Coffee shops in London that balance craft and character

Coffee has a storied history in London, first arriving down the River Thames on boats from far-flung parts of the world way back in the 1600s. Today, the classic brew remains an integral part of London life, from convivial cafes-cum-social hubs to caffeine-fuelled enclaves for remote working.

Speciality coffee in London

While few of the city’s historic coffee houses still exist today, London’s cafe scene is densely packed. Third wave pioneers sit alongside longstanding institutions and social impact projects, coming together to form the city’s exciting modern coffee scene.

Coffee shops in East London

Prufrock Coffee, Farringdon

Best for: Friendly, quality coffee from a London OG
Address: 23-25 Leather Lane, Farringdon, London, EC1N 7TE

Thanks mainly to its relaxed, unpretentious energy and staff who are serious about their coffee without being intimidating or overbearing, this Leather Lane cafe has established itself as one of the frontrunners in London’s artisan coffee scene. Prufrock sources its speciality coffee from equally celebrated London roastery Square Mile, while also stocking a rotating list of blends from around Europe and beyond. Three filters change regularly, alongside a strong list of speciality teas.

Climpson & Sons, Hackney

Best for: Longstanding B-corp roaster on Broadway Market
Address: 67 Broadway Market, London, E8 4PH

This Hackney institution has been serving well-crafted coffee to the masses since 2002 when it graduated from a stall on Broadway Market (which still exists today) to the current bricks-and-mortar cafe in an old butchers’ shop. The options are simple: espresso drinks, daily batch filter, and brunch and lunch menu of grilled sandwiches, brekkies and toasts made with bread from much loved Dalston bakery Dusty Knuckle. Climpson And Sons was the name of the Butchers that used to be on the site, too, so it’s keeping a little bit of east London history alive. Warning: this place, along with the market, gets mobbed on a Saturday, so consider yourself warned.

Dark Arts Coffee, Homerton

Best for: Homerton roastery with a side of heavy metal
Address: 1-5 Rosina Street, Homerton, London, E9 6JH

The guys behind Dark Arts seamlessly blend semi-ironic Hells Angels chic with a love of the occult and an uncanny ability to make dumb coffee content that absolutely kills it on TikTok. In short: they’re fun, but their coffee is also really, really good. The roastery site in Homerton is where it all goes down behind an exposed brick facade. It is well worth a trip for bags of beans and takeaways if you’re in the area and fancy hearing what kind of metal the roasting team are playing. There are also outposts in Shoreditch and Waterloo if you don’t want to travel that far east for a cold brew fix, too.

Allpress Espresso Roastery, Dalston

Best for: Flagship roastery with a hidden garden
Address: 55 Dalston Lane, London, E8 2NG

Allpress has long been king of the London coffee scene. A quiet calm comes over a well-versed Londoner when they see the retro-style Allpress font on the side of a takeaway cup: it’s simple, recognisable and – with more than ten years in the roasting game – close to iconic. Thankfully there are about 250 Allpress-serving cafes inside the M25, so getting your fix isn’t too tough, but we recommend going straight to the source. Alllpress’s Dalston roastery in east London allows you to witness the magic first person, and you can see (and smell) green beans becoming intoxicatingly flavourful small-batch roasts over a coffee or two and brunch.

Coffee shops in London Bridge

London Grind, London Bridge

Best for: Reliable remote working and late-night lattes
Address: 2 London Bridge, London, SE 1 9RA

For dependable coffee and all-day buzz, look no further than Grind. There are eight sites around the city, most of which open for evenings from Thursday to Saturday, but the London Bridge flagship is your go-to for after-hours coffee and, equally importantly, coffee-infused cocktails. It’s open until 1am on weekends, so chase that turmeric latte with a coffee negroni.

Monmouth Coffee Company, London Bridge

Best for: A Borough Market institution
Address: 2 Park Street, London Bridge, London, SE1 9AB

A stalwart of Borough Market since its regeneration in the late 1990s, , Monmouth Coffee is the grand dame of coffee shops in London, taking on a warm, slightly preppy vibe that’s quintessentially British without being overly twee. The speciality coffee is obviously great too, and you can grab several different single-origin varieties bagged whole bean or ground, and also pick up a range of filters and espresso drinks to have in and takeaway.

Redemption Roasters, Kings Cross

Best for: Roasting with a social impact mission
Address: Unit 109 Stable Street, Coal Drops Yards, Kings Cross, London, N1C 4DR

With its roastery based in a prison just outside London, Redemption is a little different from the other cafes and producers on this list. The roastery was founded to train offenders in skilled labour, and also helps ex-offenders get back into work upon release, through its own cafes and partner venues across London.

There are 11 outposts throughout the city, ith the King’s Cross branch showcasing Redemption’s ethos within Coal Drops Yard.

Coffee shops in Central London

Old Spike, Piccadilly

Best for: Social enterprise coffee that also tastes great
Address: 16 Sherwood Street, London, W1F 7BJ

Ethical roaster Old Spike made its name in Peckham, where it still operates its roastery, training campus and original café. Its central London outpost near Golden Square offers an easy way to experience the brand’s socially conscious approach in the West End.

As a social enterprise, Old Spike supports people experiencing homelessness into work, offering training at its roastery as well as barista roles across its London cafés.

Bar Italia, Soho

Best for: A cult stop for all-hours people watching
Address: 22 Frith St, Soho, London, W1D 4RF

All neon lights, worn floor tiles and Italian football on the TV, this coffee shop isn’t about beautiful microfoam and tasting notes – it’s about sitting on the street with a strong black coffee and a cannoli while watching the world go by. Bar Italia closes between 3am and 7am but is otherwise open round the clock; linger long enough and you’ll likely see actors, musicians and TV journalists walk passing by. Coffees are on the pricier side, but hey, a couple of quid for a latte is nothing when you’re funding an institution.

Algerian Coffee Stores, Soho

Best for: A retro shrine to all things coffee
Address: 52 Old Compton Street, Soho, London, W1D 4PB

Possibly London’s original speciality coffee shop, Algerian Coffee Stores has been hawking coffee on Soho’s Old Compton Street since way before most people even knew what a cafetiere was. Inside this Soho institution, you’ll find more than 80 different varieties of coffee – from flat whites to cold brews – to take away, as well as over 120 loose leaf teas. Oh, and somehow it’s still only £1.50 for a cappuccino or latte – you don’t see that often in London.

Coffee shops in West London

Kuro Coffee, Notting Hill

Best For: Japanese aesthetics on a Notting Hill corner
Address: 3 Hillgate Street, London W8 7SP

This compact corner coffee shop behind Notting Hill Gate brews coffee with Brixton-based Assembly beans, served alongside matcha and speciality teas, in a calming space informed by Japanese minimalism. On the same street you’ll find sibling venues Kuro Bakery, stacked with indulgent dipped pastries and vanilla cream-stuffed croissants, and Kuro Bagels, serving both sweet and savoury options. On Fridays and Saturdays, Kuro Coffee transforms into a candlelit wine and cocktail bar.

Flying Horse Coffee, Notting Hill

Best for: House-roasted coffee with market-day energy
Address: 112 Golborne Road, London W10 5PS

Flying Horse Coffee is a Hackney roastery, with cafes across London, including Shoreditch and Holborn. Follow a dig around Ladbroke Grove’s vintage shops with a stop at its Golborne Road location, which packs out on market days.

TAB X TAB, Notting Hill

Best for: Brunch and matcha lattes
Address: Westbourne House, 14-16 Westbourne Grove W2 5RH

Join a fast-moving queue at TAB X TAB for creamy oat flat whites made with Ozone Coffee, excellent matcha lattes and single-origin brews from monthly guest roasters. Baristas are known for intricate latte art, served in an airy, concrete-clad space. The brunch menu includes chicken Katsu sandos with Vietnamese slaw and classic avocado on toast, served on tactile Mceramics plates. For something stronger, try the coconut espresso martini or Yazu negroni. With indoor and outdoor seating on Westbourne Grove, it’s well placed for an afternoon spent exploring the neighbourhood’s vintage stores, independent boutiques and restaurants.

Roasting Party, Chelsea

Best for: Australian-style specialty coffee and people watching
Address: 253 Pavilion Road, London SW1X 0BP

Pavilion Road is a charming pedestrian thoroughfare linking Clesea and Knightsbridge, dotted with artisan food shops, boutiques and KXU fitness studio. Roasting Party is its go-to coffee spot, founded by Australian native Kirby Sinclair. Beans come from the brand’s Hampshire roastery and are brewed on a La Marzocco machine. There is also a playful menu of sweet cold brews, such as the Monty B, mixed with marmalade serum and sprinkled with chocolatey Aussie milo and orange zest. Snag one of few outdoor seats for some of west London’s finest people-watching.

Coffee shops in south London

NOLA

Best for: Cardamon buns and soothing weekend resets
Address: 224 Rye Lane, Peckham, London, SE15 4NL

There’s something incredibly nourishing about NOLA in Peckham. Maybe it’s the play of light and shadow on the stripped-back wood interiors and off-white walls; maybe it’s the speciality coffee roasted by Lucid in Belfast; maybe it’s the fresh cinnamon and cardamon buns, or tahini and chocolate cookies. Whatever it is, it works. Close to Peckham Rye Overground, this is a great coffee shop to visit early on a bright Sunday morning whether you’re nursing a hangover or just feeling the end of weekend blues.