The Best Restaurants in Elephant and Castle

Every buzzing area needs a buzzy pizza joint, and that’s exactly what Theo’s Pizzeria brings to the table. It’s a sleek and modern space serving Neapolitan-style, melt-in-the-mouth, wood-fired pizza.

Don’t blame us, but we had pizza for starters and pizza for mains. Well, not literally — but listen to this and tell us you’d be able to resist. The pizza fritta is fried pizza dough stuffed to the brim with tomato, mozzarella, and salami, served with a side of rocket for freshness. Hey, it’s different enough, and we’ll never be mad about ordering this one. Paired with their passionfruit daiquiri, they were already scoring high points from us.

For our main, we simply couldn’t resist the Margherita — it’s a classic for a reason. We didn’t feel the need for more meat after that starter, although if a meaty pizza feast is your vibe, they’ve got plenty of options for that too. For a little extra crunch, we added fresh onions and we seriously recommend this! The way this dough managed to have a bite yet still melt in the mouth… that’s a science worth studying.

For something sweet, they’ve got a range of gelatos and the holy tiramisu. But what really caught our attention was the hazelnut espresso martini. The perfect digestif to round things off.

Have to try: Pizza fritta and hazelnut espresso martini
Perfect for: Family meal out
Approx price for 2: £45 (with drinks)

For homemade, no-fuss comfort food, The Original Caribbean Spice on Castle Square is an absolute must. It’s got just a couple of tables for the lucky few, but it’s mainly a beloved takeaway spot. And trust us, it delivers that authenticity and those big island flavours that fancier sit-down restaurants sometimes forget.

Usually, we’d be straight on the jerk chicken at any Caribbean joint, but this time we switched things up. Especially since we knew this place was the real deal. We went for the curry chicken, cooked in an insanely fragrant sauce packed with island spices and served with fluffy rice. This, along with their dumpling soup, screams comfort food like no other. Let’s just say we know exactly where we’re going next time we’re under the weather.

The sides here are also where it’s at. The macaroni and cheese slice is an absolute must — it’s so hearty it can stand up by itself (we’re not asking questions when something tastes that good). And obviously, no Jamaican feast is complete without plantain, crispy and caramelised to perfection.

Pro tip: grab a few of their patties to take home. Our favourites were the vegetable and the beef and cheese — the ultimate pick-me-up for later.

Have to try: Macaroni and cheese slice
Perfect for: Comfort food takeaway
Approx price for 2:  £20-£35

Beza keeps things simple and classic — warm, mellow tones, fuss-free interiors, and proper family-run vibes. Which usually means one thing: the focus is 100% on the food. And it definitely was.

The entire menu is vegan, which honestly surprised us since Ethiopian cuisine is usually pretty meat-heavy. But the flavours here are so bold and comforting that meat wasn’t missed for a second. The menu isn’t the longest in the world — mostly lentil and legume-based dishes — but each one brings something new to the table. Our favourite was the Misir Wot, a red lentil stew cooked with onions, garlic, and that signature Ethiopian berbere spice. It made our mouths tingle and our throats feel soothed all at once — a winning combo. Another top pick was the scrambled chickpeas. Incredible texture and full of that iconic garlic-and-ginger kick.

While it doesn’t exactly scream boozy brunch, don’t be fooled — they actually serve jugs of cocktails too. Pimms, Aperols, and their own house special: Beza’s Twist. A concoction of white wine, pineapple, orange juice, and lemonade. Incredibly refreshing and dangerously easy to drink.

Have to try: Scrambled chickpeas and Beza’s Twist cocktail
Perfect for: Fun with friends
Approx price for 2: £30-£45 (with drinks)

Korean fried chicken lovers, get ready for this one. Cheemc gives off modern, bougie diner energy and honestly brings all the vibes.

We were here for the fried chicken, obviously, but couldn’t resist trying a few of their other dishes first. It’s technically a main for one, but we seriously recommend sharing the Topokki to start. Creamy, spicy heaven — rice cakes, fish cakes, and tender vegetables simmering in the silkiest sauce. The texture of those rice cakes alone had us obsessed.

Now onto the main event: the fried chicken. Definitely go for a few flavours and share — committing to one just isn’t as fun. Our favourites were the Honey Butter and the Padak, which comes topped with a mustard dressing and a mountain of spring onions. That little hit of freshness is exactly what we needed between bites of fried goodness.

Oh, and plot twist — they even have a karaoke bar. So yeah, come for the food, stay for the chaos.

Have to try: Honey butter KFC
Perfect for: Fun with friends
Approx price for 2: £30-£45

Kachori is a modern and sophisticated Indian restaurant on Ash Avenue. Definitely feels special enough to skip the classic Friday night takeout and actually get out of the house.

We had to begin with cocktails because, 1) the classiness of the place demands it, and 2) we will never say no to a fun cocktail. The menu has all the classics, but each comes with an innovative Indian twist. Our favourite? The Spicy Caipiroska — mango vodka, beesou, and homemade spiced passion fruit jam. Honestly, someone needs to bottle that jam and sell it to us.

Given the name of the place, it was obvious we had to order the infamous Raj Kachori. Puffed lentils and spiced sweet potatoes, topped with a magical cooling combo of yogurt, tamarind, and pomegranate. One word? Impossible. Ten flavour experiences all at once, and each one perfect.

For mains, we went for something new: the Lamb Shank Nihari. Melt-in-the-mouth lamb, jammy caramelised onions, all swimming in a cinnamon, cardamom, and fennel-spiced sauce. Those onions were an absolute game changer. Of course, we also indulged in the classic Butter Chicken — gorgeous as always.

They even have some fun fusion twists to try next time, like naan chips and burgers.

Have to try: Raj kachori and garlic and coriander naan
Perfect for: Special occasions
Approx price for 2: £55-£95 (with cocktails and starters)

Paladar has those quirky, wholesome interiors we adore. Exposed brick walls, hanging greenery, and all-around family dinner vibes. It’s a Latin American spot, so it’s no surprise the atmosphere is absolutely buzzing — vibrant, colourful, and full of life.

With a cocktail list inspired by Latin America, resistance was futile. The energy here practically demands a drink (or three). The star of the show was definitely the Lupita — think a spicy margarita sweetened with passion fruit. Pure tropical bliss.

The cocktails begged for some nibbles, and we happily obliged. The plantain crisps and grilled corn kernels topped with feta and spring onions made for the perfect light bite. But for something truly indulgent, the crispy pork belly is an absolute must. Served with guacamole and marinated in an irresistible agave and sriracha chilli sauce — it was genuinely hard not to order another plate.

That pork had us hooked, so naturally we continued the theme with the cochinita pibil for mains. Slow-cooked pork in soft corn tortillas, smothered in a pineapple and habanero chilli jam- it was insanity! That jam alone could knock Nando’s right out of the park.

Since we were already on a cocktail high, we decided to skip the churros and end on a dessert cocktail instead. The Café de Ketty — rum, dulce de leche, cinnamon, and hot coffee — was basically churros in liquid form. A boozy, cozy dream.

Have to try: Pulled pork tacos with pineapple and habanero jam
Perfect for: Fun with friends
Approx price for 2: £40-£70 (with cocktails)

Dragon Castle is one of those spots everyone just knows they can count on.  The go-to when no one can decide what they’re craving, but everyone agrees it has to be comforting and flavour-packed.

If there’s one thing that has to make it to the table, it’s the dim sum basket. It’s a chef’s selection, so we had no idea what to expect — but when does dim sum ever disappoint? That piping hot filling, that perfectly chewy dumpling texture… unbeatable.

One of our favourite things about this place is how well it caters to people (like us) who need to try a bit of everything. The mixed hot platter is the dream — crispy seaweed, satay chicken, vegetable spring rolls, sesame prawn toast, and salt & pepper ribs. Ideal, right? And all that for just under a tenner — way better than ordering huge portions of everything and wasting half of it.

For mains, they’ve got all the Chinese classics we know and love, but we tried to stray from our usual Friday-night sweet and sour routine. Instead, we went for the Kung Po chicken. A spice-packed dish fried with onions, water chestnuts, cashews, and dried chillies. Paired with the staple mixed vegetable fried rice, it was the ultimate comfort combo.

To finish, we tried the freshly baked pumpkin dessert — warm, soft, and perfectly autumnal. Comfort on a plate.

Have to try: Dim sum basket and pumpkin cake
Perfect for: Family dinner
Approx price for 2: £40-£60

Toulouse Lautrec — the name gives it away. This 1920s French-inspired brasserie is pure Parisian charm: classy, romantic, and effortlessly elegant. It’s everything we wish we could replicate in the UK… and somehow, they’ve actually pulled it off here.

The vibe practically begs for a classy cocktail, so we started off with their Cherry Martini. And of course, every fruity cocktail needs its salty sidekick — enter the black truffle crisps. A dangerously good pairing.

For starters, we couldn’t resist the French onion soup — rich, indulgent, and absolutely textbook perfection. And because when in a French restaurant, you simply have to, we ordered the snails. Don’t overthink it — they’re drenched in garlic butter and parsley breadcrumbs, and honestly, that’s all we could taste (in the best way).

As for mains, while everything on the menu sounded prim, proper, and delicious, we couldn’t look past the rib-eye steak. Perfectly cooked and served with a creamy green peppercorn sauce, plus a side of thick-cut chips. Some classics never miss.

They also host live jazz nights, which we highly recommend. Stick around after dinner, grab another drink, and just soak up those classy, underground Parisian vibes for as long as possible. 

Have to try: Jazz bar
Perfect for: Date night
Approx price for 2: £50-£90

La Barra is colourful, vibrant, and full of energy — basically all the adjectives expected from a proper Colombian joint. It’s super family-friendly, wholesome, and all about serving up truly authentic comfort food.

The buzzy atmosphere practically forced us to order a Corona to the table. For a second, we could’ve sworn we were streetside in the Colombian sun. This paired perfectly with their fried cassava chips — there’s just something about cassava that makes it more satisfying than regular fries. Fluffier, chunkier, just… better.

We jumped straight into mains and went for one of their most traditional Colombian dishes: the Bandeja Paisa. Think fluffy white rice loaded with pork belly, chorizo, minced beef, fried egg, and an arepa. Let’s just say we definitely hit our protein target for the day. The dish also comes with avocado and a slice of ripe plantain, which added the perfect bit of freshness — much needed to balance out all that hearty goodness.

To finish, we shared a slice of their carrot cake (not sure how Colombian that one is, but it hit the spot), and the Colombian-style figs with dulce de leche. Now that’s a proper ending.

Have to try: Plantain slices and traditional Colombian dishes
Perfect for: Family meal out
Approx price for 2: £30-£50

Bobo Social has elevated, bougie café vibes, making it the perfect spot for a solid lunch catch-up with friends.

We went for their weekend brunch, but don’t worry—the à la carte menu doesn’t differ too much. It was 12 pm… that’s not too early for a cocktail, right? There’s only one correct answer to that. We kicked things off with the La Belle Vodka, a vodka-based cocktail sweetened with cherry liqueur and fresh berries. The perfect early-afternoon tipple, in our opinion. Something really fun here is the Bloody Mary trolley: a mixologist comes to the table to create a completely personalised drink based on specific preferences. Sadly we’re not quite refined enough to love a Bloody Mary, but if it were any other cocktail, we’d be first in line!

They’ve got all the classic breakfast options, but we were more tempted by the brunch-meets-lunch plates. We went for the Bobo Classic Burger—packed with all the works between two buttery brioche buns and served with skin-on fries. As if that sandwich wasn’t stuffed enough, we couldn’t resist adding extra toppings. The cheddar and caramelised onion combo is a sweet-savory dream.

Have to try: Weekend brunch
Perfect for: Casual catch ups
Approx price for 2: £55–£65 including cocktails