Once an important part of London’s river trade, Bermondsey sat derelict for several decades, until the area’s wharves were renovated in the 1980s. Now it’s a lively part of town, with some exceptionally good restaurants and coffee houses, plus plenty of excellent bars and pubs, usually packed to the brim with visitors and regulars. Bermondsey can turn Londoners into tourists: The Scoop in particular attracts both out-of-towners and locals to its free quality events.
Beer, art, coffee and street food have taken this historic neighbourhood’s rep from rowdy to ritzy. Discover it all with tips from Time Out Tastemakers.
Best breakfast or brunch
‘Tanner & Co. The eggs are fab and they do the most colourful smoothies.’ Christy Oliver
Best coffee
‘The Watch House is a great grab-and-go choice, while Fuckoffee serves nice coffee and is very Instagrammable.’ Franky Mang
‘Hej is the best. It’s not only a café but has a barista school upstairs.’ Manmeet Singh
Best dinner
‘Pizarro is my number one restaurant in London, from the crowd-pleasing grilled octopus to grandma-style stews.’ Valisa Iskandar
‘The pasta at Flour & Grape comes endorsed by my Italian friend.’ Franky Mang
‘Stand-up tapas at José – I love the hustle and bustle and the croquettes are the best I’ve had in London.’ Amy Loxley
‘Casse-Croûte is a lovely bistro – tested and approved by a Frenchie in London!’ Lise Mathon
‘Dine at Bar Tozino, surrounded by hanging hams, with authentic cheeses and sangria.’ Neil Kite
Best bar or pub
‘The Garrison: a vintage interior and one of the best roasts in London.’ Sasha Abraham
‘214 Bermondsey is a cosy basement parlour with more than 100 gins.’ Chelsey Campbell
‘I love Hiver Beers: it’s a brewery that works with beekeepers! You can taste honeys, try out hand cream and finish with a cool pint.’ Evie Möller
‘The Angel pub on the water is relaxed and tucked away. Great pub grub as well.’ Shona Read
‘The Doodle Bar – where else can you doodle on the walls and end up playing Pictionary with randoms?’ Paula Kanesanathan
Best green space
‘The beautiful rose gardens at Leathermarket Gardens, Gibbon’s Rent community garden or Tanner Street Park with its free tennis courts: just turn up and play. It feels very neighbourhood-y for Zone 1.’ Katherine Balmer
Best place for culture
‘Ugly Duck is a former Victorian tannery where you can catch theatre and arts.’ Marianna Meloni
‘The Fashion and Textile Museum and the White Cube gallery always have amazing exhibitions on.’ Diana Turchi
‘The cosy little Kino Bermondsey cinema (formerly Shortwave): perfect for a date.’ Manmeet Singh
Best place to shop
‘Bermondsey Square Antiques Market. To get something rare at a reasonable price, go with the pros at 6am.’ Valisa Iskandar
‘The mighty Spa Terminus market of artisan producers is the place to find locally made honey, booze, cheese and cakes.’ Iza Kawecka
Best thing to do
‘Definitely Maltby Street Market! A great selection of food stalls including incredible toasties, amazing gin at Little Bird distillery and some fab independent breweries.’ Amy Loxley
‘The Bermondsey Beer Mile: tons of breweries all showcasing their best beers for cheap prices! Get a group together for a day sesh and get a bit squiffy.’ Megan Pattwell
