Forget Borough Market: Why Maltby Street is London’s Most Underrated Foodie Destination
If you’re looking to take your tastebuds on a world tour, Maltby Street Market is the place to be. While it only started in 2010, this little market has become a popular secret among London locals.
Like many of London’s food markets, this spot, situated in the hip Bermondsey area, is a foodie’s paradise. But this small market has a certain unbeatable charm and is usually less crowded than the more well-known ones.
Nestled underneath and along the Victorian Railway Arches in southeast London, you’ll find a diverse range of bars, shops, and street food vendors.
You’re spoiled for choice with everything from Taiwanese and Italian to Venezuelan and authentic Ethiopian dishes on offer.
The list below will guide you through some of Maltby Street Markets’ best in food and drink — be sure to bring along a large appetite.
Top Maltby St Market Food Vendors
The street food vendors at Maltby market provide a diverse range of freshly prepared food options. You might just be tempted to try out a bit of everything — which seems to be the best way to experience this market.
Below are the top street food vendors at Maltby Street Market you won’t want to pass over.
Duck Frites
The Duck Frites philosophy is simple; they aim to serve tasty, uncomplicated meals made from quality ingredients. Their approach is to stick to what they know: duck.
They’re passionate about the health benefits of duck, duck fat, and sustainability. They regularly adjust their menu to accommodate seasonal produce — and no piece of duck gets left behind.
The legendary thrice-cooked chips, confit duck, and gooey raclette cheese combination at this stall is the stuff of dreams. And, as if that’s not enough goodness in one bowl, the dish is topped off with a golden duck crackle.
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’ll know how fulfilling and heart-warming the meat, thick vegetable and legume-based stews are.
Their meat dishes are served with two sides and rice or injera (gluten-free Ethiopian flatbread). The sides, all of which are vegan, include Ethiopian chickpeas, butternut squash, red or yellow lentils, and impeccably spiced spinach.
If you’re not keen on spicy food, there’s no need to avoid this stall. The spices primarily provide warmth and flavour — so it’s a great winter pick-me-up.
Gyoza Guys
The Gyoza Guys put their heart and soul into creating incredible Japanese dishes with exciting flavours. Upon arrival, you’ll soon spot a sign or t-shirt with “#nosharing” on it. And you’ll fully agree once you’ve had your first bite.
The gyoza, which are steamed then grilled, are generously filled with tasty options like Lemongrass Chicken, Vegan Yakuza Mushroom, and Pork Pad Krapow. The menu is often changed up, so there’s always a new dish to try out.
There’s also a selection of noodle-based dishes, and if you’re finding it hard to choose, you can order their house mix of assorted dumplings. If you can handle a bit of heat, definitely have your dish with a drizzle of their chilli oil.
La Pepiá
The owner of La Pepiá started this street food stall after fleeing Venezuela in 2016 amid the economic crisis. He wanted to spread positivity about his home country through delicious, inviting, and colourful food.
What sets this stall apart from other Venezualan stalls in London are the signature, Rainbow Arepas.
The Arepa is a gluten-free corn bun popular in South America. La Pepiá took this classic bun and added a pop of colour by blending in beetroot and spinach — giving it a unique look and taste.
The buns are filled with options like grilled chorizo, black beans, grilled halloumi, and avocado. You can also “make it dirty” by adding their signature cheese blanket — which came about as a happy accident.
The Beefsteaks
If you’re looking for something that goes down well with an ice-cold craft beer, The Beefsteaks should be at the top of your list.
This stall serves expertly cooked, top-of-the-range steak on top of triple-fried chips or a sandwich. Their goal is to serve premium steak dishes at an affordable price.
The beef is grass-fed, native breed, and dry-aged — making for a tasty dish and a clear conscience. Try your dish topped with their flavourful bearnaise sauce, and you’ll be content for the rest of the day.
Bangers
Although Bangers is a relatively new addition, this stall has quickly become a crowd favourite.
They offer the ever-comforting bangers, egg, and mash combo made to perfection. They also make sarnies with some creative flavour combinations and are the go-to stall for breakfast baps after a long night out.
It may seem like this stall isn’t for you if you’re vegetarian, but they offer a banging spinach and cheese sausage. So, you’ll get to experience the same tempting bowls and sausage sarnies on offer.
Bumpin’ Rinds
After a long day of eating, you may want to balance it all out with something revitalising. Bumpin’ Rinds is all about creating unique and freshly squeezed drinks with the freshest ingredients.
All drinks are made from locally sourced, seasonal fruits and vegetables — with new tasty combinations regularly added to the menu. This stall is perfect for an early morning wake-up beverage, or a post indulgence reset.
Bumpin’ Rinds now also offer vegan gourmet porridge topped with homemade compote, nut brittle, and more.
Taylor’s of Maltby St
A food market is hardly complete without a fresh produce stall. The Taylor’s of Maltby St stall offers the freshest seasonal produce from farms in Kent, Surrey, and Essex.
Their close relationships with wholesalers enable them to get their hands on the finest fruits and vegetables. So, if your walk through the market inspired you to recreate a dish, or if you’re looking for the freshest fruit, stop by this lovely stall.
Snapery Bakery
If you leave this market with one thing (other than a full stomach), it has to be a Snapery Bakery loaf.
The owner of Snapery Bakery started off baking sourdough bread at home and distributing them to family and friends. His bread became such a hit that he managed to collect enough funds to start a business.
The bakery not only sells goods at the Maltby St Market, but it also supplies some of the top cafes, pubs, restaurants, and delis in London — like Fortnum and Mason.
It’s hard to recommend a specific loaf when they’re all so tasty. But you can trust that whichever one you choose will be crispy on the outside and pillowy on the inside.
Maltby Street Market Restaurants & Bars
While the street food vendors are on a regular rotation on weekends, there are a few permanent restaurants and bars too. The restaurants below offer excellent food and drinks — with the quality one can expect from Maltby St Market.
Bar Tozino
If you can’t travel to Spain, travel to this street food market in London, and search for Bar Tozino nestled under one of the railway arches. You will easily spot them by looking out for the Spanish flag or red curtains framing the entryway.
While this bodega offers incredible tapas and wine, the highlight of this bar is their Jamón (Spanish ham).
Vegans and vegetarians may want to skip this spot, as you’ll find cured legs of ham hanging from the ceiling. But if you’re all in for good meat, the staff at Bar Tozino will serve it up — fresh and thinly sliced.
The inviting and sociable atmosphere understandably attracts tons of customers, especially on Saturday evenings. So, if you’d like to end your day with a good glass of red, be sure to get to this bar early.
Hours: Wed-Thu: 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 connoisseur named Allessandro. With his long-standing passion for and knowledge of wine, Allesandro aims to bring the best wines in Italy to London.
The knowledgeable staff will be happy to recommend a tasty wine to complement one of their authentic Italian pizzas. The heavenly pizzas are topped with simple but flavourful combinations of quality ingredients.
It’s an excellent place for wine fanatics and novices keen to explore the different options with something tasty on the side.
They’re open all week, so you can indulge whenever the 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; the experience will speak for itself. Malt offers craft beer, wines, and ciders in a rustic and cosy 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 a Bermondsey market, Malt is the spot.
Hours: Fri: 05:30-22:00. Sat: 10:00-22:00. Sun: 10:00-17:00.
Maltby Street Shops & Services
Above the amazing stalls, restaurants, and pubs, Maltby St Market also has a resident barbershop and a few specialist shops. Below are some of the best.
Castro’s Barber Shop
The Barbers at Castro’s don’t simply provide a service; they provide an experience second to none. Situated at the top floor of Arch 49 (above Bon Vino), this barbershop offers classic haircuts, with efficiency and skill, in a warm, vibey setting.
Castro’s passion for American Roots music shines through in the excellent 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 among the Castro’s barbers, you can trust that you’ll walk away with a fresh cut and a smile.
Alongside their expert 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.
The group workshops aim to educate people on the provenance of different plants and create a relaxing setting where you can let your creativity free.
With this hands-on experience, you’ll get to enjoy the scents of seasonal flowers and foliage while creating natural masterpieces in good company. To make your visit even more rewarding, workshop participants get 10% off at the neighbouring 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 weeks leading up to Christmas.
You’ll get to enjoy festive dishes from around the world, along with heart-warming mulled wine and wreath making demonstrations. The twinkling lights and sound 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 exactly why it’s such a gem. If you’re overwhelmed by the hundreds of choices and large 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 so many more exciting vendors and shops to explore. There are also plans to expand the market, so you may have even more to see on your next visit.
The Market only operates on Saturdays and Sundays, with select shops open during the week. Because the food vendors are on rotation, your favourite might not always be there. So be sure to have a look at 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.