London Peckham Restaurant Guide

2022 Review: Vegan and vegetarian neighbourhood bistro, set in a quiet street near Peckham Rye station. It was opened in autumn 2019 by ex-Vanilla Black chef Tom Heale (plus his two brothers and a business partner) and – though it’s a simple, cosy venue – it quickly attracted favourable press from The Torygraph and Marina O’Loughlin in The Sunday Times. Sharing is encouraged and drinks include biodynamic, organic and vegan, and numerous fancy teas.

2022 Review: One of the few early 2021 newcomers (at which time it was delivery only) – this ‘soul food fusion’ newcomer operates out of the Peckham Levels. The aim? – ‘a bold and culturally relevant brand to disrupt the traditionally Euro-centric and often whitewashed London food scene’. This translates into hearty spicy scoff – Trinidadian Bara Tacos (fried bread with a chickpea filling), Philly Banh Mi Cheesesteaks… deep-fried Oreos.

2022 Review: From Andrea Asciuti of Streatham’s Bravi Ragazzi – this 2021 opening features ten of the traditional, Neapolitan-style pizzas that have created a buzz about his Streatham venture, as well as smaller bites, described as ‘Neapolitan tapas’.

2021 Review: “Tasty street-food vendors, a good pint and a great atmosphere” (plus, for families, “plenty of space for kids to scoot around”) win a thumbs-up for this vibey project, converted from seven levels of an underutilised multi-storey car park. Levels five and six are the heart of the action foodwise: residents include Nandine (offshoot of a Kurdish café in Camberwell), Other Side Fried (chicken burgers) and Hao Hao chi (handmade regional Chinese street food).

“Tremendous views over London” and sipping natural wines as you chill add to the heady experience of this “amazing rooftop restaurant and bar in the heart of Peckham Rye”. Perched on the fifth floor of a co-working space, it is run by the team behind Peckham’s Italian-focused Forza Win (no ‘e’, currently shifting sites). “It’s a treat to work through the menu (‘snacks’ belies the culinary skills at work) while drinking a cocktail and admiring the sights”.

“Extra points on ambience for the Victorian toilets” at the 19th-century booking hall and goods rooms of Peckham Rye station, now transformed into an all-day café and evening restaurant. It serves a “limited” but “delicious” menu of modern European dishes and fans say results are “always spot-on”.

This “slurpy Japanese noodles” outfit has grown from a 2011 pop-up to a fledgling national chain (14 branches in London, plus Brighton and Brum). These days it “feels formulaic, but the ramen does the business – the tonkotsu (pork broth, from which the place gets its name) is satisfyingly porky and the chilli chicken has a spicy hum”. Critics are not so sure, pointing to “very disappointing noodles” and “drab stock”.

“A South London gem” – Claire Fisher’s “authentic, fresh and delicious South Indian food” has been a “stalwart” of Peckham dining since 2004 (well before the area’s gastro scene took off). It’s a “lovely little restaurant”, “if a bit cramped”, especially if you “quite enjoy the fairly communal dining”, and “its regularly changing menu still entices and surprises”. Top Tip – “you must buy some jars of divine home-made pickles and chutneys to take home!”.

“Innovative cooking, good cocktails and a relaxed, cool setting” draw the “young hip crowd” to this “small Peckham restaurant” from the team behind Salon in Brixton (RIP). All reports remain fundamentally upbeat, but a variety of gripes and some dishes “not quite hitting the mark” took its rating lower this year.

“A fun spot, with super food and surroundings” – Patrick Williams and Amy Corbin’s (yes, that Corbin) Peckham venture has earned its place on London’s foodie map with “quality” South African-influenced cooking and “personable” service. On warmer days, you can eat in the back garden.

2022 Review: “Levan’s sister restaurant is a useful addition to the Peckham dining experience, and also revolves around sharing plates”. Originally due to open on the first week of the first 2020 lockdown, this all-day Peckham diner (in the same stable as Levan and Salon) is named after groundbreaking NYC DJ Larry Levan and is a homage to Jewish and Italian NYC diners, circa 1975. You are served at retro orange tables, with diner-style sarnies at lunch, or more substantial dishes like schnitzel and cheesecake, all dolled up a bit for 21st-century sensibilities (I don’t remember any gochujang mayo served back in the day…).

“Deliciously different pizza” comes by the slice in the “relaxed setting” of this yearling in a former grain warehouse (a former site of Forza Win). For all its “very basic” appearance, serious thought goes into the toppings, along with ingredients such as Sicilian datterini tomatoes, Calabrian tropea onions and Turkish figs. “The only problem is knowing when to stop ordering!”

This “fantastic local wine bar is worth a trip” to Peckham, where it is a star of the foodie scene that has blossomed in recent years. An “informal” operation that “always has an interesting selection of food and unusual wines” – “the menu’s not huge”, but the modern European dishes are well thought-out, and “both food and wine represent very good value for what you’re getting”. (In 2023, they will launch a spin-off in Camberwell, called ‘Little Cellars’.)

2019 Review: “From a small shop come the most divine pizzas – yes, even beating Franco Manca’s original (i.e. Brixton) branch” – that’s the bold claim made by fans of this year-old pop-up-turned permanent in Peckham (which also operates out of a container at Pop Brixton).

“Tasty thin-crust dough – cooked well in the middle, so no soggy bottoms” – is the secret to the appeal of this seven-strong South London sourdough pizzeria group, where the emphasis is on local ingredients (including Shipton Mill flour and British-made buffalo mozzarella) washed down with locally brewed craft beers and juices from Kent.

Authentic Senegalese soul food from chef Khadim Mane.

Open in June from Peckham's Kudu Collective, Little Kudu replaces the Smokey Kudu cocktail bar in Queen's Road, which has shifted to the RIXO fashion emporium in King's Road, Chelsea. Expect more of the South African flavours, ingredients and wines that have gained a strong following since the original Kudu opened five years ago.