Bars & Pubs

If only there were more coffee bars like this in central London, rather than the minefield of mediocre café and sandwich chains. In 2007, Fernandez & Wells won the Best Coffee Bar category at the Time Out Eating and Drinking Awards. At around £5 a pop, its sandwiches aren’t cheap, but they are something special. First there’s the great bread: chewy panini, crusty half baguettes and hearty baps. The fillings add a mouth-watering sparkle to the working day. We opted for sandwiches: mortadella, rocket, salami, prosciutto, parmesan and aïoli (that’s just one filling!); Montgomery cheddar and chutney; and, for something more subtle, an Iberian version of pancetta with creamy egg mayonnaise. There’s also a tempting range of cakes (from £1.75). We particularly liked the moist bitter orange and almond cake. The millionaire’s slice, with its layer of dark chocolate on caramel, made a perfect complement to F&W’s excellent coffee (supplied by Monmouth Coffee Company). At lunchtime, seats are at a premium but worth the wait. Drop by in the morning for, say, a cheese toastie made with sourdough bread, or a breakfast pastry. Sitting amid all that tastiness will put you in a positive frame of mind for the rest of the day.

Time Out Eating & Drinking Guide 2009