The capital can’t get enough of food halls at the moment, and it’s pretty easy to work out why. You can take your pick of an array of cuisines and even grab a bite from a few different places. Plus, unlike some of London’s other trendy eateries, you don’t need to worry about having a reservation. Here, we’ve shortlisted ten of the best for you to try.
Arcade
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The company behind acclaimed Indian restaurant Gymkhana recently revived this Tottenham Court Road food hall, so you can expect swish, ‘Grammable interiors that have a nostalgic, retro feel. You’ll also find a funky pool room and an events calendar packed with gastronomic experiences and topical entertainment. A second venue has just opened in Battersea Power Station and it features two bars and three restaurants in addition to the classic food hall setup.
What’s on the menu?
Plant-based goodness at Palm Greens, Nepali small plates including steamed momos (dumplings) stuffed with 24-hour marinated chicken thigh at Tipan Tapan, and satisfyingly greasy smash burgers at Manna. There’s also a Cocchi negroni bar that serves up three different versions of the chic cocktail.
Market Peckham
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Located just across the street from Peckham Rye Overground station, you’ll find a hub of creativity at Market Peckham. The converted Edwardian building features co-working spaces that are sandwiched between a basement music venue, a first-floor Tonkotsu and cool rooftop wine bar Forza Wine. The recently renovated ground floor is home to an array of food, fashion, beauty and homeware stalls, as well as the bustling cafe, cocktail lounge and listening bar Jazu where only vinyl is played on a hi-fi soundsystem. The space backs onto the vibrant Copeland Park, which is home to independent shops and often hosts treasure-filled fairs.
What’s on the menu?
Zingy rotisserie chicken at Rotorious, complex Malaysian curries and marinades at Mambow, made-to-order sushi at A One, and indulgent Balkan small plates — including a chicken schnitzel sandwich to die for — at Eastern Bloc. The latter also offers a weekend brunch menu with Jazu bar that is sure to cure any level of hangover.
Boxpark
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Boxpark opened one of the first pop-up style malls in 2011 next to Shoreditch High Street Station, and you’ll find the recognisable shipping containers in Croydon, Wembley, and soon, Liverpool. In addition to its trendy stores and tempting foodie spots, this hotspot hosts buzzy events including quizzes, karaoke nights, cocktail masterclasses and the infamous ‘anti-brunch’. There’s a roster of resident DJs, so whenever you visit, you’ll usually find that there’s a bit of a party atmosphere!
What’s on the menu?
You might recognise quite a few of the food stalls here… The Breakfast Club and Tortilla both have outlets in Croydon, while Shoreditch is home to cult favourites Coqfighter, Pasta Evangelists and Black Bear Burger. Meanwhile, any sweet-toothed visitors can be satiated at Love Churros and the Soft Serve Society.
Tooting & Broadway Markets
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These two markets sit side-by-side near Tooting Broadway station in South West London. As two of the oldest covered markets south of the Thames, there’s a particularly special atmosphere here and a lovely sense of community between the traders and locals. Without the heavy touristic presence that you find at other foodie spots like Borough Market, these destinations can feel a little rough around the edges, but also much more authentic. You should also be able to find some great deals on a particularly exciting range of dishes.
What’s on the menu?
There are lots of tropical island cuisines to discover here, from flavoursome Mauritian fare at Mangé des Îles (including traditional dhal puri and fish vindaye), and indulgent Guyanese salt fish, pine tarts and cheese rolls at Pepi’s, to legendary oysters and Escovitch fish with rice and peas at The Lone Fisherman. You’ll also find fresh pasta at Vermicelli, gyros fit to burst at Smashing Plates and the juiciest of burgers, cocktails and beats in Boom Bap. Don’t leave without popping into Unwined for a glass of wine — the selection is brilliant and the staff really know their stuff.
Mercato Metropolitano
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The first of these sustainable community markets opened in a disused paper factory in Elephant and Castle in 2016. This venue now holds around 40 food traders as well as its very own microbrewery. The most enchanting outpost however, has to be the one in Mayfair, which is housed in a deconsecrated church — you’ll find a roof terrace and a cellar wine bar in the crypt.
What’s on the menu?
There’s far too much talent on offer in these hubs to give a fair overview, however some names you might recognise include Fresco pizza, Molo lobsters and oysters, Rudie’s Jerk Shack, Badiana’s Italian coffee and gelato, and Long Boys donuts.
Borough Market
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While the thought of navigating Borough Market at the weekend might give some people — mostly Londoners — chills, you have to admit that this London Bridge icon has an impressive history. It claims to be around one thousand years old, and began when merchants started trading foodstuffs on the riverside site. It is now so adored that it’s made it into some of the UK’s most famous films, including Bridget Jones’s Diary, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.
What’s on the menu?
Where do we start? You can pick up pungent wheels of cheese and delicate spices, or stop for a glass of fizz and maybe slurp an oyster or two. If you’re heading there for lunch, you’ll have to deliberate between Kappacasein’s mouthwatering melted cheese toasties, a pan of paella the size of a dining table, the freshest of fresh pasta at La Tua, and still try and leave room for one of Bread Ahead’s sugar dusted, soft-as-a-cloud doughnuts…
Eataly
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La Dolce Vita on Liverpool Street! Italian culture is consistently chic, from its fashion to its food, and nowhere celebrates this more elegantly than Eataly. Just wandering around the Italian marketplace feels like a treat. We recommend finding a spot to sit down, so you can dig into a perfectly twirled pile of pasta or slab of cake reminiscent of a jewellery box, and watch the world go by.
What’s on the menu?
Gleaming counters present cheeses and cooked meats in all shapes and sizes, caviar and pink shrimps are arranged on sparkling ice, and neat mounds of fresh pasta are dusted with flour like fresh snow. There’s a fruit and vegetable section that looks too pretty to be real, while the delightful scent of freshly baked bread wafts from the La Panetteria. There’s even an illuminated tunnel dedicated to Italian confectionery, where it feels like Christmas every day.
Bang Bang Oriental
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London’s largest Asian food hall isn’t quite as conveniently located as some of the capital’s other gastronomic wonderlands, but boy is it worth travelling for! The 32,000-square-foot space is simple but welcoming, and holds around 30 different stalls that produce top-notch food from every corner of the continent. Bang Bang is actually about to celebrate its sixth anniversary this month with live music, eating competitions and plenty to please any little ones.
What’s on the menu?
Once again, there’s too much on offer here to fairly pick just a few highlights, but you’ll definitely find fat and juicy dim sum, steaming bowls of umami-laden Pho, moreish duck pancakes and piles of noodles packed with crunchy veg and plump prawns. Leave room for dessert too, as you’ll discover beautifully presented cakes at Wonderful Patisserie and fantastical ice cream sundaes, crepes and waffles at Desserts by Yaki Ya!
Spitalfields & Old Spitalfields Markets
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You can guarantee that there’ll be a lively atmosphere in these adjoined markets, whatever time of the day you visit. Positioned between the vibrant areas of Shoreditch and The City, this area is a firm favourite with Londoners for lunch, dinner and after work drinks. It’s been a staple in the East End for centuries, and was officially declared a market in 1682. You’ll find one main food and drink area, but there are also stalls and trucks dotted around the rest of the space, between tabletops of glittering jewellery and racks of vintage clothing.
What’s on the menu?
At peak times, you’ll likely have to queue for most stalls, but it’s worth it! You might have seen Humble Crumble’s indulgent pots overflowing with custard on social media already, while Bleecker Burger currently serves up the best patty in London according to Time Out. Local legends Poppie’s chippy also have a stall in the square, while some of the more intriguing delicacies on offer include traditional filled Taiwanese pancakes fronm Wheelcake Island.
Seven Dials Market
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Located in the heart of Covent Garden, Seven Dials market is a glass-roofed, two-floor venue that features a typical communal-style food court on the ground floor and cosy café areas upstairs. Meanwhile, Cucumber Alley is a lane entirely dedicated to sweet treats and snacks, so you can quickly grab something to go if you’re out browsing Covent Garden’s retail offering.
What’s on the menu?
In the main area, Banana Warehouse, you’ll find posh burgers at Truffle, Latino fried chicken at El Pollote, and even a cheese bar complete with a conveyor belt — the actual dream! Over on Cucumber Alley, you can grab some dumplings or a naan, then round off your meal with a waffle, crepe or some soft serve ice cream.
