London’s
first cat café also opened in Shoreditch earlier this year where
Londoners can enjoy coffee with furry friends. Co-owner Anna Kogan said: “The
idea is that you can come and have a peaceful lunch or high tea and be
surrounded by cats. If you’re lucky they will fall asleep on your lap.” ladydinahs.com
Scooby’s Boutique Coffee Bar
The dog-friendly café in Muswell Hill offers a selection of “dogilicious”
treats including cheese bone biscuits and roast chicken muffins as well as “dog-gestives,
flap jack russells and puppacinos” for its four-legged friends, in
addition to fresh coffee, cakes and biscuits for its human customers. scoobysboutique.co.uk
Picture: Scooby’s Boutique Coffee Bar/Twitter
E Pellicci
Bethnal
Green locals wax lyrical about E Pellicci, and with good reason. The
Grade II-listed caff has been going strong since 1900 and its long-term
customers are treated like family. More than the food and coffee, it’s that
neighbourly atmosphere, not to mention an interior agreeably finished with
wood panelling, Formica tabletops and stained glass, that make this spot an
East End classic. 332 Bethnal Green Road, 020 7739 4873
Picture: Alamy
Hurwundeki
This eccentric Fifties-inspired hair salon, created by a Korean stylist called
Ki Lee, features an adjacent café restaurant serving coffee and pastries as
well as classic Korean dishes including bibimbap (steamed rice with fried
eggs and mixed vegetables). hurwundeki.com
The Love Shake
This Fifties-style milkshake bar in Shoreditch is furnished with retro
American diner booths, vintage lamps and an arcade machine as well as US car
license plates and vintage posters on the walls. The café offers both
traditional and alcoholic milkshakes as well as hot dogs and free coffee
refills all day. theloveshake.co.uk
Picture: The Love Shake/Facebook
Draughts
This Haggerston café is designed to be a haven for all board game enthusiasts,
offering an extensive library of board games for customers to enjoy along
with snacks and drinks including craft beers and wines. Customers are
charged a cover fee to enter, and are welcome to bring their own board games
or to purchase one of the games available at the café to bring home.
Draughts hosts theme nights, board game tournaments and design workshops led
by professional board game designers. draughtslondon.com
The Attendant
Originally built in 1890, the former Victorian men’s toilet was closed for
more than fifty years before it was restored and opened as a small café and
kitchen last year. Several original features have been retained, including
its cast iron entrance and porcelain urinals which have been converted into
small booths with stool seats that match the original Victorian floor tiles. the-attendant.com
Picture: The Attendant
Biscuiteers
Biscuit lovers can try their hands at icing a biscuit or two while browsing a
selection of sweet treats at this boutique and icing café in Notting Hill.
The boutique also hosts themed icing classes and workshops teaching piping
and decorating techniques. biscuiteers.com
Picture: Biscuiteers
Look Mum No Hands!
This relaxed food and drink café comes with a fully functioning workshop with
mechanics for any bike repairs and maintenance. The bicycle-themed café also
hosts various events, from film and cycle sport screenings to knitting
classes and speed dating nights. lookmumnohands.com
NANA
The comfy café offers a menu of homemade soups, burgers, freshly baked cakes
and other hearty foods prepared by a community of elderly women in Hackney.
The café, which opened last year, is housed in an old public women’s toilet
on Chatsworth Road which was restored with a roof terrace and stairs while
retaining many of its original features such as the tiling on the walls. wearenana.com
Frank’s Café at Peckham car park
The journey up to Frank’s Café requires getting into a dank car park lift,
getting out at the right floor and turning the right darkened corner before
arriving on the roof to be greeted by sweeping views across South London.
You cannot control the weather but – in spite of all the concrete – Frank’s
is a hugely popular drinking venue in summer and can take the credit for
making Peckham somewhere you would actually travel to at night. A Campari
bar, you could say that it also paved the way for this summer’s Aperol
revival, when a spritz of the less bitter but similar spirit became
everyone’s favourite accompaniment to sunshine. The bites at Frank’s are
superb too – especially the grilled lamb. frankscafe.org.uk
Cafe Cairo
This alternative Clapham institution has a chequered history (it is Landor
Road, after all) having burnt down at one point. But it’s back, a tiny nook
of dimly-lit Arabian exoticism, with a garden set aside for shisha pipes and
a tented lounge stuffed with cushions. Sweet teas and even sweeter pastries
are sold before the casual crowd makes way for DJs and live musicians at
night. cafecairo.co.uk
Picture: cafecairo.co.uk
You Don’t Bring Me Flowers
This is an unusual combination of florist and cafe in leafy Hither Green in
London’s south-east. Think retro, 1950s furniture, dainty cupcakes – and
excellent sandwiches too. It’s a minute south of Hither Green station.
Picture: youdontbringmeflowers.co.uk