Real Food Market, Southbank

There are food markets all over London, but the Real Food Market at the Southbank Centre Square is one of the best we’ve seen

This is because it combines our love for free tasters and new and interesting things to buy with proper meals. There are plenty of stalls selling jars of spicy chutneys, exquisite meats, smelly cheeses and crunchy, crusty bread. 

But there are just as many, if not more, that offer you a huge range of foods to chow down on for your dinner. We like to do a walk-around before committing to one of them, and a drink accompanies this particularly well. You’ve got lots of choice there as well, but we’d recommend craft beer from Meantime Brewery or a reasonably priced glass of bubbles from Merry Windows.  

Back to the food—if you’re after something Moroccan, try the chickpea tagine from the stall just at the bottom of the stairs, or for an Egyptian taster why not move along to Koshari Street’s stall just a little bit further on. The Indian Next Door offers curries with a secret recipe naan, while you can get fresh, fantastic pasta from Bella Gnoccho. Prices are reasonable, especially from the stalls where they really pile it high and they’re nearly always worth it for the quality of the food you’re getting. You won’t find cheaper in a restaurant!

Of course, after your savory taster, you need to treat your sweet tooth. There are stalls selling cakes, tarts, pastries and brownies at every turn, but it’s summer, so we think you should celebrate with an ice cream from Il Gelato, the Eton Mess has real bits of meringue in it—sublime!

This is a great place to while away an evening, or even a whole day, and you can take your supplies to perch on the steps or purple wavy seats along the side of the Hall. But, if you fancy one of the best views in London, take yourself up to the rooftop bar and wildflower garden on the Queen Elizabeth Hall (access is up the yellow staircase). It does get busy on Friday nights, but it’s worth it for the sunset.

Culture Whisper says… The Real Food Market at Southbank Centre Square is a fantastic place to treat your tastebuds to a whistle-stop tour of world food—start with Moroccan tagine and finish off with Italian ice cream, washed down with a local brew. Perfect cure for a hard week at work.