Things to do in Peckham: food, drink and culture
We’ve been getting excited about Bold Tendencies, the Peckham multi-story car park turned arts venue, and their classical music series over on our things to go to page.
But why not make it a full day out in ‘London’s coolest neighbourhood’? - the words of London culture veterans TimeOut, not ours…
We’ve picked our favourite cafes, restaurants and bars, as well as some galleries and other arts institutions you should definitely check out whilst you’re there - all affordable to boot.
Drink
Community cafe with social inclusion at the heart of its ethos. Locally roasted coffee and a cup of Yorkshire Tea for £1. Winner.
Iconic boozer. Caribbean-British fusion food, well-kept beers, local atmosphere and a plant-laden roof garden if the weather decides to hold out.
A record-store-come-cocktail-bar under an art cafe. It’s a through the noise dream! Happy hour 6-8pm every day - two cocktails / carafe of wine for £10, two beers for £5.
Eat
Vegetarian deli and cafe serving tasty Persian dishes at unbelievably cheap prices. Amazing tasting / party menu at £20 a head covers all courses. BYO keeps the bill even lighter.
This one’s a takeaway but we simply couldn’t miss it out - it’s an absolute institution of Caribbean cuisine. The best jerk chicken in London, simple.
South Indian kitchen with a small menu but big flavours. Expect colour, community and charitable goals. The lunchtime deals are to die for.
Culture
This bastion of contemporary art is slightly further towards Camberwell along the Peckham Road - but it’s definitely worth the journey for their thought-provoking free exhibitions.
Styled as ‘Peckham’s cultural quarter’, you’ll find a range of events here - from pop-up plant sales to independent ceramics markets and salvage sales. Great exhibitions too.
The home studio of the late John Latham, one of Britain’s most influential post-war artists, which has continued Latham’s open-door policy. Temporary exhibitions on rotation, often experimentation in sculpture.
We should also add that if you’re attending a classical music event at Bold Tendencies, the venue is a phenomenal one-stop-shop if you don’t have a day to explore wider Peckham.
The venue has a number of permanent installations, award-winning architecture and sculpted gardens. Frank’s Cafe dons the roof of the venue, with stunning views across the city and yummy food and drinks served from the flagship architectural commission - it’s worth a visit just to simply wander around!
