Maltby Street Market

What a find! Thanks to our new neighbors Dimitri and Marissa for letting us know about this hidden gem of a market that's right on our doorstep! 

The Maltby Street Market is much more accessible than Borough Market because it's so much smaller, and fewer people know about it. It is only open from 9 am - 2 pm on Saturdays. The market is really a series of shops in the railway arches, and seems to be centered around The Monmouth Coffee Shop. Now, you can't get a cup of coffee at The Monmouth Coffee Shop in Borough Market on a Saturday for love or money. This is because every tourist in London is told they must have a cup of the famous coffee, and the queue wraps around corner. However, you can easily walk in and get a cup of coffee at the Maltby Market in what is actually Monmouth's warehouse.

Jam doughnuts from St. John's Bakery

The market has everything you could need or want, but on a smaller scale than Borough Market. You don't feel like you're missing out on anything though. Quite the contrary -- you can't help but feel like a bit of a hipster at being part of what seems like a secret foodie community. 

Tozino

We filled our shopping bag with lots of tasty treats.  Bread from St. John's Bakery, cured ham from a Spanish meat stall called Tozino, and most spectacularly, Norwegian smoked salmon from Hansen & Lydersen that melts in your mouth. 

Hansen & Lydersen

We need to go back to try the beer from The Kernel Brewery http://thekernelbrewery.com/, cheese from Mons Cheesemongers, and the pastrami from Monty's Deli ("Jewish Soul Food"). 

There are also unusual shops around the area -- art deco furniture shops, old radiators (?), even a Porsche dealer ... the list goes on and on.

Potentially the most exciting discovery of the day, however, is a diner called "Beas Diner" that serves American-style brunch (buttermilk pancakes, French toast, bagels and cream cheese). It's hard to say what we like most about the look of this place...maybe it's unprentious air -- just bare bones furniture in the middle of a very accessible, perhaps cavernous, space. Perhaps the 50's music nicely drowned out by laughter and chatter from the happy customers. Definitely the waitresses who seem to have gotten the memo on American-standard table service. 

Blueberry Pancakes at Bea's Diner

Next weekend we're going to go for a test run of the blueberry pancakes so watch this space. If this place is half as good as we think it's going to be then we will be bringing all of our friends there for a new Saturday morning tradition.

Bea's of Bloomsbury

Details:

9 am - 2pm every Saturday

72 Druid Street SE1 2DU

Nearest Tube: Bermondsey Street (accessible for some wheelchairs)