Spice up your life: the best Indian restaurants around Richmond and Wandsworth

This month Sophie Farrah swaps grey skies for colourful curries and Indian-inspired cocktails without even leaving South West London

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With the nights drawing in and the temperatures dropping there’s nothing quite like the flavours and aromas of a spice-filled meal to instantly transport one to sunnier climes, and luckily there’s no shortage of creative curries and exotic cocktails to be found locally…

Originally cooking only Goan cuisine, Ma Goa in Putney now serve everything from tasty Mumbai street food to the comforting dishes of Southern India and its recent stylish refurb includes the addition of a new craft beer tap wall. Further along the Upper Richmond Road is the popular Munal Tandoori which has been dishing up top-notch Indian and Nepalese food since 1990 - its indulgent murgh makhani (butter chicken) is superb. 

For a modern twist on home cooking from the Purab region of North India then head to the Zumbura in Clapham with its trendy interiors, sharing plates and exotic cocktails such as the Fruity Wallah, made with rum, mint, lime, apple, lychee juice and a chaat masala spice blend. There are more tropical tipples on offer at the recently refurbished ‘Indian cocktail boudoir’ The Imperial Durbar in Tooting, which boasts rather magical and eclectic Indian-inspired interiors and cocktails such as the Mumbai Mule and the Calcutta Cobbler. 

Richmond Hill Rise boasts the Michelin recommended Swagat and its delicious combinations of modern and traditional Indian dishes, whilst over the bridge you’ll find all the usual favourites at Tangawizi, served alongside seasonal specials such as venison tikka. Moidul’s of Teddington is well known for its authentic Indian and Bangladeshi food (particularly its signature sweet and sour Pathia Balti) and over in Twickenham lies the traditional Little Mumbai as well as the more contemporary Atithi, which are both enduringly popular. 

In Southfields Triphal is praised for its homemade veggie samosas, and of course Tooting High Street is known as one of the best ‘curry corridors’ in the country, featuring some terrific South Indian restaurants such as Dosa n Chutny whose mouthwatering crispy, savoury pancakes are renowned across the capital. 

But on a dark November night sometimes only a delivery will do – for a trendy takeaway try the acclaimed Motu Indian Kitchen in Battersea which delivers unashamedly indulgent home-style Indian food fit for a Maharajah, and with several delivery kitchens in SW London, Holy Cow’s refined dishes are also reliably good, particularly its super spicy Saliza King Prawns – the tastiest way to warm up this winter.