The 17 best coffee shops in London
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The first coffeehouse in London opened in 1652 – although the bitter brews found there were a far cry from the perfectly roasted coffees London is known for today. Nicknamed “penny universities,” these early coffeehouses were hubs of intellectual exchange, where men from all walks of life could participate for the penny it cost to visit.
Fast-forward to the 1950s, when Soho’s Italian immigrants introduced the now ubiquitous espresso, the stage for today’s vibrant café culture was set. The 1990s saw the rise of global coffee chains, but London’s heart beats for the speciality third-wave coffee movement, which prizes independent roasters, single-origin beans, and artisanal methods.
The explosion of speciality coffee shops in London over the past few decades can be at least partially attributed to what economist Douglas McWilliams calls the ‘Flat White Economy’. The growth of internet-based creative startups, remote workers, and tech entrepreneurs – who often gather or work from coffee shops– provided the economic boost that has allowed ‘penny universities’ to flourish across London once again.
Today, London is the home of some of the world’s best coffee concepts, festivals, brands and people. In a city teeming with such innovation and passion, it’s no wonder there is such an abundance of incredible cafes. So, where should you start? While London is a city where you can find a great cup almost everywhere you turn, there are some iconic, unique, and innovative stops you simply shouldn’t miss.
The best coffee shops in London at a glance
- Best coffee shop in London for a piece of history: Algerian Coffee Stores, Soho
- Best coffee shop in London for taking a coffee course: Prufrock, Farringdon
- Best coffee shop in London for a sustainable brew: Qima, Fitzrovia
- Best coffee shop in London for Japanese design: Omotesando Koffee, Fitzrovia
- Best coffee shop in London for batch brews: Batch Baby, De Beauvoir
The best coffee shops in London
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Monmouth Coffee, Borough and other locations
At Monmouth’s Borough Market location, the lines usually spill out the door, a testament to this iconic coffee company’s popularity among London’s coffee lovers. Customers patiently wait their turn to take home some of the 1.9 tonnes of coffee they sell weekly over the counter. While you can still visit them at their very first store, opened in 1978 in an 18th-century Covent Garden terrace house, their open frontage Borough Market location is a sight to behold with roasted coffee piled high and golden scoops ready to dip into single-origin beans: the bright and airy cafe has few seats, but they are a delight to while away some time in if you manage to snag one. Others will sit with their coffees straight on the sidewalk or wander through the market with their perfectly crafted cup.
Monmouth Coffee was one of the first in London to focus on the provenance of the bean, and it is a true pioneer of the speciality movement. Despite not advertising or attending competitions, Monmouth’s commitment to quality has held a captive audience for almost 50 years.
Address: Monmouth Coffee, 2 Park Street, London SE1 9AD, United Kingdom
Website: monmouthcoffee.co.uk
Algerian Coffee Stores, Soho
Since 1887, Soho has been home to the Algerian Coffee Stores, where their iconic £1.50 espresso remains perhaps the best caffeine deal in the city. Managed by sisters Daniela and Marisa Crocetta, their great-grandfather purchased the shop in 1946 and it has remained in their family ever since. Steeped in history, its original wooden counter bears the marks of decades of service. The shop's dark-roasted Formula Rossa blend, crafted by the same roaster for over 30 years, is a local favourite. The shop's charm lies in its unchanged traditions – from hand-painted signs to seasonal chocolate figs from Calabria, making it a beloved institution in Soho.
Address: Algerian Coffee Stores, 52 Old Compton Street, London W1D 4QE, United Kingdom
Website: algeriancoffeestores.com
Dark Arts Coffee, Homerton
Tucked away in a nondescript railway arch between Homerton and Clapton, Dark Arts Coffee is a hidden gem for those looking for good coffee and a good time. Founded by the brilliantly offbeat Kiwi Bradley Morrison, Dark Art’s roastery is a hive of commercial activity, but you can drop in and grab a takeaway brew most days. The space is filled with quirky memorabilia, from vintage Time magazine covers to motorbike helmets, and in a now-bygone era, there was even a goat’s head. Initially intended as a hub for their friends, the space quickly evolved into a popular public coffee spot and one-time brunch darling, but for the moment, they just offer takeaway coffee – and the good stuff at that. The team, with their all-star coffee backgrounds, roasts beans with one simple goal: to make them taste great.
Address: Dark Arts Coffee, 1-5 Rosina Street, London E9 6JH, United Kingdom
Website: darkartscoffee.co.uk
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Allpress, Dalston
Housed in a restored 1930s joinery factory, Allpress Espresso in Dalston is the coffee workshop/cafe/roastery/lab/education venue of your hipster dreams. The spacious cafe, bathed in natural light, offers indoor and outdoor seating for solo readers through large groups. The space's centrepiece is the custom-built hot air roaster, A.R.T. III (visible from anywhere you choose to sit), designed in New Zealand and powered by solar panels on the roof. From loading bean silos to hand-packing blends, visitors can watch the team in action while enjoying well-crafted espressos or single-origin filters, sandwiches, brunch plates, or canteen-style lunches.
Address: Allpress, 55 Dalston Lane, Dalston, London E8 2NG United Kingdom
Website: allpressespresso.com
Prufrock, Farringdon
Named after T.S. Eliot’s poem The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock, this café blends literary charm with a serious dedication to coffee. Founded by 2009 World Barista Champion Gwilym Davies and 2016 UK Brewers Cup Champion Jem Challender, the café has long served as a meeting place for local coffee cognoscenti, with its commitment to coffee education being what sets it apart. It’s one of the few places in London where you can find professional-level coffee courses, with classes ranging from roasting and barista skills to sensory training for beginners and experts alike. This focus on education helped Prufrock evolve into a multi-roaster knowledge centre that stays ahead of industry trends.
In 2017, Prufrock entered a new chapter when Square Mile Coffee Roasters – co-founded by social media personality James Hoffmann – acquired the café. However, they still serve coffees from a range of top European roasters.
Address: Prufrock, 23-25 Leather Lane, London EC1N 7TE
Website: prufrockcoffee.com
Colonna & Small’s, The City
Maxwell Colonna-Dashwood’s internationally renowned Colonna Coffee opened its first London location in September 2023 on Leather Lane. Maxwell, a three-times UK Barista Champion and author of the famous Water for Coffee and the recent The Business of Specialty Coffee, and his wife and co-owner, Lesley, have been slinging coffee and winning awards in Bath since 2009 at their cafe, Colonna & Small’s. Now, coffee nerds can get their Colonna experience without the road trip.
Address: Colonna & Small's, 96A Leather Lane, The City, London EC1N 7TX
Website: colonnacoffee.com
Nostos, St James and other locations
The Greek word “nostos” (νόστος) translates as the return home after a long journey, a philosophy which founder Edison Shehu imbues into the cafe via a return to the basics of authenticity, quality, and community: a journey back to the heart of coffee culture. While their inaugural cafe in Battersea became an immediate hit, it’s their second location in St James that you should visit to explore the world of rare coffees. The space is divided into two bars: the fast bar provides a consistent and quick service for your everyday classics. The Experience Bar is where you can find an archive of rare and unique coffees, which they keep at -21°C to reduce the ageing process.
Address: Nostos, 6 Orchard Place, London, SW1H 0BF
Website: nostoscoffee.co.uk
Nagare, Spitalfields
Coffee at Nagare is a romantic and serene experience, blending Japanese-inspired aesthetics with historic London charm. It calls a Grade II-listed Georgian building that sports one of Spitalfields most recognizable historic shop fronts home. The space has been a fruit and vegetable shop on and off for the past 230 years, while over the last few decades, it was an adorable deli owned by author Jeanette Winterson. Maintaining the iconic shopfront, the interiors sport neutral tones and minimalistic décor. Nagare, which means "flowing river" in Japanese, reflects a philosophy of flexibility and openness inspired by Bruce Lee's famous line, “Be water, my friend... Be formless, shapeless, like water.” Nagare Coffee only opened in January 2023 but has quickly become known for serving some of the smoothest and most balanced coffees in London.
Address: Nagare, 40 Brushfield Street, Tower Hamlets E1 6AG
Website: nagare.co.uk
Qima, Fitzrovia
Qima Coffee’’s commitment to “sourcing exceptional coffees directly from smallholder farmers in some of the world’s most challenging environments” is rooted in the vision of founder Faris Sheibani, who drew inspiration from his grandfather’s ethos of “making lives, not trade.” Every cup sold contributes to their “Coffee Tree Per Cup” program, gifting a young coffee tree to a farmer, which helps foster both quality coffee and sustainable livelihoods. Born in the UK and deeply connected to Yemen, Sheibani launched Qima Coffee as a bridge between his two worlds. His resulting global ethical sourcing operation has been recognized for supporting nearly 7,000 farmers across Yemen, Colombia, and Ecuador. Today, Qima Café is a showcase for this mission, offering a space where coffee lovers can connect with the rich histories and stories behind their brews.
Address: Qima, 21 Warren Street, Fitzrovia, London W1T 5LT
Website: qimacafe.com
WatchHouse, Bermondsey and other locations
On the edge of St Mary Magdalen’s Churchyard in Bermondsey, this tiny 19th-century watchhouse was originally built to shelter those who kept watch for grave robbers. Since opening in 2014, WatchHouse Bermondsey Street has grown from its tiny namesake location into a symbol of the café’s Modern Coffee ambition – with almost 20 UK-based locations, they have just opened their first international cafe in New York. The space is small, seating only 10, but its Tardis-like interior maximizes every centimetre with unique seating layouts and high shelves. Watchhouse has become a beloved London coffee stop, offering single-origin, bottomless fresh brews, sandwiches, and sweet treats despite its size.
Address: WatchHouse, 199 Bermondsey Street, London SE1 3UW, UK
Website: watchhouse.com
Formative, Westminster
Tucked between Westminster and Victoria, Formative Coffee aims to create extraordinary coffee experiences in the midst of central London's chaos. Founder Ian Kissick came to London to study computer science but found instead a skill for the world of specialty coffee: this ultimately led to Formative’s runner-up win in Sprudge’s ‘Best New Cafe’ 2020 and Kissick nabbing the title of UK Barista Champion in 2023. Formative has quickly gained a reputation as one of London’s top coffee spots since its opening in 2019.
Cutting down on distractions, Formative keeps things minimalist to ensure that coffee takes centre stage. Kissick’s approach to coffee is also refreshingly straightforward – customers simply choose between "Coffee A," a medium to high bitterness blend ideal for milky drinks, and "Coffee B," a sweeter, more acidic option perfect for espresso and filter. This simplicity is intentional and designed to make speciality coffee more accessible without overwhelming customers with information on roasters, origins, or processing methods.
Address: Formative, Butler Place, London, SW1H 0RH
Website: formative.coffee
Ngopi, Dalston
You don’t need to travel far to experience Indonesia's flavours, traditions, and hospitality – just a quick hop over to Dalston. At Ngopi, you’ll find Indonesian single-origin coffees roasted on an Indonesian-made roaster, brewed into your usual favourites, and some more unique Indonesian-inspired brews. Their signature drink, Es Kopi Susu, is a must-try – a perfect balance of strong, slightly bitter coffee and sweet natural palm sugar syrup. The café’s name comes from the Indonesian phrase "Ngopi Yuk!" (meaning "Let's have coffee!"), speaks of the cafe’s mission to share Indonesia's rich coffee culture with the UK.
Beyond coffee, there is a charming selection of Indonesian-inspired snacks and light meals. Try the indulgent Indomie toastie, a delightful fusion of instant noodles with corned beef, cheese, and onion, all packed into a toasted sandwich. You can’t go wrong with classic Indonesian street foods like Gado-Gado and Martabak.
Address: Ngopi, 78 Dalston Lane, Dalston, London, E8 3AH
Website: ngopi.co.uk
Harrods Roastery, Knightsbridge
Why is a 170-year-old department store featured in a list of London’s best coffee shops? The meticulous renovation and subsequent 2017 relaunch of Harrod’s hallowed Food Halls reflects the store’s commitment to maintaining its legacy while still evolving with the preferences of today’s consumers.
Within the Art Deco-inspired grand hall (with its decorated pillars and panelled ceilings), a marble coffee bar is the end point of a true bean-to-cup experience. Nearby, in full view, a Probat capable of producing 85kg of roasted coffee per hour allows customers to watch every step of the process while they drink from a range of seasonal single origins or Harrods' key line of coffee blends.
Listen to the ringing of the brass bell every 15 minutes, which will notify you of the arrival of fresh bread from the Bake Hall, or stay into happy hour and experience the sophisticated transition into a cocktail venue (go for their espresso Negroni). 2017 UK Roasting Championship finalist Bartosz Ciepaj spent a year before opening consulting and the subsequent five years as their Master Roaster, ensuring quality and consistency for the 1,000 kg of beans they roast and the 25,000 cups they serve per week. Ciepaj also set up the Harrods Barista Training Academy and brought Harrods into the Alliance for Coffee Excellence and the Specialty Coffee Association.
Address: The Coffee Bar, Food Halls, Ground Floor, Harrods, 87-135 Brompton Road, Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7XL
Website: harrods.com
Nola Café, Peckham
It’s not often that a pop star ventures into the F&B space which is as successful as this one (looking at you, Snoop Dogg). Still, this lovely cafe from the Peckham couple behind Oh Wonder has become a haven for the local community (their motto is ‘Coffee for Everyone’). After their 2020 tour was cancelled, the couple channelled their energy into creating a café that anchors their community and captures the warmth and solace of the coffee shops they had visited worldwide while on tour. For Anthony and Josephine Vander West, coffee has long been an obsession – they even partnered with La Marzocco to launch their 2020 album No One Else Can Wear Your Crown for a series of coffee cuppings at local roasters along their tour route.
Address: Nola, 224 Rye Lane, Peckham, London SE15 4NL
Website: nolacoffee.co.uk
Batch Baby, De Beauvoir
Nestled in the Rose Lipman Building near Haggerston station, Batch Baby feels like stepping into a bag of Skittles compared to London’s usual minimalistic, serious third-wave coffee shop. The café, opened by Tom Sixsmith and Saskia Blum (a la Victoria Park’s classic Pavilion) in 2021, is a cosy haven (“70s inspired, not ’70s themed - the ’70s were great in a lot of ways, not sure coffee was one of them”) with orange-tinted cups, a bright red La Marzocco machine, and a pepping soundtrack. Batch Baby specializes in doing good stuff with – you guessed it – batch brews and also meticulously hand-crafted Aeropress alongside all the usual suspects. Spend a couple of hours lounging on the sunlit terrace or tap away on your laptop surrounded by a jungle of plants.
Address: Batch Baby, Rose Lipman Building, 43 De Beauvoir Rd, London N1 5SF
Website: batchbaby.co.uk
Omotesando Koffee, Fitzrovia
Omotesando Koffee, hailing from Tokyo's Omotesando district, brings modern Japanese coffee culture to Fitzrovia. Known for its minimalist design and serene atmosphere, this café has gained a cult following for its meticulously crafted coffee, including a luxurious iced cappuccino with bubble milk foam. The cubic brewbar design gives the impression of a small coffee kiosk within an urban park - similar to the style of the original pop-up in Tokyo. The cube is a recurring theme – it’s also the shape of their delicious Kashi, their signature baked custard treat.
Address: Omotesando, 8 Newman Street, London, W1T 1PB, The United Kingdom
Website: ooo-koffee.com
Juliet’s Quality Foods, Balham
Juliet's Quality Foods (originally known as Milk Teeth) is the second venture from the dynamic duo behind Balham’s beloved brunch institution, Milk. Owners Julian Porter and Lauren Johns were named ‘Southwest London Brunch Royalty’ by Eater, a title befitting the pair behind what may very well be the best brunch menus in England.
While Juliet’s is worth a visit for their coffee alone (their beans are carefully sourced from the best roasters across Europe), you’ll want to make sure you go hungry, as their food is really the star of the show. From their banana & cascara bread with salted espresso butter and grilled banana skin ash to what many have called the best cake in London – their secret recipe pistachio slice with yuzu icing – Juliet's redefines what brunch can be: bold, flavorful, and unpretentiously cool. Their specials are always off the charts: sea buckthorn lamington or pheasant schnitzel sando; anyone? They often have coffee specials, like the Freddo Cappuccino: a single-origin espresso poured over ice, topped with tonka bean caramel and cold whipped milk foam.
Address: Juliet's Quality Foods, 110 Mitcham Rd, London SW17 9NG, UK
Website: juliets.london