Peckham Refreshment Rooms

Restaurants, Cafés Peckham Rye
4 out of 5 stars
(12user reviews)
Peckham Refreshment Rooms

A slick, pared-down, little bar and restaurant, Peckham Refreshment Rooms is located in an art deco block around the back of Peckham Rye station. Evenings tend to attract Peckham’s edgy art scene/boho crowd.

Breakfast and weekend brunch options include granola with yoghurt and honey, Alsace bacon sandwiches, Castilian eggs with sourdough and baked smoked haddock gratin with parmesan and a hard-boiled egg. Lunch includes salt beef sandwiches with pickles and dijon mustard and an orange, rosemary and polenta cake. 

The evening menu features dishes such as warm taleggio with potato, shallots and capers, mackerel paté with pickled fennel and toast, soft polenta with truffle and parmesan and bavette with bone marrow and watercress salad.

More Less
Peckham Refreshment Rooms says
Based in the heart of Peckham, the Refreshment Rooms is a bright and modern space offering coffee and brunch during the daytime, then dinner and cocktails in the evening. Our dining room offers a small, intimate space to enjoy our simple but beautiful food.
More Less

By: Time Out London Food & Drink

Posted:

Venue name: Peckham Refreshment Rooms
Address: 12-16 Blenheim Grove
London
SE15 4QL
Opening hours: Lunch served 11am-3pm Mon-Fri. Dinner served 6-10.30pm Mon-Sat. Brunch served 10am-3pm Sat
Transport: Rail: Peckham Rye rail
Price: Dishes £5-£10
Do you own this business?
Static map showing venue location

Average User Rating

3.7 / 5

Rating Breakdown

  • 5 star:5
  • 4 star:3
  • 3 star:1
  • 2 star:1
  • 1 star:2
LiveReviews|12
2 people listening
tastemaker

I had one of the best Mochas here! As I'm lactose intolerant, I had mine with oat milk, which I think added an extra layer of flavour and helped with the thickness of the drink. The cocoa powder and coffee were well mixed together such that I could actually taste the chocolate, which isn't the case for many places I've had a mocha at. It came with a nice layer of foam at the top and was just a brilliant blend of flavours. 


Although the breakfast menu was pretty standard, I thought the Avo Toast was done well. The poached egg on top was cooked well, resulting in a beautifully golden and runny yolk! The bread was well toasted and the avocado was roughly smashed and topped with seeds, which gave it a layer of crunch and flavour. It was a small portion with only a single slice of toast and 1 egg but sufficient for breakfast. I would've definitely ordered something else had it been brunch. 


The layout of the café was pretty cute! It was very open and welcoming, which makes me feel comfortable. I also liked that there was free wifi to use, which allows customers to work there peacefully. It is closely situated to the Peckham Rye station, so convenient to get to and on a quiet but visible lane off the main road. The staff were lovely and the service was quick. 

Tastemaker

Went for brunch and, while the environment and presentation of the food is nice, the food itself was just ok. Served on a iron skilled, the runny eggs turned rock hard, and the bacon was just plain too salty. Drink choices are good, but at the end it just lacked something for the great ethically sourced ingredients to shine. Was hoping to get a sweet bite, but they were all gone by 2pm on a Saturday, so the trick might be to go early. Or find another spot with more interesting food.


Oh no. Has the best restaurant opening in years lost their way three years in. Went last night and in spite of only 5 tables occupied service was atrocious. Very nice guy but 20 minutes before drink order taken. You used to get a cocktail in here within 3 minutes of sitting down. 


Had to ask for water three times. I don't normally do water but it was the hottest  night in September for a 100 years. Asked for  mustard with steak. When I had finished all but on small piece, waiter passes by and asks if I still want mustard. Steak cold on serving. Starters spill onto table with no preamble, no introduction, three wobbly plates cascaded onto the table. The front of house used to be so good and so cool here. Now it appears comical. Asked for the bill and 25 minute wait, Don't these guys want to be paid.


Now all first world problems but this place is not rock bottom cheap. I never minded this as the food is great and service used to be the best. Now the prices have risen ( is this true or just my sense) , the service has fallen a long way and if these guys don't watch it the death knell of mediocrity will hit. I wonder if they have got distracted , was it just  a one off bad night or is this the new vernacular. I will give them one more try and let you know.

Tastemaker

A perfect Sunday hangout - Peckham Refreshment Rooms are situated on a central side street so prime people watching territory. Grab yourself a bench facing on to the street, take the papers, and order the Kedgeree and a pink grapefruit juice.


Cool little place for your morning coffee and people watching. By night, it transforms into a really nice and chilled cocktail bar. The food menu changes regularly is really good value for what you get and the home made cider is definitely worth trying. 


Great cocktails and wine and absolutely delicious and original food! Yum!


We discovered this treat of a place after a visit to the PeckhamPlex cinema. The main bar area has a New York feel to it, with a high bar you can watch the world go by from, but also, feels bustling seeing as it's only a short step onto the lively surrounding streets. Go through to the dining area and there's a lovely atmosphere of relaxed natter. We certainly found it an excellent place to chew over the movie we'd just enjoyed. We had a range of platters including one of parmesan with truffle honey which was delicious, and another of fine cold meats. Argentinian Malbec was bang on the money, and the service was noticeably good, very swift and very cheerful. Will definitely come back here again, it had that great blend of dedication and individuality. Really nice experience.


The food quality is one of the best I have ever experienced at this price point. Staff are friendly and knowledgeable and make you feel welcome. 

But back to the food! Quality ingredients prepared with skill and thoughtfulness. For a cool date, flying solo or to be super sociable with friends - all will work here.


This Time Out review of Peckham Refreshment Rooms was inaccurate when it was first written - its not a tapas bar, and doesn't major on Spanish flavours - please can you re-write?  Jay Rayner review is brilliant, and accurate; http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2013/jul/07/peckham-refreshment-rooms-jay-rayner


Really fantastic food and drink, served by knowledgable, thoughtful staff. 

We shared 3 starters/small plates to begin - they appear very pared back, but the produce is all - beautifully fresh - freshly sliced charcuterie, crisp flavoursome salad, freshly hewn parmesan. 
Our mains were amazing - whole plaice - cooked to perfection and simply garnished with buttery lemony drizzle & capers, THAT polenta (eye rollingly good!), and pumpkin ravioli - simply dressed, but allowing you to taste the flavours. Daupinoise and chicory made it a filling meal for the 3 of us.
We asked for a wine recommendation - and having been allowed to taste a couple of the recommendations (that's good) we opted for the expensive white, which our waitress declared needing aerating - she duly did that, returned with 3 chilled glasses - and hey presto, amazing. There's nothing to regret when spending a bit more on a great wine when it is served graciously, with knowledge and care. The important thing here, is the skill of how the menu is put together - if you serve a such a pared-back selection of small plates and drinks, they MUST complement each other. There are several other local establishments that totally miss this point (ahem!)
If I were to be critical, I would say that service was a bit hard to attract sometimes, but was spot on, once it arrived. 

No soya! A hipster joint with no soya. Must be some reactionary post modern statement or summit. Barista was very smiley and pleasant though.


It's quite exciting to see these new places popping up in Peckham. Went there recently. Two of us. About 6.30pm. Quiet, but by the time we left it was packed. One waitress was great and explained the drinks and menu to us. All very smiley and helpful. Had 5 tapas, a couple of drinks and pudding. Food was good but quite pricey, though. A few issues though. One member of bar staff spent the whole time we were there texting away on her phone. Helping customers in-between but then going back to her phone. Secondly, they automatically add 12.5% service to the menu that I didn't have the wit to subtract. And finally, the waitress took my drink before I could drink the last swig (which I had been saving). I didn't complain at the time about any of these so, I know, shouldn't really complain now, but I thought it would act as a heads up for the place.

View all reviews

Snap up exclusive discounts in London

Time Out's handpicked deals — hurry, they won't be around for long...