Restaurants

On a quiet weekday, it is bliss to take breakfast, lunch or tea in this light and airy, modern park café overlooking the green lawns and rhododendrons of Dulwich Park. In contrast, midday on a sunny weekend is definitely a bad time to go looking for food for hungry children. After 40 minutes queuing, we urgently needed one of the ‘special Sunday bloody mary’ cocktails. Most folk persevere, because the offer and the setting is attractive. The all-day full breakfast is great value, the cakes are own-made and the specials are always interesting (moroccan lamb soup with pitta on the last outing). Hell, you can even get wine here. Staff mean well, with their organic and seasonal commitment, and new additions regularly appear on the menu (rum hot chocolate, or a Baileys latte, anyone?), but service is painfully slow. This would be the perfect park café, if only they could find a way of coping with the weekend rush.

Time Out Eating & Drinking Guide 2009