The Laundry Restaurant, Brixton 

The Laundry feels a world away from the blaring horns, racing buses and steel drums of Brixton’s Atlantic Road. Climb the stairs out of the station, hang a left onto Coldharbour Lane and there it is: a proud old Edwardian wash house, its original signage still on show. Inside, the restaurant makes the most of its lovely old bones - fading plaster, pastel-painted brick, and big sash windows flooding the room with light. Out front, a terrace shaded by parasols is one of Brixton’s best spots for a summer lunch.

This is one of the neighbourhood’s most dependable all-day restaurants, and it leans into that role confidently. Breakfasts, boozy weekend brunches, Sunday roasts and relaxed dinners with friends all feel equally at home here. There are affordable midweek plats du jour, aperitivo sessions and even a dedicated raclette experience, making The Laundry impressively flexible without ever feeling unfocused.

The all-day menu sticks to a sensible a la carte format of starters, mains and desserts, plus a few warm-up nibbles. Salmon rillette crumpets arrive with a pleasingly DIY feel, and we happily slather the rough pate and ribbons of pickled cucumber onto impressive house-made crumpets. From a strong list of mains, a tranche of pearly cod in curry-spiced vadouvan sauce stands out: flaky fish, gentle spice and more pickled cucumber to cut through the richness, though it could do with a little more heft. Steak frites is expertly cooked, though, and the coup de grace sticky toffee pudding is an outright belter.

There are minor slips - pumpkin katsu bites, for example, still carrying a hint of raw spice - but Brixton life would undeniably be poorer without The Laundry. It’s the kind of place that reliably improves breakfast, lunch, dinner and everything in between.

Once an Edwardian wash house, The Laundry is now one of Brixton’s best-loved all-day dining spots, offering warmth, charm and honest cooking in a beautifully restored space. Retaining some of its original features, the restaurant boasts exposed brick walls, distressed plaster, arched windows and soft pastel tones, with booth seating, dark wooden floors, and industrial-style pendant lights adding to the relaxed, vintage feel.

Led by culinary duo Melanie Brown and Sami Harvey, the menu is influenced by their Australasian roots and global travels. Expect an ever-evolving offering of seasonally led small plates, inspired by classic European bistros and neighbourhood cafés, but brought to life with modern flair.

Diners can enjoy dishes like The Laundry brioche bap with sausage, bacon and cheddar, or Turkish eggs, chocolate porridge, and toasted banana bread. The egg cart offers eggs cooked in the style of your choice and served with playful twists, such as Vegemite toast, salmon rillette, or black bean salsa. 

Later in the day, the menu shifts to sharing-style plates. Nibble on grilled pecorino and truffle nuts or Welsh rarebit crumpets before moving on to starters like beef mince with dripping toast, smoked benison with pear and stilton, and burrata with Jambon de Bayonne. Main dishes include bavette steak with café de Paris butter fries, cof with vadouvan sauce, and slow-cooked beef short rib. On Sundays, guests can expect to see the likes of smoked aubergine tarts, rolled roast pork belly, and 28-day aged Hereford sirloin with creamed horseradish, all served with bottomless gravy and veg. Look out for themed nights too - Schnitzel Mondays, Moules Marinieres Tuesdays and Steak & Frites Wednesdays offer great value options for those looking to dine throughout the week.

Whether you’re dropping in for breakfast, drinks, or dinner, The Laundry is a welcoming and versatile neighbourhood restaurant, offering soulful food and easy-going hospitality in the heart of Brixton.