Bánh Bánh in Brixton offers an intimate Christmas party space for up to 10 people, treating guests to its beautiful House of Baby-designed space, with menus which are made to be shared.
This family-run Vietnamese restaurant first started on Fleet Street and moved to Coldharbour Lane to continue its success, making it the perfect spot for end-of-year parties for local businesses, friends or family. The semi-private group dining space makes the experience feel special before the food even arrives. Reimagined by House of Baby, a renowned design collective which has experience working across smaller restaurants, the space leans into soft colour, warm timber and playful details.
For groups, the smaller pink-toned room feels intimate and a little cocooning, while the wider design mixes sculptural furniture, glass blocks and mural-style artwork inspired by nostalgic Vietnamese imagery. It is relaxed, characterful and exactly the sort of place where a Christmas dinner can feel personal rather than another corporate bash.
The menu covers starters, mains and sides, but there's a whole section on sharing plates, which works wonderfully well for groups. Start with black sesame rice crackers with sweet chilli, fried spring rolls with nuoc cham or fresh rice paper rolls, available with pork and prawn or a vegetable filling. There are also steamed pork cabbage rolls with tomato sauce and chicken and herb salad with shrimp crackers.
For something more substantial, the bamboo grazing platters are made for groups and give everyone something to pick at together. Bánh man brings savoury steamed or fried cakes inspired by two Vietnamese regions, while cha ca la vong combines monkfish marinated in turmeric, galangal and garlic with spring onion, dill, rice vermicelli, peanuts and fermented shrimp dip. Elsewhere, nem lui boc sa pairs charcoal-grilled pork sausage with lemongrass, garlic and chilli, while bo nuong la lot wraps grilled beef in betel leaf and serves it with vermicelli and nuoc cham broth.