Neighbourhoods
Deptford
Deptford has forever been ‘up and coming’ and although there’s always been plenty to love about the area, it’s never quite been one of London’s hotspots. In the last couple of years its seen a real transformation however. Yes, like neighbouring Peckham and much of the rest of south London, the gentrification wave (maybe more of a ripple) has hit Deptford and its now home to trendy cafes, bars, and restaurants.
Sandwiched between well-heeled Greenwich and the art students of New Cross it was only going to be a matter of time before Deptford had its day and now there’s plenty to explore in the area. Although some old businesses that gave the high street a lot of character such as The Egg Shop (which, yes, only sold eggs) and AJ Goddard pie and mash shop have sadly closed in the wake of a changing demographic there’s still plenty of south-east London charm alongside your more standard hipster tropes.
Deptford Market Yard is probably ground zero for the new face of Deptford, a pedestrianised square of cafes and restaurants that surround the station but one of the best new Deptford restaurants in the area is Marcella, an Italian from the same team that run Artusi in Peckham. All in all, Deptford is a great place to visit for both Londoners and tourists alike, especially on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays when the street market is in full swing.
If you’re after Vietnamese food south of the river, you can’t go wrong at Eat Vietnam in Deptford. The family run biz uses handed down recipes so you can be sure you’re getting the real deal here. The menu is pretty vast, including pho, bun bo Hue, bun cha, banh cuon, summer rolls, banh mi, banh xeo, Danang fried rice, and banh khot, plus marinated and grilled meat and seafood – the ribs in homemade Eat Vietnam sauce are pretty special. It’s a popular spot, especially on the weekends, so it’s worth booking.
The Albany has been in Deptford for over a century, becoming a radical community arts hub in the seventies before being rebuilt as an arts centre and theatre. Now the space hosts a diverse programme of events, including live music, literary festivals, cabaret, comedy, poetry, plays and more.
Coming from the people behind the much-loved Artusi in Peckham, Marcella is serving up bangin’ Italian food in SE8. The look and feel is very similar to Artusi, all stripped back wooden furniture, white walls, bare wood, and an open kitchen at the back of the room. The short menu is chalked up on the wall and it’s one of those ones where you just want EVERYTHING. The fried artichokes and saffron arancini are mega, the fresh pasta is up there with the best of them and you’ll wanna leave room for the puds too.
A night at Little Nan’s will be like no other. The cocktail bar is not only filled with random furniture, knik-knacks and family heirlooms, but the menus are completely bonkers too and you can drink everything from Lady Butcher and Lord Beppe Di Marco to Barbie Girl. With a solid soundtrack and super friendly staff, it’s one worth ticking off your list.
This is the place to come for veggie and vegan food with attitude. The Waiting Room serves up meat-free burgers, subs, hot dogs and the like as well as pour a damn fine cup of coffee too. The cafe hangout also offers a book exchange, yes very arty and speak of, they exhibit local art on their walls too. Snazzy.
Once an employment office, then a pub called the Job Centre, this Deptford spot is now Jam Circus. The space has a shabby chic look with mid-century furniture and vintage wallpaper but other than that, it’s very much got everything you’d expect from a pub – sports on the TV, a roast on Sundays, a strong selection of local beers and ales on the bar, a beer garden, DJs and plenty of games for you to play over a pint.
Housed in the railway arches near the station, Deptford Market Yard brings together some of the best local start-ups and independents including Jerk Yard (Caribbean street food), Salt Craft Beer + Pizza, Little Nan’s (cocktails), The Box (hairdressers), Lomond Coffee, and IYA (creative studio and shop). It’s a real one-stop shop.
It’s Jamaican vibes all round at Buster Mantis in Deptford. And we’re not just talking jerk chicken, oh no they’ve got the rum down to a tee too. The bar puts a spin on classic rum cocktails, think lychee martini and an orange dark ‘n’ stormy and for those who want to go all in give Mama’s Punch a go – but don’t blame us if you can’t walk home…
Deptford Does Art does exactly what it says on the tin, and then some. Run by Zuzana and her husband Dan, it’s a gallery that exhibits local art, with the artists that show in the space providing workshops and talks. There’s also a shop selling prints, cards and gifts in there, and a vegan cafe.
With original Victorian etched windows, a patio, a rotating selection of cask and craft beers on tap, a menu of pub grub classics, jazz and roasts on Sundays, a weekly pub quiz, sports on the telly and regular stand-up comedy nights, the Royal Albert has everything you could want for in a local.
Deli X is the place to stock up on all your wholefoods and sustainable goodies. There are lots of organic and artisanal groceries on offer, refill stations for cleaning products so you can cut down on your plastic use, and a cafe so you can take a break from your shopping with a coffee and some veggie grub.
Villages is two brothers brewing beer, bringing people together to do things that bring people together. Confused? Their words, not ours. Basically, they are two good guys brewing good beer from their brewery in Deptford. They are the makers of sessionable and seasonable crafts; our go-to regular is the WHISTLE lager but the RAFIKI IPA comes in close at second place. Their taproom is where we want to be on a sunny London eve, sipping on fresh beer.
If you’re after the chop in Deptford, there’s one place you should head for and that’s The Bohemians. As the name suggests, it’s boho vibes all the way with lots of exposed brick, vintage and repurposed furnishings (in fact 80% of everything in the salon is recycled and their working towards making that 100% by looking at ways to recycle hair), and plenty of foliage. Inclusivity is also big for The Bohemians; they have gender-neutral pricing, so you’re paying based on the work and on the stylist’s time, and they’ve recently introduced the option to book a silent appointment for those who find it difficult to chat during haircuts or for those who just want some quiet time in the chair. They also use Oway colour at the salon, which offers 100% colour payoff and grey coverage whilst also being vegan, ammonia-free and made with biodynamic and organic ingredients
Ever been to a biltong bar before? No? Well, get down to Big J’s, the first of its kind in London. Obvs biltong is on the menu but it’s not the only food to be found here – you can get wings, mac & cheese, pints and cocktails too.