London is a city in love with street food and food markets. Our foodie hot-spots range from Borough Market to Camden Market, and even a food hall inside a restored Mayfair church. And if you’re anything like me, one of the goals when visiting these delectable destinations seems to be to bankrupt myself while eating as much food as possible. And one place that could very easily take ALL of my money with its impressive range of culinary discoveries is Maltby Street Market.
Now, you’ll need to do a bit of hunting to visit Maltby Street Market, as it’s not the easiest place when you first stop by. Hidden away in a tangle of streets between London Bridge and Bermondsey stations, Maltby Street Market is sheltered next to the mainline railway to London Bridge, so it doesn’t exactly shout about its existence. But don’t be fooled by its secretive nature. You might arrive with an empty stomach and full wallet, but you’ll leave quite the opposite.
Once you’ve found the market, there’s no shortage of mouthwatering discoveries lurking in the stalls and railway arches. The majority of it can be found in the central alley, which is known as the Ropewalk. It’s the kind of foodie heaven that you’ll have to wander up and down five times before you can even decide what to get, stomach rumbling all the while.
Multiple cafes and bakeries provide you with plentiful opportunities to recharge with a cup of specialty coffee and a delicious pastry. Or you could settle in at the archway restaurants and bars. But then… There are also over a dozen food stalls to check out! Needless to say, you might want to set aside a few hours to explore all of the foodie delights.
Image: @maltbystmarket, via IG
Food and drink vendors
Along Maltby Street Market’s fairly diminutive length, you’ll find a whopping number of businesses and vendors. These range from market stalls and traders to venues tucked away in the arches. Among the food and drink vendors on offer are:
- The Greek Pot
- Duck Frites
- Amen Ethiopian
- Mooncheese toasties
- Mr Dumpling
And within the arches you’ll find:
- 40 Maltby Street
- Bonvino Enoteca
- Bar Tozino (which is home to London’s first Jamón)
But that’s just a sample, a taste, of the spots you’ll find along the market street.
More than just food at Maltby Street Market
Lest you think this place is a one-trick foodie pony, Maltby Street Market also houses some other intriguing venues to explore. You could buy some top-shelf groceries from Taylor’s of Maltby St, or find some interior design inspo at Provision Stores. Or perhaps you could get a groom at Castro’s Barber Shop, before enjoying a horticultural workshop at florist Jemima in the woods.
Oh, and lest we forget, Maltby Street Market is also positioned right next to the Bermondsey Beer Mile. So, after exploring all the food available, why not head out and try some of the country’s top breweries and taprooms?
🕰️ All traders are present on Saturdays, and most are there from Friday to Sunday. General trading hours are Saturday: 10-5 and Sunday 11-4. The arches have their own opening hours.
📍 Maltby Street, Bermondsey, SE1 3PA.
🚇 Nearest stations are London Bridge and Bermondsey.
Find out more here.