Southwark, Fish & Seafood Restaurant Guide

“Very fresh lobster, oysters, crab, etc, plus a good choice of wines by the glass” (as you’d expect from the team behind Bedales of Borough) win praise from a small fanclub for this railway arch below London Bridge station – the permanent site for a pop-up whose hallmark is a roving fleet of VW camper vans.

“The best and freshest oysters by far, with seasonal varieties from time to time…”; “superb plateau de fruits de mer”; and “super-fresh fish” from an “ever-changing selection of specials”, all make this small group of seafood bistros “easy to love”. The style is “busy and jostling” throughout – “be prepared to share your table with other diners” in some locations – in others “some of the tables are so close, you’ll make new friends whether you want to or not!”. The Borough Market original and South Kensington spin-off attract most (and most favourable) reports – other branches (including at Battersea) can seem “a welcome addition but nothing remarkable”.

“A wonderful range of fresh fish is cooked to order” at this “buzzing”, glass-fronted venue just by Borough Market. “It gets it right much more often than it gets it wrong” nowadays and is “well worth a visit”.

“Superb fish – not overcooked – in generous portions” is the USP at this Borough Market café, where you can “sit outside for a lovely lunch”. Service came under fire from several reporters this year: “are they becoming a little slapdash?”

The 14th floor rooftop of the new Hoxton hotel – this time confusingly located in Southwark, despite the name – is home to a fish and seafood restaurant from the team behind Brooklyn’s Maison Premiere. It opened in September 2019, with a raw bar, a wide range of oysters – and ‘the fresh flavours of southern Europe’. Oh, and great views.

Italian seafood and wine-by-the-glass restaurant, with ex-Four Seasons chef Moreno Polverini in the kitchen. Walk-ins only.