As far as dining neighbourhoods go, London Bridge has all the ingredients for success.
A great location; an unparalleled number of abandoned railway arches ripe for conversion into edgy small plates restaurants; and quite literally a load of ingredients, courtesy of the world-famous Borough Market.
Orbiting this hub of fresh produce, exotic imports and artisanal goods you’ll find cult hand-rolled pasta spots; Michelin starred elegance; French-Korean fine dining; and romantic, effortlessly cool wine bars serving daily-changing seasonal fare.
So here they are: the best restaurants in London Bridge.
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Trivet
First on our list is the lauded collaboration between ex-Fat Duck Head Chef Jonny Lake and ex-Fat Duck Head Sommelier Isa Bal. Trivet is a warmly-lit, two Michelin-starred restaurant serving up a menu of beautifully crafted and mostly European dishes, alongside a comprehensive list over 350 wines. And while the full experience is absolutely worth it if you can afford it, on Mondays they run the place as a wine bar, Labombe, when you can enjoy fantastic pours and Michelin-quality snacks for considerably less.
Details: 36 Snowsfields, Bermondsey, SE1 3SU | Make a reservation at Trivet
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OMA
Gilles Draps
OMA flung its doors open in Borough Market back in April, and it might just be the hottest spot in London right now – something that doesn’t come as a particularly big surprise, given that it comes to us from restaurateur David Carter (the founder of SMOKESTAK and co-founder of manteca, both of which have a Bib Gourmand from the people at Michelin). Here, ex-Sabor chef Jorge Paredes channels the power of the open flame into terrific Greek dishes like octopus skewers, mussel saganaki and oxtail stew with beef fat pangrattato.
Details: 2-4 Bedale St, SE1 9AL | Book a table at OMA
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AGORA
Having inevitably clicked through to book OMA, and inevitably finding it booked out on your chosen date, fear not – you can always drop into the more casual restaurant downstairs. AGORA’s specialist subject is skewers charred over a wood grill – but honestly, if you’re not in the market for a full meal, this is the ultimate place to drop in for a couple of unreal flatbreads, dips, and frozen margaritas. Best enjoyed at the dining counter behind the bifold windows, which open onto the bustle of Borough Market.
Details: 2-4 Bedale St, SE1 9AL | No bookings
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Rambutan
A village near Jaffna in Northern Sri Lanka and… Coventry. If you’re wondering what the link is here, these two places shaped the childhood of Cynthia Shanmugalingam – and one of them is now the inspiration behind her debut restaurant in London Bridge. At Rambutan the chef-author fondly revisits her roots by cooking up the likes of beef & bone marrow rolls, sticky chicken pongal rice and big pots of black pork curry, over an open kitchen. And to cleanse the palate? There’s a soft-serve machine turning out Tamil flavours like tamarind and ginger…
Details: 10 Stoney Street, SE1 9AD | Make a reservation at Rambutan
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Kolae
Ben Broomfield
Easily one of the hottest restaurants in London Bridge right now – and not just because of the open flames in the kitchen. Kolae’s the rightly anticipated follow-up from the Som Saa team, transporting their easy industrial style to a converted coach house on Park Street. The menu focus here is on the restaurant’s namesake; a Thai culinary technique that involves marinading ingredients in coconut, and charring them over fire. Banishing any paralysis of choice, there’s only about a dozen dishes on offer at any one time, and they’re all absolutely fantastic.
Details: 6 Park Street, London SE1 9AB | Make a reservation at Kolae
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Camille
You’ll find Camille facing Borough Market, in a dinky, cube-shaped sized space that’s changed hands a worrying amount of times recently (you might remember the place as being home to Stoney Street and Sons + Daughters). But by the looks of things, they’ll be here for a while yet – because Camille is the real deal.
In a nutshell, it’s a little French-style bistro that leans into British produce & nose-to-tail dining, putting it squarely on the same page as places like St John and The Quality Chop House. It’s all run by restaurateurs Clare Lattin & Tom Hill, but they’ve roped in chef Elliot Hashtroudi (after a razor-sharp residency at 107 Wine) to man the kitchen for them – and he is absolutely nailing it.
Details: 2-3 Stoney Street, London SE1 9AA | Make a reservation at Camille
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40 Maltby Street
It’s one of London’s effortlessly cool wine bars, tucked away in a railway arch on Maltby Street. What began as the warehouse for independent wine merchants Gergovie Wines grew into much, much more when they brought in a simple kitchen and a handful of sharing tables where, as well as buying bottles to go, guests can also sit in and enjoy a hand-picked selection of low-intervention plonk, alongside a daily-changing menu of some pretty special seasonal small plates.
Details: 40 Maltby Street, London, SE1 3PA | Walk-in only
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Lolo | Bermondsey
Bermondsey Street already feels like José Pizarro’s own personal fiefdom, thanks to the eternal popularity of his evocative after-work tapas spots, José and Pizarro. Now he’s added to his empire with a third spot, which, naturally, he’s named after an affectionately shortened version of his middle name, Manuel. Lolo is his first all-day spot on the street, starting with PX sherry-cured salmon for breakfast through to late night mussels escabeche washed down with Spanish wines…
Details: 102 Bermondsey St, London SE1 3UB | Book here
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Padella
The Trullo founders took the success of their critically acclaimed, constantly packed Islington eatery and distilled it into a buzzy restaurant right by London Bridge station. The result is Padella: unequivocally home to some of the best fresh pasta in London. They don’t take reservations, and the queues are still insane years after opening – but if you’re within 2km of the restaurant, you can queue virtually using the WalkUp app (and go for a drink at Tap & Bottle in the meantime). Trust us, it’s worth the wait.
Details: 6 Southwark Street, London Bridge, SE1 1TQ | No bookings
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Akara
Named after crispy black eye bean fritters, Akara’s journey tracks from the dish’s origins in West Africa, via Brazil, to Borough Yards in London Bridge. And, in a way, via a Michelin starred spot in Fitzrovia, Akoko, which was restaurateur Aji Akokomi’s debut spot. This follow-up is more casual than its predecessor, offering an à la carte menu of shareable dishes in an elegantly industrial space. Aside from the eponymous akara, you can also tuck into Senegal-style BBQ’d chicken; aubergine bursting with chilli; and fluffy Ghanaian doughnuts to finish – and every one’s a winner.
Details: Borough Yards, Stoney Street, SE1 9AD | Make a reservation at Akara
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Tacos Padre
Our father, who art heaven, Tacos Padre be thy name. That’s how it goes right? Not only does Tacos Padre serve up some of the softest, hand-made tortillas in the city – topped with all sorts of slow-cooked meat and house-made pickles and sauces – on summer evenings their tiny kiosk in Borough Market transforms into a fully-fledged al fresco restaurant, fitted out with colourful tables and chairs, potted plants, festoon lighting, and an even bigger, better menu, including some sharers that really mean business. 300g of carne asada rib-eye, with burnt spring onion, beef adobo, and grilled bone marrow? Amen to that.
Details: Borough Market Kitchen, Winchester Walk, Jubilee Place, London Bridge, SE1 9AG | No bookings
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Restaurant Story
Here’s how Restaurant Story unfolds: you’ll arrive at Tom Sellers’ legendary double Michelin Starred spot, and take your seats in a dining room bathed in light. You will not be handed a menu. Instead, you’ll settle in for a three or four-hour epic; a tasting menu of nine exquisitely prepared courses brought to your table. That menu changes regularly, but one stalwart remains the ‘beef candle’… which you actually light. If you’re looking for a special occasion restaurant in London Bridge, this place practically wrote the book on high-end, theatrical dining.
Details: 199 Tooley Street, SE1 2JX | Make a reservation at Restaurant Story
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Sollip
Despite being tucked away on a quiet side street next to London Bridge station, Sollip stands out. It’s an impressively creative venture from chefs (and husband-and-wife team) Woongchul Park and Bomee Ki, who met while training in London at Le Cordon Bleu. Together they craft dishes that combine traditional Korean flavours and references – from seaweed to nurungji (the scorched rice at the bottom of a pot) – with French culinary techniques. The result is a fleet of dishes that are understated yet surprising, and unfailingly delicious.
Details: Unit 1, 8 Melior Street, London SE1 3QP | Make a reservation
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Legare
You’ll find this Michelin Bib Gourmand-toting Italian at the foot of a historic warehouse in Shad Thames (just east of London Bridge, at the foot of Tower Bridge). And just wait till you see what they have in store: a feast of fresh pasta, made daily in-house, alongside impeccably sourced products like gorgonzola dolce & grilled peach on bruschetta and a short, snappy drinks menu of Italian classics like the negroni.
Details: Cardamom Building, 31G Shad Thames, SE1 2YB | Make a reservation at Legare
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Santo Remedio
Here to heal whatever ails you, Santo Remedio is London Bridge’s saintly Mexican. Edson and Natalie Diaz-Fuentes started out with supperclubs before opening their first bricks and mortar restaurant, which was frustratingly short-lived thanks to building problems. Now, however, they’ve been doing a roaring trade at their flagship restaurant here in London Bridge; a breezy and colourful space that’s home to mouthwatering home-made tacos; grasshopper-topped guacamole; barbacoa lamb shank and gallons of freshly-made margaritas.
Details: 152 Tooley Street, SE1 2TU | Make a reservation at Santo Remedio
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Bar Douro
The Douro Valley makes some of the best wine in Portugal. And Bar Douro makes for one of the best spots to enjoy it. Housed in an old railway arch, this gorgeous, azulejo-tiled restaurant in London Bridge is the ideal spot for a sophisticated bite and a slosh of good wine. Expect regional tapas-style classics like smoked Portuguese sausage croquettes, chargrilled sardines with padrón peppers and mouthwatering salt cod fritters.
Details: Arch 35b, 85B Southwark Bridge Road, London, SE1 0NQ | Make a reservation at Bar Douro
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Barrafina Borough Yards
This branch of Barrafina is the fifth in the Hart Brothers’ growing empire of tapas restaurants. They say you can have too much of a good thing, but it’s simply not possible here: they’ve replicated their tried-and-tested formula of sleek interiors (lots of marble and steel); great Spanish wines; barrel-loads of sherry; and of course, fantastic tapas dishes from exec chef and possible culinary deity, Francisco ‘Paco’ Jose Torrico.
Details: 2 Dirty Lane, Borough, SE1 9PA | Make a reservation at Barrafina
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Berenjak Borough
For those who haven’t had the cliché-wrecking pleasure of a kebab at the original Soho outpost of Berenjak, it’s a JKS joint (those of BAO, Gymkhana, Hoppers, and BiBi fame) serving up Tehrani-style food in a relatively small space. Their second restaurant in London Bridge, however, has expanded into a lofty double-height space right by the entrance to Borough Market.
Details: 1 Bedale St, SE1 9AL | Make a reservation at Berenjak
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Elliot’s, Borough Market
Elliot’s makes the most of its enviable location opposite Borough Market, slinging the pick of the crop into a continuously changing menu of wood-fired grill dishes and seasonal small plates. You sit just as well as you eat here too; either inside under the cosy glow of a glass roof or when the weather purrs, out on the pavement where one can observe the street action with a glass of natural wine and preferably, their fabled Isle of Mull cheese puffs (always get the cheese puffs).
Details: 12 Stoney Street, SE1 9AD | Make a reservation at Elliot’s
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Casse-Croûte
Casse-Croûte is full to the brim with French charm… and not just because it’s one of London’s smallest restaurants. Sporting bentwood chairs, checked tablecloths, Art Nouveau signage, classic bistro dishes and diluvian levels of red wine; it’s a real gem in the treasure chest of London Bridge’s restaurants. Bring a date, bring your friends, bring your family – just not at the same time, because they won’t fit.
Details: 109 Bermondsey St, London SE1 3XB | Make a reservation at Casse-Croûte
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Hawksmoor Borough Market
Hawksmoor has taken an old fruit warehouse in Borough Market and upgraded it with elegant parquet flooring; buttery soft leather seating; and meat. Specifically, their famed, dictionary-thick hunks of Ginger Pig-reared Yorkshire Longhorn cattle, which here come with triple-cooked chips, bone marrow oysters, and potent ‘anti-fogmatic’ cocktails.
Details: 16 Winchester Walk, SE1 9AQ | Make a reservation at Hawskmoor
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Aqua Shard
By far the glitziest restaurant in London Bridge, Aqua Shard offers all-day Modern British dining alongside floor-to-ceiling, 360° views of the city. Which are indeed the same views the other restaurants in the Shard offer… but as the lowest of the set (occupying merely the 31st floor of the skyscraper), Aqua is also the most reasonably priced. And those panoramas are still knock-out, even in the loos.
Details: 31st Floor, The Shard, 31 St. Thomas Street, SE1 9RY | Make a reservation at Aqua Shard
Fancy a nightcap? Check out our favourite bars in London Bridge, too