10 best Caribbean restaurants in London serving authentic food

Although the introduction of Caribbean food to London began back in the 60s, following the arrival of the Windrush generation post-war, it’s only in the last decade or so that a cohort of cracking Caribbean restaurants have emerged. Previously, you might have been able to get your hands on a Jamaican patty at one of London’s decades-old Caribbean bakeries, or a box of jerk chicken to takeaway, but the concept of enjoying authentic food at a sit-down restaurant is a relatively new thing.

Now, you can find a wealth of Caribbean restaurants in London celebrating this fantastic cuisine via authentic food and traditional recipes. There are a few pockets of London where Caribbean restaurants abound, particularly in places like Brixton, Notting Hill and Hackney which are home to large Caribbean communities. From cosy diners to rum and reggae bars, there are plenty of good times to be had at London’s best Caribbean restaurants.

Jerk chicken is probably the most popular, or at least recognisable, Caribbean dish in the UK. Fair dos – it is a good one. This fiery dish of meat marinated in a signature spice blend, then slow-cooked over a grill and served, traditionally, with rice and peas, never fails to hit the spot. Although we love it, there’s so much more to Caribbean cuisine than just jerk. Dishes such as curry goat, brown stew, salt fish fritters and fried plantain should all be part of your vernacular once you’ve finished reading this guide. There’s one thing that ties these dishes together though: Caribbean food is bold, hearty, heavily spiced and generous in every possible way, from flavour to portion size. 

Ready to get stuck in? From the party that never stops at to chilled-out vibes these fantastic spots are a must-visit if you’re after some of the best Caribbean food in London.

Limin South Bank

What: Head straight to the beach at Limin South Bank, a Caribbean restaurant-cum-beach club located on Gabriel’s Wharf overlooking the Thames. Chef-owner Sham Mahabir was born in Trinidad and Tobago and his passion for authentic Caribbean food shines through on the menu. Of course, there’s killer jerk chicken, which has been marinated on the bone for 24 hours and comes with rice and salad. Alongside various grills are plenty of smaller sharing plates, from Trini mac & cheese baked in carnation milk and cream, to a fried flatbread with chickpeas, hot sauce and sweet mango jam. Cocktails are a big part of the experience here too. Beware though - the Limin Rum Punch is delicious but deadly.
Where: 56 Upper Ground, SE1 9PP
Book now: Limin’ South Bank

Arepa & Co, Various locations

What: With 2,800 kilometres of Caribbean coastline, Venezuela is most definitely Caribbean in our book, and there’s nowhere better to enjoy all-day Venezuelan cooking in London than Arepa & Co. Yes, there are the signature arepas - flat cornbreads stuffed with delicious fillings - but there’s lots more to enjoy here, from hearty Venezuelan breakfasts to chipotle and guava-glazed fried chicken, yuca fries and sweetcorn pancakes with shredded beef and black bean.
Where: 254 Paradise Row, E2 9LE; 8 Ash Avenue, SE17 1GQ; 58A De Beauvoir Crescent, N1 5SB
Book now: Arepa & Co Bethnal Green; Arepa & Co Elephant Park; Arepa & Co Haggerston

JB’s Soulfood, Peckham

What: JB’s is a Peckham institution - an old-school hole-in-the-wall style joint where you’ll find classics done incredibly well. Most come for the jerk, but the curry goat is unbelievable, as are the flaky patties. Like many of the best Caribbean spots in London, the jerk is cooked in steel drums. JB’s also does jerk pork - seemingly more and more rare in London these days. We’d recommend getting there early and nabbing leftovers, as the popular items run out fast.
Where: 27A Peckham High Street, SE15 5EB
Book now: JB’s Soulfood

Kaieteur Kitchen, Elephant & Castle

What: This outstanding Guyanese kitchen has been causing a stir in Elephant & Castle. Owner and chef Faye Gomes treats the space as an extension of her home, greeting customers warmly and delivering proper, home-cooked Guyanese food, like curry chicken, coconut lamb, oxtail stew, flaky rotis and spinach rice. Don’t miss out on Faye’s pepper pot - arguably Guyana’s national dish - a spice-laden stew of beef, oxtail and lamb. Get extra to take home - you won’t regret it.
Where: Castle Square, SE17 1EU
Book now: Kaieteur Kitchen

Paradise Cove, Battersea

What: This cosy Caribbean spot on Wandsworth Road serves Jamaican and wider Caribbean dishes like jerk chicken, curried goat, and ital curry. Founder and chef Tarell Mcintosh opened in 2022 after a successful crowdfunding campaign, doing much of the construction work himself, and he still does most of the cooking here too, from delicious sweetcorn pimento fritters to plantain chips, which are made entirely in-house. Paradise Cove is admirably community focused too, hosting regular workshops.
Where: 515 Wandsworth Road, SW8 2XR
Book now: Paradise Cove

Ma Petite Jamaica, Camden and Shoreditch

What: Now with two locations in Shoreditch and Camden, Ma Petite Jamaica is London's first Caribbean diner, famed for its authentic Jamaican food and Caribbean soul. Rum cocktails and jerk chicken are a way of life at both of its cosy and colourful sites, but there are plenty more vibrant plates on offer, from sweet potato and pumpkin fritters with coconut coulis and chilli jam to jerk salmon with cassava mash, jerk sauce and callaloo. A daily happy hour means you can sling back as many Jamaican Mules as you please, while weekends are all about its Jamaican bottomless brunch, which includes two courses and and 90 minutes of unlimited Rum Punch or Prosecco.
Where: 4-6 Inverness Street, NW1 7HG; 130-132 Curtain Road, EC2A 3AR
Book now: Ma Petite Jamaica Camden, Ma Petite Jamaica Shoreditch

Fish, Wings & Tings, Brixton

What: Brixton is a hotspot for killer Caribbean restaurants, but one of our favourites has got to be Fish, Wings & Tings. You can’t miss its colourful yellow shop front, and the plates all feel properly authentic, from its reggae wings with pineapple and mango chutney, to stew oxtail, creole fish stew and mutton roti. Chef and founder Brian Danclair, originally born in Trinidad, started the business in 2012, and it’s become something of a community hub for people to come together over great vibes and good food.
Where: Brixton Village, Coldharbour Lane, SW9 8PR
Book now: Fish, Wings & Tings

Jam Delish, Islington

What: This 100% vegan restaurant and cocktail bar turns the essence of Caribbean food on its head with some seriously tasty plant-based fare. Instead, dishes like BBQ jerk plantain, buttermilk oyster mushrooms with spicy plantain ketchup, and curry ‘goat’ with rice and peas fill in for their meaty counterparts – and it delivers above and beyond in terms of flavour. Foliage-filled interiors and bright blue walls get points for Instagrammable aesthetics.
Where: 1 Tolpuddle Street, N1 0XT
Book now: Jam Delish

Danclair’s Kitchen, Brixton

What: From the same man who brought Fish, Wings & Tings to Brixton comes Danclair’s Kitchen, Brian Danclair’s eponymous follow up. Opened in 2021, this tapas-style restaurant sees flavour-packed small plates paired with fine wines and signature cocktails. Think BBQ wings with guava glaze, plum and ginger pork ribs, cod fish fritters with lime aioli and Danclair’s beef burger. On the cocktail list, don't miss the Eldorado Rum Old Fashioned.
Where: 67-68 Granville Arcade, Coldharbour Lane, SW9 8PS
Book now: Danclair’s Kitchen

Buster Mantis, Deptford

What: Buster Mantis is a restaurant and bar in Deptford located under the railway arches of its train station. One side functions as a bar and eatery, and the other is a creative arts space that hosts an array of exhibitions, screenings and events. It's an independent, family-run business whose owners split their time between Jamaica and southeast London, which is why most of the menu tends to focus on Jamaican food. Although you can order an array of global small plates, Caribbean classics include saltfish fritters with pineapple salsa, a jerk chicken burger, and chicken thighs with jerk ham croquettes. It also offers a Jamaican-Anglo Sunday roast, which sees roast meats served with rice and peas, a Yorkshire pudding, veg, roast potatoes and gravy. 
Where: 3-4 Resolution Way, SE8 4NT
Book now: Buster Mantis

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