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Little Cellars

restaurants•
London
London

Little Cellars

75 Camberwell Church St, London SE5 8TU, United Kingdom

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Christoff's Take

Insider review

Tucked away on Camberwell Church Street, Little Cellars brings the intimacy of a Parisian cave à manger to South London with remarkable authenticity. From the Peckham Cellars team, this bijou bistro has carved out a reputation for exceptional natural wines and thoughtful small plates that actually complement each other—a rarer achievement than you might think.

Little Cellars: Camberwell's Natural Wine Haven Gets It Right

Where Parisian cave culture meets South London sensibility

My Honest Review

Atmosphere & Ambiance

Step inside and you're immediately struck by the genuine intimacy of the space—this isn't manufactured cosiness but the real thing, with a sophistication score of 7.8 that feels earned rather than forced. The jazzy turntable soundtrack sets exactly the right tone, creating an atmosphere that's conversation-friendly without being intrusive. The Parisian inspiration is evident but never feels pastiche; instead, it's filtered through a distinctly British lens that makes perfect sense in Camberwell. The energy level sits at a comfortable 3.5, meaning you can actually hear your dinner companion speak—revolutionary, I know. The space does feel genuinely small and intimate, which the data suggests can feel cramped during peak hours, but this is part of its charm. It's the kind of place where strangers might end up chatting about wine, and the warmly inviting atmosphere makes that feel natural rather than forced.

Food & Drink

The kitchen takes a refreshingly focused approach with their small plates concept, showcasing dishes like Jerusalem artichokes, crispy enoki mushrooms, and pollock with bacon and greens. Under experienced culinary leadership, there's a clear commitment to quality ingredients—local, seasonal, and organic where possible—prepared with modern European techniques. The menu's wine-friendly focus is evident in every dish, suggesting a kitchen that actually understands how food and wine should work together. Professional reviews consistently praise the food quality alongside the wine program, which speaks volumes. The seasonal approach means you won't find the same tired menu month after month, and the cheese and charcuterie plates provide excellent options for those wanting something lighter. The modern European approach feels confident rather than showy, with each dish apparently designed to enhance rather than compete with the natural wine selection.

Service & Experience

While specific service details aren't extensively documented, the wine program suggests knowledgeable staff who can guide guests through the natural wine selection with confidence. The adjacent wine shop concept, where customers can sample before purchasing, indicates a team comfortable with wine education and customer engagement. The booking system appears well-organized, and the fact that professional reviews consistently mention the overall experience suggests service standards that complement the food and wine quality. The conversation-friendly score of 8.5 implies staff who understand the importance of pacing and atmosphere management in an intimate setting.

Value for Money

At price level 3 out of 4, Little Cellars sits in that sweet spot where quality justifies cost without feeling extortionate. The 'date-night-pricing' tag suggests you'll pay for the experience, but the 'wine-lover-value' and 'camberwell-affordable' tags indicate it's not unreasonably expensive for the area and quality level. The adjacent wine shop offering retail prices for bottles consumed on-site is genuinely clever—you're essentially paying corkage on retail bottles, which represents excellent value for wine lovers. The small plates format allows you to control spending to some extent, and the focus on natural wines by the glass means you can explore without committing to full bottles.

Insider Tips

Best Time to Visit

Open Thursday and Friday from 5:30pm-11pm, Saturday 3pm-11pm, and closed Sunday through Wednesday. The limited opening hours mean booking is likely essential, especially for weekend evenings. The Saturday afternoon opening provides a good opportunity for a more relaxed experience before the dinner crowd arrives.

What to Focus On

Start with their wine flight to understand the natural wine program before diving into the small plates menu. The Jerusalem artichokes and crispy enoki mushrooms appear to be signature dishes worth trying. Don't skip the cheese and charcuterie plates, which are designed to showcase the wine selection.

Christoff's Insider Tips

The adjacent wine shop allows you to sample wines before purchasing bottles to drink in-house at retail prices—essentially premium wine at cost plus minimal corkage. Take advantage of the knowledgeable staff guidance for the natural wine selection, especially if you're new to low-intervention wines. Book well in advance given the intimate space and limited opening hours.

The Final Verdict

Little Cellars succeeds where many wine bars fail by creating a genuinely cohesive experience where food, wine, and atmosphere work in harmony. The natural wine focus isn't just trendy posturing but a thoughtful curation that pairs beautifully with the seasonal small plates. Yes, it's intimate to the point where peak hours might feel cramped, and the limited opening schedule requires planning, but these feel like minor quibbles with what is essentially Camberwell's answer to the great Parisian caves à manger. The uniqueness score of 8.2 feels well-earned—this isn't another generic wine bar but a place with genuine personality and purpose.

Christoff's Rating:
8.3/10

Perfect For:

Natural wine enthusiasts seeking knowledgeable guidanceCouples wanting an intimate dining experience with excellent conversation potentialFood lovers who appreciate seasonal, wine-focused small plates

Quick Details

1

Little Cellars

⭐️ Parisian inspired
⭐️ Jazzy atmosphere
🍷 Wine shop attached
⭐️ Small plates
⭐️ Camberwell gem

From the acclaimed Peckham Cellars team comes this intimate Camberwell bistro that perfectly captures Parisian cave à manger culture with its jazzy turntable soundtrack and cozy atmosphere. The small plates concept showcases dishes like Jerusalem artichokes and crispy enoki mushrooms designed specifically to complement their natural wine program featuring French and Spanish selections. The adjacent wine shop creates a unique opportunity to sample wines before purchasing bottles at retail prices to drink in-house. Professional critics consistently praise both the wine curation and food quality in this warmly inviting space.

What's Great

✓ Adjacent wine shop allows sampling before buying

✓ Authentic Parisian cave à manger atmosphere with jazz soundtrack

Keep in Mind

× Small intimate space can feel cramped during peak dining hours

Christoff

Christoff's Tip:

Start with their wine flight to understand the full flavor profile before ordering small plates

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Venue details

🕐"Thu-Fri: 5:30pm-11pm, Sat: 3pm-11pm, Sun-Wed: Closed"
📍75 Camberwell Church St, London SE5 8TU, United Kingdom
💷££££
📞+44 20 4551 9443
🌐Website

Featured In My Guides

Little Cellars has been featured in 1 of my curated guides. Here's where you can find more context and discover similar spots.

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Aug 23, 2025
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