O Cantina de Portugal is a lively Portuguese tapas place offering a hearty selection of grilled pork and chicken dishes alongside a traditional assortment of seafood. With generous portions and dishes like fragrant octopus salads, garlicky grilled prawns doused in olive oil, and salted dried cod flaked over thick chips — and with and a friendly community atmosphere (it’s a particularly fun place to watch European football) — this is a great restaurant for groups who want an informal and relaxed meal. Keep an eye out for the weekend specials including the whole roasted suckling pig.

One of the longest-established coffee shops in the area, owner Ali’s business has come on leaps and bounds with the establishment of his own coffee roastery, Perception — which now provides the beans for his cafe alongside occasional guests from the likes of nearby Assembly. A neighbourhood fixture evolving at its own speed.

Iranian cuisine has surged in popularity in recent years and it’s the fragrances of the Persian kitchen that inspire this cafe in Brixton’s indoor market. The counter changes daily, but expect to find bright and zesty herb-heavy salads, hearty stews — infused with dried limes and saffron — and aromatic cakes scented with rosewater and cardamom. Seasonal vegetable kukus — akin to Persian frittatas — are served alongside technicolour plant-based sides, making this a great destination for the health-conscious and gluten-averse.

A cozy cafe offering delicious northern Chinese street food and excellent value. The house-made dumplings filled with king prawn and water chestnuts, pork and Chinese leaf, and spinach and mushrooms are the stars of the show, but diners could also choose noodle soups enveloped in rich and warming broths, refreshing cold noodle salads with fresh vegetables, and sides such as smashed cucumber and seaweed.

One of the few Colombian restaurants in the arcade predating its regeneration is El Rancho del Lalo, where empanadas are dense as bricks, stuffed to bursting with strands of spiced pork and fried to order so the casing satisfyingly cracks and spills out its contents. An excellent rendition of the Colombian national dish bandeja paisa comes as an enormous platter of meat and protein, including standout crispy chicharron and kidney bean stew. The gentrification continues apace, but El Rancho still outflanks units selling food at twice the price.

At Eat of Eden, spirulina, hemp, seaweed, and moss drinks pay homage to foodstuffs that Rastas have been championing since time immemorial. The interweaving of ackee, callaloo, and plantain through the menu’s curries and wraps is the hallmark, but for first-timers who aren’t sure where to begin, jump straight into the beloved, awe-inspiring platters.

This casual Trinidadian restaurant excels at Caribbean classics and is the perfect spot to try some of Brixton’s best curried goat, hot-pepper prawns, and jerk chicken; no visit is complete without sampling the cod fritters and spicy chicken wings. Vegetarians are well-catered for with hearty pumpkin and chickpea rotis. Enjoy the Brixton community dining with house-made ginger beer or a glass of rum punch.

The original branch of this much-expanded chain is still serving up reliable sourdough pizzas at affordable prices. Neapolitan-style doughs are made with organic flours and left to slow rise for 20 hours before being flash-cooked in a wood-burning oven. Toppings are understated but all the better for it, including creamy buffalo mozzarella, cured chorizo, and wild mushrooms; the chile oil is a real treat too (it’s also for sale by the bottle).

The Brixton branch of Black Bear — which also has a unit in Shoreditch — wins not just for its excellent burgers, but for a lockdown side project that is now a full-fledged breakfast menu from Thursdays to Sundays, bringing sausage, cheese, and onion patties and hash browns to the party.

Chef-founder Ferdinand “Budgie” Montoya has long resisted the pernicious idea — not confined to Filipino cuisine — that it represents some sort of “trend,” through successful restaurant residencies across the city, first at the Duke’s Head in Highgate, then at Coffee Is My Cup of Tea in Dalston, and finally at the Sun and 13 Cantons in Soho. Now with a home base in Brixton, he cranks out shattering-skinned lechon; sprightly kinilaw — the Filipino iteration of the global tradition of “cooking” fish with citrus, chile, and herbs; and a rice bowl based on sinigang, a rich soup soured by tamarind.

This gem of a restaurant has been a Brixton stalwart for decades, serving classic Eritrean dishes. Asmara is a great place for groups thanks to the large mixed platters (meat or vegan) that never fail to impress: Small heaps of fragrant chicken, sour and spicy lentils, and shredded mustard greens are piled onto tangy injera bread. With welcoming staff and an entertaining coffee and popcorn ceremony to end the meal, this easygoing spot makes customers feel at home.

Chris Restrepo’s parents own Ichiban Sushi, serving carefully made sushi since 1999. Restrepo takes that tradition and filters it through the version of Brixton he knows as an omakase, which he has labelled “yoroppa-mae” for its deployment of European ingredients. He might smoke tuna, or cure and dry-age hamachi; or he might put CBD caviar on top of mackerel. One of the most singular sushi experiences in the city.

This old-school Caribbean restaurant has been going for over 20 years and there’s a reason for that: It serves up unfussy Jamaican home cooking and has a convivial atmosphere, great cocktails, and a fantastic reggae soundtrack. Go for the classics such as ackee and saltfish, jerk snapper, sauteed callaloo, and ground provisions (intensely dense fried dumplings), and pair your meal with a large glass of Guinness punch.

This buzzy, intimate bistro is tucked away from the frenzy of central Brixton on a quiet residential street. It is perfect for those seeking atmosphere: Naughty Piglets is all about relaxed dining in a beautiful space. The menu is small but eclectic, featuring standout dishes like pork belly with Korean spices, devon crab with pickled cabbage, and tender asparagus with cured egg yolk. The wine list is exceptional, and someone is always on hand to suggest pairings.

Much violence has been done to ingredients in the name of Humble Tuscan Cookery in U.K. restaurants, but this paean to the region’s coastal hinterland and beaches carries off the tribute act with some aplomb. It’s unassuming, unmessed-with cookery — pairing mozzarella with asparagus and serving cured beef next to radish — but has the confidence needed to deliver.