London Elephant And Castle Restaurant Guide

“Huge emporium by the Elephant & Castle” that’s “firing on all cylinders again” for “solidly decent dim sum at fair prices” and with “more regional dishes added to the menu” of late. “Big round tables with lazy susans make it ideal for big parties”, although “service can be a bit chaotic”.

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”.

“Take your pick and follow your street-food taste buds” at these “vibrant and buzzy food halls, with a huge variety of pop-up vendors”. Launched 10 years ago at Milan’s World Expo, the concept reached London in 2016 with the opening of the first MM in an old paper factory near Elephant & Castle; a deconsecrated Mayfair church came next, followed by Wood Wharf in Canary Wharf and then Ilford in summer 2024 – in each case fostering a “great community spirit”.

Inspired by Art Deco Paris, this wood-panelled Gallic brasserie south of Elephant & Castle provides a “wonderful atmosphere”, a menu of “food you want to eat” and “Meteor à la pression” – better still, there’s a jazz club upstairs. Les patrons, brothers Noland & Florent Regent, grew up next door in the Lobster Pot – another Francophile’s delight, run by their parents for 25 years until 2016.

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.

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.

“Wow, what a start for this big, bustling, comfortable modern Indian restaurant”, which is celebrating its first year in the new Elephant & Castle development. With former Benares and Gymkhana exec chef Brinder Nerula running the kitchen, it’s “an unexpectedly good find at very reasonable prices”.

The idea that Borough would be achingly cool (or that you might need to book here!) would have seemed bizarre back in 1982 when former Smithfield trader Terry opened his traditional red-check-tablecloth caff. Nowadays if you want to grab your hipster full English before a day’s Instagramming in the local food markets, you may need to join the virtual queue.