The best places to eat in Borough Market

Cynthia Shanmugalingam's rip-roaring Sri Lankan restaurant was long-awaited, and it smashed all expectations on arrival with wave after wave of curries, flaky dosas, sambols and pickles. Already one of the best restaurants at Borough Market for our money.

It’s right on the edge of the market, but on the grounds it’s only an extra minutes walk, we’d be remiss not to include it. Hawksmoor is your place if you’re craving a juicy steak or quality seafood, cocktails and big wines. The famous sticky toffee pudding is not to be missed either.

It may appear to simply be a cheap and cheerful taqueria from afar, but El Pastor has some serious pedigree behind it (it’s from the team behind Barrafina). The eponymous taco is the obvious choice to go for; a mind-bendingly good combination of 24-hour marinated pork shoulder, caramelised pineapple, guacamole taquero, white onion and coriander.

Kian Samyani’s Persian grill has been a mega-hit in London since it launched in 2018. The Borough location is the second of two and by far the most glamorous, styled like an opulent Persian townhouse with exceptional food to match.

Borough Market is a melting pot of cuisines, and casual Silka Urban Indian is a much-loved favourite. Start with lamb samosas and onion bhajis, before moving on to the likes of roasted duck masala or chicken tikka. Cocktails are fruity and floral, while the diverse wine selection features varieties from Spain to China.

Family-run Applebees has been a Borough Market fixture for several years, and comprises a fishmonger’s and café. Simple and well-executed fish and seafood dishes include traditional fish & chips with minted mushy peas and tartare sauce, but there are a few luxe touches too – think lobster risotto and truffled mashed potatoes.

The Hart Bros moved into Borough Yards en-masse, bringing their capital-conquering Spanish restaurant Barrafina with them for site number five. Expect the same buzzy counter dining and modern Spanish tapas.

Ever-popular with the tapas in Borough Market crowd, tables are often in demand and you can’t book at Brindisa, so you can expect to queue for a little while. Once you’re inside though, you’ll be rewarded with cheeses, breads and charcuterie that have all been imported from Spain, while the small plates menu features classic jamon croquettes, patatas bravas and lamb chops with salsa verde.

Found on the mezzanine floor of the market’s Floral Hall, Roast is a resolutely traditional restaurant serving delicious riffs on the classic combination of meat and veg. Sunday lunch is the obvious time to visit, but there’s breakfast and afternoon tea too.

Joining Barrafina is the live-fire Spanish grilling of Parrillan - unlike the King’s Cross location, most of the cooking is done in the kitchen, with only a few items brought out for you to finish on the tabletop grill.

Padella Shoreditch may be a little more spacious but you can’t beat the buzz of the original Borough Market location. Delicious and eminently affordable pasta, solid wines and great cocktails (developed by Mr Lyan and team) make this one of Borough Market’s most popular lunch spots.

There may now be a handful of Wright Brothers sites around the capital, but this is where the story began. We love the laid back vibe and friendly service, while the menu of daily changing specials and classic seafood dishes is hard not to like – dressed oysters are the best place to start, before moving on to whole grilled mackerel and Brixham fish soup.

Family-friendly Fish! has been serving London’s food lovers since 1999. The seats on the street-side terrace are the obvious favourites, but wherever you end up perching, you’ll have access to the restaurant’s menu of fish & chips and other classics. If you’re in a rush, opt for a fish finger sandwich, while those in a flighty mood can order whole lobster with chips.

The Maison Francois team has done it again with this slick multi-floor brasserie on the corner of Borough Yards. Staff in worker jackets breeze around with plates of pate en croute, escargots in garlic butter and steak frites (one of the best in London for our money), and there's a separate cafe/delicatessen if you want to grab a croissant on the go. 

From the same chef that brought London Akoko, Aji Akokomi has opened a slightly more casual, but no less fantastic, West African restaurant with Akara. Make room for as many of its signature black eyed bean fritters as you can.

The third Bao location to grace London’s streets serves an extended menu, with new additions including a chicken nugget bao and a curry wurst bao. If you want to make a night of it, hire out the intimate downstairs karaoke room, where you and a few friends can belt out all of the classics while devouring sharing platters of Taiwanese fried chicken and more.

From the team behind popular Mildreds, Mallow’s 100% plant-based menus are as colourful as they are delicious, and it serves everything from breakfast and brunch to dinner with cocktails.

A lot of the restaurants in Borough Market aim for a shabby-chic aesthetic, but Arthur Hoopers is a rather sleek affair, boasting moody black interiors and effortlessly cool staff. The menu is made up of European sharing plates, which might include the likes of lamb and bulgur meatballs drizzled with tomato sauce and yoghurt, or rigatoni with pork ragu. The wine list is worth your time too.

Elizabeth Haigh made her name as the head chef of Michelin-starred Pidgin in Hackney before going back to her Singaporean roots with this Borough Market kopitiam. Grab a seat at the counter for some of the best Hainanese chicken you’ve ever eaten.

There's lots to love on the menu at JUMA but don't miss the hand-crafted KUBBA - these pocket-sized crispy kibbeh are stuffed with a mouthwatering mixture of spices, herbs, ground meat and onions. Save some room for their signature, award-winning KNAFA dessert, and whilst you're here, consider getting stuck into some of the excellent vegan menu too. 

Directly above AGORA you will find her more sophisticated, refined older sister, OMA. Take a seat around the open kitchen and watch the chefs artfully grill meats over live flames. OMA means raw, and this is reflected in the various sashimi-style offerings on the menu. Though, make sure not to miss out on their bread and dips as well. 

Elliot’s makes good use of its surrounds, with much of the produce from its wood-fired dishes coming from suppliers within Borough Market. The bare brick dining room is filled with plenty of natural light thanks to a partially glazed ceiling, while the menu runs from quality breads and pizzas to dainty small plates, like lamb heart, asparagus and black cabbage.

Head chef Nick Fitzgerald has headed up lots of London’s best Mexican restaurants (as well as working at world-renowned Pujol in Mexico City). He brings all that experience to Tacos Padre, which also boasts a fantastic al fresco terrace for summer taco and frozen margarita parties.

Regularly drawing queues that wrap around the block, AGORA arrived in Borough Market with a bang. The more laidback sister restaurant to OMA, this spot is serving up blisteringly hot flatbreads, grilled meat skewers and the dips of your dreams. The atmosphere is young, buzzy and exciting, the perfect spot to meet up with friends and sip on frozen green chilli margaritas. 

Som Saa founders Mark Dobbie and Andy Oliver picked an old Victorian coach house just off Stoney Street for their second restaurant, and Kolae picks up where Som Saa left off with big, bold Thai flavours and cocktails. The menu is compact but packed with highlights - don't miss the chicken and mussel skewers, which are dunked in curry-like coconut marinade then grilled over open flames. The cocktails are excellent too.