There’s no shortage of watering holes and places to eat in Croydon. There’s traditional neighbourhood pubs, modern craft beer taprooms and a selection of restaurants as diverse as the borough’s multicultural population.

Whether you’re a south London local or a visitor to the Borough of Council 2023, here are the best bars, restaurants and pubs in Croydon.

1 Box Park

The outdoor street food and bar has three locations dotted around London, with one in Croydon. Regularly screens stuff like Eurovision, the World Cup and other sporting events, as well as DJs, karaoke, and comedy. It’s also home to a load of food vendors serving a wide variety of food, from Caribbean-British fusion, Taiwanese, pizza and brunch.

Address: 99 George Street, CR0 1LD

Website: boxpark.co.uk

2 Galicia

A convivial Spanish restaurant serving tapas style dishes with a central tiled bar brings the Mediterranean vibes. Come here for meaty and seafood small plates, such as garlic prawns, squid and cutlets. Good to know, can get busy with hen dos and the kitchen stays open a little later than other restaurants.

Address: 269-275 High Street, CR0 1QH

Website: facebook.com

3 Spread Eagle

Part of the Whelan’s Irish pub chain and housed in a former theatre that has been dressed up in vintage style, this pub serves lunch, dinner and a Sunday roast, along side a good selection of gins and ales Screens horse racing and all the sporting competitions, matches and games, from tennis and boxing, to cricket and the Six Nations

Address: 39-41 Katharine Street CR0 1NX

Website: whelanspubs.co.uk

4 Atesh

A popular Turkish place on the High Street serving grilled meats and charred vegetables, as well as a good selection of dips and meze-style picky bits including calamari, falafel and borek. The back lit bar part of the very ornate interiors is well stocked and ready to mix any number of cocktails.

Address: 235-241 High Street, CR0 1QR

Website: ateshrestaurant.co.uk

5 The Dog and Bull

A relaxed, traditional boozer with a massive beer garden, The Dog and Bull claims to be the oldest pub in Croydon. In summer, look out for the BBQ serving burgers and chargrilled goodness. The pub also puts on a buffet as well. Dogs encouraged.

Address:  24 Surrey Street Croydon CR0 1RG

Website: dogandbullcroydon.co.uk

6 Bagatti's

A family-run restaurant that prepares Parma-style dishes of Southern Italy. The extensive menu covers pasta, pizza, seafood and meat dishes as well as risotto, antipasto and salads. There’s also a vegan menu and the list of decadent desserts on offer is long.

Address: 56-58 South End, CR0 1DP

Website: bagattis.com

7 The Cronx Tap

An unfussy taproom serving up locally brewed craft beers from The Cronx Brewery. Look out for parties, comedy nights, film screenings and happy hours.

Address: 71 High Street, CR0 1QE

Website: thecronx.com

8 Little Bay

Little Bay is a theatrical, eclectic restaurant and venue serving European and French dishes which can be ordered as a set menu of two or three courses or a la carte. Filled with theatre memorabilia, the restaurant also hosts live opera and country music at the weekend.

Address: 32 Selsdon Road, CR2 6PB

Website: littlebaycroydon.co.uk

9 Tindli

**Currently closed** A popular Indian restaurant led by a seasoned chef, Tindli’s menu focuses on Keralan dishes. The menu is long and covers curries, tandoor dishes, a selection of biriyani and chaat and all the buttery, garlicky breads you could wish for.

Address:  5-7 St James’s Road, CR0 2SB

Website: tindli.com

10 Mr Fox Restaurant

A little bit nice but still casual enough restaurant on Surrey Street that does a hip hop and RnB bottomless brunch on the weekends. Come here for burgers, Flat Iron steak and pub grub-esque food. Good to know, the outdoor dining section is a sun trap.

Address: 34 Surrey Street, CR0 1RJ

Website: mrfoxcroydon.co.uk

11 Fern

Opposite Box Park at street level of one of the swanky new apartment blocks popping up around Croydon, Fern is an all-day dining restaurant that comes with a little bit of glam. A spot to have in your back pocket for date nights or brunch with the girls, the small plates menu is hearty and the cocktail list is equally meaty. A huge chandelier adds razzle dazzle to an otherwise chilled interior scheme.  

Address: Ten Degrees,100a George Street, CR0 1GP

Website: fernlondon.co.uk

12 The Store Croydon

Another venue emblematic of new Croydon, The Store gives off industrial chic vibes. Come along in the evening for small plates or wine and cheese, or go a bottomless brunch  and feast on the likes of pineapple waffle or salmon crumpet at the weekend. Th Store also puts on a roast on Sundays.

Address: 73 South End, CR0 1BF

Website: thestorecroydon.com

13 Elodie

Run by the Michelin-starred chef Lee Westcott (ex-Gordon Ramsay at Claridges, Noma in Copenhagen and Galvin at Windows), Elodie is housed in a Victorian dining room dressed in nostalgic Colonialism and is open to the public and guest alike. The restaurant plates up a superb, reasonably priced six-course tasting menu that tastes like all the good bits of nature and cocktails made with ingredients foraged from Birch’s grounds.

Address: 126 Addington Road, South Croydon CR2 8YA

Website: birchcommunity.com

14 Signal Brewery Taproom

While Signal Brewery’s tap room is open throughout the year, it extends its trading hours over summer and the warmer months. Surrounded by all the industrial charm a brewery can have (the courtyard is chalked out with a row of kegs), it’s a great spot for a casual session or a pint or two. 

Address: Unit 8 Stirling Way, Beddington Farm Road, CR0 4XN

Website: signalbeerco.com

15 Art & Craft

A great, friendly beer bar right on Surrey Street, Art & Craft has a stack of craft beers on tap and interesting art and stuff to look at on the wall. Have a pint or two in the industrial-chic bar inside, or sit in the no-frills-but-still-cool outside seating section and watch the ongoings of Surrey Street while you try a new brew.

Address: 46 Surrey Street CR0 1RJ

Website: artandcraft.london