Strolling around the markets before indulging in a late brunch is my idea of the perfect Saturday scenario in London. As one of the oldest wholesale markets located in the historic buildings of Southwark, Borough Market is a foodie’s heaven with over 100 vendors offering fresh produce, imported foods and freshly made dishes from all corners of the world.
With its vibrant, buzzing atmosphere attracting an eclectic crowd of locals and tourists, it’s a wonderful experience perusing the maze of stalls as the aromas of delicious meals, baked goods and freshly ground coffee infuse the air.
Arriving at 12pm on a weekend, it was heaving and neighbouring pubs were already pulling pints for those early birds! We however hadn’t even had our morning coffee yet, so were keen to find a good little spot still serving brunch.
We stumbled upon a cafe Stoney Street by 26 Grains with the perfect corner for us to sit back and watch the market madness from afar. In fact the cafe’s original site in Neal’s Yard, is a favourite of mine serving up seasonal, wholesome dishes, including some epic twists on the average porridge bowl.
I was a lot happier once I finally had my coffee in hand and food on its way! The simple, striped back aesthetic of the cafe interiors alongside their rustic crockery, echoes the 26 Grains goal to serve up quality, everyday food and drinks.
My autumnal bowl of apple and ginger compote, cardamom granola, Northiam dairy yoghurt and maple was perfect for a chilly fall afternoon and just like having a desert for brekky 🙂 The scrambled eggs on house rye bread topped with Ogleshield cheese which my boyfriend had was excellent too. You can tell how fresh the eggs are when they are so orange like that.
We sat and sipped our coffees as the hustle and bustle of the market continued to thrive. Fuelled up and ready for the day, soon it was time to hit the shops of Oxford Street. However I underestimated the drop in temperature that weekend as I tried to clasp onto the end of summer and decided to wear a skirt, brrrr!
Wondering the market was the perfect way to kick off our weekend in the city – we even spotted a couple from our favourite reality TV series Made in Chelsea. Needless to say, Borough Market is a trendy place to be seen and a must-visit as one of London’s most historical events in such an iconic location.
Dani Aneka 