With the long weekend stretched out in front of you, what better to do then stroll around, try some lovely food and take armfuls of it home with you to cook over the three-day holiday. Here are some of the best options (and a curveball worth visiting for one stall alone).
With the long weekend stretched out in front of you, what better to do then stroll around, try some lovely food and take armfuls of it home with you to cook over the three-day holiday. Here are some of the best options (and a curveball worth visiting for one stall alone).
Borough Market
With a full food market out in force this Bank Holiday Saturday, Borough Market is the first choice for most Londoners when they are after a food-led day out. The sprawling site near London Bridge is a haven on a Saturday morning: you can walk around with your cup of coffee, picking out your accompanying pastry before gathering as many glorious goodies as you can carry for the weekend’s feasting. Having spent many an hour filling up on tasters and freebies here I can thoroughly recommend putting a few to several hours aside to come and spend at this spot south of the river.
@boroughmarket www.boroughmarket.org.uk/
Borough Market, first choice for a food-led day out
Street Feast
Taking place tonight in Dalston is Street Feast London. With traders including Ben Spalding, the Mussel Men, Bhangra Burger and The Ribman, there is a great blend of cuisines and people. Billed as London’s biggest nocturnal food market it follows on from the success of Nuno Mendes’ Long Table that took place at the end of last year. A lovely way to kick off the Bank Holiday weekend and wake up with a nice full tummy (but not so full that you can’t enjoy a nice breakfast – as my father rightly says ‘what has one meal got to do with the next?)! Look out though later in the year, as Street Feast does move around. Originally started as a temporary food market, they are now considering setting up a permanent space, set to be either in Brick Lane or Hackney. They are also looking to launch another night market on Saturdays and Sundays in London Fields — watch this space.
Related
@StreetFeastLDN, www.streetfeastlondon.com
Real Food market
As well as holding regular food festivals, Real Food now hold markets down on the Southbank. The market usually takes place every Friday, Saturday and Sunday on the Southbank, however they are now running every day until the end of the Paralympics — perfect for this bank holiday. They support small producers, who ethically grow and concoct some of the best produce around. The idea behind Real Food is to reconnect people with where their food comes from — a great idea, especially for those city dwellers, who have never clapped eyes on a sheep in the wild.
@RealFoodFest www.realfoodfestival.co.uk/
The Real Food Market on Southbank is running every day throughout the Paralympics
Hampstead Community Market
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A nice little covered market on the high street, showcasing beautiful olive oils, meats, cheeses, Greek pastries and much more. Around the side of the building you will also find Neal’s Yard cheeses now and then, as well as a smashing selection of fruit and veg and a lovely little fishmonger selling oysters and more in a shed at the back. Open Monday to Saturday
Broadway Market
Broadway market has been making a bit of a name for itself recently, tucked away in Hackney it is a bit of a trek to get there, but with over 100 stalls it is most certainly worth it. With everything from organic meat to delicious baked goods, you are sure to find something lovely to take home. For something a little quieter you can always pop around the corner to the bijou Netil market. Open 9-5 on Saturdays.
@Broadway_Mkt www.broadwaymarket.co.uk/
The trek to Broadway Market in Hackney is definitely worth it
Acklam Village
This market has only just started up and is a reincarnation of the Portobello Fine Foods market. Selling itself as a street food market (and having worked with Street Feast) you will find stalls from all over the world. From cheeses and pickles to a Taste of Tawa, this is one for the West Londoners. Open at the weekends, you will also find live music and art floating above the delicious cooking smells.
@AcklamVillage https://acklamvillagemarket.com/
Columbia Road is not just for flowers…
Columbia Road
The curveball and my absolute favourite market in London (even though the predominant element is not food). Yes, this is primarily a flower market, and a truly glorious one at that, but there are a few food vendors worth visiting on the way, from the fresh oysters shucked on the corner, to the delicious deep fried squid served out of a little window half way down. Lily Vanilli, though, is the name that the foodies come for. She has a quaint bakery off Ezra Street, open from 8.30 in the morning. Beautiful little fancies line the counters and market goers line the street outside waiting to get in. She has recently been splashed all over the national press and also has a counter in the very prestigious Harrods Patisserie — incase you doubted her credentials. Open Sundays.
@columbiaroad @lilyvanillicake www.columbiaroad.info/
But also for cake.
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