Diners' Choice: Best Overall restaurants in South East London

OpenTable

Updated October 05, 2026

Looking for the best overall restaurants in South East London? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Cinnamon Culture

5.0

5 (498)

£26 to £40

Indian

Chislehurst

About the restaurant

Cinnamon Culture is a fine Indian dining restaurant. It is the perfect setting in which to sample contemporary Indian cookery.
Here you’ll taste tantalising homemade chutneys, delve into stunning starters and enjoy the kitchen’s breathtakingly creative plated main dishes, created with one eye on the traditional and another very much on current and up-and-coming trends. Unusually for an Indian restaurant, Cinnamon Culture places much of its focus on its dessert menu, allowing for further inventiveness in twisting together Eastern and Western ideas.

Top review

Tam

Dined 6 days ago

If you have not been, I so highly recommend. Beautiful food both in taste and presentation, attentive staff, and the experience never disappoints.

El Alquimista

4.9

4.9 (90)

£41 and over

Peruvian

Greenwich

About the restaurant

Peru is one of the world's most celebrated culinary destinations, renowned for its rich cultural heritage, exceptional biodiversity, and vibrant flavours. Inspired by this remarkable tradition, El Alquimista brings the spirit of modern Peru to the heart of Greenwich.

Our bar features premium Peruvian Pisco, artisanal infusions, carefully selected wines, and signature cocktails inspired by the Andes, the Amazon, and Peru's Pacific coast.

Executive Chef Walter Pineda, born in Peru, has honed his craft in some of London's most respected kitchens, including Le Pont de la Tour, Maze by Gordon Ramsay, and The British Museum. His cooking combines the soul of Peruvian cuisine with the finesse of modern European techniques, creating an elegant and memorable dining experience.

At El Alquimista, Walter's vision is to celebrate Peru's extraordinary culinary heritage while embracing the finest seasonal British ingredients.

Top review

Philip

Dined 2 days ago

Wonderful food combinations that you know the chef has thought long about and delivered superbly. The service was spot on. A thoroughly enjoyable experience.

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Experience

Autumm TASTING EXPERIENCE

Luna

4.8

4.8 (21)

£26 to £40

European

Bermondsey

About the restaurant

A local wine bar, bottle shop and restaurant located on the cobbled streets of the historic Shad Thames. Whether you’re coming in for a few glasses, a bottle or dinner, we look forward to welcoming you!

To learn more about us, visit our sister restaurant Legare, where our shared passion for quality and craft continues to thrive.

Top review

Caroline

Dined on Oct 8, 2026

We were really well looked after and tried loads of amazing wines! The food is excellent and the team so lovely and attentive. Highly recommend!

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Experience

After Work at Luna Wine Bar

Peckham Bazaar

4.8

4.8 (451)

£26 to £40

Balkan style

Peckham

About the restaurant

Grilled food and mezze plates inspired by the Balkans, paired with a unique selection of Eastern Mediterranean wines.

Our menu features Albanian, Turkish, Greek, and Iranian dishes, all cooked simply over an open fire in a relaxed, comfortable setting. The menu changes daily, reflecting not just seasonality but bringing to London the freshest and most authentic taste of the Balkans possible. We cook over charcoal and source the freshest produce, fish and meat from the markets.

“The scent of meat grilling over charcoal evokes balmy summer evenings...the best Greek Food in town”
— Fay Maschler, Evening Standard.

“It’s like every great restaurant you’ve been to on a Mediterranean holiday, refined and condensed into one warm, welcoming room. A quiet neighbourhood classic....entirely merits its reputation.”
— Ed Cumming, The Independent

Top review

Jane

Dined 2 days ago

Absolutely delicious food and lovely venue would highly recommend

Pique-Nique

4.8

4.8 (193)

£26 to £40

French

Bermondsey

About the restaurant

Located in a restored unused pavilion attached to a small public park, Pique-Nique is a french restaurant from the team behind Casse-Croûte. There's an expertly chosen wine list, a range of seasonal starters, mains to share and great desserts. Sit at the bar counter and watch the chefs cooking or entertain your guests at their large table located in the middle of the main dining room. Enjoy the view of the park and the Shard all year long from our conservatory.

Top review

Richard

Dined on Oct 14, 2026

Excellent, delicious and welcoming - as ever. Alex is the perfect host for a family dinner.

Cyprianis Petts Wood

4.8

4.8 (408)

£25 and under

Mediterranean

Chislehurst

About the restaurant

Cyprianis Mediterranean Bar and grill has been created by Nick Constantine, a well known restaurateur around the Kent area. We offer 21 day dry aged steaks, we offer a fantastic set menu which is available Monday - Friday lunchtime and Monday - Thursday dinner time.

Monday - Friday lunch: 2 courses £24.50, 3 courses £29.50
Monday - Thursday dinner: 2 courses £29.50, 3 courses £35.00

Sundays are a family day at Cyprianis, we offer a set roast menu - 2 courses for £29.50, 3 courses £37.50 which includes our prime Black Angus rib of beef.

Top review

SuzanneGold

Dined on Oct 14, 2026

Cyprianis in Petts Wood is excellent, we had their amazing steak night menu. Great starters of Parma ham and melon. For main fillet steak with mushroom, tomatoes and fries. All great xx

Fish Union

4.8

4.8 (451)

£26 to £40

British

Chislehurst

About the restaurant

Located on Royal Parade, Chislehurst, Fish Union Bar & Grill brings British food and drink at it's best. Owned and operated by renowned chefs Richard Kirkwood and Andy Roberts, previously of J-Sheekey's and Wright Brothers.

Featured in the Good Food Guide, the restaurant’s fresh seasonal incorporates fish direct from Rye harbour, British oysters and incredible meat from Carnivore butchers alongside vegetarian options.

Everything is sustainably sourced and freshly prepared on-site, complemented with hand-selected wines, beers by Hawkstone & Dalston's 40ft brewery, and great cocktails using local ingredients such as White Cliffs Gin from Pleasant Land distillery in Kent .

Top review

CarlaGold

Dined 5 days ago

The food was super fresh and delicious. The service was outstanding.

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Experience

Squerryes sparkling wine dinner with Tom Surgey

Experience

The Humble Oyster returns!

Legare

4.8

4.8 (104)

£41 and over

Italian

Bermondsey

About the restaurant

A neighbourhood restaurant in Bermondsey with a regularly changing menu of seasonal antipasti and pasta with an Italian led focus and British produce.

Our wine list features a range of bottles from small Italian producers that champion sustainable and ethical practice in their vineyards

A stone’s throw from Tower Bridge, and only a 10 minute walk to London Bridge.

Top review

Brian

Dined 2 days ago

This was an excellent dining experience! The two of us split a few dishes — a salad, and two main dishes, and all were delicious, with the ravioli taking top marks. And the homemade bread was out of this world. The wait staff was informed and responsive, and the open kitchen was a delight. The only (very slight) negative was the techno music played in the background — we’d suggest switching that up to something more consistent with this Italian dining experience. Overall — a 5 star dining event and we highly recommend it!!

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Experience

Pre-Theatre

Baccalà Seafood & Wine

4.8

4.8 (354)

£26 to £40

Seafood

Bermondsey

About the restaurant

Baccalà is an Italian restaurant and bar located on Bermondsey St, London. They serve authentic seafood dishes made with fresh, local produce that changes with the seasons. Stop by for a quick, delicious lunch or take away their spring lunch specials from 12:00 to 17:00. Enjoy a relaxed afternoon with an extensive wine selection. For a full Baccalà experience, visit for dinner.

Top review

TaraGold

Dined 5 days ago

There are great new seasonal additions on the menu to try, as well as the classic dishes. Really loved the squid and borlotti beans in ink sauce, the tuna tartare and the prawn linguine. Friendly knowledgeable staff plus great cooking makes this a fantastic neighbourhood restaurant.

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mezze maniche cozze e zucchine

The River Gardens Café

4.8

4.8 (116)

£25 and under

Café

Greenwich

About the restaurant

River Gardens Café is located in front of the iconic River Thames, boasting outstanding views of the city just a short scenic walk from the Cutty Sark ship.
You can expect to feel a warm atmosphere from the moment you walk in with art and décor to take you back to what used to be Lovells Wharf. We have an extensive terrace space which is great for catching the last glimpses of the of the beautiful scenery whilst the sun sets.

We have a variety of dishes from breakfast, brunch, dinner and festive meals which are freshly prepared by our team of chefs every day. As a local café we strive to accommodate everyone, thus making us the perfect spot for a little bite, a catch up or a full meal. As a family run business we understand the unity of family, dogs are family and therefore we are dog friendly! We look forward to serving you soon.

Top review

Glen

Dined on Oct 10, 2026

Really lovely food the staff were friendly and attentive without being pushy plus really great value for location really can’t find fault and would highly recommend the place for a lovely meal

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Experience

Afternoon Tea

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