Best London Coffee Shops that won't leave a bad taste in your mouth
Looking for the best coffee in London? We've selected the capital's coffee shop hot spots to get you buzzing
Coffee and cake from Store Street Espresso (Photograph courtesy of Store Street Espresso)
'Wake up and smell the coffee!'
Well, we have. Cheerio, Nero. Smell you later, Starbucks. Standards have soared and Londoners are now looking for a new calibre of caffeine to chase those Monday morning blues away.
Artisanal coffee shops have popped up across the capital and with 1.7 million coffees drunk in coffee shops annually, these London coffee houses have become exceedingly variable in style, from cosy and snug, to buzzing and barlike. As for the drinks themselves, coffee shops are boasting beverages of an unprecedented quality, reaching to far flung corners of the world to source their beans. Here are some of our favourite hotspots serving the best coffee London has to offer.
1. The Roasting, Pimlico
Mon - Fri: 7am - 6.30pm Sat: 8am - 6.30pm Sun: 9am-6pm
(Photo credit: The Roasting Instagram)
On an unassuming corner of PImlico's streets sits The Roasting, a clean-cut, white-walled and minimalist coffee house that serves strong, richly aromatic coffee and a range of pretty Italian pastries. Its Genoese owner commands a wonderful presence in the space and his sunny disposition and warm conversation makes this the friendliest place in town and a mecca for yummy mummies and 'work from home' creative types. We love the outside seating areas where you can enjoy those rare warm Saturday mornings after a gym session or a spot of shopping.
Crème de la Crème: A double espresso and a crisp cream-filled cannoli.
2. Timberyard, Seven Dials
Mon - Fri: 8am-7pm, Sat - Sun: 10am - 6pm
(Photograph courtesy of Timberyard)
Timberyard is more than a coffee vendor: it is an institution of coffee culture. Meet other coffee lovers at their Neighbourhood Breakfast sessions, or attend one of a host of exhibitions, talks and clubs held at the premises every week, so you can enjoy your caffeine with a side of culture. Their Seven Dials location boasts the perfect central London meeting spot - a subterranean space with plenty of tables to set up laptops, not to mention their cake selection, which are eyewateringly delicious to look at.
Crème de la Crème: We know it's a coffee hub, but Timberyard's specialist teas are something to be excited about. They come with a personal timing device for brew perfection.
3. Store Street Espresso, Bloomsbury
Mon - Fri: 7:30am - 7pm, Sat: 9am - 6pm, Sun: 10am - 5pm
(Photograph courtesy of Store Street Espresso)
Store Street Espresso has become a fail-safe coffee spot in Bloomsbury. The space is bright, boasting plenty of natural light that seeps in through skylight windows. Other minimalist features - plain stone floors and bench seating - creates a soothing, unhurried atmosphere. It's a favourite spot for bookish types taking a break from studying at nearby Senate House Library and the perfect hangout for morning meetings, catching up on emails or refreshing yourself after a visit to the British Museum.
Crème de la Crème: The flat white: simply perfect.
4. Prufrock Coffee, Clerkenwell
Mon - Fri: 8am - 6pm Sat - Sun: 10am - 5pm
(Photo Credit: Prufrock Coffee Instagram)
Prufrock Coffee nods to the famous line of T.S. Eliot's poem The Lovesong of J. Alfred Prufrock: 'I have measured out my life in coffee spoons'. But far from Eliot's coffee metaphor, which characterises modern life with monotony, Prufrock's atmosphere is uplifting and playful. The spacious decor, with the eye-catching fuchsia columns and funky aquamarine coffee cups, makes Prufrock the perfect location for a Saturday morning spent catching up with friends.
Crème de la Crème: One for the bean boffins, Prufrock runs roasting workshops, latte art lessons and coffee tasting symposia each week to keep our brains brewing.
5. Soho Grind, Soho
Mon - Thu: 7:30am -11:30pm; Fri: 7:30am - Midnight; Sat: 9am - Midnight; Sun: 9am - 7pm
(Photo Credit: Soho Grind website)
Wave goodbye to the daily grind and say hello instead to Soho Grind. This unassuming espresso bar in the heart of Soho transforms at night into an after-dark haunt, serving up coffee-based cocktails alongside more traditional tipples. Its bar style seating and tiled floors are clean cut and stylish, ideal for after work drinks with colleagues or meeting a friend in the evening. Don't miss the tapas-style plates to pick at while you sip.
Crème de la Crème: For a fantastic cocktail opt for the Hot Flat White Russian.
Well, we have. Cheerio, Nero. Smell you later, Starbucks. Standards have soared and Londoners are now looking for a new calibre of caffeine to chase those Monday morning blues away.
TRY CULTURE WHISPER
Receive free tickets & insider tips to unlock the best of London — direct to your inbox
1. The Roasting, Pimlico
Mon - Fri: 7am - 6.30pm Sat: 8am - 6.30pm Sun: 9am-6pm
(Photo credit: The Roasting Instagram)
On an unassuming corner of PImlico's streets sits The Roasting, a clean-cut, white-walled and minimalist coffee house that serves strong, richly aromatic coffee and a range of pretty Italian pastries. Its Genoese owner commands a wonderful presence in the space and his sunny disposition and warm conversation makes this the friendliest place in town and a mecca for yummy mummies and 'work from home' creative types. We love the outside seating areas where you can enjoy those rare warm Saturday mornings after a gym session or a spot of shopping.
Crème de la Crème: A double espresso and a crisp cream-filled cannoli.
2. Timberyard, Seven Dials
Mon - Fri: 8am-7pm, Sat - Sun: 10am - 6pm
(Photograph courtesy of Timberyard)
Timberyard is more than a coffee vendor: it is an institution of coffee culture. Meet other coffee lovers at their Neighbourhood Breakfast sessions, or attend one of a host of exhibitions, talks and clubs held at the premises every week, so you can enjoy your caffeine with a side of culture. Their Seven Dials location boasts the perfect central London meeting spot - a subterranean space with plenty of tables to set up laptops, not to mention their cake selection, which are eyewateringly delicious to look at.
Crème de la Crème: We know it's a coffee hub, but Timberyard's specialist teas are something to be excited about. They come with a personal timing device for brew perfection.
3. Store Street Espresso, Bloomsbury
Mon - Fri: 7:30am - 7pm, Sat: 9am - 6pm, Sun: 10am - 5pm
(Photograph courtesy of Store Street Espresso)
Store Street Espresso has become a fail-safe coffee spot in Bloomsbury. The space is bright, boasting plenty of natural light that seeps in through skylight windows. Other minimalist features - plain stone floors and bench seating - creates a soothing, unhurried atmosphere. It's a favourite spot for bookish types taking a break from studying at nearby Senate House Library and the perfect hangout for morning meetings, catching up on emails or refreshing yourself after a visit to the British Museum.
Crème de la Crème: The flat white: simply perfect.
4. Prufrock Coffee, Clerkenwell
Mon - Fri: 8am - 6pm Sat - Sun: 10am - 5pm
(Photo Credit: Prufrock Coffee Instagram)
Prufrock Coffee nods to the famous line of T.S. Eliot's poem The Lovesong of J. Alfred Prufrock: 'I have measured out my life in coffee spoons'. But far from Eliot's coffee metaphor, which characterises modern life with monotony, Prufrock's atmosphere is uplifting and playful. The spacious decor, with the eye-catching fuchsia columns and funky aquamarine coffee cups, makes Prufrock the perfect location for a Saturday morning spent catching up with friends.
Crème de la Crème: One for the bean boffins, Prufrock runs roasting workshops, latte art lessons and coffee tasting symposia each week to keep our brains brewing.
5. Soho Grind, Soho
Mon - Thu: 7:30am -11:30pm; Fri: 7:30am - Midnight; Sat: 9am - Midnight; Sun: 9am - 7pm
(Photo Credit: Soho Grind website)
Wave goodbye to the daily grind and say hello instead to Soho Grind. This unassuming espresso bar in the heart of Soho transforms at night into an after-dark haunt, serving up coffee-based cocktails alongside more traditional tipples. Its bar style seating and tiled floors are clean cut and stylish, ideal for after work drinks with colleagues or meeting a friend in the evening. Don't miss the tapas-style plates to pick at while you sip.
Crème de la Crème: For a fantastic cocktail opt for the Hot Flat White Russian.
