From Marlin · David Mansfield · · 1m 20s
Waterloo's hidden treasures, picked by locals
Past the landmarks and the crowds, Waterloo hides street food halls, art deco brasseries and a 200-year-old theatre.
In brief
Past the landmarks and the crowds, Waterloo hides street food halls, art deco brasseries and a 200-year-old theatre. Waterloo's best eating and drinking sits a few minutes' walk off the tourist trail, so pick a direction and wander. Originally reported by Marlin.
Look past the landmarks
Waterloo is famous for its icons, but the good stuff sits in the side streets. Locals eat, drink and watch theatre away from the crowds.
“Waterloo is also home to some of London's best hidden treasures, away from all the hustle and bustle.”
A paper factory full of food
Mercato Metropolitano packs over 40 street food vendors into a former paper factory, one of London's largest covered outdoor spaces. Graze your way around.
Latin flavours, zero gluten
Paladar serves Central and South American cooking and cocktails, and the entire menu is gluten-free. Rare enough to be worth the trip.
Pints and Northeastern China
The Pineapple pours traditional Guinness for an Irish night out. Five minutes away, Mr Charcoal does rich Northeastern Chinese dishes.
Paris, 1920s, twenty minutes
Toulouse Lautrec is a two-floor art deco brasserie with classic French plates and live music. For pub food, Duke of Sussex sources locally and nails the fish and chips.
Market stalls and world-class stage
Lower Marsh Market runs weekdays 11 to 3 and Saturdays 10 to 5, stacked with international food. The Old Vic, founded 200 years ago, has Rami Malek in Oedipus for 2025.
The main idea
Waterloo's best eating and drinking sits a few minutes' walk off the tourist trail, so pick a direction and wander.
