Your Peckham area guide
Do you notice how everyone says that their area of London is “the best”? “[Insert neighbourhood] has got the best places for food, the best pubs, the best nightlife. It’s the best here.”
Well, truly, my favourite Saturday is one in which I don’t leave Peckham. The start, middle, and end of the day are in SE15 and, you guessed it, it’s the best.
Here’s your area guide to Peckham.
Coffee, brunch & lunch
Nola
Trying to get a seat here at the weekend around the run clubs is sometimes a challenge, but it’s worth it. Huge flaky croissants and coffees served in mugs you’ll want to buy to take home.
Rons Coffee House
Rons is a vegan coffee house sitting on Rye Lane. By day, it’s a cosy place to enjoy a brew, but it also hosts music events, a tarot cafe, and live DJs come evening – and it serves a mean espresso martini.
Old Spike Roastery
This is a perfect pit stop for house-roasted beans and espresso drinks in Peckham, but Old Spike also does what it can to create meaningful social impact. Whether they are making your day better with a flat white or offering a homeless person training and employment, it puts the community at the forefront. A lovely little place.
Dining
Artusi
Wine and pasta go together like me and Peckham, and Artusi is a tucked-away gem of a place. The Italian restaurant has a regularly changing menu that’s always delicious. Highlights include the smoked cod's roe on crispy polenta with a soft-boiled egg or the ravioli di erbette, and the Tema artichokes with spinach sofrito, tiger tomatoes, and cacioricotta was a dish I never wanted to end. Pair it with a glass of vino from Artusi’s extensive list and taste the Riviera.
Forza Wine
A Peckham institution. Do you even live in Peckham if you haven’t been to Forza Wine? I suggest going with four people so you can order the whole menu and truly indulge. Each small plate is as delectable as the next. And if the cherry negroni is on the menu – you simply have to order it.
Guacamoles
As a certified Big Fan of Mexican cuisine – see my round-up of the best tacos across London here – Guacamoles in Peckham tastes like the real deal. You’ll find tamales stuffed with different fillings, the traditional trio of salsas to add some spice to your plate, and corn tacos topped with al pastor, birria, and more. Mimicking the feel of a taqueria in Mexico City, take a seat at one of the tables spread around outside the stall in Rye Lane Indoor Market and be prepared to go up for seconds. It also celebrates Taco Tuesday with £3 tacos. That’s a deal impossible to refuse.
Pubs and nightlife
The Carpet Shop
For the night you don’t want to end. The Carpet Shop is not only home to some great Mexican food with Taquiza slinging tacos until 10 pm, after which it transforms into a club to host all of your shenanigans until 5 am. Think local DJs, special events, sweaty dancefloors, and sticky shoes. In other words, a perfect night out.
The Montpelier
If you see me here on a date, sat in the same booth with a different guy, mind your business. It’s because The Montpelier has it all. The Wednesday pub quiz is the perfect mix of pop culture and brain teasers, the beers are cold, the kitchen slings out elevated pub grub, and when the DJ comes on, the tables must be moved to the side.
Jumbi
Not much sounds better than vinyl, and Jumbi has an entire wall of records that its DJs pick and choose from like a bag of soulful-sounding pick’n’mix. The Hi-Fi music bar and restaurant in Peckham celebrates the sounds and flavours of the Afro-Caribbean diaspora. With a single turntable, it aims to encourage deep listening and get you dancing after 10 pm on a weekend night. Think of this space as more of a hangout than a club. Lounge away and get lost in the tunes.
Frank’s Cafe
A rooftop bar with views of the entirety of London, open from May to September, with delicious margaritas and rosé by the jug, Frank’s Cafe is the perfect location to spend a summer’s day, and that’s all there is to it. Plus, the pink stairs, obvs.
Things to do
Peckham Plex
If I need to say more than £5.99 cinema tickets to get you to realise how great Peckham Plex is, then I don’t think I’ll ever win you over. The cinema is over 30 years old, and I don’t think it’s really changed in that time. It is still a beacon for film buffs everywhere with its bright pink sign and stellar lineup.
Peckham Carboot
Where all the fashion girlies go to flog their wares – this is the place to be if you want a wardrobe update without the price tag. It keeps that classic car boot feel at its heart, meaning I got a cute faux fur winter hat for all of £2. You’ll also find homeware, designer and vintage pieces, sometimes plants, sometimes vinyl, and always good vibes.
GALA Festival
Happy birthday to you, GALA, 10 this year. The independent music festival nestled on Peckham Rye is celebrating a decade of music from 23 to 25 May. It was born out of a love for the warm, organic, and soulful sounds dance music was built on. The 2025 birthday line-up will see Caribou, KiNK, Floating Points, Avalon Emerson, and loads more take centre stage.
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