Cottons

You're heading down to St George Wharf in Vauxhall, walking past the riverside developments, and suddenly you've stepped into proper Caribbean territory. Cottons feels like the real deal — not trying too hard, just executing what it does brilliantly. The kitchen knows its way around jerk chicken and fresh fish, and the rum selection is genuinely impressive without being show-offy about it. It's the kind of place locals come back to because the food's consistent and the vibe doesn't pretend to be anything fancier than it actually is.