Words and images: Martina Bovetta
Finding gluten-free food in London isn’t always easy, especially on a student budget. This guide explores the capital’s most reliable spots for coeliac-safe eats, from market stalls, and cafés to restaurants that don’t compromise on taste.
Southwark is home to popular spots for foodies on a hunt for the best bite. This district is highly multicultural, its streets always overflowing with scents from the kitchens of countless restaurants. In a few miles, you can find dishes from every corner of the world.
Every day, thousands wander around the Borough Market, Mercato Metropolitano in Elephant and Castle, and the Market Place in Peckham. In Southwark, street food and fine dining are always available for those hungry for a satisfying meal, whether it is a casual lunch break from the office or a soothing weekend brunch. Home to various museums like the Tate Modern, popular entertainment outlets from the Southbank Centre to the BFI IMAX, and a bunch of universities such as UAL and London South Bank, Southwark’s dining areas are crowded by voracious students.
With so many choices, the real struggle isn’t finding a place to eat—it’s deciding where to go. But for someone like me, that decision is rarely just about what I want to eat. It’s about what I can eat. As a student who has spent far too much time scanning menus for gluten-free options, only to be met with a hesitant waiter and a sad salad, I know the frustration of trying to enjoy a meal while navigating dietary restrictions.
To be fair, the hunt for a “free from” meal in London is less dramatic than in other countries, thanks to loads of dine-ins in the capital that are committed to delivering a safe experience for any type of dietary restriction. Still, there is a long way to go, especially for gluten-free young people on a budget.
A wheat alternative meal often comes with a higher price tag, as the production process requires more specialised ingredients, like almond or rice flour, alternative thickeners, which cost more than regular gluten-based products.
Beyond the price barrier, the taste and texture of gluten-free food have also been notoriously difficult to get right. Without it, the elasticity that gives bread and pizza dough their signature chewiness is lost, resulting in dry, crumbly, and weird textures.
In this guide, I’ll take you through five of the best gluten-free spots in Southwark, starting with Theo’s, where head chef Marco has spent years perfecting the recipe for an alternative pizza dough that even gluten-muggles can’t tell apart from the original. You will also find out more about Where The Pancakes Are—the place to go for a satisfying wheat-free Sunday brunch, and local small cafes like Boulangerie Patisserie at Borough Station, and Hermanos Taco House in Mercato Metropolitano for quick bites. While The Real Greek Bankside will be your safe spot for a date night. Finally, when out and about near Tate Modern, opt for Terry’s Cafe for a decent traditional gluten-free fry-up before a trip to the museum.
Gluten-free snacks and where to find them in Southwark
Believe it or not, Southwark has no shortage of gluten-free quick bites, with a range of options that won’t leave you feeling like you’re settling for second best. If you are taking a break from deadlines, away from the uni library, or just feeling snacky, these are the places to save on your Google Maps favourites.
Hermanos Tacos House in Mercato Metropolitano
2/5 for shared prep space with gluten allergens
3/5 value for money
If you study at the London College of Communication or South Bank University, you will be just a few minutes away from gluten-free Mexican street food. Hermanos Tacos House is also good for groups of foodies with different dietary restrictions, as it offers veggie and vegan alternative menus.
When placing your order, you will be kindly informed about potential cross-contamination, as the staff takes great care when preparing gluten-free options by rinsing their tools and cleaning a designated area of the grill plate to smoke the meat. This is a kitchen in a small stand, so you will be able to check the cooking process from start to end and advise the staff accordingly with your requests.
The triple taco deal for £13.95 mixes a selection of fillings from smoky beef with habanero sauce, shredded chicken breast with salsa verde, and Cajun sweet potato with guacamole sauce. If you’re sharing, also opt for loaded nachos—these are fried corn mini tortillas and naturally gluten-free with beef or chicken toppings (£15), or try a burrito alternative served in a rice bowl with pinto beans, grated cheese, sour cream, lettuce, and habanero hot sauce for £12.95.
None of these meals are spicy, and they are gentle in flavour, which will leave you with a light stomach and the right amount of energy to keep you going on your tasks easily without falling into the siesta trap. When craving a bolder taste of Mexico, I would suggest going elsewhere.
La Pepiá offers naturally gluten-free Venezuelan arepas in Borough Market
5/5 for a full gluten-free selection
3/5 value for money
“Is this gluten-free?” I’ve asked countless times at Borough Market’s stands without success. Sad, hungry, and cynical, one day I found La Pepiá in the Green Market while I was making my way through the crowd and delivery trucks on a Saturday afternoon with my friends.
I resisted the urge to try everything from the menu and ordered perhaps the least traditional arepa ever. It was with cheddar and cheese. I was baffled by its crispiness and taste, and went back for two more.
La Pepiá stand offers naturally gluten-free arepas with a creative twist. You can think of them as a “corn-based savoury donut,” round with a hole in the middle, resembling a bagel. But instead of wheat, they’re made with responsibly sourced British corn and flavoured with fillings like olive & rosemary, halloumi, or guava jam.
Honestly, I didn’t pay attention to the price because I was too excited to finally share a junk bite with my friends. To be fair, £6 for an arepa feels a bit steep considering it’s made with corn flour, but it’s pretty much in line with Borough Market’s usual pricing—and honestly, the care and effort that goes into making them justifies the cost to me.
Bless La Pepiá for gifting gluten-free people with street food in Borough Market!
A break from the canteen’s food: pizza for lunch at Theo’s
4/5 for separate prep area & oven but shared space
5/5 value for money
Uni canteens aren’t exactly gluten-free friendly. While you might find the occasional side of roasted vegetables or a chicken leg, you can’t exactly live off animal proteins four days a week. That’s where Theo’s comes in with probably the best gluten-free pizza I have ever had in my life, and here’s why.
Best of all, Theo’s pizzas taste so close to the original that you can confidently split a meal with your non-gluten-free friends without feeling like you’ve made them compromise.
Head chef Marco, who has been working at Theo’s for over five years, has spent years refining the recipe. The gluten-free dough is made fresh every day using a special blend of flours from Southern Italy, and Marco keeps the exact mix a secret.
After all, working with gluten-free dough isn’t easy. Without gluten, the dough lacks softness and elasticity, which means it needs to be proofed for longer and cooked at just the right spot in the oven to avoid burning. So, Theo’s recipe starts with a simple cream of flour and water, which is gradually blended with other ingredients to create the final dough. It’s then stretched in rice flour and served piping hot with homemade spicy oil on the side.
An additional £3 amount is charged when going for a gluten-free pizza base, with a solid lunch experience of less than £20, including olives as a starter. While Theo’s can’t guarantee a completely gluten-free environment when the kitchen gets busy, they take every reasonable precaution to avoid cross-contamination.
Fry-up at Terry’s Cafe before a museum trip with the mates
3/5 for limited gluten options
4/5 value for money
Terry’s is a family-run spot with checkered tablecloths, framed black-and-white photos of old London on the walls, and a menu full of hearty classics. The only gluten-free option here is “The Smithfield” (£18.50). It’s a 200g prime-cut steak served with fried eggs and onions, whilst most of the other breakfast staples like sausages, hash browns, and black pudding, contain gluten. The staff are knowledgeable about dietary restrictions, but this isn’t the place to expect a wide range of gluten-free alternatives.
Still, Terry’s is a great spot for the atmosphere alone. The portions are generous, the service is friendly, and the atmosphere is perfect for a casual breakfast with friends before exploring the Tate or catching up on some university work.
Date night for coeliacs in Bankside: The Real Greek
4/5 for shared prep space with gluten allergens, with a fair range of gluten-free food
4/5 value for money
Planning a date night when you’re gluten-free can be a bit of a bummer—nothing kills the mood like having to quiz the waiter about cross-contamination or settling for a side dish while your date enjoys a feast. But The Real Greek at Bankside makes it easy to enjoy a meal with a view. Sitting along the Thames, it offers a relaxed yet intimate atmosphere and decent food.
I tried the Filoxenia all-day menu (£20), which lets you sample a mix of Greek classics. It’s a set menu that includes a dip, a cold meze, a hot meze, and a side or salad. While the Greek flatbread is off-limits for gluten-free peers like me, their selection of crudités will pair just as well with the creamy and yogurty tzatziki. For the hot meze, I enjoyed the dolmades (vine leaves stuffed with rice), and to balance it out, I chose the Greek salad on the side to finish off a light and satisfying meal. Plus, if you enjoy the food, you can recreate the experience at home.
The Real Greek has its line of products available online.
What sets The Real Greek apart from yet another franchise is the warmth of its staff. Here, you’ll feel like part of a close-knit big family. The heart behind this brand is also reflected by the restaurant’s commitment to the Pancreatic Cancer UK charity in memory of its Operations Director, Christos, who passed from the disease in 2020.
Cosy weekend brunch at London Bridge: Where The Pancakes Are
3/5 for shared prep space with gluten allergens
5/5 value for money
Brunch is practically a student rite of passage—the kind of meal that turns into a three-hour gossip session or a much-needed debrief from the week. But a great brunch isn’t just about the company—it’s about the food, too. That’s exactly what founder Patricia had in mind when she set out to create a spot where everyone could enjoy Dutch pancakes—no one left out. After years of experimenting, she nailed the perfect inclusive menu, and now gluten-free pancakes here taste just as fluffy as the regular ones.
While the kitchen isn’t strictly gluten-free, the cooks go the extra mile to minimise cross-contamination. Every dish starts with their signature homemade buttermilk pancakes, made fresh daily and served as classic stacks or 3-in-1 pancakes (vegan, wheat-free, dairy-free). Prices range from £8.50 for a simple stack to £16.50 for more elaborate creations.
Gone are the days of saving a friend’s reunion from embarrassment with jokes about that slice you once got that felt more like an overpriced cracker-thin. No more “oh, that looks nice” when your entrée is looking smaller, less appetising, and just plain sad. Whether you’re looking for a savoury snack or a proper sit-down meal, Southwark has you covered.
So gluten-free student fellas, fear not, you just need to know where to look.
Featured image by Martina Bovetta.