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A food hall inside a handsome old building, Market Hall Victoria is not just in Victoria, but is smack-bang opposite the station. It’s got everything you could hope for: 11 kitchens, three bars. And that all-important roof terrace. Unsurprisingly, it’s also hugely popular: if you go in the evening, you’ll have to shout over all the music and noise.
As for the food, the specific line-up changes all the time, but the theme is one of high-quality drinking food: big-flavour carbs from some of the city’s best casual spots. Right now, that means dumplings, salt beef sarnies, noodles, kebabs and burgers, as well as pasta, tacos and curries. Plus all-day brunch (obvs), soft-serve ice cream and coffee.
Our current favourites include the prawn tempura udon from Koya Ko (every bit as good as at Soho’s Koya Bar), or roti with any of the curries from Gopal’s Corner (not quite as special as at big sis Roti King, but still pretty decent). Plus killer salt-beef sarnies from Monty’s Deli or dumplings from Baozi Inn. But the surprise hit? Pasta from the relatively unknown Nonna Tonda – aka Nonna’s – where a plate of wide, flappy pappardelle with duck ragù was just magnificent.
But take our advice and go off-peak: on our Thursday night visit, it was one-in-one-out just to get in, then another 20 minutes of that hover-by-the-table-dance to bag a seat. Best of all, consider going in a big gang: if you’re in a group of eight (or more), you can actually book.