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Best restaurants in Brixton, chosen by olive’s London team

• Alex Crossley
• , Helen Salter

Published: September 16, 2026 at 4:05 PM

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From European café culture to the ultimate jerk chicken, these are the restaurants in Brixton worth booking right now – curated by olive’s London team

Looking for Brixton restaurants? Here are our favourite restaurants in Brixton. Check out our ideas for eating and drinking in Brixton, from Brixton Village to Pop Brixton and beyond...

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For more like this, check out our picks of the best restaurants in Tooting, best restaurants in Peckham, best restaurants in Crystal Palace or the best new London openings.

Our expert's personal recommendations

"I lived in Brixton for a year in 2025 and couldn't get enough of Three Uncles in the market, the dumplings, Cantonese meats and noodles are comfort food at its best, and excellent value. For a special treat, Kurisu Omakase is an intimiate experience all sushi-loving Londoners should try once." Alex Crossley

Best places to eat and drink in Brixton

Naughty Piglets – for superb bistro fare and wine

A neighbourhood favourite, this charming natural wine bistro on Brixton Water Lane is one of south London’s most exciting offerings. Run by Margaux Aubry, previously of wine bar Terroirs, it operates on an unusual premise: a guest chef takes over each month, bringing their own menu, wines and momentum. It gives the spot a genuine USP and offers locals the thrill of a new menu on every visit – though you can always expect fire-led small plates and natural wines.

We visited on Fergus Wilford’s final night: the former Fallow head chef’s bold, produce-led dishes leaned British with French flair. We started with spindly golden potato ‘wotsits’ dunked in soured cream and chive mayo, then delicate fried cod cheeks, shatteringly crisp, pepped with mussels and tartare. Roasted hispi cabbage came submerged in umami-packed Marmite butter with a tangle of yeast crumb, while bavette steak arrived heaped with whipped beef fat butter.

The sultry space is tailor-made for dates or impressing out-of-towners: counter seats put you close to the grill, while the low-lit, wine-lined basement is ideal for cosying up over a Friday night.

We’re keen to return for a long Saturday lunch or a walk-in OG jambon beurre. naughtypiglets.co.uk

Two Twins Tacos, Brixton Village – for California street tacos

Fill up on California street tacos at this buzzy, in and out taqueria in Brixton Village. With red and white chequerboard tiles, metal stools and a poky counter, it’s a fun, fast, no-fuss spot made for a round or two of tacos and beers with friends.

Value is the main draw: prices are fair and on Tuesday nights you’ll catch the £3 taco deal – when we visited, queues were already snaking from the counter.

There are four taco options to choose from: soft shell, vampiro (a cheesy hard shell), Cali crunch (hard shell) and crispy birria. Start with the signature, hype-worthy birria tacos, where soft, rich beef is piled into a crispy cheesy folded corn taco, then plunged into a pot of hot, brothy consommé.

Another standout is the spicy jerk chicken and pineapple taco, a lip-smacking hit of smoke, heat and sweetness. If you fancy more, simply go in for round two.

We also rated the unapologetically gluttonous birria gravy-drenched fries and sizzling spicy margs served in dinky takeaway cups. twotwinstacos.com

Maremma, Brixton Water Lane – for Italian neighbourhood vibes

This Tuscan bistro has a distinctly neighbourhood vibe – vases of dried flowers sit on tables crammed in alongside stools at the sage counter overlooking the open kitchen and aperitif-bottle-lined bar. Large, almost life-size illustrations of wild boar and octopus on exposed brick walls reflect dishes on the menu – the former in a hefty cut of pepper-crusted cutlet and belly with balsamic figs and wispy Italian spinach, and also combined with Tuscan herbs and fennel seeds to make a ragu tossed through glistening folds of homemade pappardelle.

The menu is dedicated to produce from the Maremma region of south-west Tuscany. Highlights of our visit were a starter of super-soft octopus neatly arranged in a bowl with crushed new potatoes, all doused in Tuscan olive oil and lemon juice. Another was the tortelli Maremmani – yolk-yellow pasta parcels stuffed with creamy ricotta, spinach and a hint of nutmeg, topped with crispy sage.

Wines all come from Maremma – the brancaleta sangiovese/malvasia nera blend provides an elegant, aromatic accompaniment to the boar dishes, while chardonnay from the same vineyard is intense enough to hold up to most options on the menu. The cocktail menu also showcases spirits from the region – Seven Hills gin, infused with juniper and herbs from Maremma, is used in the negroni and a rosemary old fashioned, while the Mi-To (Milano-Torino) cocktail mixes a new Maremma-born vermouth with Corsican grapefruit aperitif, Pampelle. maremmarestaurant.com

Photograph by Jade Nina Sarkhel

Fish, Wings & Tings, Brixton Village – for Caribbean food

The sunshine yellow and green exterior of this Brixton Village institution has been a popular fixture since Trinidadian chef Brian Danclair opened it in 2012. They specialise in vibrantly flavoured, locally sourced, Caribbean food, with a welcoming family spirit and community-led ethos.

From the ‘small tings’ section of the menu, the pepper prawns with Granny Suzy sauce, reggae wings with pineapple-mango chutney, and split pea-callaloo fritters with tamarind are true winners.

From the ‘big tings’, try the superb stew oxtail with rice and peas, or the fish roti with chickpeas, pumpkin and tamarind kuchela. And to drink, opt for the non-alcoholic homemade spice sorrel punch which is sharp, tangy and deliciously fragrant. fishwingsandtings.co.uk

Bánh Bánh – for elegant Vietnamese classics

Brixton Vietnamese favourite has been given an elegant uplift, enveloped in hand-painted murals, wood panels and concrete, with unique seating areas divided up to create intimate corners.

Starters include crispy spring rolls with nước chấm dipping sauce, steamed pork cabbage rolls, and chicken and herb salad with shrimp crackers. Bamboo grazing platters are designed for sharing, just how they’re served in Vietnam. Try flash-grilled monkfish pieces lifted with turmeric and galangal to wrap up with dill and peanuts in salad leaves, before dunking in fermented shrimp dip.

For main, braised pork belly cubes are slow-cooked in fish sauce and coconut until caramelised, while sweet and sour mussel and dill broth is enriched with pineapple, okra and tomato. On the side, unctuous pan-fried green beans tossed in garlic fish sauce.

Bookmark your meal with Thai-inspired cocktails, kicking off with refreshing coriander and kumquat margaritas, and ending on a sesame boulevardier, the whisky-spiked negroni garnished with a sweet, crunchy sesame cracker. Wines are sourced from Vining Street Wine down the road, with a rotation of zippy natural numbers by the glass.

The original menu lives on at lunchtime and for takeaway, so locals can still get fixes of phở, bún chả and spring rolls. banhbanh.com

Three Uncles – for comforting Cantonese food in Brixton village

This is a great go-to quick fix, whether that’s meeting a friend after work or a casual weekend lunch. Previously limited to takeaway in the City, this is the first sit down spot for the Hong Kong-raised trio. Set in the heart of Brixton Village, it’s no-frills canteen style, with a few tables inside beside the meat roasting action and a scattering of seats outside to soak up the buzzy market vibes.

Kick off with dumplings – lamb in black chilli vinegar or pork wontons doused in chilli oil. Next come the signature siu mei roast meats of roast duck, crisp pork belly and char siu BBQ pork. Share a roast meat and rice with an umami-rich lo mein noodle dish, with generous amounts of melting, unctuous beef brisket. If the salt and pepper broccoli is available, order it! threeuncles.co.uk

Kricket, Atlantic Road – for Indian small plates

Contemporary and cool, Kricket specialises in Indian small plates using local vegetables and fish and meat sourced within the British Isles. Kricket is a collaboration of fresh seasonal British produce and traditional Indian flavours and spices all set out in an informal environment. Kricket first opened in a small shipping container in Pop Brixton, before opening up in Soho and a permanent site back in Brixton on Atlantic Road. kricket.co.uk

Check out our tried-and-test Indian restaurants in London.

Buster's, Atlantic Road – for burgers

A stone’s throw from Brixton station is potentially the best new burger in London. You’ll find it at Buster’s, effectively a hole in the wall joint, bar a few small tables, serving up delicious wagyu beef and fried chicken burgers.

The London restaurant scene is full of spots trying to claim they do ‘simple things, executed perfectly’ but Buster’s is a spot that is actually nailing it. The wagyu cheeseburger is made up of tender meat, seasoned perfectly and cooked to a juicy medium. The green peppercorn dijonaise adds a welcome acidity, and the potato roll it is all sandwiched between is soft and bouncy. The chicken burger is equally excellent, crispy, juicy and served with plenty of pickles. The IPA cheese sauce is aerated and rich, perfect for dipping lots of hot, crispy fries in.

We finished off the meal with a chocolate mousse, which was light but decadent. If you’re looking for a great burger south of the river, Buster’s is where it’s at. busterslondon.co.uk

Bottle + Rye, Market Row — for a slice of European café culture

This intimate wine bar and restaurant from Robin and Sarah Gill brings a slice of European café culture to Market Row in Brixton Village. The team behind Sorella, Bermondsey Larder, Darby’s and Rye by the Water took the classic Parisian bistro as their starting point for the interiors, dominated by an elegant marble, brass and walnut bar. Nab a seat here to watch the kitchen and bar team whip up cocktails and plate dishes.

A menu of simple, deftly executed Gallic classics delivers. Succulent, well-seasoned pig’s head brawn terrine comes with cornichons, delicate rings of pickled onion and hunks of sourdough, and a luscious dollop of creamy smoked eel brandade is served with Pink Fir crisps for scooping. Veggie dishes also shine – especially summery pea and broad bean ragu and a salad of green beans and leeks with crunchy hazelnut praline. Don’t miss out on dessert – a beautifully made blackcurrant and fig leaf choux éclair on our visit.

A mostly European list of minimal intervention wines includes plenty by the glass (try Judith Beck’s delicious Zweigelt and Blaufrankisch rosé) as well as natural ciders from the likes of Little Pomona, Brixton Brewery beers and a succinct cocktail list including a peach and jasmine americano. bottleandrye.com

Aries Bakehouse – for pastries

In the heart of Brixton sits the delightful Aries Bakehouse. Run by Jackie Mckinson, it’s the very definition of a community-based business. During lockdown, Aries Bakehouse switched to a pre-order bakery but its customers still rocked up and offered to help. Some delivered bread and coffee to those in isolation, while others assisted in the kitchen when the workload became immense. “Honestly, this doesn’t even feel like my bakery any more,” says Jackie. “It feels like a collective, with everyone taking part." aries-bakehouse.square.site

The Laundry – for bistro vibes

Housed in an imposing Edwardian building, in what used to be a commercial laundry, interiors come trendily spare and stripped back, with high ceilings, wooden floors, exposed-brick walls and bistro-style chairs. The menu comes divided into snacks (think sourdough with caramelised onion butter and oysters with home-made chorizo and lardo), vegetable, fish, meat and sweet plates.

Dishes look pared back but do complex things with flavour pairings. Highlights include ruby-red Hereford beef tartare with thwackingly meaty aromas, jewelled with a deep-golden egg yolk and dressed with prawn oil and bonito flakes that add subtle layers of umami. Delicate, subtly saline cured seabass is perked up with morsels of sweet-sharp pickled strawberry and anise tarragon. Desserts feature the likes of lemon tart, chocolate tort and panna cotta, but it’s worth waiting a few minutes for the kitchen’s warm chocolate-chip cookie, baked to order. With fudgy insides and melting chocolate, it’s a classic done perfectly.

To drink, try the silky, creamy old fashioned with butter-washed whisky, and a delicate take on a French 75. The wine list – a mixture of old and new-world vintages – has plenty by the glass and is also available by the bottle to buy and take home. Wine nerds should ask about the restaurant's The Cleaner's Diary – a curated selection of special vintages. The Laundry also does a breakfast service, offering dishes such as hazelnut and coconut milk pancakes with roasted pumpkin ice cream, and chorizo, béchamel and fried egg sandwiches. thelaundrybrixton.com

Written by Helen Salter, Alex Crossley, Hannah Guinness and Ellie Edwards

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Authors

Alex CrossleyDigital Editor

Helen Salter

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