Lady’s 15 Best Coffee Shops in London

I love a good cup of coffee. I’m no aficionado, but I still like to indulge in a rich roast. So even though I don’t know my Ethiopian from my Ecuadorian, I want to pay homage to the bean in my own way: bringing you 15 of what I consider the best coffee shops in London. Or rather, my 15 favorites.

Best Coffee Shops in London

A huge number of independent coffee shops have opened in London in the last few years, mostly owing to the global trendiness of coffee.

It has amazed me to see the change since I first moved to London, and delighted me to discover so many sweet, fun cafes to try.

If you’re looking for somewhere to have a good espresso or indulgent cappuccino in London, these places are musts.

Best Coffee Shops for Pretty Coffees

Since I love photography, I’ll start with my top picks for pretty coffees. From latte art to floral sensations, these places serve some of the most beautiful coffees in London.

1. Ground Control

When friends first took me to Ground Control on Amwell Street in Clerkenwell, I couldn’t get over how cool the coffee art was. I still go out of my way to go there just to see what they’ll draw into my next latte.

2. Farm Girl

Less known for coffee art than just amazingly beautiful coffee, Farm Girl has a rose latte that comes drizzled with crushed rose petals. I’ve rarely found a coffee that’s too pretty to drink, but this one certainly is.

Farm Girl is one of the best coffee shops in London for photogenic lattes. Make sure to have your camera ready when you go.

Best Secret Coffee Shops in London

While the UK capital has some well-known places to get a caffeine fix, there are others that fly under the radar. These are great places to go if you want to live like a local.

3. Algerian Coffee Stores

I walked by Algerian Coffee Stores in Soho a million times before I learned what was inside. The bright red shopfront was so picturesque that I took a picture of it for my Instagram feed one day.

So many people commented that they loved the coffee there that I went straight back the next morning and took a look.

I felt like I was stepping back in time, what with the historic feel of the place and walls lined with coffee products. It’s a great secret spot in London.

4. Tasting Room at Square Mile Coffee

Another of the best coffee shops in London is also hidden away. Out east in Bethnal Green, Square Mile’s private tasting room is open by invitation only.

But if you can snag an invite it’s a beautiful room with a giant map of the world on the wall and espresso machines lining the counters. It’s also next to their factory, which is fun to tour.

Best Coffee Shop Names in London

Some shops on my list are known for their coffee. Others are known for their clever names. Either way, it’s fun to try them.

5. Look Mum No Hands!

Every time I walk from Clerkenwell to Shoreditch, Look Mum No Hands puts a smile on my face. Part bike shop, part coffee shop, it has one of the best names in London. I also love the outdoor area for sunny days.

6. Iris & June

When I first walked by Iris & June in Victoria, the daily chalkboard joke outside made me smile.

But when I discovered that it was one of the best coffee shops in London, I had to go in. Now I go back regularly, partly for the coffee, partly for the jokes, and partly for the delicious food.

7. Department of Coffee and Social Affairs

The Department of Coffee and Social Affairs is another place with a great name and good coffee.

With locations in Soho, Clerkenwell, and other parts of the city, this rather bureaucratic-sounding chain is one branch of government I don’t mind taking over London. If only I could pay my taxes to them, too!

Best Coffee Shops for Ambiance

When it comes to ambiance, London has a few stand-out coffee places. Some have the hip industrial feel down to an art, while others are all comfy and cozy.

8. Climpson & Sons Cafe

Climpson & Sons Cafe not only has a cool name, but also stylish minimalist interiors. With a great location on Broadway Market in Hackney, this artisan roaster always lures me in with the promise of good coffee in a cool environment.

They also have a coffee kiosk in Old Spitalfields Market and a cart at the Saturday food market on Broadway Market. They’re great places for a quick caffeine hit while browsing the stalls.

9. Tomtom Coffee House

In the heart of chi chi Belgravia, Tomtom Coffee House is my go-to for coffee with ambiance. Colorful chairs and a round communal table add an element of cheerfulness to the shop.

But most of all, I love gazing out the wide windows to watch the beautiful people go by on Elizabeth Street.

Best Coffee Shops in London for Coffee

When it comes to coffee itself, there are a few places in London that rise above the rest. With award-winning baristas and quality beans, their coffee shows their dedication to quality.

10. Prufrock

In addition to having a great name, Prufrock in Clerkenwell is one of the best coffee shops in London. I first discovered the place when a friend worked behind the counter, and have been going back ever since.

They take their coffee incredibly seriously at Prufrock, and even do professional barista training and coffee-related classes and events.

11. Flat White

A few years ago I went on a coffee date with a guy who was a self-proclaimed coffee snob.

He ordered his beans online since no coffee shop in London had good enough beans, and he had his espresso machine custom made since no company made a good enough machine.

Essentially, he was impossible to please. Well, except when it came to the coffee at Flat White in Soho. An endorsement if there ever was one.

12. Store Street Espresso

I’ve written about Store Street Espresso in Bloomsbury before, but I have to mention it again here. The strong, rich coffee blows me away every time (and I’m in the shop a lot of the time).

Best Coffee Shops for Everything Else

While some of the top coffee shops in the city are known for something specific, others are great all around. These are sure to please.

13. Monmouth Coffee

No list of the best coffee shops in London would be complete without Monmouth Coffee.

A staple on the London scene, its Borough Market location is packed every weekend and its Covent Garden shop has a perpetual queue. It’s about as classic a coffee shop as London can offer.

14. Nude Espresso

Just off Brick Lane, Nude Espresso in Spitalfields not only serves some of the best coffee in London, but also has a colorful attitude—you can’t miss the bright red shopfront.

It’s right around the corner from the London Coffee Festival venue, too, so it’s a good place to get a pre-festival caffeine fix.

15. Ozone Coffee Roasters

Not far from Nude Espresso, Ozone Coffee Roasters rounds out my list of the best coffee shops in London.

Its location by Old Street in Shoreditch has a sleek, modern vibe and its coffees have enough caffeine to keep me energized from morning to night (seriously, I almost had trouble falling asleep 12 hours after a cappuccino).

Best London Coffee Shops

I hope you enjoyed this guide to the best places for coffee in the UK capital. If you want more, take a look at my London coffee itinerary. It will guide you around the city and show you the top coffee-themed places. Happy sipping!

How about you? What do you think are the best coffee shops in London?

Find this post helpful? Buy me a coffee!

New here? Join thousands of others and subscribe to the A Lady in London blog via email.

Pin it!