London
South of the river, small bill
Good food, small bill
Updated
South of the river is good for eating well on a small budget. Around Borough Market there’s fresh pasta at Padella, Taiwanese grill plates at Bao on Stoney Street, Southern Thai cooking at Kolae and piri-piri chicken at Casa do Frango. Towards Tower Bridge, Flat Iron does a simple steak supper on Tooley Street and Flour & Grape serves pasta on Bermondsey Street. Along the river, Wahaca sits beside the Queen Elizabeth Hall and Tas is on The Cut by the theatres, and if you can’t agree, Mercato Metropolitano at Elephant and Castle has a stall for everyone.
Our picks
Padella
Southwark Street, Borough
Address: 6 Southwark Street, London SE1 1TQ- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
- Foodie
Share bowls of fresh hand-rolled pasta, like the pici cacio e pepe, at the busy little pasta bar on the corner of Borough Market.
Why it's a good date: Simple, generous and very good, and cheap enough to order an extra plate to share. It doesn't take bookings: join the virtual queue and go for a wander in the market till your table's ready.
Bao Borough
Stoney Street, Borough
Address: Bao Borough, 13 Stoney Street, London SE1 9AD- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
- Foodie
Share Taiwanese bao and grill plates at Bao's late-night grill house under the railway arches on Stoney Street.
Why it's a good date: Moody and fun, with trains rumbling overhead, and the market right outside for a wander first. It takes bookings, which saves queuing.
Kolae
Park Street, Borough
Address: Kolae, 6 Park Street, London SE1 9AB- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
- Foodie
Book a table at the Southern Thai grill house on the edge of Borough Market, with dishes cooked over charcoal and plenty to share.
Why it's a good date: Bold, smoky cooking with a Michelin Bib Gourmand for good value. Order a few plates between you and go back for more.
Flour & Grape
Bermondsey Street, Bermondsey
Address: Flour & Grape, 214 Bermondsey Street, London SE1 3TQ- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
- Cosy
Share plates of fresh pasta and a bottle from the Italian list at the friendly pasta spot on Bermondsey Street.
Why it's a good date: Good pasta for not much, on one of the nicest streets for a wander south of the river. It doesn't take bookings, so leave your number and have a drink nearby while you wait.
Flat Iron London Bridge
Tooley Street, London Bridge
Address: Flat Iron, 112-116 Tooley Street, London SE1 2TH- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
Have a simple steak supper at Flat Iron on Tooley Street, where the steak comes with a little meat cleaver to cut it.
Why it's a good date: A proper steak dinner for a small bill, just round the corner from Tower Bridge. Walk over the bridge afterwards for the views.
Casa do Frango London Bridge
Southwark Street, Borough
Address: Casa do Frango, 32 Southwark Street, London SE1 1TU- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
Share Portuguese piri-piri chicken from the charcoal grill in the bright, plant-filled dining room on Southwark Street.
Why it's a good date: A sunny, relaxed room that's easy on the wallet, a couple of minutes from Borough Market and the river.
Tas The Cut
The Cut, Waterloo
Address: Tas, 33 The Cut, London SE1 8LF- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
- Cosy
Share Turkish mezze and grills at the long-running Tas on The Cut, a short walk from the Old Vic and the Young Vic.
Why it's a good date: A warm, busy room and good value, which makes it an easy dinner before a show. Order lots of small plates and share.
Wahaca Southbank
Southbank Centre, South Bank
Address: Wahaca, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX- Restaurant
- Cheap and cheerful
Grab tacos and cocktails at the bright Mexican street-food restaurant built from shipping containers beside the Queen Elizabeth Hall.
Why it's a good date: Colourful and cheerful, with a terrace for sunny evenings, and right on the riverside walk. Pair it with a film at the BFI or a stroll along the river.
Mercato Metropolitano
Newington Causeway, Elephant and Castle
Address: Mercato Metropolitano, 42 Newington Causeway, London SE1 6DR- Restaurant
- Cheap and cheerful
- Foodie
Wander the huge sustainable food market at Elephant and Castle and pick a stall each for dinner.
Why it's a good date: There's loads of choice and plenty of space to sit, about ten minutes' walk south of Borough. It's a good shout when you can't agree on what to eat.
Quick answers
Where can we eat cheaply near Borough Market?
Padella's pasta bar is on the corner of the market, Bao has a grill house under the arches on Stoney Street, Kolae does Southern Thai food on Park Street, and Casa do Frango is a couple of minutes away on Southwark Street.
Is there a cheap dinner near the Old Vic?
Tas on The Cut is a short walk from both the Old Vic and the Young Vic, and its mezze and grills are made for sharing before a show.
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