London full of flavours

For starters, let’s go to one of the biggest, most popular and oldest food markets in London, i.e. Borough Market. Although it was opened in the second half of the 13th century, the market presumably started operating as early as 1014. Located in an exquisite spot next to London Bridge and the Shard skyscraper, the market offers vegetables, fruits, and a wide selection of meat, seafood, olive oil, tapas, bread, cheese, sweets, cakes, teas and coffees. If you are looking for new flavours, then you will not get disappointed by the dishes served at Ethiopian Flavours, where they are enriched with Nitir kibbeh – clarified butter, and, among others, coriander, curcuma, cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and, last but not least, a mix of berbere spices. However, if you are a fan of seafood, you should try oysters at Richard Howard’s Oysters stall. If, however, you are looking for really exotic dishes, you should try burgers with crocodile meat, as well as ostrich fillets (Exotic Meat Co). Dessert lovers can choose from a long list of bakeries, confectioneries and cafés – Ion Patisserie, Porteña, Konditor & Cook, Balkan Bites, just to name a few… You just have to decide on your dish, and you will be sure to find it in Borough Market.

The multi-coloured and original district of Camden Town is primarily famous for one of a kind Camden Lock Market that will surprise you with extraordinary storefronts and a wealth of flavours of cuisines from all around the world. At Lords of Poké stall, you can try poké bowl that is a traditional Hawaiian dish that reached its popularity in 2016 in the United States. Warm rice with the addition of vegetables, fruit, raw fish and distinctive spices is the perfect idea for lunch – vegetarians and vegans can choose the version with tempeh and jackfruit. This London market will also surprise you with coconut pancakes (Osu Coconuts), fresh tagliatelle made on the spot (the Cheese Wheel), doughnuts filled with matcha tea and white chocolate glaze (Crosstown Doughnuts), or chicken prepared according to the Colombian recipe (Maize Blaze). Furthermore, there is no shortage of classical fish and chips – after all, many consider Camden Town the heart of London. After satiating your hunger, it is time to visit handicraft stalls, which are as diverse as the local street food.

In the South London Borough of Lambeth, two separate arcades house the two markets called Brixton Village and Market Row. This is an ideal place for tasting French Champagne and… beer (Champagne + Fromage), as well as the Caribbean cuisine (Etta’s Seafood Kitchen). Interestingly, this exquisite place is not run by local authorities or private companies, but sellers themselves, who have set up an independent federation supporting mainly local suppliers. On Saturdays, the Brixton Station Road often becomes a place where cloth, shoe, jewellery and furniture markets in the retro and vintage style are organized.

When in the capital of England, it is also worth going to the Brick Lane Market (open on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) which is full of street art, Portobello Road Market (open from Monday to Saturday) located in the famous Notting Hill district, or the less crowded Maltby Market (operating on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.).