Looking for the top restaurants in Brockley? We’ve got you covered with this insider’s guide.
Brockey is straight-up brilliant. This quirky little area in Lewisham boasts cute cafes and cool restaurants galore, not to mention the abundance of brilliant street food stalls that can be found at the iconic market running each weekend.
But with so many fabulous options for dining, where do you start? No need to stress – these are the top spots to chow down in Brockley.
Best Restaurants in Brockley
Meze Mangal Restaurant
££
Meze Mangal Restaurant is one of the busiest in Brockley. Founded by two brothers back in 2000, who made it their mission to alter the misconceptions surrounding Turkish food, it has become a staple of the Brockley food scene.
There are a couple of different menus at Meze Mangal: one for dining in and one for takeaway, both equally good.
If you want to dine in we recommend trying their delicious Tavuk Beyti or Patlican Kebab, while those looking to grab a quick takeout should definitely try their Adana Köfte or Vegetarian Güveç!
Whatever you choose, whether it’s for a quick lunch or indulgent dinner experience, the hospitality at this Mediterranean hotspot is beaten only by the flavour experience you get from the food.
Address: 245 Lewisham Way, SE4 1XF
Malaysian Deli
£
This hugely popular deli is always packed with hungry customers, soon-to-be satisfied with the wide variety of foods that Malaysian Deli has to offer.
This little joint offers delectable servings of roti canai, Kuah Kacang, and more local favourites that don’t only satisfy tastebuds, but are incredible value for money as well. They also offer amazing drinks – sit back and relax while washing down your meal with bubble tea or a tangy freshly-made juice.
Note: The Malaysian Deli will only accept cash, so make sure to have some at hand if you plan on making this your culinary stop off.
Address: 339 Brockley Road, SE4 2BT
Babur
££
Babur is a favourite amongst locals, specialising in bringing awesome Indian cuisine to this cute corner of southeast London for nearly 40 years.
They have a plethora of different menus, including a la Carte, a daily set lunch menu, a tasting menu, and a Sunday buffet menu.
This isn’t your bog standard curry house, instead, menu highlights include their steamed lamb shoulder that’s been marinated for 100 hours and served with beetroot rice and the seared Gressingham duck with rainbow quinoa khichdi from the a la Carte menu. And best of all, wine recommendations for each dish are readily listed on the menu.
Not only that, if you’re a local and love their dishes, you can be part of the tasting group that helps them create and refine your next menu faves.
Address: 119 Brockley Rise, SE23, 1JP
Browns of Brockley
£
Some consider Browns of Brockley to be one of the best coffee shops in London. We couldn’t possibly be drawn on that, but we can vouch for the incredible quality of their coffee, sandwiches, pastries, and cakes.
The employees here treat every item on the menu with the utmost respect and can make ordering a simple sandwich and latte feel like you’re ordering a three-course meal at The Ritz. And speaking of sandwiches, all their bread is made at their very own factory, and is delivered fresh daily making all of their delicious fillings absolutely pop with flavour.
Speaking of their menu, you must try their banana bread which has become legendary in the local area.
Address: 5-6 Coulgate Street, SE4 2RW
L’Oculto Cocina
£££
Looking for the top Spanish restaurant in South East London? L’Oculto Cocina is a wine bar and Tapas restaurant that locals like to keep to themselves because it is so wonderful.
It’s run by Teresa and Ana, who initially started as wine and food importers. They would supply unusual and unique ingredients to chefs across London before opening a stall at Brockley Market. From there, they opened the first restaurant and wine shop and the rest is history.
Their cheese and charcuterie board is the ideal accompaniment to a leisurely glass or two of wine, while their Tapas menu includes treats such as roasted celeriac steak, deep-fried skate marinated in paprika, garlic and oregano, and an octopus and white bean stew.
The produce of L’Oculto Cocina is directly imported from Spanish producers to add a flourish of authenticity.
Address: 325 Brockley Road, SE4 2QZ
The Orchard
££
The Orchard is an independent bar that first opened its doors in 2009. The Orchard proudly serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, which they prepare with seasonal ingredients to ensure their dishes are always fresh and tasty.
The Orchard offers relaxed dining and lounge areas, and you can choose between a three-course meal, a light lunch, or even just a morning coffee (they pride themselves on their drinks, too!)
And if that wasn’t enough, visitors with dogs will be glad to know their beloved pets are very welcome here.
Address: 5 Harefield Road, SE4 1LW
Brockley’s Rock
£
Brockley’s Rock is the local chippy that locals love. They have everything you could want from a fish & chip shop.
Traditional Brockley food like saveloy and crisp-battered cod sit waiting to be devoured by hungry Londoners and tourists alike – while their extras, like curry sauce and mushy peas, are a feast for the taste buds.
For the health-conscious among you, you can ask for your fish to be grilled instead of deep-fried, as well as gluten-free options. You’ll definitely want to make a pit stop here on your tour of southeast London once hunger begins to strike.
Address: 317 Brockley Road, SE4 2QZ
Brockley Market
£
Brockley Market is a must-visit place for anyone taking a trip to this corner of southeast London. It’s open on Saturdays and is one of the best places to go for a quick bite to eat.
Brockley market hosts a variety of traders who produce some fantastic dishes – take Mike and Ollie and their deliciously meaty flatbreads as an excellent example of that. And of course, you haven’t lived if you’ve not yet had a Mother Flipper’s Filthy Frank burger. Best of all, you can wash down the breads, pastries, burgers, and snacks with some quality kombucha.
You’re spoilt for choice when it comes to Brockley Market eats and once you try one stall, you’ll want to try them all.
Address: Lewisham College Carpark, Lewisham Way, SE4 1UT
Brickfields
££
Brickfields is a bar in Brockley that serves some of the best food in town.
After hosting regular kitchen residencies, Brickfields has now teamed up with one of their regular partners, Yard Pizza Sale to offer guests the best stone-baked pizza in the area to go with their round of beers, wines, spirits and cocktails.
Trust us when we say you’ll be spoilt for choice, regardless of whether you’re on a meaty diet or prefer plant-based options. There’s literally something for absolutely everyone, including a gorgeous range of lovely sides to top your meal off with a flourish.
Address: 293 Brockley Road, SE4 2SA
Brorritos
£
While they may be pushing wordplay to its absolute limit, Brorritos launched the first of their two restaurants in 2020 after spending three years of experimenting in university kitchens. And, it’s safe to say the experimentation has paid off handsomely.
All the ingredients are freshly sourced every day, so there’ll be no two-day-old salad blighting your Mexican wrap, instead everything is beautifully prepared and executed to allow the flavours to zing.
We love their House “Brorrito” which sees griddled chicken thighs accompanied by red rice, red cabbage, cheese, and plenty of beans and veg. You can build your own burrito, taco, rice box or keto box by selecting from the almost endless range of ingredient options.
While you may struggle to find anywhere to sit, these are perfect for taking home with you or finding a spot on the street to sit and eat, and enjoy.
Address: 8 Brockley Cross, SE4 1BE
Sikatio Restaurant, Bar & Grill
££
At the time of writing, Sikatio doesn’t have a web presence, which made this African bar and grill a stunning hidden gem.
While African cuisine in London is nothing new, there aren’t too many we’ve found on our travels that bring the stunning tastes and aromas of the Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal, and beyond to the streets of London Town.
Now there’s Sikatio Restaurant, Bar and Grill, just a stone’s throw from Brockley Station, bringing the best food along with West African vibes. The chilli wings are zingy, tangy, and tasty, while their fried tuna is cooked to perfection.
We also love the wood-fired guinea fowl and the pepper soup that comes with cubes of lamb meat.
Address: 5 Brockley Cross, SE4 2AB
Parlez
£
Is it a pub? Is it a restaurant? Parlez is a neighbourhood joint that markets itself as something between the two, not quite boozer, yet not quite an upmarket eatery. Their mission is to bring locals together and work with partners within the community to promote collaboration, community and sustainability.
While they have some cool winter pop-ups serving from 5pm, it’s their breakfast, brunch and lunch menu that’s all prepared in-house that really hits the spot.
Early risers will love the range of cooked brekkies, while brunchers won’t go wrong with their awesome egg dishes or Cumberland sausage sandwich. We also love their lunchtime nourishment bowls that ooze healthy goodness, and their loaded (and we mean loaded!) nachos.
So, if you have a daytime hunger generating while in Brockley, this is the perfect spot for you to quench your cravings.
Address: 16 Coulgate Street, SE4 2RW
Ganoush Lebanese Grill
££
We love food from the Middle East with Lebanese grub never failing to hit the spot. And Ganoush, which also has no web presence at the time of writing, serves some of the best authentic eastern Mediterranean grub we’ve come across.
They offer a superb range of cold Mezze plates, including some of the finest houmous we’ve uncovered, lightly flavoured with sesame paste, lemon juice, and a subtle blend of herbs.
For us, though, the menu really comes alive when you sample their hot dishes. We love the shish Taouk, charcoal-grilled skewers of marinated chicken cubes that melt in the mouth while tap-dancing across your tastebuds, and the Falafel is every bit as good as its chickpea-based sibling, the houmous.
Mix and match with a full-on Mezza treat, or just plunge straight into their full-on mixed grill that combines chicken, lamb, and incredible flavours that won’t fail to satisfy.
Address: 302 Brockley Road, SE4 2RA
The Honeypot
£
We love an authentic taste of the Caribbean and The Honeypot in Brockley emphatically meets all our needs.
Their menu is extensive, catering for breakfast with their porridge and homemade juices first thing, before kicking off with all the tasty treats you’d expect from a top-draw Caribbean joint.
We love their curry goat or cow foot, or ackee and saltfish, and always plump for the rice and peas on the side. Their range of starters neve cost more than a few quid, making them the ideal snacks if you’re on the run, similarly their authentic patties (cheesy beef for us, thanks!).
If you head there on a Friday, you can enjoy special deals on their seafood, including whole lobster. Yet, it’s their seafood platter that really caught our eye! The perfect way to end the working week!
Address: The Parade, 9 Upper Brockley Road, SE4 1SX
