The River Café

Thirty years after it opened, there’s still nowhere else in London quite like the River Café, Ruth Roger’s iconic Thames-side restaurant. Join the noisy mix of media types, off-duty movie stars, and artists for a wonderfully evocative menu, conjuring up vague but heady fantasies of a new life in rural Tuscany, with a wine list that’s a grand tour of Italy. On a languid summer’s afternoon, there’s no better place to be in all of London.

It may be at the pricier end of London Italians, but there’s still something special about this long-standing icon of the capital’s restaurant scene. The simple, produce-led cooking is thoroughly Italian in spirit and delivers on authentic Italian flavours thanks to the quality of the base ingredients. The atmosphere is as good as ever and it remains one of London’s best restaurants for celebrity-spotting.

Open since 1987, The River Café is an Italian restaurant that is also an English Heritage site in waiting. People travel all over the world to Hammersmith to pay their respects to one of London’s most influential and stylish makers of pizzetta and pasta. Come summer, the Thames-side terrace continues to be one of London’s most iconic locations for lunch and celebrity-spotting.

Set back from the Thames Path, the River Café is a riverside icon in its own right. Warm, buzzy and expensive (in a semi-casual way), it’s dedicated to serving unfussy yet stunning Italian food based on artisan seasonal ingredients. Okay, the prices are painful, but portions are generous – so go for a summer lunch, sit on the terrace, and live it large like an A-lister.

No problem – this is the perfect spot to sip on a Limoncello spritz while you soak in some sunshine this season. On the sample summer menu, we spotted carpaccio di branzino (thinly sliced raw wild sea bass with marigold tomatoes, golden oregano and chilli) for £32; antipasto di verdure (red roast red and yellow peppers with anchovy, baked borlotti, Italian spinach and buffalo ricotta crostino) for £28, andcarne cruda di vitello (finely chopped veal rump with squashed tomato bruschetta and pecorino gran riserva) for £31. Where: Thames Wharf, Rainville Road, Hammersmith, W6 9HAWebsite:www.rivercafe.co.uk

Hammersmith’s The River Café was owned and run by chefs Ruth Rogers and Rose Gray until Gray's death in 2010; since then, Rogers has been the sole owner and still runs the restaurant today. Since opening in 1987, the Thames-side restaurant has gained a Michelin star, training up the likes of Theo Randall, Ed Baines of Randall & Aubin, April Bloomfield, Jamie Oliver and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall along the way. Simple signature dishes include the likes of wild mushroom risotto; Dover sole and John Dory smoked in the restaurant's wood stove; lemon almond cake; and chocolate ‘Nemesis’ cake.

There is, quite simply, never a bad moment to go to The River Cafe – one of those rare restaurants that somehow exceeds your impossibly high expectations each and every time you go. But even Ruth Rogers would admit that there’s something particularly special about the Hammersmith site in summer, when it would be morally wrong not to finish your meal with a homemade hazelnut gelato. Walk off plates of chargrilled squid and spaghetti alle vongole by cutting along the river to Fulham Palace and exploring its gardens, whose 13 acres follow a design laid down in the 18th century.

When The River Cafe opened in 1987, no one could have predicted the immense impact it would have on the London dining scene. Launching at a time when seasonality was simply a prediction of the weather, it has gone on to revolutionise not only how we eat in restaurants, but also how Londoners cook at home. A good indication of the restaurant’s timelessness is not only the largely unchanged decor, but also the menus themselves – executive chef Sian Wyn Owens claims that a menu from two decades ago is almost exactly the same as one you’d get today.

One of London’s best-loved Italian eateries, the River Café retains all of the informal charm that made it such a hit when duo Ruth Rogers and Rose Gray opened the iconic Thameside retreat 35 years ago. Menus, written daily, feature rustic, simple dishes bursting with authentic flavours that allow the high-quality, seasonal produce to speak for itself. Think zucchini flower ravioli, fresh nettle pasta with butter and parmesan, whole Anjou pigeon wood-roasted on bruschetta and chargrilled Longhorn beef sirloin with roasted Merinda tomatoes.

Located in Thames Warf Studios, an iconic and historic building which was originally an industrial building for an oil facility, The River Café offers a traditional Italian menu with some flair. The position of the restaurant is perfect for watching the river go by, and if you get a table outside on a nice day, it’s a relaxing way to enjoy a meal. I love Italian food, so it’s always going to be a winner with me, but to find an Italian restaurant in such a beautiful location, and within a historic London building, too, is pretty unique.

Synonymous with culinary excellence, The River Café is an iconic Italian culinary bastion that has long prided itself on using the best of seasonal ingredients. Located on the banks of the Thames in Hammersmith, the legendary restaurant has long married Italy’s culinary traditions with British influences – and its menu showcases the very best of both worlds. Though rooted in the food of Italy, The River Café menu is also very much inspired by the food of Britain – and is expertly crafted with a focus on sourcing products locally.

For over 30 years, A-listers have flocked to this Thameside location in Hammersmith location for (the late) Rose Gray and Ruth Rogers’ inspired Italian cooking. The daily changing menu and superior sourcing keep the chefs perfectly in line with the seasons, and dishes such as ravioli with buffalo ricotta and garden herbs or oven-roasted turbot keep the customers coming. The interior is modern and minimal with bursts of colour, including a shocking pink wood-fired oven, which forms part of the open kitchen.

What: London’s feel-good restaurant par excellence, nothing beats a summertime table in The River Café’s garden, with the Thames flowing past beyond the wall, trees swaying on the other side of the riverbank and plant-filled pots providing fresh pickings for the ultra-seasonal menus. It’s not cheap, but we’d recommend you go for the full four courses to get the most out of Ruth Rogers’ intensely flavourful cooking.Where: Thames Wharf, Rainville Road, W6 9HABook now: The River Cafe

Designed originally as a café for a nearby architectural practice - that of Richard Rogers - The River Café has spent 35 years specialising in the best of Italian cuisine, with super-chef Ruth Rogers, the late architect's wife, still in charge. Setting is relaxed with a garden on the banks of the Thames, while inside an open kitchen displays its essential wood-fired ovens. Wild mushroom risotto is a signature dish, several celebrity chefs trained in River Café's kitchens.

A city stalwart set on the banks of the Thames, Ruth Rogers’ River Café has been serving exceptional Italian food to Londoners for over three decades. Little has changed at the restaurant since it first opened, with a relaxed, friendly atmosphere and a daily changing Italian menu – alongside some long-standing dishes, like the famous Chocolate Nemesis dessert. In summer, it’s all about the riverside terrace, which calls out for sun-dappled lunches fuelled by Italian wine.

Known for its fresh and simple Italian dishes, The River Café offers a relaxed riverside dining experience that’s perfect for a laid-back yet exquisite meal. You can watch the masters at work thanks to the open kitchen and the Italian wine menu is said to be the best in London!. The rundown: Cuisine: Italian Chef: Ruth Rogers Signature Dish: Chargrilled squid Ambience: Relaxed riverside setting Michelin Stars: ★ Dietary Accommodations: Vegetarian-friendly options.

It’s been more than three decades since Ruth Rogers opened a staff canteen for her husband’s next-door architectural practice with pal Rose Gray. But today, just booking a table at the River Café, let alone actually eating here, is still a thrill. You may be surprised by how functional (and blue) the dining room is – its founding ethos was high-end food in an informal setting – but the daily-changing, ingredient-led Italian plates are among London’s finest.

No, you might not be able to secure a seat at this iconic Hammersmith establishment this weekend or next, but be sure to book now to enjoy Ruthie Rogers’s fresh, seasonal, pared-back Italian-inspired food with views of the Thames sometime towards the end of the summer. Make sure to save room for the chocolate nemesis cake, obviously. The new no-bookings River Cafe Cafe next door serves more affordable food with its own terrace and there are cocktails, too.

London’s most famous Italian restaurant is, as the name suggests, situated alongside the Thames. Its riverside terrace is one of the most desirable places to eat outside in London during the warmer months, and especially now, as London tentatively emerges from lockdown. A reservation is incredibly hard to come by, but if you’re lucky enough to get a table, expect meticulously sourced and prepared Italian food that long ago gained legendary status.

You should go to the River Cafe at every opportunity, but that’s especially true in the summer, when you can linger over your gelati on the Thameside terrace. If visiting the restaurant proper is out of budget, try making some of the Hammersmith institution’s antipasti at home courtesy of River Cafe 30, which includes recipes for the likes of crab and artichoke salad, zucchini trifolati, and langoustines with borlotti. More of an amateur chef?

Hammersmith - Thames Wharf Studio, Rainville Road, London W6 9HA. Without the River Cafe, a lot of the other restaurants on this list might not exist. This hugely influential spot by the Thames in Hammersmith has had everyone from Stevie Parle to Jamie Oliver pass through its kitchen and even though it celebrated its 30th-anniversary not so long ago, it remains one of London’s absolute best, for pasta and almost everything else.

Widely regarded as London’s best Italian restaurant with great pedigree in the kitchen that has produced many successful alumni and imitations. The River Café, with its minimalist, sleek design and light colour scheme that blend effortlessly with the riverside setting, creates an unforgettable dining experience. The large outdoor terrace makes the River Cafe an excellent ourdoor dining option in West London.

The River Cafe is an Italian restaurant located on the River Thames in Fulham, just a stone’s throw up the river from The Crabtree. I have not eaten here, but I walked through and was a bit unimpressed by the sterile decor reminiscent of a school cafeteria. A British friend of mine, who has dined here, said that is it overpriced but that the food is delicious and that they have a great wine selection.

Of all the London open air restaurants, the River Café has to be one of the dreamiest. Set on the banks of the River Thames in Hammersmith, this Italian spot has been delighting Londoners since it was first opened by Ruth Rogers and the late Rose Grey in 1987. Surrounded by trees and lush foliage, a sun-dappled lunch or dinner here feels like you’ve been transported from W6 to the Amalfi coast.

One of the few London restaurants that can truly be described as iconic, the River Café draws a crowd even on grizzly days. It’s been stretched across the same Thames-facing lawn since 1987; you come here for seasonal Italian dishes and the unmistakable feeling of being on holiday. Of the extensive menu, the freshly made pasta is always a good idea – as is that second glass of rosé in the sun.

A conversation about the best Italian restaurants in London would be vapid to the point of ridicule without mentioning The River Cafe. There aren’t many restaurants in the world, let alone this city, that have produced as many talented chefs as this place. Among a host of others, we Brits have this place to thank for celeb chefs Jamie Oliver and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall.

In case you hadn’t guessed from the name, you’ll be getting great views of the Thames as well as some of London’s most iconic food at The River Cafe. You might need to save up again for this one, but it’ll be worth it for this incredible Italian eatery dating to 1987. The River Cafe Thames Wharf Rainville Road Hammersmith London W6 9HAVisit website: The River Cafe

Verbal accounts of meals at this influential West London institution wistfully recount the idyllic riverside location and owner Ruth Rogers’ (and the late Rose Gray’s) brand of stripped-back, produce-led Italian cooking — before inevitably dropping in that a plate of pasta runs £23. All true, but for a special meal, there are few places higher on the list.

Newly opened this summer, the River Café Café is the next-door neighbour and baby sister of the iconic River Café. If it’s possible to imagine, this venue has an even more relaxed vibe than the original, with alfresco seating beside the Thames. Prices are lower than those of its celebrated sibling, but the Italian-inspired fare is no less heavenly.

Perched gracefully by the tranquil Thames, The River Cafe is a beacon of culinary grace. It's a dessert spot in London celebrated for its Italian-inspired sweets that change with the seasons, paired with breathtaking riverside views. This iconic spot promises not just a meal but a beautiful experience.

Taste some of the most authentic Michelin-starred Italian food in London at River Cafe. The menu at this Hammersmith icon changes daily, but don't miss the here-to-stay decadent chocolate nemesis cake. This pretty riverside garden restaurant in London gives a real flavour of the Mediterranean.

And if you open a restaurant next to the river and don’t provide a little outdoor seating for people then, quite frankly, you’re not going to be open for three decades. Which the River Cafe has been. Details: Thames Wharf, Rainville Road, W6 9HA | Book an outdoor table at The River Café–

One of the few London restaurants that can truly be described as iconic, the River Cafe draws a crowd even on grizzly days. It’s been stretched across the same Thames-facing lawn since 1987. You come here for seasonal Italian dishes and the unmistakable feeling of being on holiday.

It is a thrilling moment when the maître d' at the River Café shows you to one of the white-clothed tables on the terrace. Short of having a standing reservation throughout the summer, you'll just have to keep your fingers crossed. But when the stars align, it's a supreme treat.

The long-standing River Cafe is legendary among London circles, worshipped for both the high-quality food as well as the expansive riverside terrace, which is filled with lush greenery and overlooks the Thames. The River Café, Thames Wharf, Rainville Road, London W6 9HA.

This restaurant, situated alongside the Thames in Hammersmith, is a celebrity spotting hotspot. It was opened in 1987 by (late) Rose Gray and Ruth Rogers and is known for its inventive cooking of Italian cuisines. The cooks stay in perfect sync with the seasons.

Transport: Hammersmith, Piccadilly, Hammersmith & City Lines | Map. River Café is, undoubtedly of the better-known pasta restaurants in London. Founders Ruth Rogers and the late Rose Gray envisaged a riverside space for uncomplicated, seasonal Italian food.

A photo posted by david hallyday (@davidhallydayofficial) on May 1, 2016 at 4:07am PDTMay 1, 2016 at 4:07am PDT. The ultimate London spot for a long lunch in the sun with sublime Italian food and a perfect atmosphere. You’ll have heard of this, no doubt.

The River Cafe feels like a restaurant from an idyllic scene in a movie. It’s so great I have to remind myself it’s not a made-up place. It’s positioned on the water and the first thing you notice when you walk in is a hot pink oven with a roaring flame.

Core via Clare Smyth: Head to the UK’s first and only female-run restaurant with 3 Michelin stars and delight in Smyth’s cuisine. If that wasn’t enough, she also won the award for the world’s most productive female chef.

Location: Thames Wharf, Rainville Rd, London W6 9HA, United Kingdom. Contact: 020 7386 4200. Discussing the best Italian restaurants in London would be impossible without mentioning the River Cafe.

With 1960s decor in perfect condition, River Cafe near Putney Bridge doesn’t age. It’s been used many times for a Chelsea FC photo shoot. The cafe is run by a lovely old Italian couple.