To ask if you live in South East London....

[FizzyPink]

What do you do for Saturday night date nights? DP loves a trip into central London for an activity or dinner but after a long week commuting into the city I can’t think of anything worse!
I need some inspiration of fun nights out slightly closer to home.

I went to Trattoria Raffaele for my birthday once and practically rolled out of the door afterwards, I was completely stuffed and it was delicious 😋 Havet in Bromley is good, although haven’t eaten in as we usually get takeaway. Blue Harbour on the other side of the street is also very nice, specialises in seafood. It can be a bit pricey though as they don’t do a set menu - DP and I went there for a quick lunch and it cost £70, and that was without any booze as we had to go back to work

Hideaway in Streatham- jazz bar-.great food
Restaurants in Blackheath

Cinema in East Dulwich or West Norwood.
Hideaway Club in Streatham for great music, and Comedy
Live music at loads of good venues - Railway Tavern at Tulse Hill, Portico Gallery at West Norwood
Events at Peckham Levels and Bussey Building in Peckham
Theatre at The Brockley Jack

Also recommend Koz Turkish restaurant in Beckenham high street & The Pearl at Beckenham Junction, yy Bridge house tavern in penge & the Alexandra has reopened which is opposite the Alexandra nurseries also penge, the goldsmiths arms also has live music.
Elm tree at Eden Park has some good music at weekends, also some really good restaurants in Eden Park, Fethr, Zi Theresa & a seafood one which I can’t remember the name of.
The Chandos must have changed a lot since I lived in forest hill, it used too be the place for a fight & drugs den!

There’s a street feast at Canada Water now & cannot recommend Babur in Brockley enough... so good

The Vue in Bromley has huge comfortable seats. Hello Burger in Hayes does great burgers and cocktails.

If you like Turkish, Hisar in Beckenham is good as is Dem in Crystal Palace (that bread!)

Blackheath is lovely, fab champagne bar and lots of really good restaurants. Plus Mordens nightclub if you fancy really making a night of it!

Ex-SE London Lad here. If you'd said back in the day that people would actually recommend Lordship Lane, people would have laughed at you!

Copper and Ink in Blackheath is run by an ex Masterchef finalist....

Ex-SE London Lad here. If you'd said back in the day that people would actually recommend Lordship Lane, people would have laughed at you!

Things change though, I remember when Balham was a tube station & not much else!

La Bocca - new Italian in Beckenham is excellent

Beckenham Comedy Cabaret is a monthly must-see!

Chai Naasto - Beckenham Indian street food (but in an actual restaurant) but you'll need to book ahead

El Molino in Beckenham does fantastic tapas. The George pub in Hayes does a decent Sunday roast. Vue cinema Bromley has all recliner seats.

Peckham/Nunhead has amazing restaurants - Peckham Bazaar (Balkan), the Begging Bowl (Thai), Babette (French sharing plates), Coal Rooms (smoky & meaty), Artusi (Italian), Kudu (South African) and so many more. It can be a bit overwhelming trying to decide! There are regular gigs and events at Peckham Levels (they’re adding a basement venue/club soon), movies at Peckhamplex (sticky floor, fiver to get in), very popular drag and comedy nights at the Old Nun’s Head... you’ll be spoilt for choice if you head this way. Also, I think the Horniman do museum lates on a semi-regular basis :)

I like eating out so I like begging bowl on bellenden road, good pub across the road, Yama momo one of my fave Japanese in east dulwich, brixton village is great fun,

Blimey, in my south London years, there was fuck all worth doing in more than half these places. The notion of Brockley and Peckham being cool places to go out seems really weird.

Maybe there's hope for Croydon yet.

What do you do for Saturday night date nights?

I'm in SW London but I either meet DH on Fri after work in the City. It's only 15 mins on the tube but I don't work in town & love the choice.

If not I prefer to stay local so I can walk & lots of places on our doorstep. Occasionally go a bit further eg Lordship Lane or Brixton Village but I can't be bothered to travel too far.

LakieLady i hear you! I have been in london for over 20yrs and peckham was a dump....still not a fan tbh and brockley the only place I like is Babur! I like the local stuff but if me and mates are going out we usually head up to London Bridge area

what i meant to say the peckham was a dump and in truth hasnt changed much but there are some quirky restaurants and bars popped up over the past few years.... didnt mean it was a dump now

Yy El Molino tis very good & staff are lovely.

Would also add that Naughty Piglets on Brixton Water Lane is very good indeed, and we also like Llewlyns in Herne Hill.

We had the most insane meal at Babur last night so thanks for all the recommendations.
Any ideas of great pubs for a roast?

Dulwich has some nice places to eat, you could also go south west to clapham/brixton which also had some nice restaurants/bars.

Agree with pp who've suggested Lordship Lane and the Bellenden Road part of Peckham/East Dulwich border.

Ganapati is my favourite restaurant, so quirky and fantastic food (need to book though). Some nice pubs around Bellenden Road for before/after.

Also, Greenwich and Blackheath.