Where to Eat in Deptford: A Local Food Guide
Deptford is one of South East London’s most quietly exciting food neighbourhoods, a mix of long-standing local favourites, new independent spots, and some of the best casual dining you’ll find in London.
Whether you’re stopping by for a quick coffee, planning a low-key date night, or looking for somewhere to eat before or after a workshop at Something Good, there’s no shortage of good options within a short walk.
We’ve pulled together a small, considered list of places we genuinely rate (from affordable everyday go-tos to slightly more special meals) all within easy reach of Deptford Market Yard and the surrounding area.
Any pictures shared below are ours and sadly never sponsored (we are open to free food please) - but we take pleasure in doing the taste tests for you!
Coffees and Quick Bites
Our take:
We love Ze-ze and have brought their brunches up to the studio for morning junk journal sessions for you all to enjoy.
Ze-ze has a fab selection of brunchy foods, with delicious bagels and rotisserie chickens on Friday and Saturday evenings.
Good to Know:
There’s happy hour from 5-7pm of Fridays where you can get very good wine for £5 a glass
Don’t skip the tiramisu
Our take:
We like to believe that we’re solely responsible for Naked continuing to stock their pistachio oat milk after we became addicted to it at christmas.
The spot in Deptford for matcha, running clubs and pistachio flat whites
Good to Know:
If you’re feeling indulgent, get them to make you this off-menu treat: a dark chocolate mocha with hazelnut oat milk. Thank us later.
Lavish Lunches
Our take:
There is only one thing better than tacos - and that’s tacos with birria. Taca taco’s speciality is their beef birria tacos which come with dipping broth that’s to die for.
They also have a rotation of month specials which are always very tempting
Good to Know:
This is your frozen marg (and Paloma?!) spot in Deptford
Our take:
Badger Badger is the local spot for board games, but their food is pretty special too. They have a spread of Japanese street food including yakitori, bao and lots of deep fried delights.
Good to Know:
If you like a crunchy umami salad, their side salad isn’t to be missed
Also the donuts
One downside - they opened in covid and have never got round to proper side plates and cutlery. The food is still great, but if this will kill your vibe avoid.
Deptford Dinners
Our take:
This is one of two big pizza spots in Deptford (review of Sodo incoming soon). We tend to favour SALT because it’s closer to the studio and we’re lazy.
The dough is puffy, the specials are always rotating and the beers are tasty too
Good to Know:
As far as we know, they’re currently on the Neotaste app, which will give you 2-for-1, though you have to subscribe for a free trial
You can add a burrata to your pizza for much less than the cost of the burrata starter (shh).
Be careful about eating pizza outside. It’s a bit of a wind tunnel, pizzas have been known to fly into Jess’s face.
Sunday Lunches
Our take:
Buster Mantis have a roast like no other. On Sunday’s they have a very special jerk roasts with delightfully charred meat with rice and peas and potatoes and all the usual trimmings, with a healthy serving of gravy.
It’s delicious, and absurdly light despite the carb overload
Good to Know:
Do save room for the dessert. They usually have some kind of ginger or sticky toffee pud and it’s worth holding out for.
Drinks Spots
Our take:
We like the lucky anchor. They have a lovely selection of crafty beers, a electric fire and it’s quite cosy
Good to Know:
Probably not for your if you’re in search of a wine or a cocktail
This is the place to go for pickle backs on Deptford High St
Our take:
It feels fancy and we love it. This place is run by a proper mixologist and you always feel in good hands. The cocktails are inventive, with chilled glasses and big cubic ice cubes and it always feels like an occasion.
Good to Know:
All cocktails are £13 (the last time we checked)
If you stop at one, you have more restraint than we do.
Check out our events and workshops to make your visit to Deptford a 10/10