London Southwark Restaurant Guide

“I’d travel here from Spain for the pluma Iberica!” – José Pizarro’s original Bermondsey tapas bar “somehow has the edge over the competition” serving some of “the best tapas you will find”… “if you can get in (it’s always heaving)”.

“It’s cramped, it’s busy”, but “you’ll never get bored of the variety of coffee flavours on offer”, at these epic caffeine-stops – the best-known of London’s top tier coffee house chains – where “excellent recommendations” from the “really knowledgeable” staff (“who will let you sample and taste different growths”) really add to the experience. Borough Market is the definitive branch, and – as well as the pastries offered elsewhere in the group – also has bread and jam on hand to soak up the brews.

Colourful, eclectic decor and distinctive “fresh tasting” Thai-Malay cuisine (the name means ‘mix and match’) still win an enthusiastic, if small fanclub for this “old-favourite, little oasis, tucked away in an unassuming location”, near the Shard.

2017 Review: “A great South American place”, near Borough tube – this “cheap ’n’ cheerful”, lively canteen serves a wide range of zesty Latino fare, including empanadas and steak sarnies; recommended for brunch.

2015 Review: “Freshly baked flatbreads” with “gorgeous” fillings, “good snacks and salads” and “the best cappuccino in the City” win nothing but praise for this small Italian take-away chain.

“A haven for top notch oysters and shellfish” (they have their own Cornish farm and wholesalers) – these “bustling” bistros have grown from their Borough Market origins on the back of their “sparklingly fresh and delicious” dishes, plus “good wines by the glass”. “That they’re cramped is all part of the charm”. Battersea is the latest addition to the family, and in SW7 fans tip “the little gem of a Mermaid Bar, like a luxurious grotto with elegant cocktails”.

“Tapas that’s a cut above-the-norm” helps makes this “slightly cramped” former boozer in a Southwark backstreet a favourite pre-theatre pit stop, and “great after-work place”.

“A hidden gem” in Borough Market worth remembering as a good “cheap ’n’ cheerful” option and whose “basic” Gallic decor is part of its charm. It serves “great sharing boards, plus a surprisingly good cheese and wine selection”. #NotReeling

Billing itself as ‘London’s best-kept secret’ – this tucked-away bar/restaurant in Southwark can be “a lovely find” despite its “unexceptional location”, thanks to its “top cocktails” and consistently good cooking – in particular “stand out steak” and “stunning puddings”.