# 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.
- Title: Waterloo's hidden treasures, picked by locals · Marlin
- Summary: 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…
- Keywords: waterloo, london, food, travel, restaurants, Waterloo's, hidden, treasures, picked, locals, Marlin
- Source: Marlin — https://marlin.com/what-to-do-in-waterloo
- Author: David Mansfield
- Published: 2025-01-06T15:24:34+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: waterloo, london, food, travel, restaurants
## 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.
## Key takeaway

Waterloo's best eating and drinking sits a few minutes' walk off the tourist trail, so pick a direction and wander.