Peckham has seen an explosion of restaurant openings in the last 5 years, planting its flag firmly and confidently in London’s foodie-map of must visit boroughs. With a glorious cultural diversity and young population keen to spend and less so to cook, Peckham now rivals, dare we say trumps, more recognized culinary East leaning upstarts like Dalston, Shoreditch and beyond.
Here are our IDEAL five places to experience the fantastic dining scene of Peckham.
Artusi
The first restaurant on our list is not only one of our favourites in London, but the country and more. Artusi, the Italian neighbourhood every borough dreams of, is no frills in every sense of the word, and all the better for it. A chalkboard menu details the ever-changing offerings of the day, always expect freshly made pasta, a strong vegetable showing and a couple of meat and fish dishes.
Though simplicity and respect for ingredients lies at the heart of the operation, everything is executed with confidence and care – what we would expect from a former Clove Club chef, Jack Beer. Whipser it, but the Sunday set menu deal, from 12pm to 8pm, is probably the best of its kind in the city – you can enjoy 3 courses for just 25 quid. Yes, 25. Brilliant food and a great vibe – all the qualities you want from a top restaurant.
Address: 161 Bellenden Rd, London SE15 4DH, UK
Website: artusi.co.uk
Miss Tapas
Stools and bar seating, with a chalkboard menu (hey – we’re seeing a theme here) and an unfussy, leisurely vibe, makes Miss Tapas a brilliant place to see off an evening. The emphasis is very much on good wine, ingredients led small Spanish plates and lively chatter. A very convivial vibe and delicious food to match. Prices are extremely reasonably too – there really is no reason not to.
Address: 46 Choumert Rd, London SE15, UK
Website: www.misstapas.com
The Begging Bowl
A trend now spreading like wild fire across the city, regional, no holds-barred Thai food is having a real moment right now. Begging Bowl was one of the first to follow the lead of Thai food god David Thompson’s, with utter respect for the country’s cuisine and a deep, research led knowledge bringing authenticity to the plates.
Various Begging Bowl chefs have gone on to do great things across the city, a testament to the quality of the operation. The room is wall to wall windows, bringing superb natural light. Botanicals and shrubbery only enhance the appeal. Communal tables and a no reservations policy, as is de-rigueur these days in the capital, lead to a jolly, youthful presence every night of the week.
Address: 168 Bellenden Rd, London SE15 4BW, UK
Website: thebeggingbowl.co.uk
Peckham Bazaar
National newspaper recognition has not dented the idiosyncracies of this great ‘pan-Balkan’ Peckham institution. Greek food plays centre stage here, but expect not feta salads and hummus. Fish is done superbly, with a host of ingredients not many will have heard of – we certainly hadn’t – but this just benefits the whole vibe of the place. It’s intriguing, exciting and faintly exotic, and fortunately, the food holds up its side of the bargain in spades.
Address: 119 Consort Rd, London SE15 3RU, UK
Website: peckhambazaar.com
Pedler
Pedler is an all day affair, brunch, lunch and dinner – vaguely modern British, primarily seasonal and certainly delicious. The font and curt narrative of the menu gives you the first whispers of hipster intent, but there is nothing to fear from the much maligned, fictional cult except possibly finding a moustache hair in your soup. Joking aside, the food is assured and interesting, with clarity of ingredients very much at the core of the cooking ethos. Great cocktails provide further reason to go, and go again and again.
Address: 58 Peckham Rye, London SE15 4JR, UK
Website: www.pedlerpeckhamrye.com