In my estimation, few London neighborhoods compare to Bermondsey for food and drink lovers. In fact, there’s some of south-east London’s best restaurants, bars and coffee shops on Bermondsey Street alone.
Just a smidge southeast of London Bridge and Borough Market – yet, somehow, attracting 95% less tourists – Bermondsey Street has long been a go-to for the gastronomically-inclined.
Its roots actually trace back to the medieval period when the area was a vital thoroughfare connecting Tower Bridge to the south. Essentially, it’s a centuries-old destination for a drink and a bite, and retains many remnants of its rich history today.
The best of which include:
Where to Eat and Drink on Bermondsey Street, London
Chapter 72
An espresso martini at Chapter 72, Bermondsey St
Owned by husband and wife team Rod and Ellie, this coffee shop-cum-cocktail bar is a day-to-night destination for locals and tourists alike. The main draw? The espresso martinis – there are over a dozen different variations (from Cardamom to Popcorn and Black Forest to Pina Colada), but the original remains one of the best espresso martinis in London. They’re so aware of this, in fact, they launched an Espresso Martini loyalty card .
72 Bermondsey Street, London SE1 3UD
The Woolpack
The Woolpack’s beer garden, Bermondsey Street
A proper pub with proper pub grub, The Woolpack offers more than you might expect from its modest exterior. Out back, there’s a covered and heated beer garden (especially useful for watching games with friends and general al fresco fun), but all areas – including the private dining room upstairs – are cozy and welcoming. Don’t miss the signature Sunday roast (complete with all the trimmings, including an abundance of roasties, Yorkshire puddings and gravy).
98 Bermondsey St, London SE1 3UB
Hakata Ramen Bar
Hakata Ramen Bar, Bermondsey Street
If you’re looking for Fukuoka-style ramen without the long-haul flight, you’ll want to get yourself down to Hakata in Bermondsey as soon as humanly possible. This pocket-sized bar and restaurant simply does Tonkotsu better than most; we’re talking noodle-clinging 12-hour pork broth, vibrant beni shoga, rich slices of chashu pork, et al. The vegan options are unusually plentiful, too, with five ramens and nine snacks catered to VG needs. There’s normally a queue, but those in the know (see: you, now) will head down to its hidden basement bar for a Saketini or two while they wait.
177 Bermondsey St, London SE1 3UW
Cafe Murano
A little sister to Angela Harnett’s Michelin-starred Murano in Mayfair, Cafe Murano has all the right ingredients; brilliant Italian food, a superb all-Italian wine list, and a gorgeous interior with a tonne of luxe dining counters overlooking the bar, kitchen and Bermondsey Street itself. Classics like Chicken Milanese and the Osso Bucco Risotto draw the crowds in day and night.
184 Bermondsey St, London SE1 3TQ
Electric Shuffle London Bridge
Shuffleboard, food and drink at Electric Shuffle London Bridge
With two bars and ten electric shuffleboards ready to get your competitive juices flowing, Electric Shuffle’s London Bridge outpost has all the makings of a great night out. Or day out, in fact – every weekend, their Prosecco and pizza brunches include a complimentary hour battling it out around the shuffle table, and another hour toasting your champion at the bar.
10 Bermondsey St, London SE1 2ER
Le Chevalier Wine Shop
Lechevalier Wine Shop, SE1
Technically just off Bermondsey Street itself, Le Chevalier has earned itself a place on this list by being, well, the perfect wine bar. A brilliant and broad selection of wine, fine cheese, charcuterie and bread can all be enjoyed at home or at Le Chevalier, but we’d recommend the latter; industry veteran Christophe Lechevalier and his staff have worked hard to curate a hospitality-first, fun atmosphere and the ever-changing wine list is a real celebration of lesser-known producers.
85 Tower Bridge Rd, London SE1 4TW
Fuckoffee
This wild, welcoming coffee shop will forever hold a place in my heart. As the first spot I ever had a cup of coffee in Bermondsey (where, let’s be honest, caffeine lovers are spoiled for choice), Fuckoffee remains a go-to. Superb coffee. Superb cakes. Superb vibes.
163-167 Bermondsey St, London SE1 3UW
Flour and Grape
Flour and Grape, Bermondsey Street
If you have a craving for homemade pasta (and, let’s be real, when do we not?), a trip to Flour and Grape won’t go amiss. The best dishes include monkfish linguine and ricotta and pumpkin ravioli (served with almond, parmesan, sage butter and chili), but we’d suggest trying as many as your hunger allows. For £10-£13 per dish, plus a luscious yet affordable wine selection, you might as well.
214 Bermondsey St, London SE1 3TQ
Casse-Croûte
A humble favorite among local foodies and chefs, this intimate little French operation is the closest you’ll get to a fully-fledged Parisian bistro experience without crossing the Channel. Go for the rich, French classics (the menu changes du jour) and make sure you leave room for dessert.
109 Bermondsey St, London SE1 3XB
The Garrison Gastropub
The Garrison, Bermondsey Street
It’s not easy for gastropubs to get in the Michelin guide, so the fact that The Garrison has done so for six consecutive years should be a great indication of its menu’s magnitude. More gastro than pub, the team works with a small day boat fishery in Cornwall that delivers fresh produce to them every morning. Suffice to say, order lots of seafood and thank us later.
99-101 Bermondsey Street, London SE1 3XB
Bermondsey Corner
An independent family and friends venture with impossibly good vibes, this lockdown idea-turned-wine bar sells some of the finest ingredients and produce from the very best suppliers around the UK, France, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Germany, Greece, and beyond. We are a tad obsessed with the Corner’s Cremant selection, and particularly love their “Skin of the Day” (i.e. a rotating sampler of skin contact wine).
142 Bermondsey Street, London SE1 3TX
José Tapas Bar
Jose Tapas Bar, Bermondsey Street
José Pizarro’s first tapas bar is a must-try, serving up authentic Spanish food in a small space reminiscent of the tapas bars of La Boquería. The menu shifts daily, too, depending on what looks good at the market each day. It’s first-come, first-served, but Pizarro (restaurant number two, further down the street at 194) offers the same quality in a slightly more formal – and bookable – setting.
104 Bermondsey St, London SE1 3UB
The Last Talisman
Part cocktail bar, part Pan-Asian restaurant, The Last Talisman is one of those destinations that always seems to have something going on. In addition to a monthly ‘quiz and fizz’ night (which offers complimentary bubbles to those who pre-book tables), they serve up a mean Sunday roast, generous happy hour (5-8pm Tuesday to Friday), succulent bao buns, and a “magical” (as in, hosted by an actual magician) bottomless brunch.
171-173 Bermondsey St, London SE1 3UW