Historic Market Town
Kingston
Where ancient Saxon kings were crowned, Kingston now serves up riverside dining, independent boutiques, and a market that's been running since 1170. The perfect blend of history and modern foodie culture.
Avocadium
Clean, veg-friendly brunch done properly — acai bowls, avo benedicts, and serious coffee, a few minutes from Surbiton High School.
Bevan's Butchers
Winner of "Britain's Best Butchers Shop" and trading since 1929. Four generations of butchery expertise on Richmond Road.
Bill's Kingston
One of the safest and most consistent brunch choices in central Kingston, right by the historic market square.
Bonnie Rogues
Kingston's liveliest late-night bar — live music seven nights a week until 2am, plus one of the area's best-value bottomless brunches at £35pp.
Chick-fil-A
The first Chick-fil-A in London — opened March 2026 to hour-long queues and national press coverage. A genuine cultural moment for Kingston.
Cote Kingston
Reliable French cooking in a prime riverside location — the Croque Madame and outdoor seating make it a Kingston brunch favourite.
Deer Cafe
Consistently praised for generous portions, quality ingredients, and one of Kingston's best Full English breakfasts.
Eleana's Bistro
The kind of local spot that regulars keep quiet about — proper home cooking, friendly service, and dishes made with care.
Ex Cellar Kingston
Brings Ex Cellar's popular shop-bar concept to central Kingston. Wine choice, friendly service, and a proper Market Place atmosphere.
Fika
The prettiest brunch spot in Kingston — Scandi-chic interiors, beautiful plating, and excellent avocado toast.
Fortunella Cafe
The best coffee in Kingston's historic market — quick, quality, and perfectly placed for a market-day pit stop.
Grey Horse & Ram Jam Club
Editor's Pick: Kingston's most complete night out — 150+ whiskies, BBQ smokehouse, and live music seven nights a week in a building that dates to 1849. Time Out named it Best Music Venue at the 2018 Love London Awards, and Crack Comedy's Friday stand-up has been selling out since 2002. Nothing else in the borough combines whisky, food, and live performance under one roof like this.
Korea Hero
An independently owned Korean restaurant bringing New Malden's food culture into Kingston town centre. Reviewed by Kingston Nub News, praised for authenticity and value.
La Fiesta
Kingston's best budget brunch — simple, filling, and you can build your own plate exactly how you want it.
Lallapolosa Baking Company
Holder of ten national Great Taste Awards — including a rare 3-Gold-Star, handed to only around 100 of some 9,000 entries. Founders Elyse Savage and Adam Jones bring serious cake-decorating pedigree to the counter.
Local Hero
Favourite among Kingston locals who care about good coffee. The food quality matches the coffee standards.
Megan's at the Griffin
One of the most consistently recommended brunch spots in Kingston, particularly strong for groups and weekend catchups.
O'Neill's
Kingston's best pub for live sport and big nights out — six screens, live bands every weekend, and genuine drinks deals including happy hour from £3.90.
Patisserie Les 3 Chocolats
TripAdvisor reviewers call it "nowhere else comes close" for authentic French patisserie in Kingston. Town-centre location makes it perfect for grab-and-go.
Poor Boys
The Infatuation rates it 8.4/10 and Time Out gave it 4/5 — Kingston's most talked-about independent restaurant, with 173K Instagram followers and genuine TikTok virality.
Rooftop at Curzon
One of the few genuine open-air rooftop bars in central Kingston: a sun-trap terrace with town-and-river views, a short cocktail list, and cinema pizzas to soak it up. A summer drinks spot you don't have to leave town for.
Sonny's Riverside
Kingston's only proper rooftop bar, right on the river. The sunset views over Kingston Bridge are hard to beat, and the frozen margarita hour (Wed–Fri, 3–6pm, £7) is one of the best-value sundowner deals in Southwest London.
Tacos MX
An independent taqueria competing against chains on the high street, making fresh tortillas daily. TripAdvisor reviewers praise the authentic flavour profiles.
Taylor's Fine Wine
Independent wine merchant with the expertise that supermarkets can't match. For buyers who want proper advice on what to cellar or gift.
The Bishop
The most polished riverside drinking spot in central Kingston — a Young's pub with a large terrace overlooking Kingston Bridge, more contemporary than the older riverside pubs.
The Black Horse
Kingston's best pub for games — a dedicated games room with darts, foosball, and pinball, five minutes from Norbiton station.
The Boaters Inn
One of the best riverside brunch options in Kingston with outdoor seating directly overlooking the Thames.
The Canbury Arms
A classic neighbourhood pub that does a particularly good weekend brunch in a relaxed setting.
The Gazebo
As close to the Thames as a Kingston pub gets — Grade II listed pavilions, rowing-club character inside (red oars on the beams, leather chesterfields), Samuel Smith's beer range. Best riverside drinking spot in central Kingston for a post-walk pint or a lazy weekend afternoon.
The Neighborhood Subs & Deli
A genuine hidden gem: a true independent on a side street away from Kingston's main shopping core, turning out huge made-to-order subs that reviewers consistently call some of the best around. The bread does a lot of the work, the Italian-deli fillings do the rest, and the welcome feels like a neighbourhood hub.
The Ram
The best all-round central Kingston pub — a 145-seat Thames garden, genuine history (1862, Fricker's Eagle Brewery era), and a midweek prix fixe that makes it worth visiting outside the weekend crush.
The Spring Grove
The hidden-gem pub that locals keep to themselves. You walk past houses, wonder if you've gone wrong, and then find a charming pub with one of the best gardens in the area waiting at the end of the street.
WeBrew Kingston
The most distinctive newcomer on Kingston's pub scene — a proper craft brewery venue with Windsor & Eton beers on tap, serious pizza from Slap Slap, and Thames-side seating on Ram Passage.
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Local's Guide to Kingston
Getting Here
Kingston station is 25 minutes from London Waterloo. The town centre and riverside are a short walk from the station through the Bentall Centre.
Pro Tips
- • The Ancient Market runs 7 days a week, 10am–5pm
- • Riverside spots fill up fast on sunny days — book ahead
- • Saturday shopping crowds clear by 5pm
- • The Grey Horse has the best whisky selection in SW London
Beyond Our Reviews
Local Directory
Every business we've found in Kingston — including places we haven't reviewed yet.
Eat & Drink (41)
Things to Do (5)
Fitness & Sports (4)
Dogs (8)
Services (2)
Activities & Attractions (2)
Read More
Kingston Guides
Best Bakeries & Cake Shops in Kingston, Surbiton & New Malden
A local's guide to the 6 best bakeries and cake shops across Kingston, Surbiton, and New Malden — from French patisseries and Persian celebration cakes to Korean bingsoo and award-winning bakes.
Best Brunch in Kingston upon Thames (2026)
A local's guide to the 10 best brunch spots in Kingston upon Thames — from riverside terraces and French bistros to neighbourhood cafes and budget-friendly classics.
Best Independent Butchers in Kingston & New Malden
A local's guide to the 5 best independent butchers across Kingston, New Malden, and Surbiton — from award-winning heritage shops to Korean BBQ specialists and halal options.
Best Cafes for Remote Work in Kingston & Surbiton (2026)
A local's guide to the best cafes for remote work in Kingston and Surbiton — where you're actually welcome to stay, open your laptop, and get things done.
Best Full English & Cooked Breakfast in Kingston & Surbiton (2026)
A local's honest guide to where you can actually get a proper full English — bacon, sausage, eggs, the lot — in Kingston and Surbiton, from an £8.50 pub plate to riverside chains and a build-your-own café fry-up.
Best Gardens Near Kingston upon Thames
From the 240 acres of RHS Wisley to Kew's Victorian glasshouses and Hampton Court's royal maze — the best gardens within easy reach of Kingston, Surbiton, and New Malden.
Best Indian Restaurants in Kingston, Surbiton & New Malden (2026)
A local's guide to the 12 best Indian restaurants across Kingston, Surbiton, New Malden and nearby — from AA Rosette fine dining and riverside curry to South Indian dosa specialists and £4 street food naans.
Best Pubs in Kingston & Surbiton (2026)
A local's guide to the best pubs in Kingston and Surbiton — from riverside spots and hidden gems to proper gastropubs and neighbourhood locals.
Best Restaurants in Kingston upon Thames (2026)
A local's guide to the best restaurants in Kingston upon Thames — from New Orleans street food and riverside Korean to authentic Mexican tacos and London's first Chick-fil-A. Featuring independently owned local favourites.
Best Vegan & Vegetarian-Friendly Spots in Kingston, Surbiton & New Malden (2026)
A local's honest guide to eating vegan and vegetarian in Kingston, Surbiton, New Malden and Tolworth — from a 100% vegetarian South Indian institution to falafel counters, vegan pho, Lebanese mezze and brunch spots that treat plant-based eaters properly.
Botanical Gardens Near Kingston — History, Science & What to See
Kingston sits at the centre of one of the richest botanical corridors in England — three world-class institutions within 20 minutes, with over 600 years of combined history, UNESCO status, and some of the most important plant collections on Earth.
Where to Play Darts in Kingston, Surbiton & New Malden (2026)
A dart player's guide to the best boards in Kingston, Surbiton and New Malden — from proper pub setups to social clubs with snooker tables and weekly darts nights.
Dog Friendly Pubs & Cafes in Kingston & Surbiton (2026)
A local's guide to the best dog friendly pubs, cafes and restaurants in Kingston and Surbiton — places that genuinely welcome dogs, not just tolerate them.
Best Dog Walks Near Kingston & Surbiton (2026)
A local's guide to the best dog walks around Kingston and Surbiton — with distances, off-lead zones, water access, seasonal rules, and the nearest dog-friendly pub for afterwards.
Family Days Out in Kingston, Surbiton & New Malden (2026)
A parent's guide to the best family days out in Kingston, Surbiton and New Malden. From riverside playgrounds to Hampton Court, with practical details that actually matter.
Best Family Days Out Near Kingston
An honest parent's guide to the best family days out near Kingston. Chessington, Hobbledown, and rainy day backups — with the practical details and honest downsides that actually help you plan.
Gyms, Fitness & Wellness in Kingston, Surbiton & New Malden
The complete guide to gyms, martial arts, yoga, pilates, CrossFit, F45, and fitness classes in Kingston, Surbiton and New Malden. From budget 24-hour gyms to Olympic-level martial arts coaching.
Hampton Court Palace: 500 Years of History on Kingston's Doorstep
The full story of Hampton Court Palace — from Cardinal Wolsey's ambition through Henry VIII's six wives to the Great Vine planted in 1768. A heritage deep-dive for visitors arriving from Kingston.
May Half Term 2026: Everything to Do With Kids Near Kingston
Your complete guide to May half term 2026 near Kingston, Surbiton and New Malden. Verified events from children's theatre and outdoor trails to miniature railways and baby-friendly concerts.
Student & NHS Discounts in Kingston upon Thames
A local's guide to student and NHS discounts in Kingston upon Thames — covering Blue Light Card and TOTUM deals, places to eat near Kingston University campuses, and where to go after a shift at Kingston Hospital.
Visiting Chessington? Don't Just Do the Theme Park
You've booked Chessington. But Hampton Court Palace, Bushy Park, and Kingston riverside are all within 15 minutes — and your kids will love them. Here's what most visitors miss.
Best Walks & Nature Spots Near Kingston (2026)
A local's guide to the best walks, parks, and nature spots around Kingston, Surbiton and New Malden. From the Thames Path to Royal Parks, hidden river walks to local green spaces.
Best Wine Shops & Wine Bars in Kingston & Surbiton
A local's guide to the 3 best wine shops and wine bars in Kingston and Surbiton — from the shop-bar hybrid Ex Cellar to traditional wine merchants.
