The best places to eat at Borough Market
When I think of Borough Market, I wonder how so much good food can come from such a tiny slice of London? It’s a homing beacon for self-proclaimed “foodies” with its many market stalls and restaurants, offering everything from paella and imported cheeses to crème brûlée-topped doughnuts (love you, Bread Ahead).
Inside the market, Turnips does the oozing chocolate-covered strawberries you’ve likely seen all over social, The Ginger Pig does arguably the best sausage roll in London, and Colchester native oysters from Richard Haward’s Oysters are renowned for a reason.
But where are the best places to sit and eat in Borough Market? I’ve done the taste tests, so you don’t have to.
Agora
A Greek souvla bar on Bedale Street has relaxed – but exceptional – dining down to a tee. Think meats fired over coals and grilled to perfection, homemade hummus topped with crunchy, spiced crisps, and flatbreads where you simply have to order each one on the menu.
With an open kitchen and queues often lined up outside of this mostly walk-in-only spot, you can watch as the chefs work their magic in the form of the Agora menu. Order a drink while you wait, it’ll be worth it. Pinky promise.
Oma
The older and slightly more sophisticated sister of Agora upstairs of the Bedale Street location is Oma. It recently received a Michelin star in the 2025 guide, and it is so deserving.
The menu sees breads and spreads – the tarama spread, with pickled cucumber and carob rusk, and the babaghanoush, with tahini and a Jerusalem artichoke crisp, are must-orders – plus fresh crudo, plates from the grill, and dishes served in clay pots.
And it’s the clay pot dishes that make visits to Oma so special. Cooking in this way seems to enhance the already delish flavours. Try the Cornish squid head, pancetta, cavolo nero, and chickpea stew or the oxtail Giouvetsi, bone marrow and beef fat pangrattato and let your taste buds dance.
Kolae
Serving food inspired by Thailand's southern provinces, Kolae on Park Street specialises in exactly that, kolae. It is a cooking style where ingredients are coated in a curry-like coconut marinade and grilled over open flames – and it’s delicious.
When it comes to ingredients, expect nothing but fresh flavours; Kolae’s coconut cream is made in the restaurant each morning, and all of the curry pastes are stone-ground in-house, too.
The menu includes smaller and larger plates, plus bits on the side. And to start, the Kolae grilled bavette skewer with crispy shallots should be eaten in one bite, with the moreish seasonal coconut water pickles and ferments to snack on.
And larger plates boast dishes like the Phuket-style soy-braised middlewhite pork belly and ribs, which is rich and flavourful, as is the sour curry of tiger prawns, choko, and lotus shoot, which has to be paired with a bowl of hom mali rice. And be sure to get a plate of the mango and cucumber salad with toasted coconut and dried shrimp for a tropical take on the side dish.
Rambutan
Having been waiting to visit Rambutan for a while, and finally roping in a friend to dine with me, it didn’t disappoint. The wonder around the hype of this restaurant melted away as soon as that first bite hit my lips.
Rambutan brings Sri Lankan diaspora cooking to the heart of Borough Market. Standout dishes of this night – the menu changes with the seasons – included the beef shin and bone marrow rolls, which recently returned to the menu as a much-loved dish, the sweet, nutty grilled leek skewers cooked over coals with crispy chilli oil and mango chutney, and the brown crab kottu roti.
Some dishes are served “very” spicy, as the menu explains. So be sure to mention this if you normally order lemon and herb at Nando’s. Luckily, I like it hot.
Camille
A reflection of imagined jaunts through regional France, Camille is a casual bistro-style dining spot in Borough Market.
The restaurant works with local British growers as the menu leans into French regional cooking, producing dishes such as Dorset crab, smoked eel and fennel, Suffolk hogget with veggies and ewe’s curd, and stuffed rose de Bretagne, lentils, and mustard.
Enjoy the weekly plat du jour at lunchtime from Tuesday to Friday for £20, including a drink. That’s a tasty bargain.
Plus, Camille changes the by-the-glass wine list daily, selected with the day's menu in mind. So you know you can order the house tipple and it’s going to harmonise perfectly with your chosen eats.
Padre
The menu at Padre’s taqueria is small but mighty, and pretty cheap for those watching the purse strings.
The taco menu sees classics like a chicken asado and pork carnitas, with interesting takes on combinations, such as the cauliflower al pastor or the crispy potato taco.
But it’s the specials where Padre flavours burst – the fish taco, with deep fried cod, smoked cod's roe emulsion, pico de gallo, and shaved cabbage, and the carne asada taco, with chargrilled steak, salsa roja, and beef fat chicharron, take my made-up first-place “best taco” prize.
Also, the cocktail list consists solely of frozen margaritas – just choose medium or large – and the sides menu is simply guacamole, chips, and salsa. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Khao Bird
Fancy dining in Bridget Jones’s flat? Well, with a slightly different entrance from the films – going upstairs at The Globe Tavern instead of Bridget’s famous side door – the much-loved film flat has been turned into a restaurant that has long hosted various residencies. The current long-term tenant is Khao Bird.
Another visit to Thailand in this round-up of Borough’s best, the Khao Bird menu is centred around northern Thai barbecue, with plenty of delights. The Shan meatballs are herby and glazed with cola, the Chaing Mai-style hot dog blows every other dog out of the water with its curry sauce side for French dipping, and sam-rod whole sea bass is an event.
Khao Bird also serves up inspired Thai brunches come the weekend. Go for the son-in-law eggs and stay for a Som Tam Bloody Mary. Luckily, there is none of Bridget’s special blue soup to be found.
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