Old Spitalfields Market

"Old Spitalfields Market is one, as is Covent Garden; for the former, you’ll be to close to Gunpowder and Bubala." - The MICHELIN Guide UK Editorial Team

"No matter how well you get on with a new pal, a meal can still feel like a bit of a leap. You don’t want to feel shackled to the table when, out of the blue, they start talking about their passion for medieval cosplay. That’s why heading to Spitalfields is the perfect casual in between. There are a load of different stalls from great restaurants, so you can get anything from a reuben to sit down meal at the counter, and there’s plenty of distraction for if (or when) the conversation gets weird." - heidi lauth beasley, jake missing

"Nothing beats trawling through markets on a summer’s day – whether for clothes, food or general 'tat' – and London has plenty to offer in this regard. Old Spitalfields Market is covered, ready for any unexpected summer showers..." - The MICHELIN Guide UK Editorial Team

"As well as Dumpling Shack, there are also a load of other restaurants and mini-kitchens where you can sit in at the bar or take away food in Old Spitalfields Market. There are plenty of top options, from Yum Bun’s hard-to-resist pillowy bao to Fen Noodles—the hand-pulled noodle offshoot of Dumpling Shack—and it’s a real destination for lunch or a casual, quick dinner." - jake missing, rianne shlebak

"There was a time, when we grew up, that going to Spitalfields was like entering a hurricane of the most London kind. There were smells, sounds, and socks falling from stalls everywhere. If you were eating you were getting a bagel from Brick Lane. Nowadays things are very different. And the food is better. Spitalfields Kitchens has some of the best grab and go food in London. Top spots like Fen Noodles and Dumpling Shack have stalls here. While Yum Bun, Sood Family, and Wheelcake Island are delicious options." - Jake Oliver, Rianne Shlebak