How to spend a day in Peckham

Easygoing neighbourhood café Petitou is child- and dog-friendly. Sit inside or on the charming terrace where the tiled floor shows an aerial map of Peckham. Breakfast and lunch is available here. You can begin your day with simple toast or crumpets or try a full veggie breakfast, shakshuka, or mushrooms on toast. Pastries and various hot drinks are served too.

Café and deli Well & Fed is a friendly and welcoming venue where you can bring your dog. The space is cosy and contemporary with exposed brick walls and tempting treats at the counter. A pastry or toasted sandwich here is a delicious way to begin your day and you can also stock up on products like cheeses, fresh bread, sauces, and pasta at the deli.

Nola is a subtly elegant café designed for everyone, be it for social gatherings or remote workers seeking a place to get stuff done. The sleek and contemporary café offers different seating options, spanning from window bar stools to a comfortable outside bench. The café is dedicated to waste reduction and provides responsibly sourced coffee alongside brunch options, sandwiches, and baked goods.

Family-run store D.A.Y Boutique takes inspiration from Scandinavian style and independent brands. It's a cool and smart spot with a focus on sustainable fashion. Here you'll find collections for women, men, and children, plus lifestyle products including incense, fragrances, and soy candles. Gift vouchers for the store are also available.

Maestro Records is the oldest record store in Peckham and has a friendly and welcoming atmosphere. Focusing on Black music, you'll find genres like reggae, soul, hip hop and funk on the shelves here. It's not just records that you can shop for either – the store also sells DVDs, books, and other merchandise.

Vintage lovers will enjoy rummaging at Little Sister. This place is packed with vintage and pre-loved fashion, with an eclectic stock containing everything you need to put together a fab new (for you) outfit. From slick leather jackets to sportswear or dramatic accessories, there's plenty of choice here.

It's southern Indian cuisine for lunch at Ganapati. This vibrant local restaurant is a much-loved destination in the area, with a colourful setting and an outdoor terrace. The concise menu changes frequently and for lunch the focus is on thali meals, including vegetarian and vegan choices. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks are also served.

Opened in 2014, Artusi is a chic neighbourhood eatery serving Italian food in a crisp and sophisticated environment. Menus are written on blackboards and dishes are prepared with seasonal and local ingredients. There's a new menu every week, with a reduced version served for lunch. A well-considered wine list is also on offer.

Lively European cooking is on the menu at Levan. The restaurant is bright and cosy and the food focuses on bistronomy – creative cuisine served in a friendly setting. Menus change regularly and there's a set menu or you can choose your own favourite plates, with options like gnocchi, risotto with cuttlefish ragu, and custard tart for dessert.

Discover leading contemporary art at South London Gallery. Founded in 1891, you'll see innovative work by new and established names. This gallery is comprised of two buildings a short walk apart, and also has a shop and a café. The gallery also runs its own residency programme and publishes an arts journal. 

Buzzy local cinema Peckhamplex is a popular place to catch a film. There are six screens, a uniform affordable ticket price, and screenings covering a wide array of genres including arthouse, independent, and mainstream films. Other exciting events take place too including Q&As and discussions with stars like Olivia Colman and Idris Elba.

Located in Peckham, Four Quarters is a nostalgic arcade bar boasting vintage arcade games from the late 1970s to the early 2000s. Take a trip down memory lane with classics like “Ms. Pac Man”, “Tekken”, and “Street Fighter”, all while sipping a nice drink from the bar. If hunger strikes, there's a concise snack menu on offer. Plus, keep an eye out for their regular live music and comedy nights.

Enjoy a drink with glorious city views at rooftop bar Forza Wine. Natural wine and cocktails are the speciality at this contemporary destination but beers and non-alcoholic drinks are served as well. A changing collection of small plates is also available to go with your drinks here. The venue is sleek with a bustling atmosphere.

Copeland Social is your go-to for a laid-back, artistic bar experience, open all day. Start with a coffee and as evening falls, relax with a cocktail, local beer, or cider. A selection of spirits, wines, and various canned and bottled beverages are also on offer. Feeling peckish? The kitchen menu features a range of snacks, including burgers and numerous vegan options.

Beer lovers can enjoy a drink at Brick Brewery Taproom. Located in a trendy railway arch just a short distance from Peckham Rye station, there are 20 tap lines here serving a range of the brewery's beers, including some exclusives made specifically for the taproom. There are indoor tables as well as a beer garden.

Oi Spaghetti + Tiramisù is a cosy and compact restaurant in a purpose-built cabin. With only four tables, it feels like you're eating in someone's kitchen. Watch the chef prepare fresh spaghetti with your pick of sauce, with both classic and innovative options available. There's a concise choice of wines by the glass, carafe, or bottle.

Coal Rooms has become renowned as a top culinary hotspot in Peckham, featuring an open kitchen with a coal-fired grill and a sleek, contemporary dining area. It also offers private dining options. The menu is globally inspired, with a focus on grilled delicacies like steak, coal-roasted turbot, and grilled cuttlefish, and a roast dinner is served on Sundays too.

Family-run restaurant Peckham Bazaar serves elegant Mediterranean cuisine. There's a rustic interior as well as a terrace for al fresco dining. On the menu it's pan-Balkan mezze and grilled dishes like Greek salad, courgette fritters, and Scottish sirloin kebabs. What's available changes daily. The drinks list includes wine, Greek beer, and cocktails.

Theatre Peckham is an award-winning community theatre committed to artistic excellence, social change, and highlighting young voices. As well as being home to a performing arts school for children aged up to 16, a variety of productions are on at this striking modern venue. Expect musicals, reggae choir performances, and showcases of emerging new actors.

Enjoy DJs, live music, and cocktails until the early hours of the morning at Tola. This trendy venue is vibrant, cosy, and complete with its own roof terrace. You can dance all night here with a busy programme of parties and events but can also simply relax with a cocktail. Food is available until 10pm courtesy of Yard Sale Pizza.

Prince of Peckham is a buzzy pub that's open til late. The bar area is colourful with a traditional tiled bar at the centre of the space. A full range of drinks are served and there are loads of events and activities going on including DJs, R&B parties, scary film clubs, and late night happy hours.