Review: Peckham Refreshment Rooms

Nestled under Peckham Rye railway station, this charming café is part of a new wave of eateries in the area.

Sitting on Blenheim Grove opposite a row of African hairdressers, the pared-back styling of the restaurant seems a stark contrast to the bright window displays across the road. However, at Refreshment Rooms, it is the food that does the talking rather than the interior design.

Billed as British and continental comfort food, the menu is full of bacon sandwiches, salt beef, kedgeree and steak. My morning bacon sandwich was a delight, served with homemade brown sauce in two slabs of sourdough bread. The coffee is delicious too, flavorful and strong enough to give you a real caffeine boost.

In the evening, the menu switches to sea bass, duck legs and pickled herring, with chocolate tart, affogato or roast rhubarb cream for dessert. It always seems to be full, and with good reason.

Pop in at any hour of the day and you’re sure to find something you’d like to eat. Breakfast items hover around $6.50, and the main courses push on to around $20.

This atmospheric little spot is highly recommended, and tends to be buzzing with creative freelance types hunched over laptops. It must be the fast WiFi and the coffee.

Peckham Refreshment Rooms

3-4, 12-16 Blenheim Grove

London SE15 4QL

44 20 8022 2852