If you’re looking to take your taste buds on a world tour, Maltby Street Market is the place to be. While it only opened in 2010, this little market has become a popular secret among London locals.
Like many of London’s food markets, this place, located in the hip Bermondsey area, is a foodie’s paradise. But this small market has a certain irresistible charm and is usually less crowded than the more well-known ones.
Located under and alongside the Victorian railway arches in southeast London, you’ll find a diverse range of bars, shops and street food vendors.
With everything from Taiwanese and Italian to Venezuelan and authentic Ethiopian dishes on offer, you’re spoiled for choice.
The following list will guide you to the best food at Maltby Street Markets — be sure to bring a big appetite.
Top Maltby St Market Food Vendors
Street food vendors at Maltby Market provide a wide range of freshly prepared food options. You might be tempted to try everything — which seems like the best way to experience this market.
Below are Maltby Street Market’s top street food vendors you won’t want to pass up.
Duck frites
The Duck Frites philosophy is simple; They aim to serve delicious, simple meals made from quality ingredients. Their approach is to stick to what they know: ducks.
They are passionate about the health benefits of duck, duck fat and sustainability. They regularly adjust their menu to include seasonal produce – and no piece of duck is left behind.
The legendary triple-cooked chips, confit duck and gooey raclette cheese combination at this stall is the stuff of dreams. And, as if that wasn’t enough goodness in one bowl, the dish is topped with golden duck crackling.
Amen Ethiopian
If you’re looking for something hearty and healthy, look no further than Amen Ethiopian’s food stall. If you’ve ever tried Ethiopian food, you know how satisfying and heart-warming the meat, thick vegetable and fruit-based stews are.
Their meat dishes are served with two sides and rice or injera (gluten-free Ethiopian flatbread). Sides, all of which are vegan, include Ethiopian chickpeas, butternut squash, red or yellow lentils, and impeccably spiced spinach.
If you are not fond of spicy food, then this stall is not to be avoided. Spices primarily provide warmth and flavor – so they’re a great winter pick-me-up.
Gyoza guys
The Gyoza Guys put their heart and soul into creating incredible Japanese dishes with exciting flavors. Upon arrival, you will soon see a sign or t-shirt with “#nosharing” on it. And once you take your first bite, you’ll totally agree.
This gyoza, which is steamed and then grilled, is generously filled with delicious options like lemongrass chicken, vegan yakuza mushroom and pork pad crepe. The menu changes frequently, so there’s always a new dish to try.
There is also a selection of noodle-based dishes, and if you find it difficult to choose, you can order their house mix of different types of dumplings. If you can handle some heat, definitely dress your dish with a drizzle of chili oil.
La Pepia
The owner of La Pepia started this street food stall in 2016 after fleeing Venezuela amid the economic crisis. He wanted to spread positivity about his country through delicious, inviting and colorful cuisine.
What sets this stall apart from other Venezuelan stalls in London is the signature, rainbow arepas.
The arepa is a gluten-free corn bun popular in South America. La Pepia took this classic bun and added a pop of color by mixing in beetroot and spinach — giving it a unique look and taste.
The buns are loaded with options like grilled chorizo, black beans, grilled halloumi and avocado. You can “make it dirty” by adding their signature cheese blanket—which came about as a happy accident.
Beefsteaks
If you’re looking for something that goes down well with an ice-cold craft beer, beefsteaks should be at the top of your list.
The stall serves expertly cooked, top-of-the-range steak on top of triple-fried chips or sandwiches. Their mission is to serve premium steak dishes at affordable prices.
The beef is grass-fed, native-bred and dry-aged – making for a delicious dish and a clear conscience. Try your dish with their delicious béarnaise sauce, and you’ll be satisfied for the rest of the day.
Bangers
Although Bangers is a relatively new addition, this stall has quickly become a crowd favorite.
They always offer the comforting bangers, egg and mash combo made to perfection. They also make sarnies with some creative flavor combinations and are the go-to stall for breakfast baps after a long night.
If you are a vegetarian this stall may not seem like it for you, but they offer banging spinach and cheese sausages. So, you will experience the same amazing bowls and sausage sarnies on offer.
Bumpin’ rinds
After eating all day, you want to balance it all out with something revitalizing. Bumpin Rinds is all about creating unique and fresh squeezed drinks with the freshest ingredients.
All drinks are made from locally sourced, seasonal fruits and vegetables — new delicious combinations are regularly added to the menu. This stall is perfect for an early morning wake-up beverage or an indulgence reset.
Bumpin’ Rinds now also offers vegan gourmet porridge topped with homemade compote, nut brittle and more.
Taylor of Maltby st
A food market is hardly complete without a fresh produce stall. The Taylors of Maltby St stall offers fresh seasonal produce from farms in Kent, Surrey and Essex.
Their close relationships with wholesalers enable them to get their hands on the best fruits and vegetables. So, if your walk through the market has inspired you to recreate a dish, or if you’re looking for the freshest fruit, stop by this lovely stall.
Snappery Bakery
If you leave this market with one thing (besides a full stomach), it has to be the Snappery Bakery Roti.
The owner of Snappery Bakery started baking amla roti at home and distributing it to family and friends. His roti became such a hit that he managed to raise enough funds to start the business.
The bakery not only sells its goods to Maltby St Market, but also supplies some of London’s top cafes, pubs, restaurants and delis — such as Fortnum and Mason.
It’s hard to recommend a specific loaf when they’re all so delicious. But you can trust that whatever you choose will be crispy on the outside and pillowy on the inside.
Maltby Street Market restaurants and bars
While street food vendors are on regular rotation on weekends, there are also some permanent restaurants and bars. The restaurants below offer great food and drink — with the quality you’ve come to expect from Maltby St Market.
Bar Tozino
If you can’t travel to Spain, travel to this street food market in London and find Bar Tozino under one of the railway arches. You can easily spot them by looking for a Spanish flag or red curtain at the entrance.
While this bodega offers amazing tapas and wine, this bar’s specialty is their jamon (Spanish ham).
Vegetarians and vegans may want to skip this place, as you’ll find cured legs of ham hanging from the ceiling. But if you’re up for all the good meat, the staff at Bar Tozino will serve it up—fresh and thinly sliced.
The inviting and friendly atmosphere understandably attracts many customers, especially on Saturday evenings. So, if you want to end your day with a good glass of red, make sure to get to this bar early.
Hours: Wed-Thurs: 17:00-22:00. Fri-Sat: 12:00-22:00. Sun: 12:00-17:00.
Bon Vino Enoteca
Another great Maltby Street spot is the Bon Vino wine shop run by an Italian wine expert named Alessandro. With his long-standing passion and knowledge of wine, Alessandro aims to bring the best wines in Italy to London.
The knowledgeable staff will be happy to recommend a delicious wine to complement one of their authentic Italian pizzas. The heavenly pizzas are topped with simple yet delicious combinations of quality ingredients.
It’s a great place for wine fanatics and novices keen to explore different options with something tasty on the side.
It’s open all week, so you can indulge whenever a pizza and wine craving hits you.
Hours: Mon-Fri: 07:30-15:00. Sat: 10:00-18:00. Sun: 08:00-17:00.
Malt.
There’s not much to say about this go-to pub in Maltby St Market; Experience will speak for itself. The Malt offers craft beer, wine and ciders in a rustic and cozy setting.
They also host weekly gigs and events (malted shakes) with exciting line-ups. You can expect everything from blues singers to burlesque performances.
So, if you’re looking for good beer and good vibes in the Bermondsey market, Malt is the place to be.
Hours: Fri: 05:30-22:00. Sat: 10:00-22:00. Sun: 10:00-17:00.
Maltby Street shops and services
As well as wonderful stalls, restaurants and pubs, Maltby St Market also has a resident barber shop and a few specialist shops. Below are some of the best.
Castro’s Barber Shop
Castro’s Barbers doesn’t just provide service; They provide one-on-one experience. Located upstairs at Arc 49 (above Bon Vino), this barbershop offers classic haircuts in a warm, vibey atmosphere, with efficiency and flair.
Castro’s passion for American roots music shines through in the shop playlists and decor. You’ll love the inviting atmosphere, bespoke cocktails and regular performances at this shop.
With over 60 years of combined experience at Castro’s Barbers, you can be confident you’ll walk away with a fresh cut and smile.
Along with their specialty trims, they also offer men’s grooming products and exclusive Dudes Factory merchandise and apparel.
Hours: Mon-Fri: 11:00-19:00. Sat: 10:00-18:00. Sun: 11:00-17:00.
Jemima in the Woods
This artisan botanical shop offers everything from custom floral arrangements for events to botanical wellness workshops. Fresh, seasonal bunches are also on sale for market visitors.
Group workshops aim to educate people about the emergence of different plants and create a comfortable setting where you can unleash your creativity.
With this hands-on experience, you’ll enjoy the scents of seasonal flowers and foliage while creating natural masterpieces in good company. To make your visit even more rewarding, workshop participants receive a 10% discount at neighboring Bon Vino Enoteca.
Hours: Fri-Sat: 10:00-16:00. Sun: 11:00-16:00.
Maltby Street Christmas Market
As if it couldn’t get any better, Maltby St Market hosts an exciting evening market every Friday in the week leading up to Christmas.
You’ll enjoy festive cuisine from around the world, along with heart-warming mulled wine and bead-making demonstrations. The twinkling lights and sounds of Christmas carols are enough to put anyone in a festive mood.
Final tips for your visit to Maltby Market
While this Bermondsey food market may be small, limited and less popular, these characteristics are why it is such a gem. If you’re overwhelmed by the hundreds of choices and huge crowds at places like Borough Market, pop over to Maltby Street.
This guide only includes some of the highlights of Maltby St Market, but there are many more exciting vendors and shops to explore. There are also plans to expand the market, so you’ll have even more to see on your next visit.
The market only runs on Saturdays and Sundays, with select shops open during the week. Because food vendors are on rotation, your favorites may not always be there. So be sure to keep an eye on their social media pages to stay up to date.
If you’re heading to Maltby Market, why not make a day of it and explore the many other markets near London Bridge.
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