London Camberwell Restaurant Guide

2022 Review: “Splendid flavours, lovely service, and reasonable prices” are, say fans, a “perfect combination” at this affordable Ethiopian restaurant in Camberwell.

2019 Review: Further gentrification comes to Camberwell in the form of this cute new wine bar – a late spring 2018 newcomer from Aussie chef Paul Williamson (formerly of WC in Clapham and Soho House). There’s a menu of Mediterranean-inspired small plates, pizzette, cheese and charcuterie alongside a rotating range of wines.

“Excellent, well-charred sourdough bases with interesting toppings” are knocked out at these “buzzy neighbourhood pizza indies”, with locations in Camberwell and Elephant & Castle. “In the Franco Manca vein”, it’s “just as good as it was when it opened”.

“Feeling like a piece of hip Shoreditch dropped onto a random patch of Camberwell” – this “thriving” fixture is one of London’s best-performing gastropubs in our annual diners’ poll. “It’s always busy and buzzing and deservedly popular, with friendly and efficient service even when it’s super-busy.” “Its innovative food, with a focus on sharing, is definitely not playing it safe” and “when it rocks, it really does: big umami blasts of good flavours, realised without fuss”. Top Menu Tip – “Sunday lunch with the whole family is a real treat… the shared big joints are wonderful”.

“Basic room, basic service… but man, the food is good!!” – and “incredible value” – at this Camberwell canteen, which is renowned as one of the capital’s better cheap eats. It knocks out “fiery but tasty” dishes from Xinjiang in China’s northwest, home of the Muslim Uighurs.

“One of the very finest gastropubs in South London”, this handsome Camberwell tavern is a “really solid and enjoyable local”, and is run by landlord Hector Skinner, who set it up with three pals a dozen years ago. “If it was in Clapham it would be very famous and utterly heaving”. Top Menu Tip – “the sharing roast chicken and the rabbit pie are the best mains”.

“Kurdish delights in SE5!” – founder Pary Baban was forced to flee her home by Saddam Hussein’s troops in 1989 and collected recipes on her travels. Now she shares them at her cafés in Camberwell and Peckham (Nandine means ‘kitchen’ in Kurdish), where you can “enjoy the great spicing and flavours” in a “lovely atmosphere”. “Brunch is a particular highlight” – try Pary’s “great shakshuka”.

“The chargrilled onions and flatbreads to start soon grab the attention” at this popular family-run Anatolian in Camberwell, founded across town in Islington more than 25 years ago. “The grilled lamb that follows is still as good as ever. Thankfully!”.

Having stormed Peckham, then closed during lockdown, Bash Redford and Michael Lavery have chosen Camberwell for the latest iteration of their Italian brand. The formula has become increasingly ‘grown up’ since it started in 2012 as a pop-up pizzeria in the Truman Brewery: its new guise will be that of a traditional Italian restaurant with primo, secundi, dolce, etc.