Bunka is one of the shops that fashion and retail guru Mary Portas got hold of and featured in her show 'Mary Queen of Shops'. I have to say, I'm not sure what the shop was like before, but it really is a fab little gem of a boutique so she must have done a sterling job. Located on the trendy Bedford Hill, Bunka has a wonderful range of clothes, accessories, home wares and gifts. You can pick up some popular designer brands in addition to a selection of lesser known boutique designers. Everything is quite expensive but I spotted some beautiful fairy lights either in black, pink or gold for £16 which I thought was very reasonable. It always seems to be busy in here and has a great atmosphere with staff who are very friendly and helpful. The shop is quite small but that is what makes boutiques so unique and this one really has an amazing selection of lifestyle and fashion goods. Balham has done very well indeed to score this gem of a shop! read more

Poncy fashion and knick-knack store on Bedford Hill, Bunka is one of those places that I just don't get. The stuff inside is of a markedly varied quality, some horribly overpriced and some terribly badly chosen. The womens clothing is horrid and I have no idea who buys this stuff. Also, I must say that it's not my sort of shop anyway, but why can't these places make some sort of concession to men? The menswear on offer is massively over-priced and aimed at the gullible market. Oliver Bonas does this sort of thing much better and makes the whole experience terribly worthwhile. I can browse the silly toys whilst my other half looks at jewellery and dresses. But this place just feels so stuffy and over-preening that it made me need to leave very quickly. Also an unfriendly over-intrusive man badgering me was a big no-no. If you need shops like this try Oliver Bonas or the lovely gift shop over the road. Avoid it read more

Bunka is hands down the most stylish lifestyle boutique in Balham. Selling womens and mens fashion as well as some great childrens clothes and a huge range of gifts this is a one stop shop for successful retail therapy whether buying for yourself, or for someone else! For women there's a gorgeous range of dresses, tops, jeans and bags whether you're looking for something cool and casual for daytime or something super glamorous for evening all from indpenedent designers you can be sure you won't be 'following the top shop crowd'. The menswear section seems to have expanded lately and is always a winner for my boyfriends birthday presents (think funky G Star T's and stylish Pepe Shirts and jeans) They also have some really cute kidswear - perfect for new arrivals or christenings and a fabulous range of gifts - something for everyone. A MUST-VISIT shop for anyone heading to the Balham area! read more

Such a fabulous place! There really should be more retailers around like this that offer cutting edge style at a reasonable price. Plus its uniqueness ensures that you're never going to walk into a bar/club and bump into someone looking exactly the same as you which is a risk you take with the likes of Top Shop etc. I live nowhere near Balham but it is always worth the visit. Especially for an emergency outfit for that last minute night out! Whenever I have visited Bunka I have found the staff polite, cheery and always keen to help. There is a really cool vibe to the place. My only gripe is there is not one nearby. Open a shop near me please!!! read more

Cutting edge style at reasonable prices one review quoted so I thought I must go and try it out being new to Balham. This reviewer must either work there or have more money than sense. The clothes in there are nothing that original and were all very over priced. There were a couple of nice items but £70+ for a top that I have seen for £50 elsewhere...... Not original or cheap. The shop is badly laid out and there selection of cards and gifts and jewellery leave much to be desired. Avoid unless you want to be disappointed like me. read more

I went to Balham this weekend and stumbled across this shop. My first impressions from the outside were good but these were quickly shattered upon entering. The staff were rude and made no effort to make you feel relaxed. The products they offered were run of the mill and over priced. The buyers here show no real originality or flare for buying and I felt it was just another bog standard attempt at a life style shop we are seeing increasingly more of these days. There are far better versions of this shop across London and even a few in Balham. read more

TERRRIBLE - Everything looks rather cheap and bad taste . The shop appears to have no style whatsoever, just a poor interpretation of shops with much better overall style .I am a big fan of independant shops , embracing their individualism and uniqueness. Sadly this shop has tried to copy the chains stupidly but lacks the vital ingredients . read more