Looking for a Peckham Thai restaurant with a story, character and a choice of settings? Just around a mile from Peckham, in nearby Nunhead, you’ll find Chai’s Garden at Skehan’s. Here, authentic Thai cooking comes with something you won’t find at a typical restaurant: the choice of enjoying your meal in a peaceful garden restaurant or inside a lively, traditional Irish pub.
Chai’s Garden has been part of the Skehan’s story for more than 20 years. Founded by Madam Chai, whose Thai cooking has been enjoyed in London pubs for many years, it has become a much-loved part of this independent South East London pub.
A Peckham Thai Restaurant Just a Short Walk Away
Chai’s Garden is technically in Nunhead rather than Peckham, but it’s only around a mile away.
That makes it an easy option if you’re searching for Peckham Thai food but fancy discovering somewhere a little different from the restaurants around the main high street.
Skehan’s sits on Kitto Road, where the busy atmosphere of the pub contrasts with the peaceful garden hidden behind it.
It’s this unexpected combination that makes Chai’s Garden worth discovering.
You can arrive expecting a local pub and find a Thai restaurant tucked away behind it, surrounded by greenery and filled with character.
The Story Behind Chai’s Garden
Chai’s Garden didn’t simply appear as a new food offering at Skehan’s.
Madam Chai has been cooking Thai food in London pubs for many years. She first ran a successful Thai kitchen in Islington before bringing her cooking to Nunhead.
When Madam Chai became part of the Skehan’s story, Thai food became an established part of the pub rather than an occasional alternative on the menu.
More than two decades later, that relationship continues.
This history is important because Chai’s Garden isn’t trying to recreate the atmosphere of a fashionable destination restaurant. It has grown naturally alongside a family-run local pub and become part of the community around it.
Chai’s Garden Thai Restaurant London: A Different Kind of Dining Experience
Search for Chai’s Garden Thai Restaurant London and you might expect to find another restaurant in the capital.
What you actually discover is something much more local.
The restaurant sits behind Skehan’s in a peaceful glasshouse surrounded by plants and flowers. Thai-inspired details add to the setting, including a traditional wooden spirit house that reflects Madam Chai’s heritage.
It’s a relaxed and intimate environment, particularly suited to anyone who wants to enjoy their food away from the noise and bustle of a busy high street.
And yet, you’re only steps away from the pub.
What Can You Eat at Chai’s Garden?
The menu focuses on authentic Thai flavours, with dishes freshly prepared by the kitchen.
You’ll find familiar favourites such as Pad Thai, Drunken Duck and Chicken with Cashew Nuts, alongside curries, stir-fries, soups, starters and dishes that are ideal for sharing.
Whether Thai food is already one of your favourites or you’re exploring the cuisine for the first time, there is plenty of choice.
The kitchen can also be viewed through a window from the garden, giving diners a glimpse of the food being prepared.
Thai food is served daily from 5pm until 9:30pm.
You Can Eat the Same Food Inside Skehan’s
One of the most unusual things about Chai’s Garden is that you don’t have to choose between a restaurant and a pub.
The same Chai’s Garden menu is available inside Skehan’s.
That gives you two completely different ways to enjoy the food.
In the glasshouse, you can settle down for a quieter dinner surrounded by greenery.
Inside the pub, your meal can become part of a much livelier evening.
You might have a pint of Guinness beside your Thai food, listen to live music, watch a sporting fixture or join in with the atmosphere of the Thursday quiz.
The food stays the same. The experience changes completely.
A Quiet Dinner or a Full Evening Out?
This flexibility is one of the things that makes Chai’s Garden particularly appealing to local diners.
Perhaps you’re meeting friends for dinner and want somewhere relaxed where you can catch up.
The garden restaurant works beautifully.
Alternatively, you might want to make more of an evening of it.
Order Thai food inside Skehan’s, enjoy a drink and stay for whatever is happening that night.
Because Chai’s Garden is part of the pub rather than completely separate from it, dinner doesn’t have to be the end of your evening.
Why Peckham Diners Make the Short Journey to Nunhead
For people living in Peckham, the appeal is simple.
You don’t have to travel into central London to find somewhere different. Chai’s Garden is close to home, but its setting and combination of food and pub culture make it feel like a genuine discovery.
It’s particularly suited to people in Peckham, Nunhead, Brockley and the surrounding parts of South East London who want good food in a setting with personality.
And because Skehan’s has been family-run for more than 25 years, Chai’s Garden is part of a much bigger local story.
More Than Just a Thai Restaurant
What makes Chai’s Garden memorable isn’t just the menu.
It’s the combination of Madam Chai’s cooking, the garden setting, the history of Skehan’s and the choice of how you spend your evening.
You can enjoy a peaceful meal surrounded by plants and Thai-inspired details.
Or you can sit inside a traditional Irish pub, enjoy your Thai food with a pint and become part of the lively atmosphere.
Few places around Peckham offer that particular combination.
Discover Chai’s Garden at Skehan’s
If you’re searching for a Peckham Thai restaurant, Chai’s Garden offers the chance to discover something slightly unexpected just a mile away in Nunhead.
Come for Madam Chai’s authentic Thai cooking. Stay for the atmosphere, the garden, the music, the conversation or simply another drink.
Whether you choose the peaceful glasshouse restaurant or the lively pub, you’ll find the same freshly prepared Thai food and the warm, independent character that has made Skehan’s part of South East London’s community for more than 25 years.
For Peckham diners looking for Thai food with a difference, Chai’s Garden is well worth the short journey to Nunhead.
FAQs
Is Chai’s Garden a Peckham Thai restaurant?
Chai’s Garden is located in nearby Nunhead, around one mile from Peckham. It’s a convenient option for local diners searching for authentic Thai food near Peckham.
Where is Chai’s Garden?
Chai’s Garden is located at Skehan’s on Kitto Road in Nunhead, South East London, approximately one mile from Peckham.
Who is Madam Chai?
Madam Chai has been cooking Thai food in London pubs for many years. She previously ran a successful Thai kitchen in Islington before bringing her cooking to Skehan’s in Nunhead.
Can I eat Chai’s Garden food inside the pub?
Yes. The same Chai’s Garden menu is available inside Skehan’s, giving customers the choice between the peaceful restaurant and the atmosphere of the traditional pub.
What time is Thai food served at Skehan’s?
Thai food is served daily from 5pm until 9:30pm.
Is Chai’s Garden suitable for a quiet dinner?
Yes. The separate glasshouse restaurant provides a relaxed and intimate setting surrounded by plants and flowers.
What makes Chai’s Garden different from other Thai restaurants near Peckham?
Its combination of authentic Thai cooking, a peaceful garden restaurant and a traditional family-run Irish pub makes it a particularly unusual local dining experience.