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What is 'following'?Coffee house: Australian & New Zealand
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Sometime last year, we started following @birdhouseuk on Twitter. Their very first tweet on 7 September 2010 hinted that they were an exciting new coffee shop/café about to open, so on our radar they went. As the months went by, little nuggets of information would pop up: they hoped to open in Clerkenwell, sites were being visited, negotiations were underway.
More than once things fell through for the café hopefuls, and all the while a spate of coffee houses launched one by one - Department of Coffee and Social Affairs, Prufrock Leather Lane, St Ali, Sensory Lab - but never Birdhouse. More than a year later, the chick has finally hatched. Not in Clerkenwell, but in Battersea, on St John's Hill.
The wait was worth it - Birdhouse is one of the best cafés to open in a while. The owners, Cameron and Alexei (one Australian, the other Cuban, both former graphic designers) have created a great-looking place, all gun-metal greys and bright popping yellows, decked out with furniture (many refurbished and/or finished by them) that wouldn't look out of place in a modish architect's loft apartment.
There's a keen attention to detail: a wall of framed avian-themed prints and paintings, glossy brown chemical bottles repurposed into tap water vessels, those oh-so-trendy enamel cups that come in the shop's signature sunshine yellow (Pantone Mimosa, perhaps?).
A smooth but punchy flat white (the beans are from Climpson & Sons) and a bittersweet hot chocolate came crowned with neat heart-topped rosettas. Lunch was limited on our visit, but the mushroom, feta and pesto toasted ciabatta sandwich, served in army mess tins, was skilfully balanced in flavour and texture. As it was the only choice on show, they even rustled up a second sarnie for us, of chorizo, black olive tapenade and roasted red pepper; both excellent. Still, we had room for toasted banana bread (own-made), served in the Aussie way with softened butter for spreading.
From the tempting photos they keep tweeting, there are also colourful salads and a repertoire of cakes and sweet treats on offer: we'll be back for those raspberry and lime friands. Birdhouse may have taken a while to spread its wings, but it already looks set to reach lofty heights.
Birdhouse details
Follow Birdhouse to receive updates on special offers here.
What is 'following'?020 7228 6663
Open 7am-5pm Mon-Fri; 9am-6pm Sat, Sun
Lunch for two with coffee and service: around £15
Local Authority food hygiene score
2 out of 5 stars
Birdhouse map
Restaurants & cafés near Birdhouse
See all restaurants near BirdhouseBars & pubs near Birdhouse
See all bars & pubs near BirdhouseComments & ratings 5/5 (Average of 19 ratings)
Hidden germ in Wandsworth! After an hour spent there you feel like a chirpy bird yourself ;) Delicious and elegantly served food, tasty and rich coffee, creative interior and friendly service can make a difference, and the Birdhouse definitely does that. Honest and organic, just great. Tried and tested, truly recommended.
Best coffee in London, AMAZING egg mayo and pancetta toasted ciabata that will see off any hangover and great guys running the place. Worth a special visit even if you don't live nearby.
Best cafe and gem of the neighbourhood. Everything about the Birdhouse is spot on from the design, atmosphere, service, food and drinks. Obvious attention to every detail and their care and expertise shines through. Very much a Labour and Wait feel to the cafe.
Wish this place was on my doorstep. The coffee was brilliant and the toasted banana bread with butter was wonderful. The staff were charming and very welcoming. Loved the design of the place, there is some real talent there. I was relaxed even with my young son in tow.
Visit this place regularly and have not had a single bad cup of coffee. Very impressive to consistently maintain such a high standard with something so temperamental as coffee.
Coffee is excellent, the food is delicious, and service is warm. Feel very fortunate to have this place so close to home.
I have to say,, best food and coffee in London. Having moved to London recently from Melbourne I have been in desperate search for a good latte. The coffee was fabulous and the food amazing. I had the pumpkin and blue cheese sandwich - both fresh and full of flavour!
I went to Birdhouse yesterday and found the coffee fantastic, the food delicious and the overall experience utterly charming. The service was warm, extremely attentive and genuine. The owners have clearly put much thought and care into what they are doing so comments like the one below make me feel incredibly annoyed. Battersea residents should be jumping for joy that they have such a fine addition to their cafe scene.
The coffee is about 20 times better than the coffee chains down the road and the food is really good. Love the decor too, definitely the coolest coffee shop in S London, very glad it's right near my house.
Amazing coffee, amazing service.. I only live 5mins away and I have been in every weekend since discovering the joint!
Try the egg and prosciutto ciabatta.. Amazing :)
You'll see me in there every weekend with my latte and ciabatta!
This is a very cool place. Great coffee, superior to anything nearby by a long shot. The jam is also stunning!
I enjoy my coffee…this is definitely the best coffee in SW London (if not London), the cakes and sandwiches are quite a treat too!
Amazing coffee and the banana bread is a winner too! Really cool little place to chill out or grab a take away flat white. Best coffee in Clapham and exactly what St Johns Hill needed!
Great taste. Great look and it feels like coming home. Worth the hike.
I particularly love the friands.
I loved this place for first go. i LOVE the home baked goods - and coffee is heavens. Doesn't hurt that you feel like you are on a designer magazine because everything is so well put together.
+
The Darlinkas in there are pretty cute too!
London feels more amazing with the arrival of this little nest!
This is the coffee shop we all wished we had opened, but know we wouldn't have had the vision, creative ability, baking skills and to be honest, not even the tremendous level of friendliness.
I go for the coffee, and can never decide if it is upstaged by the cake or not. They are both incredible. Whilst there is great coffee popping up everywhere in london (thanks!) this is he first I have visited where there is as much love skill, care and attention put into the food too.
Falling it a coffee shop hardly does it justice. It's a place you'll feel compelled to visit just to kill some time.
Excellent coffee and the tastiest baked goods you'll find anywhere in London. Hands down my favourite new cafe and well worth a little trip to Clapham if you're not local.
The lovely chaps who run this humble establishment should win awards for their home-baking abilities alone. The coffee is clearly cherry picked for quality of flavour, connoisseurs and purists are spoilt and will find assurance at the barista skills.
It's one of those cafes you can sit in for hours, reading the papers or a good book and before you know it you've lost half a day.
The interior design is stunning with a mix of eclectic and classic furniture, wall art, objet 'dart, and even innovative use of school Bunsen burner tripods for cake stands (genius!). All of this set amongst a non-invasive background of deep grey with golden yellow accents. Attention to detail is second to none, to the free bottle of water served with your coffee to the subtle, but amusing, theme of birds placed carefully around the room.
5 Mins from Clapham Junction station on St John's hill it's ideally placed to grab a breakfast bite and coffee to run with as you rush to get the train too. You have to run to work off the calories of the brownies, chipsters (brownie with cookie topping) croissants, friands, banana bread amongst other devilish waistline enlarging delights.
Check out this lovely cafe, La Marzocco + Anfim and hand made cakes
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