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.

Now you don’t have to journey to Peckham for Andrea Asciuti’s superior Neapolitan which fans say is “no contest, the best”. In spring 2025 he opened a larger, open-7-days-a-week, Shoreditch sibling in a 2,000-square-foot space accommodating 60 dine-in covers. Both offer his signature pizzas and panuozzo plus diverse street-food tapas (e.g. arancina, lobster croquettes).

“This most recent outpost of Peckham’s Forza family in the National Theatre is a triumph of space and light” and one of the better options amidst the cultural attractions of the South Bank. “On a sunny day, sitting on the glorious terrace with one of their rather good Italian wines or cocktails and perfect little plates of Italian tapas is a lovely thing”, even if “the charming staff are a little overstretched at times given the number of covers”. Top Tip for families – “give the kids a plate of cauliflower fritti and they’ll be happy!”.

This 15-strong London noodle chain (now with branches in Brighton, Birmingham and Bristol) is “a good stand-by” – perhaps it’s “not as good as some of its competitors”, but it is widely seen as “good value”: in particular “the lunch-time meal deal” is a winner.

2024 Review: “This Malaysian place at Market Peckham has wonderful food” – “the chicken satay is as good as I’ve had in the UK” and “the Hainanese chicken sando is delectable”. It’s “highly regarded, with fans including reviewers (Marina O’L)”, but popularity has brought problems with “scaling up” – “they need more space, staff and flexible portions”. BREAKING NEWS – in September 2023, they announced they have found their first ‘forever home’ at 78 Lower Clapton Road, Lower Clapton, London E5 0RN. The bigger space, with open kitchen, will have 40 covers, with 20 seats inside and 20 seats on a ‘garden’ terrace.

“This old favourite” serving South Indian food “remains a pleasure” and remains a model of consistency under founder Claire Fisher, as it has been for more than 20 years. Top Menu Tips – “the homemade paratha is heaven on a plate and the spinach dal the stuff of dreams”.

A huge hit when it opened eight years ago, bringing Paris-style ‘bistronomy’ to a sidestreet behind Peckham Rye Station, this lively venue is still solidly rated even if it no longer generates the feedback of the early years. Founders Mark Gurney & Matt Bushnell have closed Larry’s, their NYC-inspired diner next door, and replaced it with Bar Levan, a natural wine bar serving small plates provided by the main kitchen.

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…).

2023 Review: “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!”

Bright, modern haunt – complete with big floor-to-ceiling windows and an outside terrace – that’s long anchored Peckham’s emergence as a food scene. Billing itself as ‘Your friendly neighbourhood wine bar’, the vino is the highpoint here, but the grub’s a cut-above and good value.

2023 Review: “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.

2024 Review: Open in June 2023 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 on Chelsea’s King’s Road). There’s a strong focus on South African wine here, with simple, tapas-y/small plates food to soak it up (eg Braaibroodjie: a Saffa cheese toastie).