Charlie’s guidebook
Restaurant recommendations
Here are some of my favourite local restaurants within easy walking distance (5 to 15 minutes).
Vanilla Black is my personal favourite for breakfast or lunch as it has a nice vibe and good food. Try their poached eggs with smashed avocadoes and bacon on sourdough bread for a healthier take on a traditional English breakfast. The café next door is less trendy but good. Both have seats outside at the back if it’s sunny.
24 íbúar mæla með
Vanilla Black Coffee & Books
308 Kennington RdVanilla Black is my personal favourite for breakfast or lunch as it has a nice vibe and good food. Try their poached eggs with smashed avocadoes and bacon on sourdough bread for a healthier take on a traditional English breakfast. The café next door is less trendy but good. Both have seats outside at the back if it’s sunny.
Sally Whites is just round the corner and has a yummy selection of home-made food which guests invariably love. Their breakfast brioches (with egg, bacon, spinach and tomato) are tasty and filling, as are the salads and quiches for lunch. The cakes are some of the best in town!
46 íbúar mæla með
Sally White
353 Kennington RdSally Whites is just round the corner and has a yummy selection of home-made food which guests invariably love. Their breakfast brioches (with egg, bacon, spinach and tomato) are tasty and filling, as are the salads and quiches for lunch. The cakes are some of the best in town!
One of the most reliable traditional British cafes in the area - friendly service and a bright, clean dining room.
Cafe 303
303 Kennington RdOne of the most reliable traditional British cafes in the area - friendly service and a bright, clean dining room.
If you're keen to try traditional British fish and chips, then the Windmill Fish Bar is the place to go. Pick up a takeaway or eat in their bright dining room - they do a particularly good value set meal at lunchtime.
11 íbúar mæla með
Windmill Fish Bar
211 Kennington LnIf you're keen to try traditional British fish and chips, then the Windmill Fish Bar is the place to go. Pick up a takeaway or eat in their bright dining room - they do a particularly good value set meal at lunchtime.
A typical British gastropub where you can have a pint of beer and something to eat - everything from pies to steaks to fish specials.
78 íbúar mæla með
The Tommyfield
185 Kennington LnA typical British gastropub where you can have a pint of beer and something to eat - everything from pies to steaks to fish specials.
Choose from a wide selection of pizzas and classic Italian dishes - you can eat outside in an attractive courtyard is the weather is good.
35 íbúar mæla með
Amici Mediterranean and Doost Persian Bar, Grill & Delicatessen
205-209 Kennington LnChoose from a wide selection of pizzas and classic Italian dishes - you can eat outside in an attractive courtyard is the weather is good.
Just round the corner from the house, you'll find London's most famous curry house - where many Members of Parliament and even Prime Ministers have eaten. As you'd expect, the food is excellent - and if you can also order takeaways.
59 íbúar mæla með
Kennington Tandoori
313 Kennington RdJust round the corner from the house, you'll find London's most famous curry house - where many Members of Parliament and even Prime Ministers have eaten. As you'd expect, the food is excellent - and if you can also order takeaways.
Just along the way from the more famous (and more expensive) Kennington Tandoori, Ghandi's is where locals tend to eat as the food is tasty and well-priced.
23 íbúar mæla með
Gandhi's
347 Kennington RdJust along the way from the more famous (and more expensive) Kennington Tandoori, Ghandi's is where locals tend to eat as the food is tasty and well-priced.
A relatively new addition to the area and already much-loved, Taro provides an extensive menu within everything from freshly prepared sushi to ramen noodles and bento boxes. Service comes with a smile and no unpleasant surprises in the bill.
17 íbúar mæla með
Taro
412 Kennington RdA relatively new addition to the area and already much-loved, Taro provides an extensive menu within everything from freshly prepared sushi to ramen noodles and bento boxes. Service comes with a smile and no unpleasant surprises in the bill.
The Ragged Canteen is at the Beaconsfield Gallery in Newport Street (a 12-minute walk, but ideal if you’re visiting the Newport Street Gallery). It serves ‘ethically-sourced, seasonal food’, with a daily changing vegetarian menu, including gluten-free and vegan options. It’s open for lunch Wednesday-Friday with all-day brunch on the weekend.
The Ragged Canteen
22 Newport StThe Ragged Canteen is at the Beaconsfield Gallery in Newport Street (a 12-minute walk, but ideal if you’re visiting the Newport Street Gallery). It serves ‘ethically-sourced, seasonal food’, with a daily changing vegetarian menu, including gluten-free and vegan options. It’s open for lunch Wednesday-Friday with all-day brunch on the weekend.
A 12-minute walk along Kennington Lane towards Vauxhall will bring you to Jihwaja, a Korean restaurant that was very well reviewed by Jay Rayner in the Observer. Ideal if you like your food spicy (particularly fried chicken).
9 íbúar mæla með
JIHWAJA
353 Kennington LnA 12-minute walk along Kennington Lane towards Vauxhall will bring you to Jihwaja, a Korean restaurant that was very well reviewed by Jay Rayner in the Observer. Ideal if you like your food spicy (particularly fried chicken).
The Black Prince is a traditional-looking London pub which has recently got a reputation for offering the best value Sunday lunch in Kennington, plus other British favourites.
38 íbúar mæla með
The Black Prince
6 Black Prince RdThe Black Prince is a traditional-looking London pub which has recently got a reputation for offering the best value Sunday lunch in Kennington, plus other British favourites.
The Kennington is my personal favourite for Sunday lunch as it serves great roasts and attracts a friendly, mixed crowd. It’s slightly further afield (15-minute walk) – but you can cut across Kennington Park, so it’s ideal if you feel like stretching your legs.
51 íbúar mæla með
The Kennington
60 Camberwell New RdThe Kennington is my personal favourite for Sunday lunch as it serves great roasts and attracts a friendly, mixed crowd. It’s slightly further afield (15-minute walk) – but you can cut across Kennington Park, so it’s ideal if you feel like stretching your legs.
Pharmacy 2 at the Newport Street Gallery (12-minute walk) is Damien Hirst’s restaurant in collaboration with Mark Hix. It has an eclectic menu with well-sourced ingredients that showcase ‘the best of British’. With a striking design by Damien Hirst, it’s very much a destination restaurant. It’s also surprisingly easy to get a table at short notice, but I’d still recommend booking in advance.
15 íbúar mæla með
Pharmacy 2 Café
1 Newport StPharmacy 2 at the Newport Street Gallery (12-minute walk) is Damien Hirst’s restaurant in collaboration with Mark Hix. It has an eclectic menu with well-sourced ingredients that showcase ‘the best of British’. With a striking design by Damien Hirst, it’s very much a destination restaurant. It’s also surprisingly easy to get a table at short notice, but I’d still recommend booking in advance.
The Garden Café at Lambeth Palace is a 20-minute walk, so furthest of all these recommendations. However, it’s well worth visiting as it occupies a sparkling, light-filled glass and beaten-copper pavilion and has an interesting modern European menu. It has also got good reviews from Jay Rayner (Observer) and Grace Dent (Standard).
The Garden Cafe
5 Lambeth Palace RdThe Garden Café at Lambeth Palace is a 20-minute walk, so furthest of all these recommendations. However, it’s well worth visiting as it occupies a sparkling, light-filled glass and beaten-copper pavilion and has an interesting modern European menu. It has also got good reviews from Jay Rayner (Observer) and Grace Dent (Standard).
The Ship has now changed ownership and has become 'The Walcot 1830' - a gastropub serving some of the best pub food in the area. It's worth walking 10 minutes along the road to sample their interesting menu.
16 íbúar mæla með
The Walcot 1830
171 Kennington RdThe Ship has now changed ownership and has become 'The Walcot 1830' - a gastropub serving some of the best pub food in the area. It's worth walking 10 minutes along the road to sample their interesting menu.
Just a 5 minute walk away, you'll think you've left London and entered a pub in the English countryside. The pub is deceptively big with its own theatre, garden, beehive and restaurant.
47 íbúar mæla með
The White Bear
138 Kennington Park RdJust a 5 minute walk away, you'll think you've left London and entered a pub in the English countryside. The pub is deceptively big with its own theatre, garden, beehive and restaurant.