- Cuisine
- Ocakbaşı & Grill
- Area
- Croydon
Helvadere Croydon is a Turkish grill, cocktail bar and shisha lounge on Wickham Road in Shirley, on the eastern edge of the borough. It takes its name from Helvadere, a farming town in central Turkey’s Aksaray province, and builds the whole place around three ideas: savour, sip and smoke. The food is a mix of Turkish grill classics and crowd-pleasers.…
Helvadere Croydon is a Turkish grill, cocktail bar and shisha lounge on Wickham Road in Shirley, on the eastern edge of the borough. It takes its name from Helvadere, a farming town in central Turkey’s Aksaray province, and builds the whole place around three ideas: savour, sip and smoke.
The food is a mix of Turkish grill classics and crowd-pleasers. On the Turkish side you will find İskender, döner ala Turka, lamb and chicken şiş, köfte and a hot meze platter, while the rest of the menu runs to burgers with names like the Dirty Turk, steaks and chicken wings. The menu states that all of its meat is halal, and there are vegan and vegetarian dishes too.
With a large garden, a cocktail list, house shisha blends and belly dance shows at weekends, Helvadere is more of a night out than a quick bite. It suits birthdays, groups of friends and anyone after a lively evening in south Croydon.
What to order at Helvadere
Turkish specials and house favourites to look out for at Helvadere:
- İskender Kebab – lamb köfte on crispy Turkish pitta with yoghurt, tomato sauce and foaming butter
- Döner Ala Turka – chicken döner with rice or chips and sautéed vegetables
- Vegan Ala Turka – a plant-based take on the döner plate
- Kuzu Şiş – grilled lamb shish skewers
- Tavuk Köfte – spiced minced chicken kebab from the grill
- Sıcak Meze Tabağı – hot meze platter of börek, hummus, cacık, sucuk, hellim, falafel, calamari and köfte
- Humus Kavurma – hummus topped with sautéed lamb
- Dirty Turk – the house double beef burger
Atmosphere and good to know
Helvadere is a large, buzzy venue with an indoor restaurant and bar plus a garden and patio for outdoor dining and shisha. OpenTable lists belly dance shows on Friday and Saturday evenings from 8pm, and a smart-casual dress code. Weekday opening is from 4pm, with lunchtime opening at weekends and late closing until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays.
All meat is halal according to the menu, and cocktails and other drinks are served. Vegans and vegetarians have proper choices, and there is a kids menu. Booking through SevenRooms is recommended for weekend evenings and groups.
Helvadere opening hours
Monday to Thursday: 16:00–23:00; Friday: 16:00–01:00; Saturday: 12:00–01:00; Sunday: 12:00–23:00. Hours can change on bank holidays, so check with the restaurant before you travel.
How to get to Helvadere
Helvadere sits on Wickham Road (A232) in Shirley, best reached by bus: routes 119, 194 and 198 stop close by. East Croydon and the Croydon tram network are a short bus ride away. Drivers can park on Langland Gardens or Lake Road, and on the main road outside for free after 7pm.
Menu, ordering and contact
View the menu · Order or book online · Helvadere website · Instagram · Facebook · Call 020 4634 9676
More Turkish food nearby
Browse more Turkish restaurants in Croydon. New to Turkish food? Start with our guide to popular Turkish dishes or see the best Turkish restaurants in London.
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