Petersham Nurseries Café

In a greenhouse at the back of the gorgeously situated Petersham Nurseries is this award-winning cafe straight out of the pages of The Secret Garden. Well-heeled locals tuck into confidently executed food that often began life in the nursery gardens – organic vegetable dishes, such as artichokes braised with preserved lemon sage and black olives, feature alongside seasonal plates of, say, roasted quail with walnut sauce or white polenta with squid and sherry butter. Booking in advance is essential. There’s also a teahouse for sandwiches, tea and cakes. Because of local residents and council concerns about traffic increasing with the cafe’s popularity, patrons are asked to walk here via the picturesque river towpath or use public transport.