The Ultimate Guide To Sips, Shops & More, In Peckham

When people think of Peckham, Only Fools and Horses springs to mind. Del Boy and Rodney scheming around the tower blocks and markets of SE15. But, there’s so much more to it!

Anderson & Co — This deli-meets-café opened by music-biz veteran Lisa Anderson has everything we want in a café. Freshly baked breads, artisan sandwiches, courgette cake…we can’t get enough. Have a coffee and a muffin and watch the buzz of Bellenden Road go by.

The Victoria Inn — If you’re looking for a brilliant gastropub, you’ve come to the right place. The Victoria Inn boasts a cozy atmosphere, with the usual worn-leather armchairs, long wooden tables, and tasty comfort-food menu. We recommend the chorizo Scotch egg, halloumi sticks, and the warm salt beef salad. Our mouths are watering just thinking about it.

Threads — This reasonably priced vintage shop is a hidden gem on the Bellenden Road. Open just over a year, Threads already boosts Florence Welch of Florence + the Machine as one of their customers. And really, if it’s good enough for our favorite redhead, it’s good enough for us.

Begging Bowl — This gorgeous Thai restaurant has only been open for a little over six months, yet already has a cult following. They pride themselves on providing smart, authentic Thai food. Here you’ll find stir-fries, grilled dishes and adventurous Thai-inspired tapas, but no noodles. Those looking for chicken pad thai should venture elsewhere. We heart the coconut and galangal soup, so save us a seat.

Bias-A gorgeous new edition on Bellenden Road, Bias is the perfect fashion-meets-crafts boutique. Think Anthropologie without the chain. Here you'll find handmade homewares, diffusion lines, sweet accessories and beauty from Paul & Joe...essential for when you're down to the wire and need to nab a gift for a friend ASAP. Or even when you're 'just browsing' and then come out with a new necklace. However if you're looking for a style-revamp, they offer a personal shopping service! We will definitely be making our first booking come payday.

CLF Art Café A.K.A The Bussey Building—This 100-year-old warehouse space hosts the best local music, theatre and art in SE15. The venue boasts a heapload of club nights as well, from previous Bestival and Secret Sundaze and the ever popular South London Soul club night. There are plans for a photo studio and restaurant too. And, in June the roof reopens as a cocktail garden bar. You’ll be spoilt for choice.

Café Viva—The perfect place to spend a sleepy Sunday. This minimalistic space is our ideal setting for an independent coffeehouse and a breath of fresh air just off of Rye Lane. After a long morning’s shopping along Bellenden Road, we recommend grabbing a Teapigs herbal tea and a sausage & fried onion sandwich (our new hangover cure).

Bar Story—We love a bit of an underground bar, and this one is lives beneath the arches of Peckham Rye station. Think warehouse white walls, industrial furnishings and a brick ceiling. Perfect. Bar Story is the place where Goldsmiths students, diehard locals and a few bemused stragglers live in harmony under the free wi-fi. That and the two for £10 pizzas, probably.

Peckham Palais—Peckham Palais was closed for years until it reopened its doors last June. This department store-turned-nightclub just on the corner of Rye Lane is famed for its late night bass adventures. You name it, grime, juke, house, hip hop…it’s all here. The Palais is the prime spot for hedonism south of the river.

Review bookshop—We at Refinery29 love our lit, so we’re about ready to move into Review Bookshop. Who needs Waterstones when we have all we could ever need here? Perfect for all of your diamond-in-the-rough reading needs. Oh, and be sure to say bye to resident dog Gus on your way out!

Canavan’s Peckham Pool Club—A ‘blink and you’ll miss it’ pool hall located along Rye Lane. It’s a little rough around the edges but this old school venue is worth the trip down the corridor for. This place is known for the Rhythm Section—a fortnightly Friday/Saturday clubnight featuring fresh new DJ talent (vinyl only). Are pool halls the new nightclubs? We say yes.

Ganapati—An intimate South Indian restaurant, known for its bold claim of ‘the best Indian in the country’. We stand by it—cheap, cheerful with a cosy backgarden for those spring evenings out. Although the menu changes every month, you can’t go far wrong with their signature thali dish. And it’s probably best to book a table on the weekend…don’t say we didn’t warn you.

Ellie’s Bakehouse—This recently opened artisan bakery boasts bespoke cakes, freshly baked bread, specialty teas and Monmouth coffee (our fave!). Do we have your attention yet? Cake eating aside, this boutique cake shop also offers lessons in cake making and decorating. We’re ready with our aprons on.