Maltings Cafe

This diminutive daytime café – the elder sibling of Zucca a few streets away – is perhaps one of Bermondsey’s worst-kept secrets. It handles a steady stream of office workers, who stop by for top-notch lunches at caff prices; otherwise, a well-made rare beef sandwich with horseradish & mushrooms or a zingy asparagus salad can be picked up from the small chiller. Robust Italian cookery is the name of the game, & helpful staff hoist a heavy menu board around the room, with precious little costing over £10: pan-fried sea bass with caponata or comforting spaghetti bolognese might feature alongside a mighty serving of calf’s liver with roasted cherry tomatoes & a tangle of Swiss chard. Desserts include homemade ice creams, sorbets & cakes, while bottles of tap water arrive gratis.