The best restaurants in Southwark

Paladar in Elephant and Castle brings Latin American food, wine and art together in one bright, welcoming spot. The menu moves through the region with things like ceviche with tiger's milk, crispy pork belly arepas and rich mole with seared duck, plus strong options for vegetarians. Inside, contemporary Latin art fills the walls, while a leafy garden out back gives it a laid-back feel. The drinks list focuses on Latin wines, pisco and mezcal cocktails, all served with friendly, easy-going energy.

Kin + Deum, run by three Thai siblings, brings the vibrance of Bangkok's food scene to a stylish spot in Southwark. The menu focuses on authentic, ingredient-led Thai dishes – from pad kee mao and massaman curry to inventive starters like lotus butterfly rolls – complemented by cocktails inspired by Bangkok's bars. With its communal table, dog-friendly policy, and relaxed vibe, the restaurant offers both tradition and innovation in equal measure.

At his two-starred Southwark restaurant, Chef Tom Sellers presents a multiple-course tasting menu that reimagines the story of British cuisine. Signature creations like the beef-dripping “Candle” and foie gras “Paddington Bear” are served alongside seasonal new dishes and paired with British wines, craft beers, and creative mocktails options. Story was recently renovated and encompasses a modern dining room, outdoor terrace, lounge, private spaces, and a chef's table experience.

Within one year of opening, the rave reviews for Oma by critics and patrons alike were crowned with the restaurant's first Michelin star. The menu here highlights Greek island cuisine, including seafood and Mediterranean dishes like hummus masabacha, paired with a 400-strong wine list. Featuring earthy, landscape-inspired interiors and a large terrace overlooking Borough Market, Oma is indisputably one of the best Southwark restaurants.

Trivet was launched by the former team at Heston Blumenthal's Fat Duck and soon attained similar heights. Distinguished by two Michelin stars, the modern yet warm Southwark restaurant is a constant hit with London crowds, serving an à la carte menu of globally inspired, imaginative dishes – cured meats, Japanese-style venison, sweetbreads, and more. There are over 450 types of wine to choose from as well.

Akara, the sister spot to acclaimed fine-dining restaurant Akoko, takes its name from the black-eyed pea fritters found throughout West Africa and Brazil. The à la carte menu at the Southwark restaurants showcases regional flavours, from street-style snacks and shareable plates to generous portions of grilled meat and fish. The drinks list mixes creative cocktails, many borrowed from Akoko, with a wine selection that champions off-the-beaten-path grape varieties.

The original Padella restaurant in Southwark is rarely without a queue of eager patrons waiting their turn outside, such is its acclaim when it comes to fresh, handmade pasta. Served with different rich sauces and fillings, this compact spot keeps its prices accessible despite the demand, and it's regularly hailed as one of London's best pasta bars.

The younger sibling to Soho's much-loved Tehrani spot, Berenjak swaps the cosy intimacy of the original for a spacious two-storey restaurant in Southwark with generous tables made for sharing. The menu still showcases signature staples like black chickpea hummus, charred aubergine, and kebabs, but now with an added emphasis on communal dining. The drinks offering has also been broadened with a more extensive wine list.

Agora is located beneath Oma and offers a more relaxed approach to Greek dining than its Michelin-starred sibling. Surrounded by the hubbub of Borough Market, the Southwark restaurant has a lively, pleasantly smoky atmosphere and specialises in Athenian-style street food like skewers and loaded flatbreads. The house cocktails make for a refreshing accompaniment to the food.

Champor-Champor in Southwark fuses Thai and Malay flavours within an eclectic, artefact-filled setting that's both colourful and intimate. The menu spans dishes like beef rendang, king prawn green curry and pan-fried tandoori prawns, paired with carefully chosen wines and drinks such as Vietnamese coffee and jasmine tea. With candlelight, striking decor, and options from private dining rooms to a romantic mezzanine table, it's as much about atmosphere as it is about food.

When it comes to steak, few do it better – or at friendlier prices – than Flat Iron. The steakhouse group has multiple branches in the Southwark area, serving its premium cuts in refurbished spaces that retain a timeless, vintage elegance. The signature Flat Iron steak is the obvious highlight, but make sure to check out the blackboard specials, as there's always something interesting going on there.

The sleek Aqua Shard, perched on the 31st floor of The Shard, pairs sweeping city views with inventive British cuisine such as venison carpaccio, grilled halibut, and leek ravioli. Guests can choose from a range of menus including a playful afternoon tea, a weekend brunch, and daily three-course lunches, all complemented by an extensive wine list and creative cocktails.

Set within the National Theatre, Lasdun's design is inspired by building's modernist architecture and riverside setting . A stylish dining experience awaits guests here, centred on fresh seafood, grilled classics, and all-stars from the Southwark restaurant's sibling pub, Marksman, including seasonal pies and the bucket-listed brown butter & honey tart. Pre and post-theatre menus are also available for those looking to catch a show at the theatre.

Pyro marries seasonal British produce with vibrant Greek influences and the drama of open-fire cooking. This contemporary Greek taverna in Southwark offers sharing dishes such as spanakopita with barrel-aged feta, charred vegetables, and whole Cornish turbot grilled over bay leaves. A spacious garden bar extends the experience into the evening, serving creative cocktails well into the night.

Nicknamed the Godfather of Spanish cooking in the UK, José Pizarro is one of the pioneers of authentic Spanish cuisine in London. He's well at home in Southwark, operating multiple locations, each with its own angle. Bustling and compact, José is the original tapas bar that helped kindle London's obsession with the Spanish small plates, while Pizarro is its follow-up, a more elegant yet still relaxed Spanish restaurant. Lolo is the youngest of the bunch and features the chefs first forays into breakfast service.

Le Pont de la Tour boasts some of the best views of the river and Tower Bridge in the city, but its strengths go beyond just the setting. Housed in a converted tea warehouse, the elegant restaurant offers classic French cuisine accompanied by a robust wine list. Children are welcomed with their own menu, and private dining is available as well.

Opened in 2023, Forza Wine at the National Theatre is the evolution of a popular South London wine bar and Italian restaurant. Like most restaurants at this location, there's no shortage of marvellous views to take in here, accompanied by natural wines, cocktails, and a rotating assortment of small plates and snacks such as panzanella, burrata, and harissa chicken. Outdoor seating is available all year round.

Rambutan is the first restaurant from British-Sri Lankan chef Cynthia Shanmugalingam, rooted in her journey of rediscovering Sri Lankan flavours through open-fire cooking. Set over two floors adorned with works by independent Sri Lankan artists, it offers a daily rotating menu of street snacks, seasonal curries, and larger sharing plates. The downstairs bar rounds out the experience with cocktails, craft beers and natural wines.

Heard is a venture from two Michelin-starred chef Jordan Bailey, already recognised as one of London's standout burger joints. Applying the same fine-dining precision he's known for, Bailey crafts burgers from 35-day aged regenerative beef, artisan cheese, and top-quality produce, served in a butter-toasted roast potato bun. Each creation is thoughtfully paired with a beer or wine to complete the experience.

At Bar Douro in Southwark, you can sit at the counter, lined with typical Portuguese azulejo tiles, and watch the chefs prepare classics dishes like bacalhau or smoked Portuguese sausage. The award-winning wine list here is its own draw, showcasing the breadth of Portugal's vineyards. The restaurant is especially popular in warm weather thanks to its pleasant outdoor terrace.

Striking a balance between elegance and warmth, Gunpowder offers food that's firmly rooted in Indian heritage while still bringing something new to the table, with standout dishes including the likes of Goan prawns, Bengali-style croquettes, and an array of vegetable plates that more than hold their own. Outside, the terrace adds extra charm – and if the evening air turns chilly, a hot water bottle arrives with your meal.