How to spend a day in Brixton

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.

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.

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.

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.

Check out The Laundry for an informal lunch. The 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 experience, try out The Clink. 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 or tagliatelle with pesto.

Go to the Black Cultural Archives to discover more about Black British history. The venue 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 every second weekend of the month from May to October 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 a day.

The Whiskey Tumbler is a modern take on a traditional Irish pub, offering a laid-back atmosphere and a strong focus on whiskey and inventive whiskey cocktails. You'll also find Irish coffees, a proper pint of Guinness, and lively weekly music sessions that bring the craic. Blending timeless hospitality with sleek design, it's a contemporary cocktail spot rooted in Irish spirit.

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.

Tucked away in Brixton Village, Finch Wine Bar is a snug gem that champions wines from independent and experimental producers. While the list spans global regions, there's a particular focus on bottles from English vineyards. The bar also doubles as a gallery, showcasing changing exhibitions by local artists, and offers a range of small plates and nibbles to accompany your glass.

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.

Originally launched as a pop-up, this contemporary Indian eatery quickly gained traction and now boasts several locations across London. Its inventive menu fuses bold Indian spices with premium British produce. Highlights include dishes like the Keralan-style chicken and crisp samphire pakoras, while the thali makes for an affordable early dinner.

Three Uncles brings the bold flavours of Cantonese cuisine to Brixton. This lively, neon-lit eatery is best known for its expertly roasted meats, which take centre stage on the menu. Whether you're digging into barbecue pork with rice, slurping lo mein noodles, or sampling their steamed dim sum and vegan ma po tofu, you're in for a fuss-free but flavour-packed experience.

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. The different areas include a spacious garden with street-food vendors, a casual bar with pool tables, and a club room hosting DJs and live performers.

Electric Brixton is a legedary Brixton entertainment venue catering to clubbers and concertgoers alike. The venue is fitted with state-of-the-art sound systems and lighting and hosts a varied line-up of everything from reggaeton to metal. Known far and wide while remaining rooted firmly in the South London community means you can catch both global stars and rising talent here.

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.