What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of London? The bridges, the Thames, the Museums, maybe the queen... How far down in this list is food?
Let's be honest, English cuisine is not the most recognized and appreciated but London is a huge and eclectic city with an infinite number of options for both local and international food, from markets to Michelin-star restaurants, and I think it deserves more credit.
Personally, traveling solo and on a budget, my favorite places to find good affordable food and an excuse to chat and meet new people (and taste free samples) are food markets, and London has some of the best ones ever.
The one I discovered and fell in love with this time is Borough Market, almost as old as the London Bridge, a place that looks as if a timewarp ran through it, where ancient and industrial architecture merge with more contemporary buildings, stands, and bistros and where you can't discern the fog coming from the river and the steam coming from the barbecue grills. Except for the smell, of course.
In fact, the moment you walk down the little stairs that lead you from the bridge to the market, you are hit with a cloud of smoke that surrounds you and leaves you stinking like a beef burger for the rest of the day.
Fun only if you're looking for attention from hungry men...
The human fauna goes from businessmen in suits - since it's conveniently located in the City - to a whole lot of tourists just like moi, and the stands offer everything and anything you may be looking for: burgers, vegan food, smoothies, iced tea, paella but most importantly Fish'n'Chips.
And I'm talking specifically about a famous establishment in central London, Fish! restaurant and takeaway. I had to stop and order a beer battered codfish with chips and mushy peas.
No, I mean, I had to. It's a rite of passage for every Italian tourist, ordering a huge box of fish'n'chips and spend the next 30 minutes complaining of how huge it is, but still managing to eat the whole thing. Affordable, good and abundant, highly recommended, especially for couples who like sharing fried food from cardboard boxes.
Another Market that's not famous specifically for food but should be kept into consideration in your food tour, is Camden Market.
Yes, we all know it's the place to be for clothes, accessories and everything vintage but the food is good too. I happened to be there on the only rainy day of the week and I found shelter inside what turned out to be the best Vegan place eveeeer.
Seriously, whether you are vegan or not, you shouldn't miss their super juicy, tasty, colorful, luscious burgers. The place is called VBurger so it's pretty easy to spot, and I encourage you to try their mushroom patty with vegan bacon and avocado mayo and sweet potato chips, and if you're not left in complete awe, send me your Iban number and I will fully refund you.
(Not really, but you got my point).
Extra tip: ask the guy at the counter to make you listen to his music, he's a super talented RnB singer!
Let's be honest, English cuisine is not the most recognized and appreciated but London is a huge and eclectic city with an infinite number of options for both local and international food, from markets to Michelin-star restaurants, and I think it deserves more credit.
Personally, traveling solo and on a budget, my favorite places to find good affordable food and an excuse to chat and meet new people (and taste free samples) are food markets, and London has some of the best ones ever.
The one I discovered and fell in love with this time is Borough Market, almost as old as the London Bridge, a place that looks as if a timewarp ran through it, where ancient and industrial architecture merge with more contemporary buildings, stands, and bistros and where you can't discern the fog coming from the river and the steam coming from the barbecue grills. Except for the smell, of course.
In fact, the moment you walk down the little stairs that lead you from the bridge to the market, you are hit with a cloud of smoke that surrounds you and leaves you stinking like a beef burger for the rest of the day.
Fun only if you're looking for attention from hungry men...
The human fauna goes from businessmen in suits - since it's conveniently located in the City - to a whole lot of tourists just like moi, and the stands offer everything and anything you may be looking for: burgers, vegan food, smoothies, iced tea, paella but most importantly Fish'n'Chips.
And I'm talking specifically about a famous establishment in central London, Fish! restaurant and takeaway. I had to stop and order a beer battered codfish with chips and mushy peas.
No, I mean, I had to. It's a rite of passage for every Italian tourist, ordering a huge box of fish'n'chips and spend the next 30 minutes complaining of how huge it is, but still managing to eat the whole thing. Affordable, good and abundant, highly recommended, especially for couples who like sharing fried food from cardboard boxes.
Yes, we all know it's the place to be for clothes, accessories and everything vintage but the food is good too. I happened to be there on the only rainy day of the week and I found shelter inside what turned out to be the best Vegan place eveeeer.
Seriously, whether you are vegan or not, you shouldn't miss their super juicy, tasty, colorful, luscious burgers. The place is called VBurger so it's pretty easy to spot, and I encourage you to try their mushroom patty with vegan bacon and avocado mayo and sweet potato chips, and if you're not left in complete awe, send me your Iban number and I will fully refund you.
(Not really, but you got my point).
Extra tip: ask the guy at the counter to make you listen to his music, he's a super talented RnB singer!
Now, as much as I love food markets, and though there are so many more of them to discover in the city, you might want to try something different than street food.
Maybe you want to go out for a nice lunch with a friend, without breaking the bank, and IMHO the best option London has to offer is Asian cuisine!
In every neighbourhood, in every market, in every street, you are guaranteed to find amazing Indian, Middle Eastern, Chinese, Vietnamese or Thai food. From the small family-run shops to the fanciest restaurants, you can't really go wrong.
Having already been in every Lebanese restaurant in Camden and in the City during my previous trips, this time I tried a "Lebanese canteen" called Comptoir, situated in one of the busiest streets of South Kensington. The food is pretty good and authentic, definitely a healthier option than the previous meals, the restaurant is aesthetically pleasing, Instagram worthy, and it is also a "souk" (shop), selling authentic middle eastern ingredients like pomegranate molasses, harissa paste, fig jams, and the fezes and handmade bags used to decorate the place.
Actually, for discovering this beautiful place I have to thank my friend Emily, who not only treated me to the lunch but took me on a Museum tour around South Kensington. Definitely my kind of day.
Was my food tour over? Not without "pudding"!
Oh yes, I am including some cakes and cakes, and biscuits and cakes, I will spare you the details but I will leave some links and some pictures. In the meantime, I'll go and have the third coffee of the day and I'll see you in my next post. Ciao!
V&A Cafè - best carrot cake ever
Biscuiteers - Expensive but Instagram worthy
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