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The best places to eat in Borough Market

This world-famous market boasts some of the best food in London, and we're here to help you find your perfect restaurant

Updated on 24 September 2024

Finding the best Borough Market restaurants can be a tricky business. The last thing you want to do is go unprepared - trying to make a decision as you stand amid the bustling crowds is an intense situation we wouldn’t wish on anyone. There are so many options in this tiny little section of London. Finding the best places to eat in Borough Market can be a challenge, which is why we’ve produced this handy little Borough Market restaurants guide.

You can rely on one thing at Borough Market at least: yes, there are an overwhelming number of options at your fingertips, but the competition means that you’re very unlikely to end up with something that isn’t tasty. Nothing bad survives here for very long and though you do pay a bit of a premium for the best food at Borough Market, most of the best restaurants at Borough Market have been trading here for a number of years, or they have moved in with a good reputation.

What makes Borough Market so special? Aside from the history - the market has been trading since 1851 - it brings together outstanding fresh produce as well as delicious food. The range of options on offer is staggering too, with almost every major global cuisine represented across the market.

If you’re looking for a spot to settle down for a midday snack, Borough Market lunches offer all sorts of great options too, from a stool at a Singaporean counter to a chair in the glorious sun of an al fresco terrace. Or, just grab something from a stall and find a wall to perch on.

Scroll down for our pick of the best places to eat in Borough Market.

AGORA

AGORA

3 Bedale Street, London Bridge, London, SE1 9AL

Regularly drawing queues that wrap around the block, AGORA arrived in Borough Market with a bang. The more laidback sister restaurant to OMA, this spot is serving up blisteringly hot flatbreads, grilled meat skewers and the dips of your dreams. The atmosphere is young, buzzy and exciting, the perfect spot to meet up with friends and sip on frozen green chilli margaritas. 

£30 - £49
Greek
Silka Urban Indian

Silka Urban Indian

6-8 Southwark Street, London Bridge, London, SE1 1TL

Borough Market is a melting pot of cuisines, and casual Silka Urban Indian is a much-loved favourite. Start with lamb samosas and onion bhajis, before moving on to the likes of roasted duck masala or chicken tikka. Cocktails are fruity and floral, while the diverse wine selection features varieties from Spain to China.

£30 - £49
Indian
Kolae

Kolae

6 Park Street, London Bridge, London, SE1 9AB

Som Saa founders Mark Dobbie and Andy Oliver picked an old Victorian coach house just off Stoney Street for their second restaurant, and Kolae picks up where Som Saa left off with big, bold Thai flavours and cocktails. The menu is compact but packed with highlights - don't miss the chicken and mussel skewers, which are dunked in curry-like coconut marinade then grilled over open flames. The cocktails are excellent too. 

£30 - £49
Thai
SquareMeal London Top 100
Mei Mei

Mei Mei

Unit 52 Jubilee Place, London Bridge, London, SE1 1TL

Elizabeth Haigh made her name as the head chef of Michelin-starred Pidgin in Hackney before going back to her Singaporean roots with this Borough Market kopitiam. Grab a seat at the counter for some of the best Hainanese chicken you’ve ever eaten.

Under £30
Malaysian
Singaporean
Wright Brothers Borough Market

Wright Brothers Borough Market

11 Stoney Street, Southwark, London, SE1 9AD

There may now be a handful of Wright Brothers sites around the capital, but this is where the story began. We love the laid back vibe and friendly service, while the menu of daily changing specials and classic seafood dishes is hard not to like – dressed oysters are the best place to start, before moving on to whole grilled mackerel and Brixham fish soup.

£30 - £49
Fish
Cafe Francois

Cafe Francois

Borough Yards, London Bridge, London, SE1 9AD

The Maison Francois team has done it again with this slick multi-floor brasserie on the corner of Borough Yards. Staff in worker jackets breeze around with plates of pate en croute, escargots in garlic butter and steak frites (one of the best in London for our money), and there's a separate cafe/delicatessen if you want to grab a croissant on the go. 

£30 - £49
French
Elliot

Elliot's Borough Market

12 Stoney Street, Borough Market, London Bridge, London, SE1 9AD

Elliot’s makes good use of its surrounds, with much of the produce from its wood-fired dishes coming from suppliers within Borough Market. The bare brick dining room is filled with plenty of natural light thanks to a partially glazed ceiling, while the menu runs from quality breads and pizzas to dainty small plates, like lamb heart, asparagus and black cabbage.

£30 - £49
British
Barrafina Borough Yards

Barrafina Borough Yards

2 Dirty Lane, London Bridge, London, SE1 9DG

The Hart Bros moved into Borough Yards en-masse, bringing their capital-conquering Spanish restaurant Barrafina with them for site number five. Expect the same buzzy counter dining and modern Spanish tapas.

£50 - £79
Tapas
Spanish
JUMA Kitchen

JUMA Kitchen

Borough Market Kitchen, London Bridge, London, SE1 9AG

There's lots to love on the menu at JUMA but don't miss the hand-crafted KUBBA - these pocket-sized crispy kibbeh are stuffed with a mouthwatering mixture of spices, herbs, ground meat and onions. Save some room for their signature, award-winning KNAFA dessert, and whilst you're here, consider getting stuck into some of the excellent vegan menu too. 

Under £30
Middle Eastern
Bao Borough

Bao Borough

13 Stoney Street, London Bridge, London, SE1 9AD

The third Bao location to grace London’s streets serves an extended menu, with new additions including a chicken nugget bao and a curry wurst bao. If you want to make a night of it, hire out the intimate downstairs karaoke room, where you and a few friends can belt out all of the classics while devouring sharing platters of Taiwanese fried chicken and more.

Under £30
Taiwanese
Padella Borough

Padella Borough

6 Southwark Street, London Bridge, London, SE1 1TQ

Padella Shoreditch may be a little more spacious but you can’t beat the buzz of the original Borough Market location. Delicious and eminently affordable pasta, solid wines and great cocktails (developed by Mr Lyan and team) make this one of Borough Market’s most popular lunch spots.

Under £30
Italian
Rambutan

Rambutan

10 Stoney Street, London Bridge, London, SE1 9AD

Cynthia Shanmugalingam's rip-roaring Sri Lankan restaurant was long-awaited, and it smashed all expectations on arrival with wave after wave of curries, flaky dosas, sambols and pickles. Already one of the best restaurants at Borough Market for our money.

£50 - £79
SquareMeal London Top 100
Sri Lankan
OMA

OMA

3 Bedale Street, London Bridge, London, SE1 9AL

Directly above AGORA you will find her more sophisticated, refined older sister, OMA. Take a seat around the open kitchen and watch the chefs artfully grill meats over live flames. OMA means raw, and this is reflected in the various sashimi-style offerings on the menu. Though, make sure not to miss out on their bread and dips as well. 

£50 - £79
Mediterranean
Greek
El Pastor Stoney Street

El Pastor Stoney Street

7a Stoney Street, London Bridge, London, SE1 9AA

It may appear to simply be a cheap and cheerful taqueria from afar, but El Pastor has some serious pedigree behind it (it’s from the team behind Barrafina). The eponymous taco is the obvious choice to go for; a mind-bendingly good combination of 24-hour marinated pork shoulder, caramelised pineapple, guacamole taquero, white onion and coriander.

£30 - £49
Mexican
Fish!

Fish!

Cathedral Street, City Of London, London, SE1 9AL

Family-friendly Fish! has been serving London’s food lovers since 1999. The seats on the street-side terrace are the obvious favourites, but wherever you end up perching, you’ll have access to the restaurant’s menu of fish & chips and other classics. If you’re in a rush, opt for a fish finger sandwich, while those in a flighty mood can order whole lobster with chips.

£30 - £49
Fish
£30 - £49
Mallow

Mallow

1 Cathedral Street, London Bridge, London, SE1 9DE

From the team behind popular Mildreds, Mallow’s 100% plant-based menus are as colourful as they are delicious, and it serves everything from breakfast and brunch to dinner with cocktails.

£30 - £49
Modern European
Vegetarian
Vegan
Akara

Akara

Arch 208, London Bridge, London, SE1 9AD

From the same chef that brought London Akoko, Aji Akokomi has opened a slightly more casual, but no less fantastic, West African restaurant with Akara. Make room for as many of its signature black eyed bean fritters as you can.

£50 - £79
West African
Roast

Roast

Floral Hall, Stoney Street, London Bridge, London, SE1 1TL

Found on the mezzanine floor of the market’s Floral Hall, Roast is a resolutely traditional restaurant serving delicious riffs on the classic combination of meat and veg. Sunday lunch is the obvious time to visit, but there’s breakfast and afternoon tea too.

£50 - £79
British
Parrillan Borough Yards

Parrillan Borough Yards

4 Dirty Lane, London Bridge, London, SE1 9PA

Joining Barrafina is the live-fire Spanish grilling of Parrillan - unlike the King’s Cross location, most of the cooking is done in the kitchen, with only a few items brought out for you to finish on the tabletop grill.

£50 - £79
Spanish
Barbecue
Berenjak Borough

Berenjak Borough

1 Bedale Street, London Bridge, London, SE1 9AL

Kian Samyani’s Persian grill has been a mega-hit in London since it launched in 2018. The Borough location is the second of two and by far the most glamorous, styled like an opulent Persian townhouse with exceptional food to match.

£30 - £49
Persian
Middle Eastern
Tacos Padre

Tacos Padre

Borough Market, London Bridge, London, SE1 9AG

Head chef Nick Fitzgerald has headed up lots of London’s best Mexican restaurants (as well as working at world-renowned Pujol in Mexico City). He brings all that experience to Tacos Padre, which also boasts a fantastic al fresco terrace for summer taco and frozen margarita parties.

£30 - £49
Mexican
Arthur Hooper

Arthur Hooper's

8 Stoney Street, London Bridge, London, SE1 9AA

A lot of the restaurants in Borough Market aim for a shabby-chic aesthetic, but Arthur Hoopers is a rather sleek affair, boasting moody black interiors and effortlessly cool staff. The menu is made up of European sharing plates, which might include the likes of lamb and bulgur meatballs drizzled with tomato sauce and yoghurt, or rigatoni with pork ragu. The wine list is worth your time too.

£30 - £49
Mediterranean
Applebee

Applebee's Fish

5 Stoney Street, London Bridge, London, SE1 9AA

Family-run Applebees has been a Borough Market fixture for several years, and comprises a fishmonger’s and café. Simple and well-executed fish and seafood dishes include traditional fish & chips with minted mushy peas and tartare sauce, but there are a few luxe touches too – think lobster risotto and truffled mashed potatoes.

Under £30
Fish
Tapas Brindisa Borough

Tapas Brindisa Borough

18-20 Southwark Street, London , London, SE1 1TJ

Ever-popular with the tapas in Borough Market crowd, tables are often in demand and you can’t book at Brindisa, so you can expect to queue for a little while. Once you’re inside though, you’ll be rewarded with cheeses, breads and charcuterie that have all been imported from Spain, while the small plates menu features classic jamon croquettes, patatas bravas and lamb chops with salsa verde.

£30 - £49
Tapas
Spanish
Hawksmoor Borough

Hawksmoor Borough

16 Winchester Walk, London Bridge, London, SE1 9AQ

It’s right on the edge of the market, but on the grounds it’s only an extra minutes walk, we’d be remiss not to include it. Hawksmoor is your place if you’re craving a juicy steak or quality seafood, cocktails and big wines. The famous sticky toffee pudding is not to be missed either.

£50 - £79
Steak
British

If you want more options to choose from, check out our complete restaurant listings for Borough Market to see a map of everything in the area, or take a look at our handy guides to the best restaurants in London Bridge and the best restaurants on Bermondsey Street.

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