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Long White Cloud

151 Hackney Road, E2 8JL Full details & map

Coffee house: Australian & New Zealand

Time Out says 13 Users say 4/5 Rate it

By Euan Ferguson Posted: Jul 29 2011

The Ponsonby district is Auckland's hipstertown, full of cool bars and brunchy independent cafés. Shoreditch is the approximate London equivalent (a grubbier version without the friendly people, of course).

With its laidback vibe and smiley staff, Long White Cloud feels like it's been imported straight from NZ to Hackney Road (the café's name comes from the Maori name for their country: Aotearoa, 'Land of the Long White Cloud'. Presumably they don't have a word for 'Land of the Dirty Grey Exhaust-Fume Cloud', which would be a more accurate description of their current locale).

LWC is as much gallery as café, with plain walls turned over to local artists to display their works (at the moment it's the charmingly titled 'Clusterfuck', a lot less off-putting than it sounds).

Beyond the neat rows of salvaged tables there are hand-designed T-shirts for sale beside a choice selection of imported, non-perishable food products for homesick Kiwis - there's even cans of Lemon & Paero ('World Famous in New Zealand'), a very nice drop. Look out too for the terrifying baby sculpture left over from the last exhibition.

Food is casual - breakfast and brunch is a strong suit, with a blackboard of simple dishes: organic scrambled eggs with smoked salmon, muesli with Greek yogurt and apple, French toast with bacon, banana and agave syrup.

During the week there's lunch too, with sandwiches, salads and more unusual-sounding dishes (unless you're a Kiwi) such as meatloaf with chilli jam or kumara soup.

I would have expected the coffee here to come from Allpress in Redchurch Street (a Kiwi company with its base in Ponsonby), but it's from the equally good Monmouth. Our long black was well made, and there's posh hot choc - in different cocoa percentages - and fresh orange and carrot juice too.

Tags: Australian & New Zealand, Breakfast/brunch, Chilling out, Hip factor, North East, Hackney, Budget, Café, Coffee house

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Long White Cloud details

Address

Long White Cloud

151 Hackney Road E2 8JL

Transport Hoxton rail or bus 55

Telephone

7033 4642

Long White Cloud website

Open 7am-7pm Mon-Fri; 8am-7pm Sat, Sun

Brunch for two with drinks and service: around £16

Long White Cloud map

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Comments & ratings 4/5 (Average of 13 ratings)

By Jenny - Mar 27 2012

5/5

I live on Hackney Rd and LOVE LWC! Its the best local with a barista champ at the coffee machine, lovely fresh produce and great private views!

With freindly staff and comfy atmos- LWC is my home away from home (away from home).

Two thumbs up.

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By Amy - Feb 11 2012

I don't understand why some people gave this cafe high reviews. The coffee was very bad (you won't be able to tell that they even use Monmouth), the staffs couldn't have been more USELESS (the chef missed out on one of our orders but no apology), the whole atmosphere is cheap and school-canteen-alike. Would never go back even if I was paid to.

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By Ingrid - Jan 12 2012

4/5

This cafe has scrummy homemade food and the BEST banana bread - ever! It can get packed on the weekends, but it's well worth the wait! Plus, I also love their art installations :-)

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By JoeH - Nov 19 2011

5/5

I love a good flat white and this cafe didnt fail to deliver - i came across it by accident when i was going to Columbia flower market and i now keep going back. Thanks LWC you have spruced up a bit of Hackney Road

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By Josy - Oct 17 2011

5/5

Lovely café especially when looking for a place to work with a laptop/or books (tables with normal height and not just above the ground, electricity, friendly staff). They serve monmouth coffee and a great breakfast tea . Have not tried the food yet, but it definitely looks very good too. Sometimes gets crowded on the week-ends.

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By Misy - Oct 7 2011

5/5

LWC is foodie heaven - I've tried the Bacon and Egg pie (amazing), Meatloaf (superb) and veggie breakfast (cured the hangover) - basically i cant get enough for it and keep going back. Thank you for keeping me well fed!

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By Benji - Sep 12 2011

4/5

Had a great veggie breakfast there this weekend! Staff seemed very friendly and were chatting about how they opened the cafe a few weeks ago. Just what Hackney Road needs!

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By S&M - Sep 10 2011

1/5

Excited about another good cafe in the area. Dreadful flat white, one from Costa/Nero/Pret would be superior. One of the worst I have ever had. Won't be going back.

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By coffeebean - Sep 10 2011

4/5

This is my new fave cafe! The scrambled eggs and chilli is delish, the sun shines through the window in the morning and the vibe is friendly and relaxed.

I'm a flat white drinker and they do a great one.

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By SOM - Sep 8 2011

Gave it a try as I live in the area. Prob one of the poorest flat whites I've had in a while. Staff couldn't care less whether there is someone standing at the counter. Pretty lacklustre experience allround. Shame as it gives the kiwi cafe culture a bad rep.

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By Justin - Sep 5 2011

Can't believe the review, or the comments and rating below. We tried to eat and drink coffee at LWC, but it failed to deliver. Food was poor, and coffee poorer. There are far better places in London worth a visit - St Ali, Nude, Department of Coffee, Caravan, etc ...