Food Markets
Maltby Street Market
Address: South London (Bermondsey) - Ropewalk, Maltby Street, SE1 3PA
Nearest station: London Bridge
www.maltby.st / @maltbystmarket
Hidden away in the backstreets of Bermondsey, located under the picturesque Victorian railway arches, is the vibrant home of Maltby Street Market, also known as ‘The Ropewalk’. Its nickname refers to a nearby long narrow lane where cotton, jute, sisal and hemp were twisted into rope, which was once owned by the notable Bermondsey eccentric, Robert Rich in the 18th century.
The atmospheric Ropewalk, with its local charm and character, makes for one of my favourite street markets in London, with around 30 artisan food and drink traders, operating every Saturday and Sunday.
On one side of the market, housed under the striking arches you will find:
Bar Tozino - a hidden gem for tapas and wine
Comptoir Gourmand - a great local family run patisserie and cafe
Taylors of Maltby Street - delivering the finest seasonal fruit and vegetables
Bon Vino Enoteca - serving up Italy’s most delicious and innovative wines
Running down the other side, a parade of local pop-up stalls and traders include:
Bumpin’ Rinds – ‘offsetting bad behaviour’ by blending the freshest hangover juices around
The Cheese Truck - celebrating the best of the British cheese world
Waffle On – serving up heavenly sweet & savoury buttermilk waffles
The Beefsteaks - cooking speciality true British steak and fries
Craft Coffee - the place to drop by for your weekend caffeine fix
Support small and head down to Maltby Street to discover delicious street food and soak up the heart-warming Bermondsey street culture.
Broadway Market
Address: East London (London Fields) - Broadway Market, E8 4PH
Nearest station: London Fields
www.broadwaymarket.co.uk / @broadwaymarket
If you have a spare Saturday and the sun is shining, head down to Broadway Market, a working Victorian market with a vast range of authentic street food and one-of-a-kind vendors. Filled with over 70 independents including: coffee shops, restaurants, clothing boutiques and some outstanding London boozers, the street itself is always humming, even when the market isn’t on.
Broadway has been a traditional fruit and veg market since the 1890s, with the road being part of the old “Porter’s Path”, a trader’s route between Shoreditch and Hackney. The market has experienced many changes over the years, but since the East London community relaunched it in 2004, it has flourished ever since.
I like to make my way from Regent’s Canal and wander up this eccentric East End thoroughfare to London Fields, making sure to soak up the glorious Broadway vibe, whilst sampling the local merchants’ delights as I go.
Within the market you will find superb offerings from:
Bad Brownie – gourmet brownies, including delicious vegan options
Finest Fayre - some of the best scotch eggs in the city
Oyster Boy - locally sourced, shucked with love oysters
The Cinnamon Tree Bakery - delicious artisan biscuits and bakes
Chegworth Valley - award winning fresh juices and organic produce
Lining the streets of the market are some lovely independents too, including:
Off Broadway - a nod to the bars of the East Village, delivering a dose of NYC culture
Pavilion Bakery - everyone’s local, offering sourdough bread, pastries and coffee
% Arabica - a stylish start-up coffee shop born in Kyoto
Cat and Mutton - serving up local hackney beers from Crate Brewery and Redchurch
Meringue Girls - tasty colourful treats including their signature meringue kisses
The Saturday market takeover is a weekend excursion that I always look forward to! Indulge in some of the finest street food, whilst supporting the growth of small businesses and embracing the creative community spirt of the East End locals.
Borough Market
Address: South London (London Bridge) - 8 Southwark Street, SE1 1TL
Nearest station: London Bridge
www.boroughmarket.org / @boroughmarket
Borough Market is one of London’s oldest and most historic food markets and no wonder, it’s 1000 years old and dates back to the 11th century making it absolutely brimming with food and drink heritage.
Over the course of the 1990’s artisan food traders began to move into the area’s abandoned warehouses, including the likes of Neal’s Yard Dairy, Brindisa and Turnips. This kickstarted a revolution for the market and led to the creation of the specialist, high quality offerings and vibrant local spirit, that the market is known for today.
The traders of Borough Market pride themselves on selling first-rate produce from across the world, making the market one of the most renowned and respected in London. Open every day (apart from Sunday), the market is always bursting full of character and energy.
There are two parts to the market to delve into, with the regular traders housed inside and pop-up stalls and street food outside.
A few favourite sellers to note are:
Bread Ahead – baking delicious dreamlike doughnuts
Maria’s Market Café – plating up proper fry up’s with extra ‘bubble’
Turnips - providing the freshest organic fruit & veg
Utobeer – the ultimate craft beer bottle shop
Brindisa - a traditional tapas restaurant and authentic Spanish shop
Tea2You - exclusive loose leaf teas from every corner of the globe
East London Liquor Co.– distributing their award-winning spirits
Surrounding the market there are also some worthy mentions to try, including:
The Market Porter – a traditional Victorian pub, located in the perfect spot for a street pint
Monmouth Coffee – the constant queue outside speaks for how good the coffee is here
Applebee’s Fish – for their famous fish wraps and freshest seafood in the market
Neal’s Yard Dairy - hands down the best British cheese selection around
Stoney Street by 26 Grains - delicious breakfasts, counter cakes and coffees
Padella - serving up their extremely popular hand rolled pasta
El Pastor - an authentic Mexican taqueria for the best tacos & tequila
Bao – for those tasty steamed buns
The market is one of London’s great institutions and the perfect spot to spend a relaxed afternoon, sampling mouth-watering delicacies from some of the best independent artisan market traders in the world.
Mercato Metropolitano
Address: South London (Elephant & Castle) - 42 Newington Causeway, SE1 6DR
Nearest station: Elephant & Castle
www.mercatometropolitano.com / @mercatometropolitano
Based between Borough and Elephant & Castle tube stations, this epic food emporium is an absolute must to explore. Named as London’s ‘first sustainable community food market’, it comprises of over 40 traders, a micro-brewery and even a local supermarket all contained under one roof.
At MM they pride themselves on taking a ‘Glocal’ approach, meaning a global reach with a local focus. Serving up a variety of cuisine from every corner of the world; they strongly encourage the use of locally sourced and organic ingredients.
I simply can’t pass by without popping in, before I spend ages admiring each pop-up, trying to decide what to have.
A few of my regular go to’s are:
Ophra’s Dogs – gourmet hot dogs loaded with every topping you could wish for
Kalimera - some of the best authentic Greek street food around
Molo - creating sustainable, unique and delicious seafood buns
Rudie’s Jerk Shack - serving up a real taste of modern Jamaica
Totalling 45,000 sq. ft, Mercato Metropolitano brings together some of the most diverse and innovative food vendors around. Drop in and support the MM movement, in creating the first truly sustainable and inclusive community markets in the U.K.
