These are the best coffee shops across London for when you need a caffeine fix
London is in a longstanding love affair with coffee shops. The capital's offering of independent shops, artisan roasters and coffee pop-ups is ever growing, so it's often difficult to know where to go to get a proper good cup of java.
The good news is, we're a caffeine-hungry cohort here at GLAMOUR and so have taken it upon ourselves to sit and sip the best coffee from the best cafés and roasteries across the city to make sure you never need endure a lukewarm latte or mediocre Americano again.
From silky-smooth east London brews to social enterprises serving coffee with a conscience, and of course featuring some of the best bakes and brunches to go with your morning cup, we've rounded up the best places to grab a coffee in the whole of London. And co-working is most certainly on the menu at many of these places too…
The best coffee shops in London…
@allpressespressouk / InstagramAllpress Espresso Roastery and Cafe, Dalston
Well-known New Zealand coffee icons, Allpress Espresso brought their signature smooth roasted beans and laidback surfer atmosphere to London back in 2010 and the shine still hasn't worn off. The Espresso Roastery and Cafe is all our caffeine-fuelled dreams come true, selling fruity filters, silky espressos, powerful cold brews and freshly ground beans right next to where the roasting magic happens. The sandwiches, breakfast platters and small bites are pretty good too and the leafy front garden is a surprisingly peaceful space to sit and sip.
Where? 55 Dalston Ln, London E8 2NG
Opening hours: Monday-Friday 8am-4pm, Saturday-Sunday 9am-4pm
Doppio Coffee Warehouse, Battersea
Doppio Coffee Warehouse is one of the friendliest coffee places around – there's always a welcoming vibe. Plus, Doppio baristas really know what they're doing, be it the picture-perfect cappuccinos (we're talking perfect foam) or an ultra-smooth espresso, made from the Doppio house blend. The company is actually a wholesaler and workshop for coffee machines and equipment, too, so you can expect your coffee to be taken seriously here. There are also locations in Muswell Hill, Kentish Town and Ealing.
Where? 336 Battersea Park Rd, London SW11 3BY
Opening hours: Monday-Friday 7.30am-5pm, Saturday-Sunday 9am-5pm
@flyinghorsecoffee / InstagramFlying Horse Coffee, Hackney
Mare Street Market in Neil House is one of London's most raved-about food halls, and has been cropping up on Instagram since it opened due to its leafy aesthetic, communal vibe and ever-changing floral displays. Sure, there's mouth-watering pizza, second-to-none veggie bites and a neon ‘Liquor Store’ sign hovering over a floor-to-ceiling bottle shop, but the capital's caffeine cohort are really here for one thing and one thing only: Flying Horse Coffee. The in-house roastery offers silky smooth, eco-friendly blends to pep up your day, including a Melbourne style flat white and a rich single origin espresso.
Where? Mare Street Market, 117 Mare Street, London E8 4RU
Opening hours: Monday-Saturday, 8am-3pm, Sunday 9am-3pm
@monmouthcoffee / InstagramMonmouth Coffee Company, Seven Dials
If you think that the last few years have felt long enough, spare a thought for Monmouth Coffee in Seven Dials, which has been caffeinating the capital's inhabitants since 1978. Founder Anita Leroy is one half of a Covent Garden power couple, along with Neal’s Yard Dairy founder Randolph Hodgson. Coffee snobs will find the staff are ridiculously clued-up on all things bean and will be able to help connoisseurs seek out something new and refreshing, or newbies plump on the best bean for them. Plus, the atmosphere is so chic you'll never cease to be surprised that you don't have to be on a guest list to get in.
Where: 27 Monmouth Street, Covent Garden, London WC2H 9EU
Opening hours: Monday-Saturday 8am-5pm, closed Sunday.
@towpathlolo / InstagramThe Towpath Café, Haggerston
Not all coffee shops need to be all singing and all dancing, we love a humble café that offers a comfy place to sit and good vibes. Well, The Towpath Café does both, and throws in a front-row seat to the canal too for good measure. The setting is peaceful, the food is moreish (hello, overflowing frilled cheese sarnie) and the coffee is well worth getting out of bed for — even if it's only to get your Keep Cup topped up so that you can head straight back to your duvet in double-quick time.
Where: The Towpath Café, 42 De Beauvoir Cres, Haggerston, London N1 5SB
Opening hours: Temporarily closed, re-opening later in March.
Kiss The Hippo, Richmond
Sustainable coffee shop and roastery Kiss the Hippo has two branches – the original one in Richmond, and the newer store in Fitzrovia. Their interiors are contemporary Scandi-cool and their coffee is renowned for being some of the best around – rich and smooth, and totally guilt-free. Further expanding their commitment to sustainability, KTH has recently become London's first totally carbon-negative roastery, and all of their coffees, coffee pods and coffee products are now carbon negative, too. Plus, for every coffee pod and bag of coffee purchased, KTH will offset more of its carbon footprint by planting a tree as part of the #KissTheHippoForest project. A delicious cup of coffee and a happier planet? We're sold.
Where? 21 Sheen Road, TW9 1YT.
Opening hours: Temporarily closed until 21 March.
Tintico, Soho
Tintico is a tiny, cosy coffee shop tucked away on busy Greek Street. The baristas really know their coffee here, as well as its origins, so you know you're in good hands. There are plenty of dairy-free milk alternatives and herbal tea options, too.
Where? 57 Greek St, W1D 3DX
Opening hours: Monday-Sunday, 8am-5pm
Prufrock, Holborn
Prufrock has become a central London institution for its chic minimalist interior, mouth-watering brunch food and, of course, its seriously good coffee. They're big on supporting local producers and small-scale growers, serving up Square Mile Coffee alongside featured roasters from Europe and beyond.
Where? 23-25 Leather Lane, EC1N 7TE
Opening hours: Monday-Friday, 7:30am-4:30pm, Saturday-Sunday 9am-5pm
@highness_tearoomHighness Tea Rooms, Highbury
This north London gem is a local favourite, serving tasty tea and coffee alongside delicious salads, sandwiches and sweet treats. Head up Highness Tea Rooms's spiral staircase for a quiet spot to work remotely or catch up with friends.
Where? 21a Highbury Park, N5 1QJ
Opening hours: Monday-Sunday, 8am-5pm
@paperandcupPaper & Cup, Shoreditch
Probably one of the most Instagrammed shop fronts in London, Paper & Cup is a not-for-profit social enterprise created by Spitalfields Crypt Trust, a local charity organisation, selling coffee, baked goods and a range of books in a cosy setting. What more could you want?
Where? 18 Calvert Avenue, E2 7JP
Opening hours: Monday-Saturday, 10am-6pm, Sunday 11am-6pm
@oldspikeroastOld Spike, Peckham
Old Spike is the UK’s first social enterprise speciality coffee roastery, with 65% of profits going directly towards training and employing those experiencing homelessness. They serve fresh, seasonal coffee from countries of origin based on the principles of direct trade, quality and seasonality.
Where? 54 Peckham Rye, SE15 4JR
Opening hours: Monday-Friday, 7:30am-5pm, Saturday-Sunday 8:30am-5pm
Brother Marcus, Angel
Come for the strong single-origin coffee; stay for the outrageously good all-day brunch. Or, if you think brunch is so 2018, Brother Marcus serves up some of the best pitas we've ever had. Don't miss the fluffy handmade pita with crispy falafel, fattoush, tzatziki and zatar spice.
Where? 37-39 Camden Passage, N1 8EA (other sites in Balham and Spitalfields)
Opening hours: Monday-Friday 8:30am-11pm, Saturday 9am-11pm, Sunday 9:30am-5:30pm
Grind, various locations
Grind has taken the capital by storm since opening its first Shoreditch post in 2011, and now the pale pink millennial aesthetic is recognisable anywhere. They take coffee so seriously at Grind, they even have their own state-of-the-art coffee roastery.
Where? Various locations.
Opening hours: Monday-Friday 8am-5pm, Saturday 9am-10pm, Sunday 9am-5pm
@federationcoffeeFederation Coffee, Brixton
Head over to the redeveloped Brixton Village for a seasonal house espresso at Federation, where their one-of-a-kind bespoke blend comes from Curve Roasters in Margate. For food, don't miss the buttery pastries or devilishly good grilled cheese sandwiches, using local produce from the likes of Brick House Bakery and Little Bread Pedlar.
Where? Unit 77-78 Brixton Village, Coldharbour Lane, SW9 8PS
Opening hours: Monday-Friday 9am-2pm, Saturday 9am-4pm, Sunday 9am-3pm
Gentlemen Baristas, Borough
Gentlemen Baristas has fast become an institution for grab-and-go coffee (or hauling up in one of its cosy corners for a quiet cup). They use their own beans, which come in six single-origin options from Brazilian to Kenyan.
Where? 63 Union St, SE1 1SG (other sites in London Bridge and East India).
Opening hours: Monday-Friday 7:30am-4:30pm, Saturday-Sunday 9am-5pm
@cafebeamBEAM, Crouch End
BEAM gets things right: the coffee's great, the atmosphere is laid back, the staff friendly, and the food menu diverse and delicious. There's no better place for a weekend brunch with the girls.
Where? 39-41 Topsfield Parade, N8 8PT (other sites in Highbury and Notting Hill).
Opening times: Monday - Sunday, 8am-6pm
Sendero Specialty Coffee, Clapham
On a busy corner of Lavender Hill you'll find the spacious and chilled-out Sendero, which is popular amongst everyone from laptop-bearing workers to dog owners, since pooches are welcome. On the coffee front, Sendero's beans are sourced from lesser-known countries such as Uganda – and focuses on fair trade standards and organic farming. Many have declared Sendero's offering the ‘best cup of coffee in London’ – which is good, since there are now locations in Battersea, Putney and Brixton, too.
Where? 2 Lavender Hill, London SW11 5RW
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 7am-4pm, Saturday-Sunday 8am-3pm
