Most guides to Black-owned restaurants in London are written once and never touched again. We know, because we checked them. Working through the published lists for this borough, roughly half the places on them had closed, moved, or changed hands. One had been shut for two years.
Every place below is open, and we checked each one ourselves rather than copying it off another list.
Last checked: October 2026. We re-check this page every few months. If something here is wrong, or you know somewhere we have missed, tell us and we will look into it.
Deptford
The densest stretch in the borough, and walkable end to end. Deptford High Street, Market Yard behind the station, and Deptford Broadway are all within ten minutes of each other.
Buster Mantis
Bar and kitchen, 3-4 Resolution Way, SE8 4NT. Owned by Gordon McGowan, and a South London institution by its own description, which for once is not an overstatement. @bustermantis
The Watergate
Small plates and natural wine, 7 Watergate Street, SE8 3HR. From the same team as Buster Mantis, a few minutes down towards the creek. @the_watergate
Island Buka
Nigerian restaurant, 160-162 Deptford High Street, SE8 3PQ. No social accounts and no website, which is exactly why it keeps getting left off lists like this one. Go in person.
Sip City
Restaurant and lounge, 189 Deptford High Street, SE8 3NT. Open Tuesday to Sunday from 5pm, later than most things on this page. @sipcitylounge
TT’s Breakfast
Nigerian breakfast, Arch 11, Market Yard, SE8 4BX. Breakfast done the Nigerian way, in the railway arches behind Deptford station. Closed Tuesdays. @ttsbreakfast
Jerk Tropic
Jerk and Afro-Caribbean, Arch 10, Market Yard, SE8 4BX. Owned by Michael Odiawa, next arch along from TT’s. Dine in, takeaway and delivery. @jerktropic
Monika by 805
Seafood grill, 14 Deptford Broadway, SE8 4PA. From the 805 restaurants group. Note the number: it is 14, not 13-14 as several listings have it. @monikarestaurants
Likkle ‘d’
Restaurant, 45 Deptford High Street, SE8 4AD. A newer opening on the high street, open Monday to Saturday. @1likkle.d
Lewisham and Lee
Sweet1ne Cuisine
Afro-Caribbean fusion, 2 Loampit Hill, SE13 7SW. Co-owned by Tolu Babalola and Stephanie Ezukwo. @ssweet1ne
Bar Beach Grill
West African grill, Unit 9 Lindsay Court, Loampit Vale, SE13 7LL. Family-run, led by Emmanuel James. @barbeachgrill
Enish
Nigerian restaurant, 228 Lewisham High Street, SE13 6JU. Founded by Olushola Medupin, and Lewisham was the first site, opened in 2013. There are now several branches, but this is where it started. @enish_restaurant
The Jerk Shac
Guyanese and Jamaican, 1 Manor Park Parade, Lee High Road, SE13 5PB. Run by Tomica and Derron, who describe themselves as the family behind it. @thejerkshac
Elements Bar
Caribbean bar and lounge, 207 Lee High Road, SE13 5PQ. Describes itself as an African Caribbean-owned bar and lounge. @elementsbarldn2.0
Touch Of Class Caribbean Kitchen
Caribbean, 21A Lee High Road, SE13 5LD. Jerk, seafood and Caribbean breakfasts. @toc.caribbean.kitchen
Taste Soul Good
Soul food, 389 Lewisham High Street, SE13 6NZ. Halal, with vegan options, and they do breakfast. @tastesoulgood_tsg
New Cross and Brockley
Crumble Mania
Plant-based dessert shop, 395A New Cross Road, SE14 6LA. Crumbles, and not much else, which is the point. @crumblemania_uk
Mauby
Caribbean bar and kitchen, 1 Harefield Road, SE4 1LW. Run by Haleena and Daniel, who opened with support from Lewisham Council’s affordable workspace grant programme. The council’s own write-up names them as one of the borough’s Black-owned high street businesses. @maubybrockley
Break The Fast London
Breakfast and brunch, 325 Brockley Road, SE4 2QZ. Co-owned by Sindi and Elie Kayembe, long-time Brockley residents. @breakthefastlondon
Sikatio Restaurant Bar & Grill
Ivorian and West African, 5 Brockley Cross, SE4 2AB. Restaurant, bar and grill. @sikatiorestaurant
Papi’s Grill
Afro-fusion restaurant and bar, 338 New Cross Road, SE14 6AG. There is a second site in Dartford. @papisgrillrestaurant
Jerk Palace
Jamaican, 3 Brockley Cross, SE4 2AB. A family business, a couple of doors from Sikatio. @jerkpalace01
Lit Shisha Bar & Restaurant
Afro-fusion bar and restaurant, 136 New Cross Road, SE14 5BA. Smart casual, closed Mondays. @litloungeuk
Afterhours
Late-night food, 265F New Cross Road, SE14 6AR. Open until 4am, seven days a week. @afterhoursuk
Jerk Garden
Caribbean takeaway, 394 Brockley Road, SE4 2BY. In Crofton Park, a short walk from Crofton Park station. @jerkgarden
Catford, Forest Hill and Sydenham
Catford is the part of the borough most often written off as having nothing, usually by people who have not looked. It has plenty.
HQ Jerk Shack
Caribbean takeaway and catering, 7 Catford Hill, SE6 4NU. Describes itself plainly as a Black-owned Caribbean takeaway and catering service in Catford, which saved us a lot of work. @hq_jerk_shack1
Jerk Haven
Jerk and Caribbean, 118 Bromley Road, SE6 2UN. Worth noting the number is 118, not 120 as it appears elsewhere. More active on TikTok than Instagram. @jerkhaven
Servesmiths
Coffee, 28 Rushey Green, SE6 4JF, with a second site at 3a Doggett Road, SE6 4PZ. Born in the area and behind Team Catford. @servesmiths
Forever Kitchen
Caribbean fusion, 177-181 Rushey Green, SE6 4BD, inside The Cube. Open Tuesday to Sunday for dine-in and takeaway, and does catering too. @foreverkitchenldn
Mye Green Mango
Jamaican takeaway, 1A Doggett Road, SE6 4PZ. Right by Catford Bridge station and mostly takeaway, with jerk chicken smoked on the drum every morning. A favourite with commuters.
Lavish Cafe Bar Grill
Caribbean restaurant and bar, 133-135 Stanstead Road, SE23 1HH. Family-run, in Forest Hill. @lavishse23
House of Flavourz
Afro-Caribbean lounge and restaurant, 31 Perry Vale, SE23 2AR. In Forest Hill, open for breakfast and dinner, with cocktails, events and private hire. @house.of.flavourz
Auntie Annie’s Kitchen
Home-made Jamaican food, 1 Sandhurst Market, Sandhurst Road, SE6 1DL. Also caters birthdays, weddings and parties. @auntieannieskitchen
Junction876
Caribbean restaurant and wine bar, 195 Stanstead Road, SE23 1HP. The whole menu is gluten-free. @junction876
Caribbean Bites
Caribbean, 293 Sydenham Road, SE26 5EW. On the same spot since 2013. @mkkcaribbeanbites
Know one we missed?
There are places in this borough with no website, no Instagram and no listing anywhere, and they are often the best ones. Island Buka is on this page precisely because somebody walked past it. If you know somewhere that should be here, tell us and we will check it and add it.
How we check this page
A business is on this page because its owners say it is Black-owned, or because a credible source names them. A directory listing on its own is not enough, and neither is the cuisine. Addresses are checked against the Food Standards Agency register, which also confirms a business is inside the borough and currently trading.
About Wakuda
Wakuda is a marketplace for Black-owned brands, and we run a monthly market at Lewisham Shopping Centre. One of our co-founders grew up in the borough, which is part of why this guide exists.
Header photo by Bar Beach Grill, Lewisham. Instagram @barbeachgrill. All other photographs belong to the businesses they show.
