Peckham Refreshment Rooms

Sometimes a place gets it just right. I think the name says it all, The Peckham Refreshment Rooms are all about hip understatement — obviously well thought through but without trying too much. It’s subtle enough not to upset the neighbours (I hope).
My first choice coming out of the station was a more traditional Peckham café, but PRR had such a festive glow about it, it won hands down. It has an illuminated yellow sign — without any words on it … still, looking through the windows you get a fair idea of what expects you inside.
We were early enough to find the main dining area empty and took our choice of school chairs on plain square tables. We pointed out to the waiter that we were in a bit of a hurry but still wanted to enjoy our food — well advised as my friends experienced annoying waiting times when they came here for breakfast.
We were lucky, and the fact that we all opted for the dinner special probably helped — a perfect square of slow roast pork served on the most delicious baked bean stew I have ever tasted. A delicious bargain at £10 which included a glass of house wine each.
Peckham Refreshment Rooms are perfect for comfort food on a cold and dark November evening! My trips to this part of town are few and far between — I doubt I’ll make it past this gem the next time I visit, especially as it is literally around the corner from Peckham Rye station.

Love the simplicity and elemental delivery of the food. Particular favorites were the broad beans in pod, duck confit with pickled endive (?) which cut the fat nicely. Had a marvelous render of the Dark
And stormy with honey. The chocolate tart for desert was a rich shard of cacao goodness, not mention anything grown up thrown on ice cream.

Really tasty and rustic food. It took a while to come, but was well worth the wait. The restaurant is compact and has a cool vibe. Service was also good… will visit again.

I’ve lived in South London, on and off, for 30 years. Despite being a mile away, I’ve gone to Peckham about 3 times in that time period, usually to do with gas payments.
There’s never been a good reason to go.
This last week I’ve been there 3 times, all to do with food. It’s in the process of meta morphing into a gastronomic ghetto from its previous incarnation.
It is on Blenheim Grove at the bottom of the Peckham train stop, making access easy.
The refreshment rooms themselves are in a nondescript little shop converted into a nondescript restaurant. So nondescript, they don’t have a sign. Not sure if it’s a committee dis-​agreement, a hipster thing or just laziness but it’s not difficult to find; just look at the crowds.
Seating is at a premium, with a slanted bar counter, a central communal table and some side areas. It holds up to 25 or so people so bringing a pram here is ambitious, to say the least. (though I did see one couple with a kiddie.)
Noise level is pretty loud with the excellent music being mostly mid-90’s quality (Talking heads, REM)
Kitchen space is minimal and staffed by a couple of quietly competent chefs, in an open space.
Wine list is truly fun with everything being offered by the glass. Yes, you will find a Chardonnay and a Sauvignon Blanc but you’ll also find rustic, and well priced wines including Carignan. The cocktail list is also fun with ingredients as obscure as the wines.
Now, finally, the food. Short, succinct and clever. 3 or 4 options offered on the menu, with a rotating selection of specials which included lamb chops and quail.
We chose the duck confit with fennel, the quail with runner beans and a Sicilian artichoke stuffed with goats cheese. They read well and taste better. They did warn at the quail comes slightly pink inside as I guess they’ve had a couple of rejections; not great when the original prices are so reasonable.
There was a short desert menu comprising an affogato, a lemon posset (like a mousse) and a rosemary/​polenta cake with crème fraîche. Already forgotten what an affogato is, but the rest were wonderful. There are multiple items that you may or may not know which, in the end, is a win as it’s great to be challenged with new items and combos when I go out. Also promotes conversation with the crew and yourselves. And isn’t that part of what doing out is about?

One of my favourite local restaurants… Yes it’s full of hipsters but genuinely lovely food, well thought through menus and interesting drinks
Also been here for the Christmas set menu which was a great experience

Unbearably hip but also (somehow) unpretentious, bare wooden countertops and stools with stark concrete walls but also warm and cozy. Nice cocktails, small selection of wines and pickily chosen beers; delicious nibbles and plates that you can linger over. Yes!

Popped into this place after a drink with a friend at neighboring Bar Story (another cool venue worth checking out) and found a locale that definitely caters to my urban explorer. Intimate in a relaxed, easy-​going way, with a few tables, a bar and a simple menu with a variety of small plates, wines and beers, Peckham Refreshment Rooms is what happens when you get creative in remodeling a once-​upon-​a-​time car garage into something else entirely. It’s the kind of place that’s easy to miss if you don’t know where to look, seeing as it opts out of signage or any kind of advertising at all, and I can appreciate that. Reminds me of NYC and its myriad hidden gems. We went for a couple of small dishes and a few glasses of red as recommended by the staff (the French beat out the Italian), and spent an hour or so soaking in the space, the food, the drink, the staff, and each other. The only thing I’d change? Knocking down the prices on the small plates by a pound or so. They were tasty, but felt a bit pricey for what they were. Still, small gripe for a small place with big potential for enjoyment. Refreshment indeed.