Coppa Load of This
Behiye Hassan samples some delicious fare at Coppa Club’s enchanting new riverside restaurant by the Thames.
There’s nothing better than riverside dining – those beautiful pastoral views, combined with good, hearty food. So the arrival of Coppa Club Putney is a welcome recent addition to the capital, bringing a distinct café culture to this part of Southwest London. It’s the ninth Coppa Club following previous openings in Clifton Village and Cobham last year, and only its second London-based café-cum-restaurant, after Tower Bridge.
A short walk from both Putney Bridge Underground Station and Putney overground, it’s the perfect place for an alfresco pitstop, while enjoying views of passing boats and the sun setting on the Thames. It was certainly busy when we arrived on a windy, rainy Saturday lunch time, which was great to see as it had only been open for two weeks.
We were immediately struck by the enticing décor – the cosy red and brown sofas in the stunning wood-panelled bar area as you enter, and the dreamy blues and greens throughout, drawing inspiration from Putney’s boating heritage.
And there was an overall lively atmosphere, as the very friendly staff ushered us to our table on arrival. The Restaurant area itself has floor to ceiling door panels (which I assume will be opened in summer) and windows which let loads of natural light in. It’s also family and child-friendly – there were lots of families dining there that day.
The vibe is ‘sophisticated yet relaxed’ – ideal for business meetings too, or relaxing in the quiet library snug with a good book, or with friends. As evening hits, it also offers a lounge-like feel, with dimmed lights, fireplaces, and a full-service bar.
The restaurant serves a mix of British and Mediterranean food, including classics such as their Club Caesar Salad, and Parmesan Croquettes and Buckwheat and Rye Pancakes. They’d just started serving their festive menu as we arrived, which gave us a chance to mix and match from the main menu – pasta, pizza, steak, fish plus vegan and vegetarian options. There’s also a weekend Brunch menu which looked pretty tasty.
We dined on a delicious starter menu of crispy fried squid with sriracha mayo and king prawns followed by mains of smoked haddock & salmon fishcake with truffle fries and roasted Loch Duart salmon fillet with chive butter and roast potatoes as a side and finished the feast with vanilla pavlova and warm pecan pie with honeycomb ice cream. Both amazing - the pavlova could have easily fed two people, truly a meringue fan’s dream come true.
Oh and did we mention the igloos? The Coppa Club also boasts three glass igloos on the terrace – which even come with their own menu: truffled wagyu burger and a warm chocolate fondant with caramelised white chocolate and salted caramel ice cream.
I’m rebooking for the spring – to get the view when the sun’s shining and the Thames is sparkling again – and to sample more from the menu of course!