Places to eat in Croydon

Just a stone’s throw from South Croydon Station is Little Bay Croydon. Kitted out in red-velvet decor, this place adds a sense of theatre to its modern European menu with frequent live opera shows on during the week. That doesn’t distract from the quality of the food though, which is routinely excellent. Our pick is their Spanish chorizo and mussels.

Next on our foodie tour of Croydon is Bagatti’s on South End in the restaurant quarter of South Croydon. This iconic Italian has been open nearly 30 years, and will probably be open 30 more, thanks to its reputation as the best Mediterranean eatery in the area. Whether you are looking for pastas, pizzas or risottos, you’ll struggle to find a better one.

If you fancy American food, Cadillac Diner on Wickham Lane is the place to go. The decor is truly American diner-esque – think Pulp Fiction or When Sally Met Harry – and the food is delicious. Whether it's hot dogs, burgers, wings or fried chicken, you can chow down alongside regular live music and really friendly staff.

Thahns Bistro on Lower Addiscombe Road is a popular eatery serving up the best dishes that Vietnamese cuisine has to offer. From noodle soups to stir fry’s and curries, the skilled chefs combine fresh ingredients to provide a meal to remember. The prices are very reasonable, but Thahns doesn’t have a license to serve alcohol, so you will have to bring your own if you want a hard drink.

Just next to the Boxpark and over the road from our Croydon Town Centre hotel is Smoothbean, where you’ll find some of the best coffee in south London. Open from 7.30am, it’s a great place to go for breakfast – the poached eggs are eggcellent – while the smoothies, salads, sandwiches and more make for an excellent lunch. But the real stars of the show are the coffee and cakes, which pair perfectly to the rich, velvety coffee they serve.

On George Street you’ll find Scrumpchinos, an excellent old-fashioned café that serves up a variety of breakfasts, omelettes, salads, jacket potatoes, sandwiches and bigger lunch dishes. The portions are big and the prices are sensible, making this a rock-solid lunch spot.

If you’re after something a bit fancier – and yes, OK, hipster-friendly – the Byte Cafe just off the High Street is packed full of healthy, alternative options – think sourdough toast, quinoa salads and falafel sandwiches.

South of the town centre – and the quirkiest café in town – is Ludoquist, a board-game themed café open from 11am daily. A licensed café, they dish up a range of sharing platters, pizzas, paninis, bagels and snack bowls, and over 1400 games to choose from.