Where to eat in… Peckham: Breakfast, lunch and dinner, sorted
In this latest instalment in our series charting the best places around London to grab breakfast, lunch and dinner, we come to Peckham. For years Peckham was a well-kept secret in the foodie world, home to a host of independent bars and restaurants that rivalled any of their north London counterparts. But over the last decade it has properly arrived on the culinary scene. Here are three of our favourite places to eat, drink and be merry.
Breakfast: Two Hundred Rye Lane
Bleary-eyed, this unassuming nook at the north end of Rye Lane can appear almost heavenly to the hungry, wandering Peckhamite. The coffee is strong, and the food is a wonderful Spanish feast. I’m partial to the Huevos Rotos – fried potatoes and scrambled eggs, with jamon serrano and (why not) strips of medium-rare bavette steak. Cocktails are available, but this is a more restorative affair. Book here.
Lunch: Forza Wine
Peckham is the sine qua non of rooftop bar destinations in the capital – from Frank’s to the Bussey Building. But Forza Wine, the upstart younger brother of much-missed Italian Forza Win, might top (geddit) the lot. Wonderful Italian-inspired small plates, an incredible view of everything from Battersea to Stratford, and a delightful wine list. Bottle of rose and the grilled flatbread with pesto? Belissimo. Book here.
Dinner: Levan
Post-nap, Levan narrowly pips neighbourhood pasta joint Artusi for the evening nod, and only because you’ll be so stuffed full of Italian at lunch you won’t have anywhere to put another olive. Levan – linked to Salon in Brixton – is a wonderfully relaxed, but unapologetically high-end, spot that has transformed “the crap bit by the station” into a must-visit. We await their new post-lockdown menu, but if the boudon noir is still there, don’t you dare miss out. The wine list will ensure you need another breakfast at Two Hundred, too. Book here.