Three Coffee Spots in London I Keep Going Back To
I spend a lot of time working from coffee shops around London. Some are great for ten minutes, some are great for meetings and a few are the kind of places where you end up staying longer than planned.
These are three spots I keep going back to.
Not necessarily the most famous ones, just places with really good coffee and the right atmosphere.
Ethical Bean — Hackney Wick
This is probably my favourite coffee spot in London at the moment.
It’s tucked away in Fish Island near Hackney Wick and has that slightly hidden neighbourhood feel that I love. Nothing overly polished, just really good coffee and good people running it.
The area around Hackney Wick has become such a creative pocket of London and Ethical Bean sort of sits right in the middle of that.
It’s one of those places where you go for a quick coffee and end up staying for an hour.
Old Spike — Peckham
If you’re serious about coffee, Old Spike is always a safe bet.
They roast their own beans and the coffee is consistently great. But what I like most about this place is the atmosphere. It feels relaxed and purposeful without trying too hard.
The Peckham location especially has that slightly industrial London vibe. Big tables, good light and people catching up.
Also worth knowing they’re doing genuinely good work as a social enterprise, which makes supporting them feel even better.
The Attendant — Fitzrovia
This one is a bit of a London classic.
It’s actually built inside an old Victorian public toilet (which sounds odd until you see it). The original architecture is still there and it makes the space feel really unique.
It’s right in the middle of Fitzrovia so it’s perfect if you’re in central and need a break from the pace of Soho or Oxford Circus.
Good coffee, interesting space and a great place to sit for a bit and reset.
A Small Thought
London can move very fast.
I’ve realised over time that coffee shops are one of the few places where the pace slows down a little. People meet, work, write, talk, think.
Some of my best conversations and ideas have started over a coffee somewhere in this city.
These are just a few of the spots I keep coming back to.