Join the MMovement

Located in the heart of Elephant and Castle, and opened in 2017, Mecato Metropolitano is a food court which aims to bring people together through their love of food that is produced and consumed sustainably.

Upon arrival, I was greeted with a smile by Ben, the security guard, who checked my bag and gave me a little insight into what Mecato Metropolitano’s food was like. “Everything here is ethically sourced and we ensure our customers experience real food.”

Ben also emphasised that Mecato Metropolitano is plastic-free and mainly use organic food when cooking. Some say it’s over priced. The truth is, it’s isn’t cheap, but then again the food market is sourcing organic and vegan-friendly food, and pay people the Living Wage.

Mecato Metropolitano is accredited by the Living Wage Foundation. Launched in 2001, the campaign for a real Living Wage has delivered more than £1bn in extra wages to workers since it began, and helped to lift over 200,000 people out of in-work poverty.

Ben also explained that although food is the court’s main focus, ensuring there is a safe place with security throughout the property for the people to socialise is also pivotal to its values. With a capacity of up to 2,000 people, it is open from 8am to 11pm, and the nightlife is lively. 

• 

• 

Inside the venue, there are a lot of bright colours and most of the outdoor and the make-shift looking wooden trestle tables make you feel like sharing, and perhaps not being too polite about dropping sauce on your neighbour.

All the bars and food stalls have handwritten signs with the origin of that food or drink. The huge metal tanks dotted around the venue are brewing the beer, with a large sign beside them to explain the brewing process to the customers.

• 

• 

• 

I noticed how welcoming and inviting the staff were. It made me feel like ‘a part of the family’ in some way. Walking around I was called over on two occasions to try free food samples. The first, was by Valentino from the Italian Risotto stand where I tried a mushroom and parmesan dish, which was delectable and mouthwatering and definitely left me wanting more.

My second encounter was with Daniel from the German hot dog stand, who gave me a free sample of some of the choices, which tasted heavenly – best paired with a German Kraft beer. Daniel also explained that there are a choice of vegetarian hotdogs as well which are made from an ingredient called ‘seitan’, derived from the protein portion of wheat. Walking around and browsing I noticed many vegan and vegetarian food stands, with increasing numbers of people either cutting down on meat – or cutting it out entirely. 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Another beautiful addition to the food court is their grocery shop. In a small room inside the venue, is MM Grocery, where you’ll find fresh produce and a huge colourful array of sustainable and organic wines. A small section of the shop has a rainbow selection of alcohol-free fizzy drinks from Galvanina – an Italian drinks company that provides beverages with no artificial flavours, colours and preservatives.

• 

• 

• 

The experience I had was delightful. It was particularly nice to be able to physically see the values that Mecato Metropolitano stands for. The rustic nature of the place, and the different cuisines presented creates a sense of comfort for all ethnicities and nationalities. This type of inclusiveness made me feel accepted, and treated like a part of the community.