Booth’s

I make a point to go to Booths every Saturday (the only day it’s open to the public!) morning — if I don’t, I probably don’t eat much fresh veg that week! I guess that’s the testament to how good it is. I live nearby (not because I’m rich, but because I’m in postgrad accommodation alright), and we have a general dearth of good produce in the area.
Booths solves this, and it’s not just good but also really affordable. Of course I only cook for one but I normally spend under a fiver (often just around £3) and get enough veg for the week! They have really great variety, and have lots of pantry staples as well if you remember you’ve run out of oil or pasta or certain tinned veg (they have HUMUNGOUS tins of artichoke hearts that I have yet to buy but I eye up every time I go). The staff are friendly and will help you find what you need.
Definitely come early, as in before 10, because it gets busy afterward. That said I’m happy to deal with the crowd and the wait for the quality and affordability of everything they stock.

Best greengrocer in London? I am not really well placed to judge but Tony Booth’s outlet has the most amazing array of produce I have ever seen. The fact that I will (semi) willingly trek across from Highbury to shop here says it all.
The hoard of mushrooms of all varieties that greets customers at the front of the shop makes me immediately think about wild mushroom risottos and tarts (irrespective of the reason I am here). They are displayed with justifiable pride — this is the only place where I know ceps and morels (and all their mushroom friends) are guaranteed to be available to buy when in season.
It is not just about the mushrooms though — all the other vegetable and fruit goodies you would expect from a greengrocer are here as well as a few things that one wouldn’t (I spied some preserved lemons here yesterday). Put this together with staff who are friendly and knowledgeable and you have a winner — fantastic!

Booth’s used to be at Borough Market. It was a Borough Market institution.
But with the diaspora of market vendors either kicked out of Borough for selling elsewhere or tired of paying for the ever-​increasing Borough rent, Booths moved on over to the new Maltby Street Market.
This works for me. Because now I can find my fresh seasonal fruit and vegetables for the week along with select pantry items amongst other locals who are perusing the goods because they actually want to buy them and cook them rather than gawk at them with their enormous DSLRs (and just generally get in my way).
Booths is always buzzing with activity on Saturday mornings, and you will undoubtedly see one or two restaurant vans outside picking up their produce, a testament to Booth’s quality and to the fact that the model of picking up and moving to a truly local market works.
Who needs Borough when there’s Maltby Street?