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.

“Lovely, charred, soft-based pizza with reliably interesting (but not OTT) toppings and very tasty!” wins consistently high ratings from a strong local fan club for this duo of pizzerias in Camberwell and Elephant & Castle.

“Still pumping out the big and loud flavour bombs with a simple style that suits the venue” (“technically well-cooked, robust dishes”, which the “in-house butchery helps make even more special”): this 10-year-old “in the heart of Camberwell” is a sibling to Waterloo’s Anchor & Hope, and has Mike Davis at the stoves, who learnt his trade at the A&H. That it still feels like an “unpretentious” boozer is key to its appeal (“its clients are hipsters who don’t like posh restaurants)”. Top Menu Tip – “incredible Steak and Guinness pie”.

“Praise be to the gods of southeast London for the resurrection of Silk Road” following a six-month closure that had its legion of fans worried last winter. And “Christ the food is still great” – spicy Uigur fare from Xinjiang in northwest China, full of “lip-burning/numbing brilliance”. (One regular, though, feels the “refurb is a bit mad – it’s gone from ‘crap canteen’ to ‘airport lounge in random Mediterranean resort!”)

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”.

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”.

Bash Redford and Michael Lavery started their project as a supper club a dozen years ago, cemented their reputation in Peckham, and moved to Camberwell in 2022, where they have raided the Whites & Neutrals section of the colour chart to create “a great vibe” in artfully decorated premises. The Italian menu is traditional in design: “delicious plates” matched with “a fantastic wine list”. These days they also have branches at the National Theatre and in Peckham Rye.