The Fox & Hounds

Tiny and tucked-away on Peckham’s bustling Rye Lane, Lai Rai is a hidden gem of a restaurant. Friendly, affordable and with knockout Vietnamese cooking, it’s the kind of place you leave with a spring in your step. The food is packed with bold flavours and executed with real skill, moving from bánh mì and coffee in the day to a more elaborate menu in the evening. Make sure you start with the brilliant prawn lollies, as no matter how many you order, you’ll still be wanting more. The genial, enthusiastic team just want you to have a good time – and you will!

Enter into this railway-arch restaurant in Peckham Rye and you could convince yourself you’ve been transported to Bangkok. A pair of friends have turned their years of experience in Thai restaurants into an authentic slice of the country, from the bustling atmosphere to fresh, vibrant dishes like fried chicken ‘gai prik’. The chefs don’t hold back on the spice, yet their strong sense of balance ensures the central ingredients are never overwhelmed. Meat-free diners will be particularly delighted that every dish on the menu is matched by a vegetarian equivalent.

‘Heritage’ is key to the cooking at this Indian restaurant in a smart suburban shopping parade, where skilfully prepared dishes are knowledgably balanced, well-spiced and packed with authentic flavours. Dayashankar Sharma – who has led many of London’s best Indian kitchens – cooks alongside his son Anmol.

Better known to his thousands of Instagram followers as NattyCanCook, Chef Nathaniel Mortley is behind this well-run Caribbean restaurant, where the buzz of the many delighted diners hits you the second you walk in. Start off with a cocktail – perhaps the signature rum punch – before choosing from a menu of colourful dishes with warming spices and gentle sweeter notes. All of the mains come with rice and peas or jollof rice, but it’s well worth adding a side of caramelised plantain too. To finish, go for Mortley’s deliciously different take on sticky toffee pudding.

Sitting just outside Herne Hill station, with its large windows letting diners look out and passers-by to look in, Llewellyn’s feels like a proper neighbourhood restaurant at the heart of the local community. The menu offers an appealing mix of dishes with a Mediterranean accent which focus on the freshness of the ingredients, and service is young and endearing.

This neighbourhood bistro and wine bar is run by three friends, who all hail from this part of South East London. Original small plates have a rustic style; they’re made for sharing, so choose three or four per person – if you’re in a group, consider ordering the whole menu. The wine list features some interesting small producers and they even have some wines on tap.

Plant-based Peckhamites must surely be in love with this friendly neighbourhood bistro serving solely vegan dishes. The restaurant is simply decorated and boasts an on-view kitchen, which produces hearty, original plates full of bold flavours. The set menu makes good use of what's in season, beginning with snacks and shared starters such as whipped tahini and fried aubergine with sourdough from the nearby TOAD bakery, while the main courses are served individually and dessert can be added on to complete the experience. For a more flexible option, go for the à la carte bar menu.