Eat The Tube: 10 Best Restaurants In Bermondsey
Bermondsey is one of South London’s most underrated culinary havens – on a sunny summer’s day the main street could almost make you think you’re in Valencia or Toulouse. Even in winter, there is a huge variety of cuisines available, from some of the best Spanish restaurants in London to great Burmese and Japanese restaurants. For this entry in our Eat The Tube series, here are 10 of the very best in Bermondsey. Scroll down to see these spots mapped out.
Pizarro
The first of famed chef José Pizarro’s three restaurants within shouting distance in Bermondsey, Pizarro is one of the best spots in the city for quality Spanish food. Choose from small plates like the daily changing croquettes and fresh mussels in a spicy tomato sauce to sharing mains like cod al pil pil or gamba blanca al ajillo con huevos rotos – a mix of prawns, eggs and chips. There’s always a great selection of Spanish wines to pair with.
where: 194 Bermondsey St, London SE1 3TQ
website: www.pizarrorestaurant.co.uk
Trivet
In the heart of Bermondsey, Trivet explores how food and drink work together and serves dishes, drinks and ingredients from around the world. The restaurant was awarded one star in the 2022 and 2023 Michelin Guide and got itself two stars in the 2024 guide.
Imagine high-quality dishes like squab pigeon roasted over charcoal, spiced heritage carrots and kale; grilled monkfish, Pied de Mouton mushrooms and roast chicken beurre blanc, paired with a globe-trotting wine list.
where: Trivet. 36 Snowsfields, London. SE1 3SU
website: www.trivetrestaurant.co.uk
Cafe Murano
In one of the cafe’s three locations, you’ll find Angela Hartnett’s foodie empire, Cafe Murano.
The menus pride themselves on being small, but well thought-out to really bring you the best of Italian culture. You’ll soon be munching through Italian favourites, including Chicken Milanese and braised cuttlefish with polenta, as well as tucking into mouth-watering homemade pasta with rich, buttery sauces.
The menus pride themselves on being small, but well thought-out to really bring you the best of Italian culture
where: 184 Bermondsey St, London SE1 3TQ
website: www.cafemurano.co.uk
José
The next entry from the Pizarro Bermondsey dynasty, José was the original and is a classic tapas bar. A stalwart on the main street since 2011, it has a no-booking policy and a vibrant, friendly atmosphere. It serves a daily changing menu written on the blackboards along with 50 Spanish wines and sherries served by the glass. Think croquetas de jamón Iberico; pan con tomate – toasted bread with garlic, Catalan tomatoes and extra virgin olive oil; Pulpo a la plancha con crema de patata y pimentón – grilled octopus with creamy potato, egg white caviar and paprika; and chorizo al vino – slow cooked chorizo in red wine with quince.
where: 104 Bermondsey St, London SE1 3UB
website: www.josepizarro.co.uk
40 Maltby Street
We miss the daily sandwich offering of this gem since it exclusively went to a restaurant and wine bar, but the quality of the offering makes up for it. The restaurant is open for dinner Wednesday to Saturday and for lunch Thursday to Saturday, and is walk-in only.
The menu changes regularly, but think pork and fennel ragout, crumbled pollock with white beans, roasted broccoli, anchovy and chilli, and chestnut and brown sugar meringue.
The menu changes regularly, but think pork and fennel ragout and crumbled pollock with white beans
where: 40 Maltby St, London SE1 3PG
website: www.40maltbystreet.co.uk
Hakata Ramen
If you’re on the lookout for a warming bowl in winter, look no further than Hakata Ramen in Bermondsey. High-quality comfort food, this 50-seat restaurant specialises in Tonkotsu ramen and a range of popular Japanese small dishes.
Try the Kumamoto ramen with Shio tare 12-hour pork broth, and sides including Tebasaki (Japanese-style chicken wings) gyoza and katsu sando.
where: 177 Bermondsey St, London SE1 3UW
website: www.hakata.co.uk
Laphet Larder
We love a restaurant that explores cuisines not usually seen in London, and Laphet Larder does exactly that with traditional Burmese cooking. Choose from dishes like “pork and pone yay gyi”, pork belly with fermented horsegram beans, delta style steamed sea bass, and king prawn Sipyan curry – it’s all delicious and unique in the city.
where: 9-45 Bermondsey St, London SE1 3XF
website: www.laphet.co.uk
Garrison
A Bermondsey institution since 2003, this gastropub has grown up with the surrounding neighbourhood and serves quality food and drink with a neighbourhood vibe.
They do a daily lunch and dinner menu as well as a fish bar, where you can get anything from fresh lemon sole to red mullet, as well as a Sunday lunch.
where: 99-101 Bermondsey St, London SE1 3XB
website: www.thegarrison.co.uk
Casse Croute
An authentic bistro-style French cuisine in the heart of Bermondsey, Casse-Croute serves up a seasonally inspired daily-changing menu. It’s as Gallic as it gets – gingham tablecloths, bistrot chairs, vintage aperitif posters and embossed fleur-de-lis wallpaper.
Think French onion soup, terrine de jambon and filet de bouf en crouté.
It’s as Gallic as it gets – gingham tablecloths, bistrot chairs, vintage aperitif posters
where: 109 Bermondsey St, London SE1 3XB
website: www.cassecroute.co.uk
Lolo
The newest Pizarro entry, Lolo marks his first all-day dining spot. For breakfast choose classic devilled eggs with salt-cured Cantabrian anchovy paired with a bloody mary or coffee, and for dinner opt for braised ox cheek with soubise, pickled baby onion, cheek reduction and chive oil, or cuttlefish with black squid ink rice.
where: 102 Bermondsey St, London SE1 3UB
website: www.josepizarro.co.uk
