The best restaurants in Peckham ~

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1. Artusi
Artusi is one of the best Italian restaurants in London. A locally loved Peckham spot that punches well above its weight, serving seriously good home-made pasta with simple ingredients: hazelnut, brown butter, Parmesan and sage; grilled squid, winter tomatoes, spinach and mint; fennel sausage and ‘nduja. The menu, which changes seasonally, is scribbled on large chalkboards on the white walls of this Bellenden Road spot. Start with a short tumbler of Aperol Spritz and do save room for pudding of Torta Sbrisolona, an Italian almond cake, or homemade ice cream.
Address: Artusi, 116 Bellenden Road, Peckham, London, SE15 4DH

Telephone: +44 20 3302 8200

Website: artusi.co.uk
2. Kudu
A contemporary South African small plate restaurant with old fashioned charm. Don’t skip the cast-iron pot of cumin-brioche-like mosbolletjies dunked straight into shrimp or lardon-laced molten-butter. A beer-and-onion tarte tatin (which any French pastry chef would be proud of) is topped with a goats-curd quenelle. And a dish of lamb’s neck braaied over an open fire is well matched with smoked yoghurt, lettuce and brussel tops. Open for brunch on weekends – the sourdough waffles are a must.
For our full review of Kudu, click here.
Address: Kudu, 119 Queens Road, London SE15 2EZ

Telephone: +44 20 3950 0226

Website: kudu-restaurant.com
3. BABBER AT THE WHITE HORSE
Favourite local pub The White Horse, which sits on the north corner of the Rye, has had a couple of cool brands pop up in the kitchen over the past few years. But its first permanent residency has arrived with Babber, a charcoal-grill restaurant turning out posh kebabs. Enter through the main door and there are wood-panelled walls in a space that feels like a traditional boozer; but continue around and past the bar and find deep-green walls, a cluster of hanging pot plants you might need to duck under to avoid, and leather-banquette booths. On the menu from chef Joseph Ryan (formerly of Salon in Brixton Village, and one of London’s best rooftop bars) Frank’s, there’s delicious baba ghanoush with feta and sumac, hummus with aleppo peppers and the slightly surprising but very delicious onion bhajis with curried yogurt. Kebab-wise, there’s pork neck and ‘nduja, lamb kofte and chicken thigh with harissa mayo to choose from, but we like the aubergine doner with yogurt chilli, garlic and pickles.
Address: Babber at The White Horse, 20-22 Peckham Rye, Peckham, London SE15 4JR

Telephone: +44 20 7639 1459

Website: whitehorsepeckham.co.uk
Matt Russell
4. Larry’s
Created by the trio behind much-loved Levan, this new arrival takes up the corner shop next door(formerly Brick House Bakery). Also taking its name from Seventies DJ Larry Levan, who wrote the blueprint for modern dance music, a daily menu is scribbled on a lightbox above the counter and interiors are overtly retro with bright orange tables and green Eames chairs. Designed to be slightly less refined than its older siblings, it’s as tempting for a long breakfast as a grab-and-go lunch. For supper, start with giant pickles and ‘nduja-soaked focaccia or potato latkes drizzled in a fermented chilli mayo. Mains are hearty – chicken liver and ‘nduja pappardelle or crispy pork escalope with a tangy coleslaw; pair with the tomato and watermelon salad with mint and a punch of chilli. With boiled eggs and soldiers served at breakfast, and huge melanzane filled focaccias at lunchtime, this little restaurant is laid-back, fun and just a little bit naughty.
Address: Larry’s, Unit 5, 12-16 Blenheim Grove, Peckham, London SE15 4QL

Telephone: +44 20 3795 7385

Website: larryspeckham.co.uk
5. Peckham Cellars
This wine bar/bistro is the brainchild of three local friends, who have experience at Ottolenghi’s Rovi, Marcella in Deptford and Skye Gyngell’s Spring between them. Keeping Kudu company on Peckham’s slightly quieter strip of Queen’s Road, it marks the start of new things, soon to be followed by the opening of Smokey Kudu in the arches next to the always-bustling Blackbird Bakery. Industrial-paned floor-to-ceiling windows make for a bright and breezy plant-filled space to match the Mediterranean-inspired locally sourced small plates. The chewy sourdough comes from The Snapery in Bermondsey, served with whipped rosemary or Marmite butter, while a cheesy crêpe is made with tart winter tomatoes and haricot beans topped with melting lardo. There are only two mains on the menu, including one veggie. But whichever you opt for, don’t skip the side of smashed potatoes with harissa and aioli. The mostly Mediterranean wine list changes all the time, with takeovers in the pipeline.
Address: Peckham Cellars, 125 Queen’s Road, Peckham, London SE15 2ND

Telephone: +44 20 7207 0124

Website: peckhamcellars.co.uk
6. Levan
Taking over the space formerly occupied by Peckham stalwart The Refreshment Rooms, this new opening from Nicholas Balfe had a lot to live up to when it opened in November 2018. Balfe is an alumni of the city’s Young Turk supper-club collective and his first proper restaurant was Salon, in Brixton’s Market Row. Locals need not have worried because the menu is spot on: inventive and largely plant-based, but with seriously hearty French flair. Don’t skip the Comté dusted fries which come with a neat dollop of saffron aioli.
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7. TACO QUEEN
Previously located in the Bussey Building basement, Taco Queen used to be a bit of a local secret, but now – judging from the consistent queues along Rye Lane for its bricks-and-mortar spot – it looks like the word is out. Tacos and cheesy quesadillas are churned out of the open kitchen and served in kitschy yellow plastic baskets. Our favourite is the cornflake-crumbed Baja fish, though the mulita steak is also delicious and there is, of course, a jackfruit option for vegans. This is a no-frills spot serving some of London’s best tacos. Just be prepared to wait for them.
8. Peckham Bazaar
People travel from all over London to eat at this taverna-style restaurant; on a residential road east of Rye Lane, it’s not a place you’d just stumble across. Albanian owner John Gionleka uses a charcoal grill to cook sweet prawn kebabs, courgette fritters and pork and lamb adanas with baba ganoush. Egyptian stuffed quail is served with roast aubergine, and a slow braised shoulder of Welsh lamb comes with coco beans and Charleston peppers. In short: it’s worth the trip.
Address: Peckham Bazaar, 119 Consort Road, Peckham, London, SE15 3RU

Telephone: +44 20 7732 2525

Website: peckhambazaar.com
9. Mr Bao
Mr Bao is the place to find some of the lightest and fluffiest Taiwanese bao buns in London. The pork-belly Benedict bao is a brunch-time revelation. Pair it with a Szechuan-spiced Old Fashioned or a raspberry-sake Martini. Later on, the slow braised Flock & Herd pork bun with pickles and peanut powder is not to be missed – team it with the smashed cucumber for the full effect. Founder ‘Mr Bao’ is actually married to the Spanish owner of Choumert road Andalucian joint, Miss Tapas, which is also worth a visit for the runny-in-the-middle tortillas, salty padrón peppers and rich ham croquettes.
Address: Mr Bao, 293 Rye Lane, Peckham, London, SE15 4UA

Telephone: +44 20 7635 0325

Website: mrbao.co.uk
10. The Begging Bowl
An excellent spot for unusual Thai sharing plates on Bellenden Road. The duck-leg curry is topped with watermelon radish and pickled kohlrabi and a whole squid comes with a sour chilli sauce. The dining room has a modern feel, with painted reclaimed wood and a greenhouse courtyard which is particularly nice on a summer’s evening. The restaurant doesn’t take reservations for groups less than six, so if it’s just a couple of you put your name down and have a drink at the Victoria Inn across the road.
Address: The Begging Bowl, 168 Bellenden Road, Peckham, London SE15 4BW

Telephone: +44 20 7635 2627

Website: thebeggingbowl.co.uk
11. Ganapati
This is about as far as an Indian restaurant in London could get from a high-street joint churning out fluorescent-coloured tikka masala. At Ganapati, the south Indian cooking is inspired by Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka; the standout Naranga fish curry is made with sea bass and cooked in ground coconut and spices. Interiors are simple, with long wooden tables and schoolroom-style fold-out chairs – not a white tablecloth in sight.
Address: Ganapati, 38 Holly Grove, Peckham, London, SE15 5DF

Telephone: +44 20 7277 2928

Website: ganapatirestaurant.co.uk
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