How to spend a day in Brixton

Family-run venue Café on the Hill is a much-loved spot for breakfast in the area. This low-key establishment has an elegant dark exterior. Coffee and food is available here, as well as smoothies and milkshakes. Start the day with a fried breakfast, French toast, an omelette, or smashed avocado.

Parissi brings a sunny atmosphere and Mediterranean flavours to Brixton. It’s a relaxed café with a contemporary look and a secluded garden. Food is available all day, with breakfast platters, shakshuka, and light options like toast or granola. Pastries and toasties are available and you can wash it all down with coffee and juices.

Begin your day with crêpes at Sarava Creperie. This is French food with a distinctive Brazilian twist, served in a colourful and homey space. There are sweet and savoury choices for every preference, including breakfast-friendly options like cheese, ham, and egg, or cheese, mushrooms, tomatoes, bacon, and a fried egg.

Brixton Village & Market Row is a must-visit if you’re in Brixton. This bustling covered market spans across winding walkways and includes a vast array of eateries and retailers. Whether you’re searching for fresh food, African fabrics, or secondhand treasures, you’re sure to find it here and can easily fill time wandering around.

Avid readers head to Bookmongers for secondhand fiction and non-fiction books. You’ll find volumes on a wide range of subjects here, with hidden gems sharing shelves with literary classics. The setting is cosy and quirky with a friendly atmosphere, and the shop even has its own pet for you to meet.

Shop for gifts at vibrant store Diverse, which has an eye-popping yellow exterior. This place champions diversity and inclusivity, and specialises in working with designers of colour. Buy toys, books, and clothes for children, whilst for adults you’ll find self-care products, books, accessories, and more. Cards and gift wrap are stocked here too.

Check out The Laundry for an informal lunch. This restaurant is well-known for breakfast and brunch but food is served all day. This cool spot has a spacious outdoor terrace and serves flavour-packed seasonal dishes such as vegetable stew, herb-crusted cod, and cottage pie. Private dining is also available here.

For an unusual lunch try out The Clink Restaurant. Set in HMP Brixton, meals at this gourmet restaurant are cooked and served by prisoners working towards catering qualifications. Some of the restaurant’s furniture is also made by prisoners. The lunch menu includes dishes like pork and pistachio terrine and tagliatelle with pesto.

If you want a juicy burger for lunch Black Bear Burger is the place to go in Brixton. Located in Brixton Village, there’s a fun atmosphere and a minimalist look. The burgers are made from high-welfare British meat, and there are chicken and vegan options as well as beef.

Go to the Black Cultural Archives to discover more about black British history. This place puts on physical and digital exhibitions celebrating the contributions of black British people, designed to inspire and educate visitors. Topics include black leadership and mental health. The centre has learning programmes for schools, universities, and professional groups.

Grade II listed Brixton Windmill is an events venue and the last remaining working windmill in the capital. Built in 1816, it still produces its own flour, which you can buy at the venue or at other local stockists. You can join a tour to learn more about how it all works.

Stockwell Skate Park was built in 1978, making it one of the oldest skate parks in the city and the country. Put your skills to the test on the organic undulations here. This concrete skate park is free to visit and has a welcoming community vibe. It's open 24 hours.

Lost in Brixton is a vibrant rooftop bar in Brixton Market Village, offering a tranquil escape from London's bustle. Boasting a jungle theme with lush plants and colourful murals, it serves an array of seasonal and Latin American-inspired drinks, along with a broad selection of beers and wines. Although the bar lacks its own kitchen, it collaborates with multiple market restaurants, allowing guests to order diverse dishes delivered directly to their table.

If you're a craft beer enthusiast, make your way to the Brixton Brewery Taproom. Located under a railway arch in the centre of Brixton, this taproom offers the freshest brews from the local brewery, including exclusive selections available only on-site. It's a welcoming spot for both families and dog owners to unwind.

Sample Eritrean cooking at Asmara, a long-term fixture of the Brixton restaurant scene. This local spot is humble and understated, serving up generous portions of hearty traditional cooking. Mixed platters on dishes served over injera bread are ideal for sharing in a group, plus the traditional coffee is a great way to finish off your meal.

Buzzy bistro Naughty Piglets has just 29 seats, giving it an exclusive and cosy feel. In this bright and contemporary space you can try globally-inspired sharing plates like ham croquettes, smoked eel with horseradish, and burrata. Menus change frequently and are made with sustainable ingredients. The wine list is 100% organic.

Try modern British cuisine with Jamaican influences at stylish restaurant Wood & Water. This sophisticated spot puts its own spin on classic recipes and the menu of small plates is great for sharing. Sample hard dough bread, croquettes, and chicken liver parfait, paired with wine or imaginative cocktails like a pistachio sour.

Pub and club Hootananny Brixton is a great destination for music lovers. By day you can have a quiet drink here but later on it becomes a lively venue. There's a spacious garden with streetfood vendors, a casual bar with pool tables, and a club room hosting DJs and live performers.

The Prince of Wales might look like a typical pub but inside the building you’ll find much more. It houses an Art Deco club room with regular live gigs and club nights. The venue also has a rooftop terrace set over two levels, offering fantastic views whilst you enjoy a drink.

Brixton Jamm is a vibrant venue with a tech-driven club, cosy bar area, street-food courtyard, and even an artificial "beach," making it easy to spend an entire day here before hitting the dance floor. With a playlist ranging from house to hip-hop, live performances by artists like Massive Attack and Adele, and a variety of activities, it's a lively spot with a warm, upbeat atmosphere.