Best Cafes in London

Sketch

Inject some style into your afternoon at Sketch. This innovative art, food and music venue houses a Salon de Thé where diners can enjoy light meals with an artistic twist. A long jewel case forms a stunning centrepiece and is filled with Pierre Gagnaire’s fantastic pastries, cakes and sandwiches.

Relax in sumptuous surroundings where modern and renaissance design seamlessly blend echoing the ethos of Sketch’s other dining areas. Breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea are all served. Choose from a divine array of indulgent delights including delicate sandwiches, perfect pastries and heavenly treats such as a classic pate à choux filled with milk chocolate and Gui-Hong tea cream. The only problem is they look almost too good to eat!

Designer Sandwiches

27 Endell Street, WC2
This sandwich shop is truly one of a kind. A one time winner of the Guardian’s Sensational Sandwich Contest it opens daily for lunch and early suppers. Bells chime mystically as you enter the tiny room adorned with fake flowers, incense and gloriously tacky posters. The sitar-playing owner scurries forward to greet all comers dressed in a retro suit and massive shades topped off by an impressive seventies barnet.

The menu is as eclectic as the décor with an exciting range of Indian thalis available alongside traditional options such as spudtatoes and doorstop sandwiches. Every dish is individually named and creative fillings such as lentil dahl, tzatiki and spinach or Chicken Tikka Masala, preserved mango and salad mix with Western favourites like cheese and beans. A fabulous selection of fresh juices and authentic Asian music perfectly complete the experience.

Riverside Studios Café

Crisp Road, W6
Food, film and fringe arts combine at this contemporary café. Riverside Studios is one of the capital’s most innovative venues, hosting an eclectic programme of events which appeal to locals, foreigners and the arts world intelligentsia alike. The café/bar is a large open-plan area at the heart of the venue where visitors can enjoy a light snack, quick drink, relaxed meal or even some celebrity spotting. Everyone is welcome regardless of whether you are coming to see show or not.

Their exciting menu changes daily and features the freshest seasonal ingredients, try a bowl of their tasty straw chips with a juicy organic beef burger. Their empanadas and speciality savoury pancakes are well made and topped with tasty fillings such as spicy chorizo and spinach and ricotta. In Summer the Terrace is opened and there are few better spots from which to enjoy the view over the Thames and soak up the sunshine.

Books for Cooks

4 Blenheim Crescent, W11
Often called the “best smelling shop in the world” this bookshop cum café is a small corner of foodie heaven. As you browse the racks of colourful cook books heavenly smells tease and tempt tastebuds with hints of the delights that lie within their pages. Everyday different recipes are selected and the freshest seasonal produce bought from nearby Portobello Market.

Opened in 1983 the shop has become a mecca for foodie celebrities and Fat Lady Clarrissa Dickson Wright actually ran the shop for three years before leaving to seek fame and fortune. Space is very limited and lunchtimes very busy so its best to book ahead. If you feel sufficiently inspired there are cookery classes available in the upstairs classroom, but otherwise just sit back and enjoy fine food and the best coffee in Notting Hill.

Momo at Selfridges

2nd floor, Selfridges, 400 Oxford Street, W1A
Mourad Mazouz is possibly the capital’s most creative restauranteur, not content with blurring the boundaries between art and eating spaces, he has now invaded London’s most fashionable department store. Flouting the tradition of store canteens where food is fuel and décor is purely functional, this branch of Momo is an oasis of comfort and quality couscous in a designer desert.

Recover from a strenuous day’s shopping with a classy cocktail and shisha pipe session in the bejewelled smoking tent. The menu in the café is light and snacky with lunch and afternoon tea as the main events. Moroccan delicacies such as pastillas mingle with the fluffiest couscous and most succulent lamb kebabs imaginable, while the shopping never ends with the Momo Souk selling a hoarde of traditional trinkets, African music and cookery books. A surreal, bizarre and totally tasty experience.

E.A.T

39-41 Villiers Street, WC2N
E.A.T is the undisputed king of the sandwich bar chains. A family run business it prides itself on its fresh produce and every branch comes fully equipped with its own kitchen and trained chefs. Service is fast and friendly and menus change seasonally avoiding the boredom factor which plagues other similar chains.

Choose from a dazzling range of breakfast goods, wraps, soups, salads and sushi made by specially trained chefs. Current favourites include their brie, bacon and mango chutney, chorizo roast pepper and rocket on a white roll, spicy crayfish noodle salad. The sushi is a special treat including fish, nigyri and a vegetarian box.

Paul

9 Bedford Street, WC2E
Paul is one of London’s premier French bakery and patisseries and is regularly rammed at lunchtime. Dating back to 1889, it has over 200 outlets in France, two in London and even one in Dubai. Designed to conjure up classic images of the Parisian café, the only non-authentic touches are the lack of wine and the no smoking policy.

Feast on their outrageously fresh produce including a range of quiches, tartines and soups with warm bread rolls. L’assiette de charcuterie offers a splendid selection of cold meats while side dishes such as chunky potato slices and a juicy tomato salad compliment perfectly. All dishes are simple, well made and nicely presented. Make sure you save room for their delicious pastries, crépes and tartes. Perfect for those seeking a luxury lunch or pining for cross channel confectionery.

Bar Bruno

10 Wardour Street, W1F
Gobble up a slice of ye olde Soho at this legendary greasy spoon. Step back to the seventies with a cholesterol clogging fry up available with or without chips depending on the time of day. Soak up the comings and goings of this vibrant, creative area from the relative comfort of a green leather booth. Massive wall menus displaying dozens of sandwich combinations decorate this chaotic but hugely popular café.
Time your arrival carefully as mealtimes are hopelessly crowded and the best you can usually hope for is shunting up to share a table with other diners. The service may be occasionally begrudging but the cheerful atmosphere more than compensates. A perfect place to people watch, pile on the pounds and save pennies.