Guidebook for London
Food Scene
Recent renovation work has given Village East an even more sleek and fresh interior. This old favourite of Bermondsey serves up perfectly executed dishes by the masterful Toby Stuart and team. Mixing European and New York influences creates wonderful flavour combinations, such as their famed crab mac n cheese. This is the perfect setting for a slow and steady weekend brunch.
136 locals recommend
Village East
171-173 Bermondsey StRecent renovation work has given Village East an even more sleek and fresh interior. This old favourite of Bermondsey serves up perfectly executed dishes by the masterful Toby Stuart and team. Mixing European and New York influences creates wonderful flavour combinations, such as their famed crab mac n cheese. This is the perfect setting for a slow and steady weekend brunch.
The immensely popular Champor Champor is a Southwark favourite. The Malay-Thai menu is authentic and offers sensational Asian dishes. The restaurant itself is nestled near London Bridge and is a cosy, intimate setting. The décor is an eclectic mix of world influences, from the music to the table settings. For a more romantic dinner for two, make sure to book ahead for the mezzanine table.
32 locals recommend
Champor-Champor
62-64 Weston StThe immensely popular Champor Champor is a Southwark favourite. The Malay-Thai menu is authentic and offers sensational Asian dishes. The restaurant itself is nestled near London Bridge and is a cosy, intimate setting. The décor is an eclectic mix of world influences, from the music to the table settings. For a more romantic dinner for two, make sure to book ahead for the mezzanine table.
On the corner of Morocco Street and Bermondsey Street sits the little Spanish haven José. This intimate and bustling restaurant transports you from dreary London to Barcelona as you tuck into delicious tapas. What José lacks in space, they make up for in taste with their select but impressive menu. There’s something for everyone (surprisingly, even vegetarians.), and, believe us, the queues are well worth it.
160 locals recommend
José
104 Bermondsey StOn the corner of Morocco Street and Bermondsey Street sits the little Spanish haven José. This intimate and bustling restaurant transports you from dreary London to Barcelona as you tuck into delicious tapas. What José lacks in space, they make up for in taste with their select but impressive menu. There’s something for everyone (surprisingly, even vegetarians.), and, believe us, the queues are well worth it.
In the much-acclaimed Maltby Street Market, Tozino stands out as an authentic Spanish bodega hidden underneath the railway arches. As such, it couldn’t do without vintage jamón hanging from the ceiling, rustic atmosphere, caňas and a nice crowd to happily elbow one’s way through. In addition to hand-carved jamón – the undisputed star of the show – the larder serves cheese, charcuterie and snacks. Red, white and sherry wines from Spain provide a few more reasons to pay a visit.
37 locals recommend
Bar Tozino
Maltby StreetIn the much-acclaimed Maltby Street Market, Tozino stands out as an authentic Spanish bodega hidden underneath the railway arches. As such, it couldn’t do without vintage jamón hanging from the ceiling, rustic atmosphere, caňas and a nice crowd to happily elbow one’s way through. In addition to hand-carved jamón – the undisputed star of the show – the larder serves cheese, charcuterie and snacks. Red, white and sherry wines from Spain provide a few more reasons to pay a visit.
After joining the makeover of Bermondsey Street in 2011 with a sherry and tapas bar, José Pizarro opened his second London venture just a few doors away. Serving snacks, cheese and cold cuts at the front, Pizarro is a roomy, stylish restaurant at the rear, designed to offer a fine dining experience with a Spanish accent. A sound selection of seasonal starters and mains is enhanced with meticulously-sourced ingredients handled by the chef’s creativity. The wine list spans a wide range of prices and qualities.
93 locals recommend
Pizarro
194 Bermondsey StAfter joining the makeover of Bermondsey Street in 2011 with a sherry and tapas bar, José Pizarro opened his second London venture just a few doors away. Serving snacks, cheese and cold cuts at the front, Pizarro is a roomy, stylish restaurant at the rear, designed to offer a fine dining experience with a Spanish accent. A sound selection of seasonal starters and mains is enhanced with meticulously-sourced ingredients handled by the chef’s creativity. The wine list spans a wide range of prices and qualities.
Drinks & Nightlife
Beneath the popular tourist spot of London Bridge, near the entrance to London dungeons, is the secretive pub The Mug House. This small, dark pub is a uniquely traditional spot with an old stone floor, draft ale, and deep leather armchairs to sink into after a long day. Their house ale comes served in rustic tankards, and the background folk music echoing through the candlelit chambers with arched ceilings teleports you 100 years back in time. Plus, the secretive location means easy service even at peak times.
6 locals recommend
The Mug House
1 Tooley StreetBeneath the popular tourist spot of London Bridge, near the entrance to London dungeons, is the secretive pub The Mug House. This small, dark pub is a uniquely traditional spot with an old stone floor, draft ale, and deep leather armchairs to sink into after a long day. Their house ale comes served in rustic tankards, and the background folk music echoing through the candlelit chambers with arched ceilings teleports you 100 years back in time. Plus, the secretive location means easy service even at peak times.
As one of London’s oldest pubs, The Mayflower truly is the hidden goldmine of Rotherhithe. Secretly mixed amongst a jungle of housing estates is this traditional, wood-lined, riverside pub. The unique age of the inside bar and original fireplace is perfect for a cold winter’s night, but the outside decking makes The Mayflower a true all-seasons pub. The decking area hangs over the Thames and provides striking views of the industrial docklands area, but watch out for the splashes of waves that shoot upwards through the floor; they can ruin your day or improve your friends’.
200 locals recommend
The Mayflower Pub
117 Rotherhithe StAs one of London’s oldest pubs, The Mayflower truly is the hidden goldmine of Rotherhithe. Secretly mixed amongst a jungle of housing estates is this traditional, wood-lined, riverside pub. The unique age of the inside bar and original fireplace is perfect for a cold winter’s night, but the outside decking makes The Mayflower a true all-seasons pub. The decking area hangs over the Thames and provides striking views of the industrial docklands area, but watch out for the splashes of waves that shoot upwards through the floor; they can ruin your day or improve your friends’.
Bermondsey Distillery is the south London home to Jensen's Gin. Next to Maltby Street Market, on market days (Saturdays) and on Sundays the distillery is open to the general public for gin tastings and longer drinks. Avid gin drinkers can book distillery tours in advance for groups of 10-20 people to explore the Jensen's range in further detail.
7 locals recommend
Bermondsey Distillery
55 Stanworth StBermondsey Distillery is the south London home to Jensen's Gin. Next to Maltby Street Market, on market days (Saturdays) and on Sundays the distillery is open to the general public for gin tastings and longer drinks. Avid gin drinkers can book distillery tours in advance for groups of 10-20 people to explore the Jensen's range in further detail.
Doodle Bar arrived in Bermondsey after its days were numbered as an immersive bar in Battersea. It brings with it the same playful attitude, with customers encouraged to scrawl up the walls made up entirely of blackboards. There’s also a foosball table at the front, rows of ping pong tables to the rear and a street food van that parks up at the entrance on weekends.
36 locals recommend
The Doodle Bar
60 Druid StDoodle Bar arrived in Bermondsey after its days were numbered as an immersive bar in Battersea. It brings with it the same playful attitude, with customers encouraged to scrawl up the walls made up entirely of blackboards. There’s also a foosball table at the front, rows of ping pong tables to the rear and a street food van that parks up at the entrance on weekends.