10 Best Cafes And Teahouses In East London, England

Climpson & Sons Café

Climpson & Sons Café opened in 2005, when the London coffee scene didn’t have quite the gravity it does today. Climpson was a pioneering venue and is rightly viewed as one of the leading lights of the coffee revolution. The walls are lined with wood, and Climpson has a distinctly no-frills vibe, but it is perfect for both hardened coffee-drinkers and the casual caffeine-fiend. The venue is situated a stone’s throw from Broadway Market, meaning that visitors can take in some brilliant food stalls and street busking before picking up a cup of steaming coffee.

Located in Brick Lane, Full Stop. has an unassuming exterior, with the typical East London retro fittings, as well as a relaxed and cosy atmosphere. Customers can – and often do – spend hours here, drinking coffee and taking in the Brick Lane culture. The squashy armchairs are just too comfortable, and too easy to sink into, for guests to easily extricate themselves. Full Stop. is also something of a local hub, with regular live music, (alcoholic) drinking festivals, and even nightly quizzes. It is a bit on the small side though, so make sure your group isn’t too large.

Despite having a reputation for brusque service, Goswell Road Coffee knows how to serve up a great cup of joe to get you through the morning (or any other time of the day). The interior is decorated with retro posters, aged chesterfields and a number of bar stools. While Americano and espresso coffees are a bit pricey, they are of an exceptional quality. For a fast, cheap fix, Goswell Road also has a quick filter coffee – known as builders’ brew – for under £2. To accompany your jet-black hit of caffeine, there are a number of great cakes and pastries on offer too.

Kipferl is London’s premier Austrian coffee shop, set in the beautiful Camden Passage, just a few short minutes from Angel tube station. The concept is that, as in Austria, visitors approach Kipferl aiming to spend some quality time there, reading a newspaper or enjoying a selection of fine pastries. Kipferl serves a variety of soups, stews and dishes that hail from Central and Eastern Europe, including the classic Viennese Sachertorte, cheesecake, and apple strudel.

At the Nude Espresso Roastery, staff craft-roast, bake bread and bag coffee beans entirely by hand – the quality of the finished product is telling of these efforts. The coffee shop claims to have the UK’s most advanced barista training scheme, and the baristas are certainly highly skilled and knowledgeable, readily answering customer questions on coffee-making techniques and varieties. If customers are feeling hungry, they should let staff tempt them with delicious cupcakes and brownies, all of which are made on site, fresh each day.

Ozone Coffee Roasters, which opened a couple of years ago, was an instant hit with local office workers, and continued to bound from strength to strength. However, the venue is somewhat a victim of its own success – due to its small size, when it gets busy, customers have to head down to the unfurnished basement, or even outside, in order to find somewhere to sit. The shop boasts ‘slow-brew’ specials, such as the peaberry from Kenya. The food at Ozone is a particular point of celebration, with dishes such as eggs Benedict, and bucatini pasta with merguez sausage, garlic, chilli, and shredded zucchini. Additionally, there is a fantastic wine list (for when coffee simply won’t cut it).

The arcade in which Taylor St Baristas is located is somewhat lacking in soul, but the same can’t be said of inside the place – the bohemian character is what attracts punters every day. The eccentric décor – dark wood floors balanced by overly large windows – reflects the medium-light-roasted espresso blend that is lighter than the coffee served by some rivals. The staff, experts of the espresso world, know more than you could believe possible about coffee beans. Walls are decked with local artists’ work, something that adds to the bohemian theme. Taylor St also offers particularly enthused customers the chance to study at the altar of espresso, with three-hour barista courses, involving tastings and technical practice.

Workshop Coffee Co. has a few sites in London, but this venue on Clerkenwell Road is the original one. An expansive downstairs area is filled with small tables and a large serving island, heaped with coffee and cakes. The back of the room houses a large roaster, where fresh beans are prepared for grinding before going into filter and espresso coffees. Workshop Coffee Co. also serves an array of lunch and brunch options, with the most popular menu item being toast with butter and homemade jams. Big fans of Workshop’s home-roasted coffee can also take some home with them.