Scratch the surface of Streatham’s history just a little, and there’s a fascinating set of superlatives to be found. The site of the UK’s first supermarket (an Express Dairies Premier Supermarket, if you’re asking) and the inaugural Waitrose, both in the ‘50s, it’s not only convenience based retail that gives Streatham its heritage.
The suburb also boasts the longest high street in Europe, Streatham High Road, which was bizarrely voted ‘The Worst Street In Britain’ in September of 2022 by the non-too discerning listeners of BBC’s Today Programme.
What do they know, hey?
In neighbouring West Norwood, the fascinating factoids and horrible histories just keep coming. Did you know that it’s here that you’ll find one of London’s ‘Magnificent Seven’ private cemeteries, built in the early 19th century and filled with highly ornate, elaborate tombs, memorials and gravestones?
West Norwood’s is particularly noteworthy, as it’s the world’s first Gothic-style cemetery. Notable folk buried here include Baron Julias de Reuter, the founder of the Reuters news agency, the sugar merchant Sir Henry Tate (no relation to Andrew), and watercress magnate Eliza James.
Speaking of famous faces, both Streatham and West Norwood have some seriously iconic sons and daughters, whether it’s supermodel Naomi Campbell, who grew up in Streatham, UK rapper and national treasure Dave, who, erm, grew up in Streatham, or Adele, who went to school in West Norwood from the age of 11 to 18. Also from the area is the late, great Maxi Jazz of Faithless and former Rolling Stone Bill Wyman. There must be something musical in the water, hey?
Yep, there’s certainly much to celebrate about this corner of South East London, but what doesn’t perhaps get the recognition it deserves here is the food scene. But embrace the area’s restaurants with open arms and a massive appetite, and you’ll find much to love here. With that in mind, here are the best restaurants in Streatham and West Norwood, London.
Bravi Ragazzi
Bravi Ragazzi, Streatham’s revered Neapolitan pizzeria, prides itself on tradition and authenticity, and in our humble opinion, this right here is the best Neapolitan pizza in South London.
Several boxes have to be ticked for a pizza to qualify as a traditional Neapolitan in the eyes of the connoisseurs. 00 flour, water and salt form the dough, and it must be hand kneaded and given ample time to rise before being shaped by hand rather than rolling pin. After that, it’s topped with San Marzano or Pomodorino del Piennolo del Vesuvio tomatoes and Mozzarella di Bufala Campana, and cooked quickly at incredibly high heat in a wood fired pizza oven. The result should be pillowy, soft and elastic, with toppings light rather than overwhelming.
Anyway, the good guys at Bravi Ragazzi know all that, and their respect for tradition has made their pizzas the toast of Streatham and beyond. This is, quite simply, one of London’s best pizzas (must add it to that list, actually). They also do a superb tiramisu, for those with a sweet tooth.
Though the dining room is compact, unassuming, and walk-ins only, locals will be pleased to hear that Bravi Ragazzi is on Deliveroo… As if they didn’t know already!
Before we go, it would be remiss of us not to give a shout-out to another local favourite famous for slinging fantastic wood fired pizzas in the Neapolitan style, who have now sadly closed. Addome, how we miss you!
Address: 2A Sunnyhill Rd, London SW16 2UH, United Kingdom
Website: bravi-ragazzi.business.site
Cafe Barcelona
It might sound like a tall ask to bring the heart and soul of Spain’s second city to Streatham, and Cafe Barcelona makes no attempt to, it should be said.
That said, along the much-maligned (BBC Today, we’re not getting over it) and lengthy High Road, just seconds from Streatham train station, you’ll find a very capable breakfast, even if the cafe’s name might have had you craving fideua, la Bomba, and crema la Catalana.
Instead, enjoy a Full Barcelona breakfast (essentially a Full English with the sausage replaced with chorizo) or a ham and cheese toastie with aioli, particularly enjoyable when seated on the large terrace, looking out over the hustle and bustle of the high street.
Finish with a couple of the cafe’s custard tarts, and whilst it may not be Barcelona, it’s certainly a very pleasant place to spend a morning.
Do try and catch one of Cafe Barcelona’s tapas and music nights, if you can. The place is run by two musicians, and they’re a reliably raucous affair full of flamenco music and Spanish small plates. Olé!
Address: 344 Streatham High Rd, London SW16 6HH, United Kingdom
Website: cafebarcelonalondon.co.uk
Read: 5 of the very best tapas bars in Barcelona’s Old City
The Rookery Cafe
The sloping, soothing Streatham Common is a major focal point for the area, with the eastern side designated a Local Nature Reserve and the Streatham Common Community Garden – open on Sundays – found in the Rookery, a small, formal garden defined by old cedar trees.
If you’re keen to admire the garden in a leisurely, laid back way, then The Rookery Cafe sells paired-back toasties (at just £3 a pop!), brunch baps and a single, seasonal soup daily from 9am to 5pm. We’re particularly enamoured with the salt beef sarnie here, served in a malted bloomer and given pep by a properly piquant sauerkraut, made in-house. It’s a genuinely lovely place to take your time over brunch…
Address: 37 Streatham Common S, London SW16 3BZ, United Kingdom
Website: therookerycafe.co.uk
Tam Vietnamese Restaurant
A no-frills, family-run restaurant, passionate about bringing the authentic flavours of Vietnam to the people of Streatham, we just love Tam’s regional Vietnamese cooking.
Once again housed on Europe’s longest high street (hey, they had to fill the space somehow!), there’s a real homely, neighbourhood feel about the place, with a warm family welcome as soon as you walk into the dining room, and plenty of generosity on the plate, too.
This is food built for sharing, so bring a friend or two and get stuck into the restaurant’s excellent banh xeo, a kind of turmeric and coconut-milk based pancake (one of our top ten pancakes from across the globe, by the way), alongside the signature deep-fried sea bream served under a tumble of julienned green mango and a fish sauce-forward syrupy dressing.
Or, if you’re not much of a sharer, then steaming, aromatic bowls of pho hit the spot, too. For the lunchtime crowd, the roasted pork banh mi is a bargain at just £7.
Address: 133 Streatham High Rd, London SW16 1HJ, United Kingdom
Website:www.tam-kitchen.com
Read: 5 tips for making the best Hanoi style phở bò
SW16 Bar & Kitchen
Just a short stroll from Streatham Hill Station (which is, incidentally, nearly 200 years old), you’ll find SW16 Bar & Kitchen, a place with a little more swagger than the chilled out brunch spots we’ve been plugging.
A sprawling joint with a deli, bottle shop, restaurant, bar and co-working area (plenty of plugs and properly fast WiFi pull in the WFH crowds), SW16 is open from 10am until midnight daily, catering to both the early birds and the night owls, and everything in between quite frankly.
Though you could drop in for some scrambled eggs on toast and coffee early doors before whiling away the hours here, the Italian-inspired dinner menu boasts some seriously capable cooking. On our last visit, a monkfish ravioli with a tomato concasse and butter emulsion was particularly well made. A weekly changing roast dinner menu for under £20 means it gets particularly busy on Sundays.
The considered cocktail list – mine’s a Rum Rookery, extra strawberries – makes this a very grown-up place to spend some time once the sun goes down. Or, whilst the sun’s still up; Aperitivo Hour actually spans two, from 5pm to 7pm, with select cocktails running two for one.
Address: 5 Streatham High Rd, London SW16 1EF, United Kingdom
Website: sw16barandkitchen.com
Read: 7 of the best places for a roast in South London
The Mere Scribbler
We’re back to gazing into Streatham Common, pondering life’s big questions over pints at the Mere Scribbler. Probably our favourite pub serving food in the area, the menu is straightforward and streamlined, with just a handful of starters and mains leaning loosely on the ‘pub classics’ genre.
Expect fish and chips with pea puree, a buttermilk chicken burger with nduja ketchup, and a flat iron steak with pomegranate chimichurri. Sure, they may not be pushing the envelope in terms of inventiveness, but these minor flourishes and menu interlopers keep things interesting.
With big screen TVs and a comprehensive sports offering (they regularly show Serie A, Ligue 1 and Championship games) the Mere Scribbler is a great place to spend an afternoon watching the footy, playing a few board games, and, of course, eating.
Address: 426 Streatham High Rd, London SW16 3PX, United Kingdom
Website: themerescribbler.co.uk
Pintadera
We’re heading east out of Streatham now, to neighbouring West Norwood, to check out the food options this side of Knight’s Hill. One of the best places to graze here is Pintadera, open from 7:30am to 4pm daily, and a local’s favourite according to Stapleton Long, a West Norwood estate agents in the know.
A simple Italian cafe and deli, your usual lunchtime fare, whether that’s salads, paninis or ciabatta rolls, is handled here with real care and attention, whether that’s in the rolled bresaola stuffed with cream cheese and toasted walnuts served over rocket leaves, or the nourishing Tonno e Fagioli salad, composed of quality canned tuna, beans, a soft boiled egg and crispy onions.
The sandwiches here are great, too, and fantastic value at £7 a pop. Our lunchtime staple is the porchetta, artichokes and green sauce panini; what are you having?
Address: 50 Knights Hill, Norwood, London SE27 0JD, United Kingdom
Website: pintaderacafe.co.uk
Heritage Dulwich
Finally, we couldn’t visit this corner of London on an eating exploration without visiting Heritage in nearby Dulwich. So, that’s exactly what we’ll do…
Just a few hundred metres north of West Norwood, housed in unassuming surrounds on the trim shopping parade of Rosendale Road, Heritage is helmed by chef Dayashankar Sharma and his son Anmol, who previously won a Michelin star at Tamarind in Mayfair. Here the proposition is similar, if a little more modest; to present refined, intricately balanced dishes from the Indian subcontinent using local produce. The signature Heritage lamb chops, using Welsh lamb and marinated in green papaya and smokey black cardamom fulfil this brief to a tee.
Booking ahead is highly recommended. Regardless of its suburban surrounds, Heritage is full most nights of the week.
Address: 101 Rosendale Rd, Norwood, London SE21 8EZ, United Kingdom
Website: heritagedulwich.co.uk