Restaurants

Central | North | South | East | West

Central

Bea’s of Bloomsbury
We realised Bea’s was serious about coffee when we read a note plastered on the (replacement) espresso machine lamenting: ‘Our La Marzocco is at the espresso hospital and we wish it to get better soon.’ From choice of machine (a coffee connoisseur’s pick) to supplier of beans (Square Mile Coffee Roasters), there’s true dedication to the art of coffee-making here, so order a drink, draw up a seat and gaze at the spectacular cakes that threaten to overshadow the fantastic brews.
Bea’s of Bloomsbury, 44 Theobald’s Rd, WC1X 8NW (020 7242 8330/www.beasofbloomsbury.com). Holborn or Chancery Lane tube.

Vergnano's frothy artwork

Caffè Vergnano 1882
We challenge you to find somewhere that’s more serious about caffè than this classic Italian company. The Charing Cross branch trumps its South Bank counterpart in terms of service and cosiness – the little alcove at the back is much coveted. The centrepiece is a formidable retro Elektra Belle Epoque espresso-maker that looks like the lovechild of R2-D2 and a Dalek , and has substance as well as style.
Caffè Vergnano 1882, 62 Charing Cross Rd, WC2H 0BB (020 8922 6308/www.caffevergnano.com). Charing Cross tube/rail or Leicester Square tube. Feature continues

Dose Espresso
James Phillips's quirky little coffee shop is bigger than its modest premises. An intense dedication to ethically-sourced quality coffee is commendable, and with the combination of good beans and a La Marzocco espresso machine, you'll know that your cup lies in good hands.
Dose Espresso, 69 Long Lane, EC1A 9EJ (7600 0382/www.dose-espresso.com). Barbican tube/rail.

Farm Collective
Owners Craig and Dom have created a provenance-conscious café where you can be sure of quality. The space is small, with only a few seats, so it's better to grab a quick morning or mid-afternoon takeaway cup. They use Square Mile coffee beans, and the staff are well trained in the ways of the espresso machine.
Farm Collective, 91 Cowcross Street, Farringdon, EC1M 6BH (020 7253 2142/www.farmcollective.com). Farringdon tube/rail.

Fernandez & Wells
Brace yourselves for the invigorating triple ristretto shots served at this third branch of Fernandez & Wells, which is earmarked as the 'espresso bar' of the trio. The displays of fat doorstep sandwiches, pasteis de nata and various cakes is impressive, but coffee-lovers will know that these are only secondary to the legendary brews. The baristas make magic by way of textbook-perfect crema served at the correct temperature. With the cappuccinos, the foam stands proudly several millimetres above the cup rim – the mark of an expert indeed.
Fernandez & Wells, 16a St Anne's Court, W1F 0BG (020 7494 4242/www.fernandezandwells.com). Tottenham Court Road tube.

Flat White
Its namesake coffee – the flat white (and if you don't know what it is, a blackboard behind the counter explains it) – is good and strong, and the team of baristas are always on-form and friendly. Situated just off bustling Berwick Street market, this is a good retreat from the fast-moving corridors of Soho. Like its sister, Milk Bar (below), there's always some form of interesting art on show.
Flat White, 17 Berwick Street, Soho, W1F 0PT (020 7734 0370/www.flat-white.co.uk). Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus or Tottenham Court Road tube.

Kaffeine
One of the best looking coffee shops out there, situated at the quieter end of Great Titchfield Street. Aussie owner Peter and his team are a welcoming lot, and very skilled in their trade. Visit the Kaffeine blog for weekly menus, and don't forget to try their luscious pasteis de nata (Portuguese egg tarts). And the coffee, of course.
66 Great Titchfield Street, Fitzrovia, W1W 7QJ (020 7580 6755/www.kaffeine.co.uk). Oxford Circus tube.

Lantana
Australian proprietress Shelagh Ryan is determined to make London a better place by serving quality, no-nonsense food and proper coffees to the people. This airy space is ideal for a quiet morning reading the paper or chatting. Ryan has chosen what she calls the ‘coffee super-couple’ of Monmouth beans and a La Marzocco espresso machine – ‘sexier than Brad and Angelina, better pedigree than Peaches and Pixie’ – and we agree.
Lantana, 13 Charlotte Place, W1T 1SN (020 7637 3347/www.scramblingeggs.blogspot.com). Goodge St tube.

London Review Cake Shop
A sun-filled space that uses Monmouth beans and sources cakes from small, independent producers. Books, newspapers and magazines are strewn about the room, and the communal table is perfect for literary chin-wagging. Despite its proximity to the British Museum we’ve rarely seen (or heard) a tourist amid the civilised nattering and clinking of teaspoons.
London Review Cake Shop, 14-16 Bury Place, WC1A 2JL (020 7269 9030/www.lrbshop.co.uk/cakeshop). Holborn tube.

Milk Bar in action

Milk Bar
In a city of crappuccinos, Milk Bar (sister to the equally excellent Flat White on Soho's Berwick Street) gets it right. The espresso (made from Square Mile Coffee Roaster beans) melds seamlessly into the thick, cashmere-soft layer of foamed milk with microscopic bubbles. Everything exudes effortless cool – from the charming, mellow baristas to the ever-changing art on the walls.
Milk Bar, 3 Bateman St, W1D 4AG (020 7287 4796). Tottenham Court Rd tube.

Monmouth Coffee Company
This classic coffee company, who supply many excellent cafés throughout London, has been roasting since 1978. As well as being a permanent fixture at Borough Market, this Covent Garden shop offers a few seats for perching along with some pastries and cakes.
Monmouth Coffee Company, 27 Monmouth Street, WC2H 9EU (020 7379 3516/www.monmouthcoffee.co.uk). Covent Garden tube.

Nordic Bakery
The Scandinavian warehouse design is a change from the nu-jazz soundtracks and overstuffed sofas that threaten to eat you up elsewhere. Cappuccino here is strong and sturdy, much like the Ikea-esque cup it’s served in – and the cocoa dusted on top is smooth and bitter instead of Nestlé-sweet. You won’t find sugar on the table, nor will a sachet be presented on your serving tray: it’s a hint at coffee purism.
Nordic Bakery, 14 Golden Square, W1F 9JF (020 3230 1077/www.nordicbakery.com). Piccadilly Circus tube.

Sacred
This quirky Carnaby Street café is yet another from the Kiwi school of thought – the house blend coffee is a New Zealand-style roast, that's also fair-trade and organic. All baristas here have to have a minimum of one year's training, so rest assured there won't be any rookie mistakes when your coffee is being prepared. Creative beatniks are the regulars here, staking out the sofas and downing ethical espressos under the mindful eye of a stone Buddha and other religious motifs. Rather fitting, considering their almost-evangelical attitude to promoting good coffee. There's now also a kiosk in Westfield shopping centre.
Sacred, 13 Ganton St, W1F 9BL (020 7734 1415/www.sacredcafe.co.uk). Oxford Circus tube.

Taylor Street Baristas
Founded by three Australians for whom a badly made coffee is the highest sin. Plonked defiantly opposite a branch of Starbucks, this coffee bar is no meek competitor – on our visit, the queue of smart City workers threatened to snake out of the door. It may be the size of a broom cupboard, but it’s impressively managed. Tunes as smooth as the lattes waft out of the speakers, and many Aussie accents can be heard ordering signature flat whites. The beans are 100 per cent arabica, sourced from the esteemed Union Coffee Roasters, and while the blend may change, it's quite often a mix of Sumatran, Central American and East African beans.
Taylor Street Baristas, 1a New St, EC2M 4TP (07875 941380/www.taylor-st.com). Liverpool St tube/rail.

Central | North | South | East | West

North

Melrose and Morgan
Head past the spectacular central table that’s laden with delicious goodies from carrot cake to beef Wellington, and you’ll find a niche of a coffee bar to the side of this esteemed deli-traiteur’s open-plan kitchen. You can eat here, but demand is high and space is tight. The coffee is, as they say, good, honest, straightforward stuff – no hazelnut syrup. They use organic milk ‘from the milkman’ and Monmouth’s espresso blend.
Melrose and Morgan, 42 Gloucester Avenue, NW1 8JD (020 7722 0011/www.melroseandmorgan.com). Chalk Farm or Camden Town tube.

Le Péché Mignon
Frenchmen squeezed behind a tiny counter groove to disco beats as they make coffee and serve sandwiches, salades composées and baskets of pastries. There’s a modest communal table, plus a bit of garden furniture out back. If you come just for coffee at lunchtime, you may have to make way for dining customers. Still, this is an entertaining spot.
Le Péché Mignon, 6 Ronalds Rd, N5 1XH (020 7607 1826/www.lepechemignon. co.uk). Holloway Rd tube.

Central | North | South | East | West

South
Café Oscars
The neighbourhood café of dreams – an inviting space with mismatched furniture and a thoroughly Zen garden out back. Café Oscars offers the citizens of Ladywell great coffees, artisanal bread and pastries (from Blackheath’s Boulangerie Jade) and bucketloads of welcome. The brew, made from Arabica beans, has an earthy, mellow flavour that has had us hooked from day one. The space has recently begun to play host to a plethora of local art, which joins the existing floor-to-ceiling Klimt prints.
Café Oscars, 48 Ladywell Rd, SE13 7UX (www.cafe-oscars.com). Ladywell rail.

Café Strudel
Spending a lazy afternoon in a Viennese kaffeehaus is a wonderful tradition that, sadly, cannot be replicated in London. However, Orly Kritzman’s Austrian brasserie brings us a little closer to that world. The coffee menu seems plucked straight out of Vienna, with all the classics present – from a simple melange (coffee with milk) to the naughty Maria Theresa (a double espresso spiked with orange liqueur and Austrian brandy, with clouds of whipped cream) – all properly served on a metal tray with a glass of water to refresh the palate. The viennoiseries are pleasingly authentic.
Café Strudel, 429 Upper Richmond Rd West, SW14 7PJ (020 8487 9800/www.cafestrudel.co.uk). Mortlake rail or 33, 337, 493 bus.

Central | North | South | East | West

East
Cà Phê VN
The metal stools and foldaway tables of this market stall evoke the charm of streetside caffs in Ho Chi Minh. Husband-and-wife team Rob Athill and Tuyen Hong dish out cup after cup of Vietnam’s finest coffee. Made using the drip-filter method, its strength is not for the faint-hearted; though in the traditional Vietnamese way, the espresso can be lightened with sweet and sticky condensed milk.
Cà Phê VN, Broadway Market, E8 (www.caphevn.co.uk). Bethnal Green tube or London Fields rail or 26, 48, 55 bus.

Broadway Market's finest

Climpson & Sons
Macchiato, piccolo, zola, gibraltar... you can have it all at this excellent coffee shop in the middle of Broadway Market. The baristas are mostly antipodean, and all do an exceptional job at pulling the perfect shots. Their quest for self-improvement is continuous, in the form of new latte art, or the investment in naked La Marzocco portafilters (which allow baristas to see whether or not they’re pulling the perfect shot). Such coffee geekiness is charming.
Climpson & Sons, 67 Broadway Market, E8 4PH (020 7812 9829/www.climpsonandsons.com). Bethnal Green tube or London Fields rail or 26, 48, 55 bus.

Gwilym Davies's coffee cart
Who would have thought that a bloke from Yorkshire would beat the Italians at their own game? Gwilym Davies won the World Barista Championships earlier this year, and his flawless shots are a testament to his skill. His team also show a high level of coffee-making talent. We particularly rate the flat whites; all cups are served with a smile.
Gwylim Davies's coffee cart, backyard off Ezra St, Columbia Rd Flower Market, E2 (Sundays); outside 149 Whitecross St (weekdays).

Nude Espresso
This Kiwi-run café is staffed with Aussies, and the result is quite often textbook-perfect flat whites – perfect with the antipodean treats called friands (small cakes made with ground almonds; here, they come studded with blueberries).
Nude Espresso, 26 Hanbury Street, Whitechapel, E1 6QR (07804 223590/www.nudeespresso.com). Liverpool St tube/rail.

Pavilion Café
Between an Australian and a tea merchant, you’re bound to get an excellent café, but is the coffee up to scratch? As we, and its legions of fans will attest, yes. Brett Redman and Rob Green have created a community focal point in the resplendent Victoria Park, where the flat whites are carefully constructed with Monmouth coffee and creamy Ivy House Farm organic milk. Everyone, from the area’s local families to be-fashioned Hackneyites lounge harmoniously side by side, enjoying the legendary fry-ups and organic dishes in the welcoming surroundings.
Pavilion Café, Victoria Park, Crown Gate West, E9 7DE (020 8980 0030). Bethnal Green tube/Hackney Wick rail/bus 26, 277.

Present
A clothes shop with a difference – there's a coffee bar right inside the doors, and manning the formidable silver espresso machine is no other than master barista Gwilym Davies (he is here most days). There are no seats (save for a bench just outside the shop), but you can linger around the counter for some quality coffee talk.
140 Shoreditch High St, E1 6JE (020 7033 0500; shop number). Old Street tube/rail or bus 149.

Square Mile Coffee Roasters
This is the coffee cult’s best kept secret, the Mecca for those in search of a premium coffee experience. For this isn’t a place where you can just pop in; in fact, SMCR isn’t a café – much less a shop – at all. Visits to this coffee roaster are by appointment only, and are recommended for serious buffs only (newbies are best off attending one of their many coffee tasting sessions instead), but owners James Hoffman, Anette Moldvaer and Stephen Morrissey give a warm welcome and serve some of the best coffee there is in the capital. Look out for a retail outlet before the end of the year.
273 Poyser St, E2 9RF (020 7729 3744/www.squaremilecoffee.com). Bethnal Green tube. Email info@squaremilecoffee.com for appointments.

Taste of Bitter Love
Perhaps the most charming outfit on a depressing Hackney thoroughfare, Taste of Bitter Love is a small (with barely enough room for more than 10 people) but effective. The motto? 'Really, really good food and coffee' – you can't get much better than that. The beans are from Square Mile, while along with the ownmade cakes and pastries, there are some sweet treats bought in from Clarkes.
Taste of Bitter Love, 276 Hackney Road, Hackney, E2 7SJ (www.tasteofbitterlove.com). Bus 28, 48, 55.

Tina, We Salute You
Caffeine fiends will find good company at this beautifully done-up café, as Square Mile coffee is used lovingly with a La Marzocco espresso machine (yet again; but then this is the queen of espresso makers). Don't miss the cakes, crumpets or generously-filled sandwiches either.
Tina, We Salute You, 47 King Henry's Walk, Newington Green, N1 4NH (www.tinawesaluteyou.com). Bus 30, 38, 56, 67, 76, 149, 243, 277

Wilton's
East London is not short of great cafés, and this newcomer to the scene is gunning to be one of the best. With beans roasted by locals Climpson & Son's, ingredients for breakfast and café snacks sourced from esteemed suppliers (Neal's Yard Dairy and Brindisa, say), a great look and creative vibe, Wilton's is small but already ahead of the pack.
Wilton's, 63 Wilton Way, Hackney, E8 1BG (020 7249 0444). Hackney Central overground or rail.



Central | North | South | East | West

West
Café Oporto
Whether you favour this spot or its well-known rival across the road, Lisboa, is a matter of personal preference (or in the case of Portuguese expats, which football team you support). We think that Oporto has the friendlier vibe, as well as the practical benefit of more indoor seating. The keenly priced coffee is strong and beautifully made, as are the dreamy pastéis de nata (custard tarts).
Café Oporto, 62a Golborne Rd, W10 5PS (020 8968 8839). Ladbroke Grove or Westbourne Park tube or 23, 52 bus.

Troubadour
This multi-use spot (with wine bar, shop, club and even accommodation) was a key player in the 1950s boho café movement. Troubadour sources Mokital espresso and decaf from the Angelucci family (immortalised by Dire Straits in ‘Wild West End’) and serves Union’s Fairtrade Guatemala Estate filter coffee.
Troubadour, 263-267 Old Brompton Rd, SW5 9JA (020 7370 1434/www.troubadour.co.uk). West Brompton tube/rail.

Central | North | South | East | West