Brixton: sound systems and small plates
The Academy, the Jamm, ska nights that run to three, and a market village cooking better than most of central London.
The brief
Brixton runs on two things: sound and food, usually in the same evening. It has London''s best big venue, its most stubbornly good market kitchens, and a night bus network that assumes you will need it.
Music and nights
O2 Academy Brixton is the best room of its size in Britain and everyone who plays it says so. Phonox for the club night with real DJs and no VIP nonsense. Brixton Jamm for the sweaty middle-sized shows. Hootananny for reggae and ska that runs until the small hours, free most nights.
Where to eat
Salon for the neighbourhood restaurant that deserves a wider reputation. Naughty Piglets for low-intervention wine and confident cooking. Nanban for ramen after a gig. Mother Flipper for the burger that built the market''s reputation. Honest Burgers Brixton — the original, still the best branch.
Coffee
Assembly Coffee and Stir Coffee for the roasters that keep the neighbourhood functioning.
The move
Eat in the market village at seven, gig at nine, Hootananny at midnight, bus at three.
One rule
Buy Academy tickets the morning they go on sale. Everything else in Brixton you can decide on the day.