Hardens Guide to the Best Restaurants in London Elephant And Castle
Hardens guides have spent 34 years compiling reviews of the best Elephant And Castle restaurants. On Hardens.com you'll find details and reviews of 9 restaurants in Elephant And Castle and our unique survey based approach to rating and reviewing Elephant And Castle restaurants gives you the best insight into the top restaurants in every area and of every type of cuisine.
Featured Elephant And Castle Restaurants
1. Paladar
South American restaurant in Southwark
4-5 London Road - SE1
“Atracting a clientele from miles around, despite its unglamorous location” near Elephant & Castle (on St George’s Circus), this Latino haunt is something of “a benchmark for Latin American fusion cooking in London”. “The dishes are sourced from a wide variety of countries” and there’s a “notable freshness to the cooking and restrained use of chili which complements the underlying flavours while allowing them to shine though”. It’s not only for foodies either: “staff are very lively and attentive” and the atmosphere is “always great fun”. There’s also a “splendid serious wine list including many uncommon wines from Latin America”, and art in hot colours for sale on the walls! Top Menu Tips – “staples like guacamole with plantain chips and churros with chocolate never fail”. “Generous cochinita pibil with roasted pineapple and (pleasantly mild) habanero chilli jam. Chimichurri potato fries more average. Excellent chilli chocolate sauce with purple corn churros”.
2. Dragon Castle
Chinese restaurant in Elephant & Castle
100 Walworth Road - SE17
This “huge and buzzy Chinese restaurant” near Elephant & Castle is a South London institution, serving “superb” old-school Cantonese grub including “good dim sum at lunchtime”. “Staff are under pressure due to the sheer number of covers, but the excellence of the food makes it worth having patience”. It’s “very popular, so book a table at weekends”.
3. 400 Rabbits
Pizza restaurant in Southwark
16a Ash Avenue - SE17
2023 Review: “Always fresh sourdough pizza” has helped build a strong local following for this hip southeast London group, with outlets in Crystal Palace, Nunhead, West Norwood, Herne Hill and Elephant & Castle. A new natural wine selection from specialist importer Les Caves de Pyrène is now available alongside the craft beers on tap. Top Tip – “make sure you leave room for the ice cream”.
4. Mercato Metropolitano
Italian restaurant in
42 Newington Causeway - SE1
This quartet of “vibrant” markets selling “street food from around the globe” appears to be in a state of flux, with its original Elephant & Castle market facing demolition after 10 years – Southwark Council has granted planning permission for a new housing development which could see 40 traders losing their pitches if work starts on schedule in 2026. Meanwhile the newest MM, in Ilford, closed down ‘temporarily’ after just six months in January 2025, with no date set to reopen. The remaining two branches are in a deconsecrated church in Mayfair and at Wood Wharf near Canary Wharf.
5. Toulouse Lautrec
French restaurant in Kennington
140 Newington Butts - SE11
From a French family who have operated in this corner of Kennington for almost 35 years – this brasserie with an upstairs jazz club on a corner near Elephant & Castle remains “a great neighbourhood choice”. The brothers behind it, Noland & Florent Regent, grew up next door in the Lobster Pot, which their parents ran for 25 years until 2016. The Gallic menu – snails, foie gras, cassoulet and madeleines – is complemented by “great beer”, including Meteor from France and Orbit from less than a mile away.
6. Bobo Social
British, Modern restaurant in
23 Sayer Street - SE17
2023 Review: One of the bright sparks near Elephant & Castle – this attractive haunt (with cocktail bar) majors in breakfast and brunch options, but also offers a small, eclectic selection of impactful bites (the Bobo Burger, truffle pasta, Thai curry, steak, fish ’n’ chips…). We’ve rated it on limited feedback.
7. Masters Super Fish
Fish & chips restaurant in Southwark
191 Waterloo Rd - SE1
2022 Review: For a “cheap ’n’ cheerful” fish ’n’ chips hit, fans still recommend a meal at the Formica tables of this long-standing Waterloo chippy.
8. Kachori
Indian restaurant in
12 Ash Avenue, Elephant Park - SE17
Big and “busy” modern Indian restaurant that has “fully maintained its high standards” in its second year as a highpoint of the new Elephant & Castle development, with a menu that showcases the cooking of Rajasthan, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and the Punjab. Launch chef Brinder Nerula (ex-Gymkhana and Banares) moved on in April 2025. Top Tip – “set lunch is a bargain at £19.50 for 2 courses (portions generous) including drink”.
9. Terry's
British, Traditional restaurant in Borough
158 Great Suffolk Street - SE1
“The fry-up is genuinely exceptional – every item high-quality and perfectly cooked – and it comes smothered in Cockney charm” and a dose of carefully curated authenticity at former Smithfield trader, Terry’s operation in Borough: if you’re looking to discover that classic, red-gingham-tablecloth caff, look no further.
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