Bermondsey

During the week, the old arches of London's now defunct first railway station in Bermondsey bustle with a different sort of activity. Here, some of the city's finest food producers are busy at work making, baking, and distributing their gourmet goods. On Saturdays, though, many of them open to the public. For those headed down to Maltby Street Market for a Saturday morning stroll, Spa Terminus is the somewhat off the beaten path extension. Go hungry as there are too many temptations: gorgeous produce from Natoora, perfect croissants from The Little Bread Pedlar, the most indulgent doughnut ever from St. John Bakery, and the best coffee in town at Monmouth.

Go early (5am, they open at 4) to shop with collectors and dealers for Victorian and Georgian silver, china, glassware, furniture, and more.

Chef Tom Sellers studied under Tom Aikens when he was just 16 before heading to René Redzepi at Noma. It's at Restaurant Story that he received his first Michelin star at just 26. Offering remarkable views of the Shard, in old Bermondsey square, after a major refurbishment the vibe is still youthful, with laid-back but attentive service. The menu is equally playful (the first course of our dinner was a lit beef candle where you caught the drippings with crusty bread). As the name suggests, each dish comes with a story about its provenance, ingredients, and inspiration. Chef Sellers creates a bespoke menu for each guest, and courses range from four to eleven courses.

You'll find incredible views of the city from either side here, along with rotisserie chicken with skordalia, grilled lobster, and every conceivable kind of steak, all thanks to an amazing sounding Josper oven/grill contraption. The chef, Rainer Becker (of Zuma fame), totally knows what he's doing—and it doesn't hurt that the restaurant is stretched out over the 32nd floor of The Shard. Meanwhile, they offer a weekday lounge lunch, which is a quick in-and-out three course meal for business meetings. Photo: Richard Southall

Credited with bringing London back to the fore of the contemporary art scene, White Cube offers a taste of the best and biggest artists and exhibitions. Owned by Jay Jopling, White Cube is famed for giving many of the Young British Artists their first solo shows and for representing the likes of Gilbert and George, Antony Gormley, Andreas Gursky, and Anselm Kiefer. The original Duke Street space closed back in 2002, but their two newer London locations (including a very large gallery on Bermondsey) certainly won't disappoint.

If you're not up for braving the crowds at Borough Market, this mini version in up-and-coming Bermondsey offers a great weekend alternative. The rail arch warehouses on Maltby Street, used during the work week by various factories, distributors, and businesses, turn into pop-up spaces for quality coffee shops, wine bars, smoked salmon vendors, cheesemongers, and more. Photos: Tavi Ionescu

Jose Pizarro has two restaurants in Bermondsey that are really worth going south of the river for: Pizarro, which is a sit down Spanish restaurant, and Jose, a tapas bar just up the street. You will find Jose himself in either kitchen on any given night and his dedication shows. The food is really excellent, with a thoughtful wine and sherry list to match. Pizarro in particular, occupies a really warm, welcoming room with a partially open kitchen, making it great for a date or a night out with friends.

Jose Pizarro has two restaurants in Bermondsey that are really worth going south of the river for: Pizarro, which is a sit down Spanish restaurant, and Jose, a tapas bar just up the street. You will find Jose himself in either kitchen on any given night and his dedication shows. The food is really excellent, with a thoughtful wine and sherry list to match. Pizarro in particular, occupies a really warm, welcoming room with a partially open kitchen, making it great for a date or a night out with friends.