Guidebook for London
Drinks & Nightlife
A pint of Walworth-brewed Orbit beer at the latest boozer to be revamped by legendary publicans Antic London. The Elephant & Castle reopened in July with decor inspired by its location at the foot of an 1960s Ernö Goldfinger tower block.
38 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Elephant and Castle Pub
119 Newington CausewayA pint of Walworth-brewed Orbit beer at the latest boozer to be revamped by legendary publicans Antic London. The Elephant & Castle reopened in July with decor inspired by its location at the foot of an 1960s Ernö Goldfinger tower block.
One of the many sources of Peckham pride, this incredible post-industrial building is simply one of London's best venues. Saved from demolition in 2007 by a dedicated team from community group Peckham Vision & The Chronic Love Foundation [CLF], the CLF Art Cafe (Block A, Bussey Building) is a multi-floored concrete block that has thrived as a warehouse-style club at night and a top arts venue during the day. Top promoters consistently bring in some of the best names on the cutting-edge, underground and alternative dance scenes, across pretty much any genre you care to name, but leaning primarily towards house, deep techno, garage and disco. The Bussey also hosts regular nights that offer more accessible sounds, including Zonk Disco and The South London Soul Train, making it one of the best venues in London for funk and soul club nights. All of which means that it's one hell of a draw the whole year round.
The building's theatre has links to the Royal Court and its admirable Theatre Local scheme, which helps the theatre dilute the effect of its rarefied Sloane Square address and reach out to more diverse audiences. But the multi-floored post-industrial space has become a dynamic arts centre in its own right, and now programmes everything from art installations and new plays to classics and opera.
67 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
The CLF Art Cafe
133 Rye LnOne of the many sources of Peckham pride, this incredible post-industrial building is simply one of London's best venues. Saved from demolition in 2007 by a dedicated team from community group Peckham Vision & The Chronic Love Foundation [CLF], the CLF Art Cafe (Block A, Bussey Building) is a multi-floored concrete block that has thrived as a warehouse-style club at night and a top arts venue during the day. Top promoters consistently bring in some of the best names on the cutting-edge, underground and alternative dance scenes, across pretty much any genre you care to name, but leaning primarily towards house, deep techno, garage and disco. The Bussey also hosts regular nights that offer more accessible sounds, including Zonk Disco and The South London Soul Train, making it one of the best venues in London for funk and soul club nights. All of which means that it's one hell of a draw the whole year round.
The building's theatre has links to the Royal Court and its admirable Theatre Local scheme, which helps the theatre dilute the effect of its rarefied Sloane Square address and reach out to more diverse audiences. But the multi-floored post-industrial space has become a dynamic arts centre in its own right, and now programmes everything from art installations and new plays to classics and opera.
From Timeout: This friendly cabin of an Irish pub has been the haunt of Camberwell’s more cultured art students since Leonardo’s time, it seems.
Prices are still cheap, the regulars still include old locals who’ve been skulking around in SE5 since Macmillan told them they’d never had it so good, and the decor is still largely made up of pre-war drinks advertising (‘Good Old Murphy’s!’) and contemporary photography.
Beers might include selections from the Brodie’s brewery in Leyton; such French ciders as Pays d’Aude and Fermier (each £6) offer an inappropriately continental alternative. Wine is not a selling point, but the prices are fair: all bottles are £12, with glasses at £4.20.
A large TV in the saloon bar attracts football fans of the laissez jouer variety; conversation around the timeless wooden interior is the definition of bonhomie.
34 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
The Hermits Cave
28 Camberwell Church StFrom Timeout: This friendly cabin of an Irish pub has been the haunt of Camberwell’s more cultured art students since Leonardo’s time, it seems.
Prices are still cheap, the regulars still include old locals who’ve been skulking around in SE5 since Macmillan told them they’d never had it so good, and the decor is still largely made up of pre-war drinks advertising (‘Good Old Murphy’s!’) and contemporary photography.
Beers might include selections from the Brodie’s brewery in Leyton; such French ciders as Pays d’Aude and Fermier (each £6) offer an inappropriately continental alternative. Wine is not a selling point, but the prices are fair: all bottles are £12, with glasses at £4.20.
A large TV in the saloon bar attracts football fans of the laissez jouer variety; conversation around the timeless wooden interior is the definition of bonhomie.
Hipster pub - casual, easygoing offering a variety of beers, pub grub & vegetarian options in cosy digs. Fish and chips - £12, In all, there are 20 taps (two ciders and 18 beers), although the selection offers no huge surprises, focusing on the usual roll-call of craft breweries (BrewDog, Beavertown, Lagunitas, Siren, etc). As for the shabby-chic decor, let’s just say that the lightbulbs look like someone’s attempted a cat’s cradle with the filaments. The walls, meanwhile, are a mix of crimson-painted Victoriana wallpaper and tar-splotched wood panelling.
The crowd’s a twirtysomething-heavy mix of up-for-it drinkers and Camberwellians out for a relaxed night in their local. On my Sunday visit the area around the bar was filled with lively punters standing en masse despite a plethora of free tables.
All in all, a very good pub. It’s not the area’s best craft beer pub – that title stays with the brilliant Stormbird nearby – but it does remain open until 2am on Fridays and Saturdays. Which means that, if nothing else, it’s quite probably Camberwell’s most fun late-night hang-out.
32 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
The Bear
296A Camberwell New RoadHipster pub - casual, easygoing offering a variety of beers, pub grub & vegetarian options in cosy digs. Fish and chips - £12, In all, there are 20 taps (two ciders and 18 beers), although the selection offers no huge surprises, focusing on the usual roll-call of craft breweries (BrewDog, Beavertown, Lagunitas, Siren, etc). As for the shabby-chic decor, let’s just say that the lightbulbs look like someone’s attempted a cat’s cradle with the filaments. The walls, meanwhile, are a mix of crimson-painted Victoriana wallpaper and tar-splotched wood panelling.
The crowd’s a twirtysomething-heavy mix of up-for-it drinkers and Camberwellians out for a relaxed night in their local. On my Sunday visit the area around the bar was filled with lively punters standing en masse despite a plethora of free tables.
All in all, a very good pub. It’s not the area’s best craft beer pub – that title stays with the brilliant Stormbird nearby – but it does remain open until 2am on Fridays and Saturdays. Which means that, if nothing else, it’s quite probably Camberwell’s most fun late-night hang-out.
Stormbird
25 Camberwell Church StFood Scene
A generously filled calzone or the ridiculously tasty veal escalope at friendly, authentic neighbourhood Italian La Luna.
58 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
La Luna - Walworth Road
380 Walworth RdA generously filled calzone or the ridiculously tasty veal escalope at friendly, authentic neighbourhood Italian La Luna.
A slab of carrot cake with a lovingly made flat white at Fowlds Cafe, just next to leafy Burgess Park, in the front of a working furniture upholsterer’s – or book in for a supperclub held in the workshop.
65 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Fowlds Cafe
3 Addington SquareA slab of carrot cake with a lovingly made flat white at Fowlds Cafe, just next to leafy Burgess Park, in the front of a working furniture upholsterer’s – or book in for a supperclub held in the workshop.
Eat a confit duck burger, washed down with a vin rouge from the tightly packed tables at the candlelit Frenchie Bistro.
The Frenchie Bistro
Elephant RoadEat a confit duck burger, washed down with a vin rouge from the tightly packed tables at the candlelit Frenchie Bistro.
OXO Tower Restaurant
Barge House StreetReally decent budget vietnamese.
Go for the Aobaba special - it's awesome and only sets you back about £7. The space is always spacious and quiet if not a little weird, but you get a wifi code on the reciept and can be a good place to work..
11 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Aobaba
130-138 Walworth RdReally decent budget vietnamese.
Go for the Aobaba special - it's awesome and only sets you back about £7. The space is always spacious and quiet if not a little weird, but you get a wifi code on the reciept and can be a good place to work..
FM Mangal
54 Camberwell Church StGreat budget Turkish food
Pizzas are nice and thin and can be cooked crispy, and the gnocchi!
24 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Caravaggio Italian Restaurant
47 Camberwell Church StPizzas are nice and thin and can be cooked crispy, and the gnocchi!
Surely the best addition to Elephant & Castle in recent years. A chilled out bar, with a cool, relaxed vibe and live music/jam sessions on Sunday's. A great place to grab a coffee too.
Long Wave Bar + Cafe
Elephant RoadSurely the best addition to Elephant & Castle in recent years. A chilled out bar, with a cool, relaxed vibe and live music/jam sessions on Sunday's. A great place to grab a coffee too.
67 Peckham Rd
London
SE5 8UH
Opening hours: Breakfast served 9-11.30am, lunch served noon-3.30pm Tue-Fri. Brunch served 10am-3.30pm Sat, Sun. Dinner served 6.30-10pm Wed-Sat.
As you’d expect of a gallery eaterie, No 67 is a bright, soaring space, with huge windows for natural light and a curvy, billowing garden flanked by more seating. Even more gratifyingly, the place doesn’t just trade on its looks. The food is lovely, and pretty good value, especially the three-course dinner for £22 on Wednesday and Thursday. With seasonal treats on the set menu, such as a golden-crumbed asparagus with hollandaise, or courgette, pea and artichoke risotto – and lemon posset, chocolate and Calvados mousse or a cheeseboard for pudding – this is pretty much the perfect treat for a summer’s evening.
On the lunch menu, a seasonal soup is always on offer (we enjoyed spinach and potato), then there’s the locally famous date and walnut welsh rarebit with pickles and salad. The meze is a vivid palette of rubious, slightly bitter, nutmeggy beetroot purée, emerald-flecked tsatsiki, golden hazelnut bulgar with ribbons of red pepper, and glossy black and green olives; they were artfully arranged on a white plate withal, and framed by several slices of griddled bread streaked with olive oil.
The cake selection included dark horses such as a nitrate-rich beetroot and a gluten-free brownie, but we were glad to sample the almond and strawberry tart – the pastry was a crisp, buttery revelation. Impressive on all fronts.
52 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
No67 Cafe & Restaurant
67 Peckham Road67 Peckham Rd
London
SE5 8UH
Opening hours: Breakfast served 9-11.30am, lunch served noon-3.30pm Tue-Fri. Brunch served 10am-3.30pm Sat, Sun. Dinner served 6.30-10pm Wed-Sat.
As you’d expect of a gallery eaterie, No 67 is a bright, soaring space, with huge windows for natural light and a curvy, billowing garden flanked by more seating. Even more gratifyingly, the place doesn’t just trade on its looks. The food is lovely, and pretty good value, especially the three-course dinner for £22 on Wednesday and Thursday. With seasonal treats on the set menu, such as a golden-crumbed asparagus with hollandaise, or courgette, pea and artichoke risotto – and lemon posset, chocolate and Calvados mousse or a cheeseboard for pudding – this is pretty much the perfect treat for a summer’s evening.
On the lunch menu, a seasonal soup is always on offer (we enjoyed spinach and potato), then there’s the locally famous date and walnut welsh rarebit with pickles and salad. The meze is a vivid palette of rubious, slightly bitter, nutmeggy beetroot purée, emerald-flecked tsatsiki, golden hazelnut bulgar with ribbons of red pepper, and glossy black and green olives; they were artfully arranged on a white plate withal, and framed by several slices of griddled bread streaked with olive oil.
The cake selection included dark horses such as a nitrate-rich beetroot and a gluten-free brownie, but we were glad to sample the almond and strawberry tart – the pastry was a crisp, buttery revelation. Impressive on all fronts.
Set in the elegant, Victorian bones of an old deli – has become a must-go place to eat. The owner, John Gionleka, has cleared out the deli counters to serve delicious dishes inspired by his native Albania, its Balkan neighbours and influences from further afield.
Beneath a kitsch brass-framed photo of a 1970s Iranian pop star, we devoured juicy grilled sweetcorn cobs slathered with smoked chilli and lemon salt butter, and the house special: ‘cured’ egg (soft-boiled, lightly pickled) served with lemon mayonnaise and crudités.
To follow, spatchcocked quail had been marinated in date molasses and yoghurt, infusing both the tender flesh and the delicious blackened and fragrant skin; it arrived with baked beetroot and braised silverskin onions. A simple, grilled pork chop was just as good.
There are also the obvious charms of marinated leg of lamb, roasted on the drum barbecue and served with grilled peppers and aged goat’s cheese. We shared still-warm cardamom and almond cake, accompanied by thick yoghurt and a pool of sticky grapes preserved in red wine syrup with mahleb (an aromatic spice).
Two Greek wines from boutique producers, recommended by the charming sommelier, worked beautifully with the food. The rapturous local reception to this unusual venue means that regular weeknight opening is planned by late autumn 2013.
119 Consort Road
London
SE15 3RU
Opening hours: Meals served 6-11pm Thur, Fri; 12.30-10pm Sat, SunTransport: Tube: Nunhead or Peckham Rye rail
Price: Main courses £7-£12.50
101 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Peckham Bazaar
119 Consort RdSet in the elegant, Victorian bones of an old deli – has become a must-go place to eat. The owner, John Gionleka, has cleared out the deli counters to serve delicious dishes inspired by his native Albania, its Balkan neighbours and influences from further afield.
Beneath a kitsch brass-framed photo of a 1970s Iranian pop star, we devoured juicy grilled sweetcorn cobs slathered with smoked chilli and lemon salt butter, and the house special: ‘cured’ egg (soft-boiled, lightly pickled) served with lemon mayonnaise and crudités.
To follow, spatchcocked quail had been marinated in date molasses and yoghurt, infusing both the tender flesh and the delicious blackened and fragrant skin; it arrived with baked beetroot and braised silverskin onions. A simple, grilled pork chop was just as good.
There are also the obvious charms of marinated leg of lamb, roasted on the drum barbecue and served with grilled peppers and aged goat’s cheese. We shared still-warm cardamom and almond cake, accompanied by thick yoghurt and a pool of sticky grapes preserved in red wine syrup with mahleb (an aromatic spice).
Two Greek wines from boutique producers, recommended by the charming sommelier, worked beautifully with the food. The rapturous local reception to this unusual venue means that regular weeknight opening is planned by late autumn 2013.
119 Consort Road
London
SE15 3RU
Opening hours: Meals served 6-11pm Thur, Fri; 12.30-10pm Sat, SunTransport: Tube: Nunhead or Peckham Rye rail
Price: Main courses £7-£12.50
2 Grove Lane
London
SE5 8SY
Transport: Denmark Hill rail.
Theo’s dishes up Neapolitan-style sourdough pizzas and very little else. Unmissable as you walk through the door is the dome-shaped, wood-fired brick oven which ensures that the pies are done just right. Crusts are soft and chewy on top and crisp underneath, with welcome hits of bitterness from the odd charred spot. Toppings include aubergine, anchovies and various kinds of pork – and come piled high.
A little too high in some cases. A veg-heavy special of chestnut mushroom, blue cheese and leek soon turned soggy in the middle as the over-abundant greenery perspired into the base.
It’s better to focus on the more straightforward stuff. The wonderfully cheesy garlic pizza bread (misleadingly labelled as ‘focaccia’ on the menu) showed that Theo’s is capable of doing great things with simple ingredients, and suggests that the £5 lunchtime panuozzo (essentially a pizza sandwich) is also worth checking out.
Pies range in price from £6.50 for the margherita to £10 for meatier options. More-than-serviceable house wines come by the 500ml or litre jug. Or partner your pie with entry-level craft offerings from Kernel and Orbit. And check out the short, Italian-leaning cocktail list.
If you do, be sure to sit in and make it a leisurely lunch. With its bare, whitewashed walls and marble-topped tables, eating at Theo’s is a bit like chowing down in an art gallery but minus the stuffy discomfort. The atmosphere is very welcoming, and everything’s keenly priced – not Manca-level cheap, but still, no dish comes in over a tenner. And staff are as cheery as you like. So watch your back, Franco – Theo’s has taken SE5, and in some style.
104 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Theo's
2 Grove Ln2 Grove Lane
London
SE5 8SY
Transport: Denmark Hill rail.
Theo’s dishes up Neapolitan-style sourdough pizzas and very little else. Unmissable as you walk through the door is the dome-shaped, wood-fired brick oven which ensures that the pies are done just right. Crusts are soft and chewy on top and crisp underneath, with welcome hits of bitterness from the odd charred spot. Toppings include aubergine, anchovies and various kinds of pork – and come piled high.
A little too high in some cases. A veg-heavy special of chestnut mushroom, blue cheese and leek soon turned soggy in the middle as the over-abundant greenery perspired into the base.
It’s better to focus on the more straightforward stuff. The wonderfully cheesy garlic pizza bread (misleadingly labelled as ‘focaccia’ on the menu) showed that Theo’s is capable of doing great things with simple ingredients, and suggests that the £5 lunchtime panuozzo (essentially a pizza sandwich) is also worth checking out.
Pies range in price from £6.50 for the margherita to £10 for meatier options. More-than-serviceable house wines come by the 500ml or litre jug. Or partner your pie with entry-level craft offerings from Kernel and Orbit. And check out the short, Italian-leaning cocktail list.
If you do, be sure to sit in and make it a leisurely lunch. With its bare, whitewashed walls and marble-topped tables, eating at Theo’s is a bit like chowing down in an art gallery but minus the stuffy discomfort. The atmosphere is very welcoming, and everything’s keenly priced – not Manca-level cheap, but still, no dish comes in over a tenner. And staff are as cheery as you like. So watch your back, Franco – Theo’s has taken SE5, and in some style.
This little café inside Peckham’s Persian delicatessen, Persepolis, is a fun place serving fun food. Sally Butcher has made it her mission to bring the flavours of Middle Eastern and Levantine cooking to South East London with her shop, and with three cookery books: ‘Persia in Peckham’, ‘Veggiestan’ and more recently ‘Snackistan’.
The vibe is colourful, crowded and charmingly bonkers. A handful of chairs and tables have been shoehorned between shelves stuffed with shisha pipes, embossed glassware, musical instruments, spices and specialist foodstuffs. They provide the setting for a liberal vegetarian interpretation of Iranian and Levantine dishes, with Peckham influences: Moroccan harissa is used with fried plantains, for example. Meze and wraps form the bedrock, with seasonally inspired fillings such as quince, halloumi and caramelised celeriac. Drinks go from Afghan green tea to pomegranate juice via date and cardamom latte.
And it’s excellent value, with a large meze costing just £5. Share one of these followed by a saffron banana split or ‘Hot Paklava Meltdown’ (all £3.50), and you won’t be hungry even by teatime. And do save room for pudding. We thought that the best dish of all was the Turkish delight sundae, which had my 12-year-old daughter in raptures: chunks of Turkish delight and slivers of halva in clouds of whipped cream, vanilla and saffron ice cream, drizzled with rose cordial and rose petals. Sounds sickly, but tasted divine.
72 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Persepolis
28-30 Peckham High StThis little café inside Peckham’s Persian delicatessen, Persepolis, is a fun place serving fun food. Sally Butcher has made it her mission to bring the flavours of Middle Eastern and Levantine cooking to South East London with her shop, and with three cookery books: ‘Persia in Peckham’, ‘Veggiestan’ and more recently ‘Snackistan’.
The vibe is colourful, crowded and charmingly bonkers. A handful of chairs and tables have been shoehorned between shelves stuffed with shisha pipes, embossed glassware, musical instruments, spices and specialist foodstuffs. They provide the setting for a liberal vegetarian interpretation of Iranian and Levantine dishes, with Peckham influences: Moroccan harissa is used with fried plantains, for example. Meze and wraps form the bedrock, with seasonally inspired fillings such as quince, halloumi and caramelised celeriac. Drinks go from Afghan green tea to pomegranate juice via date and cardamom latte.
And it’s excellent value, with a large meze costing just £5. Share one of these followed by a saffron banana split or ‘Hot Paklava Meltdown’ (all £3.50), and you won’t be hungry even by teatime. And do save room for pudding. We thought that the best dish of all was the Turkish delight sundae, which had my 12-year-old daughter in raptures: chunks of Turkish delight and slivers of halva in clouds of whipped cream, vanilla and saffron ice cream, drizzled with rose cordial and rose petals. Sounds sickly, but tasted divine.
Louie Louie
347 Walworth RdLumberjack Cafe
70 Camberwell Church StTry a cheese toastie here - they are incredible and only £5
32 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
The Pigeon Hole
2 Datchelor PlTry a cheese toastie here - they are incredible and only £5
Parks & Nature
Sprawling with BBQ area, tennis courts and great for jogging around
232 lokal ang nagrerekomenda
Burgess Park
Cobourg RoadSprawling with BBQ area, tennis courts and great for jogging around
Arts & Culture
Pambansang Tanghalan
Upper GroundHayward Gallery
Belvedere Road
Dulwich Picture Gallery
Gallery RoadEntertainment & Activities
Great yoga studio - All Welcome. Open Vinyasa flow classes on a Saturday -
Open 9:30–10:45
Open 11:00–12:30
Lost in Yoga
Arch 265 Urlwin StGreat yoga studio - All Welcome. Open Vinyasa flow classes on a Saturday -
Open 9:30–10:45
Open 11:00–12:30