The River Cafe

Italian Restaurant in Hammersmith
The River Cafe image
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9 / 10 from 4 reviews
Address
Thames Wharf
Rainville Road
Hammersmith
London
W6 9HA
Map
Telephone
020 7386 4200
Cuisine
Italian
Region
Hammersmith
Nearest Station
Hammersmith (District)
0.65 miles
Opening Summary
Lunch
Monday - Friday: 12:30 - 14:15, Saturday: 12:30 - 14:30, Sunday: 12:00 - 15:00

Dinner
Monday - Thursday: 19:00 - 21:00, Friday - Saturday: 19:00 - 21:15
Restaurant Facilities

Disabled Facilities

Children Welcome

Credit Cards Accepted

Outdoor Area

Booking Advisable

River Café is one of London’s most famous restaurants, partly due to the stable of chefs it has trained over the years, who have included Theo Randall, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, and Stevie Parle. Set up by Ruth Rogers and the late Rose Gray, this Italian restaurant helped to popularise fresh, seasonal, locally sourced ingredients, now the accepted standard for any eatery.

There are great views of the Thames thanks to its fantastic riverside location; otherwise you can spy on the chefs while they work in the exposed kitchen.

The River Cafe Picture Gallery

The River Cafe Picture
The River Cafe Picture
The River Cafe Picture
The River Cafe Picture
The River Cafe Picture
The River Cafe Picture

Useful Tips from AIL Users

Sit outside on a nice day if you have kids. There's a great big grassed area on which your children can play, as well as a vegetable garden for them to explore!

Andrea, London

Best For

Our favourite alfresco dining restaurants picture

Our favourite alfresco dining restaurants

It's nice to eat out... when it's not piddling down

Ruth Rodgers and the now sadly deceased Rose Gray opened this Italian restaurant in 1987. Their use of seasonal, good quality ingredients to produce simple rustic dishes has been a huge influence on British chefs, and the restaurant has kept its Michelin star ever since 1997. Outdoors seating is provided in a leafy garden.

London's most indulgent desserts picture

London's most indulgent desserts

We'd sell our granny for a good pud

The term death by chocolate seems fair when describing the signature dessert at River Cafe. The flourless Chocolate Nemesis has a fluffy texture that’s part mousse part soufflé. Made with dark chocolate, the flavour is intensely rich.

User Reviews

Susan
from Abbey Road

Jul 15, 2014

Quite apart from the food (which is fantastic!!) I just love the setting at the River Cafe. You always feel like you're on holiday coming here with it's lovely terrace and light, sunny feel. Just perfect :-)
j. bengry

Jun 25, 2014

This place is a real London institution and I urge you to book a table.

The food is simple and perfectly cocked - a real masterclass in getting the basics right.

Even though it's beautiful inside it's well worth getting a table outside if the weather is good.
Paul
from London

Sep 2, 2013

We visited on a Sunday lunch service; we sat outside and the sun was overhead as we looked over the river - this was always going to be a good meal!

The River Cafe effortlessly creates the kind of atmosphere to which nearly every other restaurant aspires: a buzzy, friendly informal affair but all underpinned by professionalism and faultless cooking.

We ate crab, courgette tagliatelle (drowned in butter!), turbot, sea bass, summer pudding and plum and almond tart. All perfectly balanced and masterfully seasoned and cooked. Fantastic, simple, fresh, seasonal food.
jenny watkins

May 20, 2013

Excellent service and delicious food for reasonable price. This cafe is great for dates.
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