Author: espressolovin

Enjoys a nice coffee in pleasant surroundings, with perhaps the option to walk around and take in the scenery. Company optional.

Greek Farmer, 66 Westbourne Grove, W2 (near Bayswater, direction of Notting Hill)

Well, it can be a bit smokey from the grill, but good, honest food and prices that won’t break the bank. Nothing special in terms of location, especially given the high-class setting of Belleville across the road, but you get a nice little Illy espresso for £1.40 and a seat in the window looking onto Westbourne Grove. Considering the price, I’d rather sit here looking at Belleville, than sitting in Belleville paying to look at Greek Farmer. Plus, they gave me a free mini-croissant too! Can’t argue with that sort of value.

Coffee ***
£1.40
Environment **

Bathurst Deli, 3 Bathurst Street, W2 (nr Lancaster Gate)

Very nice, quite French but serves a great little espresso, as well as a good selection of food (hot and cold), and also licenced for alcoholic drinks. Four tables outside on the pavement, on a quiet road (there’s no through-road, so cars rarely pass), and a very West-London crowd. Highly recommended, especially given the location, and not too expensive either. Great place to pause if you’ve been wandering the northern slopes of Hyde Park.

Coffee ***
£1.40
Environment ****
Service ****

Tuffo’s place, 58 Hutton Gardens, EC1

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Decent little place and well priced (especially given the diamond shops all around – check out the modern pieces in Landale Ltd opposite, for example). There are plenty of seats and they do a good range of sandwiches. Not classy, but a good, basic lunch stop. Shame the coffee is lackluster – decent crema, but weak and earthy.
Coffee **
Surrounds **
£1.20

The M Bar, Leadenhall Market (south), EC3

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Great little Italian style (though lots of Portuguese influences from the staff) cafe. Toasted sandwiches (panini and baguette as well as a few focaccia ), pasta and salads for lunch, with soft or alcoholic drinks to wash it down. Pastries and cakes on offer to complete the meal. Oh, and nicely homemade chips from the fryer. There’s a decent number of seats in the narrow space upstairs, and plenty of tables outside, both under cover and in the sun. Good prices and portions too.
Coffee **** (Illy)
Cakes *** (pasteis de nata are good)
Environment ***
Service *** (friendly if a bit rushed by the lunchtime crowds)

Sunset 2, Charterhouse Street, (Smithfields Market)

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Cheap and cheerful, catering to the workers at the historic meat market opposite, this has two street tables outside and almost no space inside, but is a great place to stop off if in the area. Try the cakes too – the apple pie slice will keep you going for 8 hours!
Coffee ** (it depends who makes it)
£1.10 (can’t go wrong at this price)