On the way home from a doctor’s appointment this morning (yes, on a Sunday) I swung by one of my favourite weekend food markets for a coffee: Maltby Street Market.

This weekend food market is tucked away in what would be considered an unremarkable alley, if not for the vendors that call it their home. This food market is made up of two factions—on one side, the transient, temporary food-truck-style tents (that are moved by the end of the day), and on the other, the permanent vendors that have made their home in the 19^th-century arches.

A raised railway line transporting people from London Bridge station has led to a unique retail space in Bermondsey. Here, these arches aren’t just pretty; they’re spaces for booming business. They’re home to cheese shops, bakeries, restaurants—and most prominently, beer brewers. It’s become so popular that there’s a challenge of sorts called the Bermondsey Beer Mile, where beer-lovers are encouraged to visit all the brewers in this area, many of whom rent space under the arches. There are over 20 brewers in this two-mile stretch between London Bridge and South Bermondsey!

I haven’t done the full Bermondsey Beer Mile (although I have tagged along with some friends who were doing it, I’m not fond of beer), but I’ve enjoyed a few meals at restaurants housed under the arches. You’d think that it would be loud when the trains pass over multiple times a day—but many places are sound-proofed so well that I barely notice any noise.

Everywhere I turned as I walked down the “Ropewalk” (where all the food is!) was smells and spices; hot coffee, the aroma of jerk chicken, the sweetness of donuts. When I visit the Maltby Street Market, I tend to enjoy restaurants more than street food—it’s a shame, as I love street food. I feel like if you’re willing to travel with a tent and a grill just to serve people, all that love for food probably ends up in the flavour. But in recent years, pistachios have become quite trendy, and many vendors without a proper kitchen or handwashing station can’t promise that there’s no cross-contamination. I have more luck with the vendors with permanent storefronts—like a coffee at WatchHouse.

Maltby Street Market sometimes expands its reach beyond just food—when I visited this weekend, Go East Vintage was doing a collaboration, with pop-up vintage stalls at the end of the street.

Although not technically part of Maltby Street Market, I wanted to shout out two archway businesses I love nearby: the first one is Borough Cheese Company, which has a brilliant concept of being open late, and selling absolutely delectable grilled-cheese sandwiches late at night for anyone enjoying the beer mile (but needing a snack!) to enjoy. The second is Little Bread Pedlar—not only does their baking bread make early mornings on the street smell amazing, but their sourdough is some of the best I’ve had.

If you’re a foodie looking to try something new, I really recommend Maltby Street Market; tons of international cuisine, drinks, and coffee; places to sit and rest if you want to linger; and a bit of something for everyone, taste-wise. Bon appétit!