The Ivy Café Wimbledon Village

Guided by owners Caprice Holdings, The Ivy is taking over London one painfully-chic eatery at a time – including this ‘casual’ Wimbledon Village café, where the full menu of modern brasserie classics is offered. Glamorous golden art-deco interiors and seductive lighting transport you back in time. Combine this with a strict no-photos attitude and you’ll be questioning the restaurant’s definition of casual. Nevertheless, prawn cocktail with creamy avocado (reinventing the 1970s starter) tasted wonderfully fresh and tangy, while a decadent truffle arancini was appetisingly cheesy. Portions can be overpowering, with a chicken Milanese (succulent and egg-topped) filling the plate. An equally sizeable sirloin was melt-in-your-mouth tender. To drink, the crowd-pleasing wine list includes a refreshingly fruity Château d’Esclans. Although the intensely rich dishes might make you feel you need a workout afterwards, prices here are reasonable, service impeccable – and you get the chance to act like you’re hiding from the paps.

This Wimbledon Café is a gorgeous addition to the Ivy cache that has been impressing punters for years with its lush interiors and excellent renditions of the brand’s classic dishes. It is well-positioned for punters coming fresh from an invigorating walk on the common, and well-heeled clientele making their way to and from the local theatre.

Wimbledon is an impressive postcode, so it is only fitting for the area to have a beautiful café to dine within. The all-day dining affair boasts starters of yellowfin tuna carpaccio and ever-popular truffle arancini – truffle does tend to be a theme of the luxurious menu.  Buffalo mozzarella and lobster risotto are an equally exciting way to whet your appetite before you move swiftly onto the mains. The mains are hearty, traditional Ivy fare such as roast chicken and a pan-Asian inspired blackened cod fillet.

Punters should also take a look at the cocktails and wine lists, which are replete with stunning concoctions and European imports. The Ivy Royale or the margarita Valencia featuring Olmeca Reposado tequila, Grand Marnier, winter spice, fresh OJ, and a dash of bitters make an excellent choice for cocktail hour. Speaking of which, the café also does a smashing weekend brunch, a decadent (and boozy if you like) affair of eggs benedict galore. For carnivorous punters, the steak selection is sublime and rather generous too – with cuts such as sirloin, fillet, rib-eye, and more.

Sweet-toothed patrons will be delighted with the dessert menu as well, with decadent plates of apple tart fine and crème brulee on offer. Chocolate aficionados may want to order the chocolate bombe, served with a hot salted caramel sauce and a honeycomb centre. The Wimbledon Ivy café doesn’t just serve up great food, the interiors are a treat to take in too. The décor is luxurious and fun, with vibrant pops of colour splashed around the plush furnishings.