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.

“Still firing on all cylinders thankfully” – this duo of pizza indies in southeast London retain a loyal local fan club for their affordable, well-prepared Neapolitan-style sourdough pizzas. Menu options are pleasingly straightforward, but you can also jazz them up with extras-a-go-go.

“Still very thoughtful and unusual… and with achingly hip punters!” – Camberwell’s well-established sibling to Waterloo’s Anchor & Hope “manages perfectly to straddle the line between a friendly local boozer and a gastro destination”; “big flavours, sharing, generosity and warmth abound in here” (“we went for a special celebration and couldn’t have had a better time… amazing service, nice vibe and reasonably priced for the quality”). Top Menu Tip – “top Sunday Roast”; “…and oh those pies!”

Arguably Camberwell’s premiere ‘cheap eat’ – this local fixture has become well known over many years now for its noodles, dumplings and spicy stews from Xinjiang in northwest China, all at prices to gratify the heart of anyone counting the pennies.

2023 Review: “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”.

2024 Review: The name means ‘kitchen’ in Kurdish – Pary Baban’s Camberwell café reproduces the dishes of her homeland, to the satisfaction of reporters. Top Tips – brunch is a highlight; you can BYO at her simpler nearby outlet at 82 Vestry Street (but the branch at Peckham Levels is no more).

2023 Review: “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!”.

Camberwell’s gentrification continues apace with this revamped, classic neighbourhood boozer – brought back to life after being closed for six years. The tucked-away dining area showcases the talents of chef Joe Sharratt, formerly of Brixton hotspot Naughty Piglets, and seating possibilities include a counter next to the kitchen. No survey feedback as yet, but in his April 2024 review, The Evening Standard’s Jimi Famurewa thought that – while some dishes “did not work” – other small plates were “thrilling”.

More signs of life in Camberwell – this April 2025 opening occupies the former Crooked Well pub (not far from Denmark Hill overground), and is a second upscale gastropub from the team behind the much-lauded The Baring in Islington. It’s aiming for a ‘considered’ seasonal menu, backed up by a list of mainly natural wines, and its ‘stripped-back pub aesthetic’ is successful enough to have won it an early review from Wallpaper.