This old Victorian suburb, about six miles from central London, was badly damaged during WWII and has undergone a revival in recent years. It has a wealth of neighbourhood shops, many consistently voted among the best in London.
Blue Mountain Café
A good place to enjoy a nice coffee and cake while you wait for the queue to thin out at Hope & Greenwood next door. There’s a lovely atmosphere, as everyone in the neighbourhood seems to eventually drop by. And we love the broken china terrace.
18 North Cross Road SE22 9EU
Tel: +44 (0)20 8299 6953
Rail: East Dulwich
Grace & Favour
This eclectic gift shop, with café, was one of the three finalists - along with Hope & Greenwood - in LBC Radio’s Living London Awards for best original store. That’s two good reasons to visit East Dulwich.
35 North Cross Road SE22 9ET
Tel: +44 (0)20 8693 4400
Rail: East Dulwich
East Dulwich Deli
This good organic delicatessen led the revitalisation of the area. It’s a lovely place to browse and soak up the old-time atmosphere. High prices - some justified, some not so much - might put you off buying too much.
15-17 Lordship Lane SE22 8EW
Tel: +44 (0)20 8693 2525
Rail: East Dulwich
Liquorish
This style bar serves unusual beers from around the world, has a varied cocktail and interesting wine list, as well as serving a full organic menu. Music is eclectic, with a DJ playing hip-hop, house and world on Fridays and Saturdays and the odd live spot.
123 Lordship Lane SE22 8HU
Tel: +44 (0)20 8693 7744
Rail: East Dulwich
Palmerston
Voted the best gastro pub in London in 2006, the menu’s quality (and, sadly, prices) has risen to stay ahead of the increasing competition in the area. Chef Jamie Younger, former head chef at Conran’s Bibendum, uses ‘free-range and organic ingredients, sourced locally if possible’.
91 Lordship Lane SE22 8EP
Tel: +44 (0)20 8693 1629
Rail: East Dulwich
Hope & Greenwood
This old-fashioned shop looks as if it has been around for decades, but it is actually a loving recreation of what the perfect childhood sweet shop should have been like. But the queue out of the door is not made up of children.
20 North Cross Road SE22 8EW
Tel: +44 (0)20 8761 7243
Tube: East Dulwich
Any comments - or a suggestion? Please e-mail me.
East Dulwich
