italy in London, you absolutely must try it. The quality of their pizzas is remarkably well-balanced, with every bite a perfect harmony of flavors. I'm thrilled to have this gem so close to my home. From now on, I'll be sticking to Nonna Maria's – it's the only pizza I'll need! See you soon!

Dined here a few days ago with a friend and had a bliss! The garden is beautiful and peaceful, the owners are really friendly and warm - just like you’d expect from a pizzeria in Italy! Service was fast and and everyone there made us feel welcome. I’d recommend!

Lovely classic style bistro with a varied large menu, large portions and great service. The prices are very reasonable and all four of us had more food than we could eat. Lovely selection of drinks too. We went on a busy Wednesday lunchtime but the service was super fast. Am looking forward to going back to check out the breakfast.

We had breakfast to take away because apparently is half price if you take it with you instead of eating there. Lovely atmosphere on Sunday morning. We ordered a sandwich with sausage, bacon and egg. 100% recommended 👌. I left thinking I would not have been bothered if we stayed.

Lovely local cafe. Free parking available right outside. Wonderful service. The food is good and reasonably priced. Very good selection of smoothies, I had the broccoli and the beast. It was much better than the ingredients made it sound. I also had the avocado and salmon with poached eggs. Beautiful presentation and tasted great too. My husband had halloumi with scrambled eggs and he liked his dish too. If you go for nothing else, go for the baklava. It is handmade and so good. Leave the ice cream though, I thought I tasted better without but that's my preference. I liked it so much I bought another 6 to go. I ate 4 of those 6. I'll definitely go back again.

Good food, all tasty and great portions. Friendly staff and quick service

Great food, felt like home (i’m italian!) and authentic recipes - the meatballs tasted like the ones my family make, both the pizzas we had were delicious! Our server Sophie was friendly and really helpful. Will come back soon! x

Bona is a fantastic independent restaurant that offers Forest Hill something really special. The pizza’s are delicious and they never scrimp on their toppings. Their menu is very considered and they have a selection of salads if you don’t feel like indulging in one of their pizzas….It’s incredible value for money which is evident in how busy they are. The staff offer the kind of hospitality that one wish for from their local restaurant.

Oh wow, this is very good pizza. Nice selection of toppings too and didn't break the bank. Parking is pretty difficult nearby so I wouldn't take a car there. Really top notch pizza!

Honestly had an amazing entre of garlic bread with mozzarella followed my a pepperoni pizza ! The quality of the sourdough is incredible, such lovely vibes inside too. Saphi served me and she was smiley and incredibly helpful , I truly recommend Bona ! The vegan & gluten free Vanilla gelato is to die for ! Thank you

My favourite Indian restaurant in London celebrates 39 years! . This was my third time at Babur. Hidden gem in Brockley rise serving exceptional Indian food that not only looks fantastic but also offers exciting and creative flavour combinations. For their 39th birthday they offer a 5-course tasting menu with or without wine pairing. Everything we had was executed to perfection. Just the right amount of food not to leave hungry or overstuffed. Selected wine greatly complimented each dish. . 1st course Tandoori tiger prawn, Masala flat rice, garlic butter samphire Swordfish tikka, onion, radish pickle . 2nd course Spiced Jersey potato vada, royal cumin brioche, mint sauce & pickle onion Villagers favourite chicken tikka, Thecha dahi . Rest course Dried Mangosteen and roasted cumin ice lolly . 3rd course Coriander and spinach gram flour cake, Maharashtrian kadhi sauce or Traditional Maharashtrian Halibut curry with mango and fresh coconut . 4th course Western coastal region chicken stew with sautéed onion and kokum, brown rice or Kayastha prabhu style lamb knuckles curry, millet paratha . 5th course Hapus mango kulfi, chia seed & gond katria . 📍Location: Brockley Rise 🚇 Closest station: Honor Oak Park 💰Price: Five course £54.95 with matching wine £85.95

First time in The Babur for many years, and it did not disappoint. The star of the show for us was the Swordfish starter, although everything else was pretty perfect too. Very attentive and friendly staff and a great drinks menu. Highly recommended.

Great restaurant, think this is another South London gem. Went here for an occasion meal, and treated myself to the tasting menu with wine pairings. Getting a cocktail to start with the currytini is my new favourite cocktail, my friends also were raving about theirs. The food was great, really really enjoyed, after each course we'd be asking what's that spice, flavour the food was super tasty. For me what really makes a difference is good service, it was warm, welcoming, relaxed and professional, each cocktail, dish explained, the notes added to the booking were communicated to the staff. All this combined great food n drink made for a great way to spend my birthday. I can't wait to go back and check out the rest of the menu.

It’s a little restaurant based just from the station. Great place to visits if you want a brunch or a breakfast. They also do burgers and sandwiches The staff were extremely nice and attentive. If you’re in the area I’d give it a try. Coffee was also nice.

Small town restaurant with cozy and cleaned place. They make nice chicken sandwiches and prepared within 10 mins. Highly recommend if you visit near Forest hill. Little experience for a sandwiches, which cost me almost 10 pounds.

Came to this here for breakfast at 10am on a Sunday with 3 of my friends. The space is lovely, the staff are lovely and friendly, and the food was just delicious. Great portion sizes and very reasonably priced too. I had avocado on toast with a poached egg and halloumi with a fresh mint tea. My friends had Greek Salad, halloumi, humus and falafel, poached eggs with yoghurt and chilli oil - all of which I had a taster off and everything was delicious. DELICIOUS. If I'm ever in Forest Hill again, I'd not hesitate to pop back in here for food at any time of day!

Lovely family friendly local restaurant, with great food, good staff & reasonable prices. My personal favourite dish is the frutti di mare linguini. Their best kept secret is the garden seating at the back.

The food was on par with the service: excellent! Great atmosphere, with very friendly and efficient staff. The food was extremely well cooked, served beautifully and for the money spent, we both had our bellies full! I highly recommend this restaurant and I will certainly be back

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Belle Ville is an absolute gem! Their Mediterranean cuisine is a tantalizing journey for the taste buds. Every dish is a masterpiece of flavor, showcasing the authenticity and quality that sets Belle Ville apart. The restaurant's environment is nothing short of excellent. Whether you prefer the cozy indoors or the charming outdoor patio, the ambiance is perfect for any occasion. It's an inviting space that adds to the overall dining experience, making every visit memorable. What truly makes Belle Ville shine is the impeccable service. The staff's dedication to ensuring your satisfaction is remarkable. Their knowledge of the menu and their attentiveness create a dining atmosphere that's both welcoming and impressive. I highly recommend Belle Ville; it's a culinary gem that consistently delivers a 5-star experience

We had a really lovely meal here on a hot summers evening. All dishes were really delicious! The menu is broadly Mediterranean food covering quite a wide range. Prices were also reasonable. Well worth a visit and we will be back soon.

Amazing food! Genuinely one of the first takeaways I have enjoyed in ages. Will definitely be ordering again. Everything was very fresh, the menu was varied and all the things I ordered were very tasty, including some of the most delicious mochies I have ever had

Went a few weeks ago for my daughters birthday as she loves sushi. The food was absolutely amazing. My daugter loved the sushi. It's a nice cosy restaurant. They also gave my daughter a complimentary cheese cake with candles to sing happy birthday to her it was so lovely. We will be returing very soon.

The food and the drinks were amazing. The ambience was great and the service was good. We enjoyed our lunch a lot.

On Sunday, as soon as we finished work, we sushi lovers walked through Forest Hill and noticed this little restaurant. from the tidy, clean exterior and with a window overlooking the kitchen....from there I glimpsed the chefs at work with their clean and tidy uniforms, this combination of things immediately encouraged me to enter. I ordered almost everything on the menu, which was also different from the usual ones I have seen and reviewed. Excellent service, the food was exciting....I was amazed by the care with which all the dishes arrived from the kitchen, I tried new tastes and new sensations. I want to offer my sincere compliments to this restaurant and all its staff. If this restaurant were in the center of London it could do mind-boggling numbers....naturally I would triple the prices..🤣 I will be back next week to try the fantastic specials on offer where I noticed an Italian touch!!!!!