The Culinary Olympics in Elephant Park - Flavours from around the world during Tokyo 2020

As one of the most multi-culturally diverse areas of London, the array of Elephant and Castle restaurant, cafes, bars, and shops selling food from all over the world means it’s the ideal place to get stuck into something tasty and new.

Jump into the Tokyo 2020 Olympics at one of the best Elephant and Castle sports bars, The Tap In. This football-inspired bar has around 300 local and further afield  beers, and kitchen residents Brick City Burger will sort you out with some of the juiciest burgers. With murals and artwork inspired by some of the most iconic footballing images in history adorning the walls, The Tap In is the ideal place to take in the Tokyo 2020 opening ceremony with a cold afternoon beer.

Vegan eatery Beza is the first Ethiopian Elephant and Castle restaurant and follows the long traditions of Ethiopian and East African cooking. Typically ingredients are harvested and then cooked that very same day, ensuring that every mouthful is packed full of flavour that only comes through using the freshest produce. The result is that you can experience some of the tastiest, 100% vegan Ethiopian cuisine right here in Elephant and Castle.

Italian food has fallen to far into the ‘pizza and pasta’ stereotypes. At least, that’s what SUGO82’s owner Matteo Grasso believes. So they’re aiming to change that perspective by creating top Italian street food in Elephant Park showcasing the more modern, vibrant food scene of Italy’s fast-moving cities. Not only do they do great focaccia sandwiches and arancini, but they have a zero waste approach to food and source sustainable ingredients locally rather than importing ingredients en-masse.

A recent addition to Elephant Park, the Elephant & Castle branch of Four Hundred Rabbits is the fifth pizzeria the team have launched. They’ve already gained a reputation for serving  some of the best sourdough pizza in Elephant & Castle. And with a rolling menu of craft beer, a can selection courtesy of south London brewery Gipsy Hill, well-priced cocktails (£4 negroni, anyone?!), and a selection of the finest flavours from Dalston’s Soda, there’s plenty to wash it all down with. Make sure you check out the monthly specials too, which often feature collaborations with top local food producers and chefs.

Taking inspiration from his grandmother’s recipes, co-owner and head chef Rayon Johnson’s menu will transport you to the white sands of the Caribbean. Jamaican favourites such as jerk chicken, escovitch fish, and curried goat, alongside plenty of vegan curries and stews, bring the authentic taste of the Caribbean to Elephant Park.

This local gem specialises in Ecuadorian cuisine, and has a vast and loyal clientele. An Elephant and Castle icon, Miko’s has recently opened a new restaurant on Sayer Street, having formerly been resident in the shopping centre. The family-run business serve simple but lovingly-prepared ceviche, arroz marinero (seafood rice with plantain), and encebollado (fish stew) among many other traditional dishes. 

After great success with stalls in Tooting Market and PopBrixton, KOI Ramen’s Elephant and Castle restaurant is its first bricks and mortar site. Its short menu is big on flavour, with Japanese favourites gyoza, shoyu (soy sauce based soup noodles), miso (miso based soup noodles) and a signature Tonkotsu ramen. This ramen is a crowd favourite: a creamy pork broth, simmered for 16 hours, with 10 hour slow-cooked pork belly and noodles. Have a sake on the side, and follow it up with a few scoops of their finest matcha ice cream.

Everything about this place gives off a chilled and relaxed vibe, right down to the name. HEJ (pronounced ‘hey’, naturally) is a casual meeting spot and café by day, and a bar and bistro by night. Its pièce de resistance however, is that coffee beans are roasted right there on site in the roastery. Roasted in small batches for the freshest brew, it is truly some of the best coffee in Elephant and Castle, if not in London.

If you’re looking to rustle up an East Asian feast in celebration of Tokyo 2020, make sure your first stop is Kiki & Miu Miu Market in Elephant Park. Specialising in Japanese, Chinese, and Korean ingredients, this Asian food market in Elephant and Castle features a butcher section, fresh vegetables and fresh baked goods. They also stock an extensive selection of their own speciality products, often difficult to source in London, such as luo han guo and salted egg fish skin.

Chinese Claypot rice is one of the most popular street foods in southern China, typically featuring rice along with meats such as Cantonese sausage or cured pork. Pot & Rice brings that traditional style of Chinese cuisine to Elephant Park while also offering interesting twists on the classic dish, including pan fried fois gras with Chinese salami, Iberico pork neck, and many more.

Bayroot’s Lebanese street food concept proved massively popular in its first location in Camberwell. So much so that owner Yasser Elmoussa decided to bring Lebanese food to Elephant and Castle, opening the eatery’s much-anticipated second branch in Elephant Park in July 2021.

Bayroot focuses on serving authentic flavours made the Lebanese way; there are inventive and tasty vegan and vegetarian options available, meats are cooked on a traditional charcoal grill, and a wide range of hot and cold mezze, wraps, and salads.