Find the Bananas ;)

Foodie Adventures

Seven Dials is a shopping village in Covent Garden that was originally designed by Thomas Neale in the early 1690’s. This area is formed of seven streets all coming to a point, being incredibly easy to spot on a map as it is vastly different to the rigid grid pattern most of London follows. Hidden away in this area is the West End’s only covered market, Seven Dials Market. In the 19th Century, this market was Thomas Neal’s warehouse, and was used to store bananas and cucumbers. Because of that, the two floors of the market are hence named Banana Warehouse and Cucumber Alley. Home to a dozen food stalls, this market is by far one of my favorites in the city. With cuisines ranging from vegan Mexican to Filipino to Chinese, there is something for everybody

Walking around the many street food stalls, you are greeted with bright colors that contrast the warehouse premise that is present. The aromas that fill the building usher all the taste buds in your mouth to water and your stomach to start growling.

There is a huge variety of stuff to try, but the stall that I went to is called Yaay Yaay, and serves Thai food. I got Red Curry with beef, served with veggies, purple rice, and a fried egg. This was so yummy. The red curry was just the right amount of spicy that allowed me to savor the levels of flavor, while still feeling the burn. The purple rice was extremely flavorful and served as the perfect aid to the curry.

After a wonderfully warm meal, I ventured upstairs to try and find something cold for my sweet tooth. In the Cucumber Alley, there are many wonderful dessert stalls, all to which I will be the reason I travel back over here many times during my weeks here. There is a stall that sells crepes filled with crème brulee, a fancy waffle stall, and a stall with a variety of Chinese buns. But I went to the Soft Serve Society and got a Chocolate Affogato. This was so decedent and perfect after a warm dinner.

I highly recommend stopping by Seven Dials Market and visiting as many stalls as possible. This market is strictly filled with food stalls, which sets it apart from that of Camden Market or Spitalfields. It is also a lot smaller than its counterparts. But for those reasons are why it is one of my favorite parts of the city. Because of its hidden nature, it is a lot less crowded than other London markets, and it is home to some of the cheaper eats in Covent Garden. Plus, it is right by the Theater district.

So, all you have to do to find Seven Dials Market is to walk down Earlham St. in Covent Garden, and spot the bananas. Then from there, eat good food and be happy 🙂