Hey guys! You have probably done quite a bit of research for your London adventure, looked through our travel and halal food guides for the city... But if you are a coffee (or tea!) lover like me, you will definitely need your daily fix before, during or after exploring London town. Even if you don’t drink coffee, these places offer so much more! Here are some cafes that absolutely have to be on your must-visit list, especially if you're around the area! (Trust us, you'll be)
1. Monmouth Coffee, Covent Garden
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For real coffee lovers who are particular about their brew, Monmouth Coffee Company is the place to go. Although they have other branches in London, I would suggest visiting the original shop at Covent Garden.
It’s a very quaint space but trust me, you wouldn’t want to miss the experience despite its lengthy queue of loyal customers. Having been in the business since 1978, this particular shop used to have a sampling room for their customers to try their coffee beans (yes, they roast and retail their own beans) before the customers made any purchases. In 2007 they relocated the roasting site and made way for real coffee lovers.
Where: 27 Monmouth Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2H 9EU
Contact: +44(0)20 7232 3010
Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday, 8AM – 6.30PM, Closed on Sundays
2. The Hummingbird Bakery, Soho
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If you are an avid fan of cakes and desserts, chances are you've probably heard about the Hummingbird Bakery. Ever since i've been to the café and whenever I think of their cakes, i've just gotten as far as ogling through their super pink Cake Days recipe book – but i've never really gotten round to baking any myself (Why is London so far away?).
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Not only do they have a chic surrounding, they also really do mean business when it comes to their desserts. Just be sure your phones have enough battery for all the photo-taking sessions!
Where: 55a Wardour Street, Soho, London W1F 8WG
Contact: +44 (0)20 7851 1795
Opening Hours: Monday – Saturday, 9.30AM – 8.00PM, Sunday, 10.00AM – 7.00PM
Nearest Underground Station: Oxford Circus (Bakerloo, Central and Victoria lines), Piccadilly Circus (Bakerloo and Piccadilly lines), Tottenham Court Road (Central and Northern lines)
*Their cakes do not contain gelatine and some of them are vegan (do not contain egg white).
#HHWT Tip: They have several other branches around London, you might want to check out more here
3. Tiosk, Broadway Market
Who says cafés are just about coffee? Tiosk redefines the café label with its wide premium selection of tea. I mean really, that’s what the English experience is all about right? Tea!
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Situated just outside central London, Tiosk is located in the middle of Broadway Market, a shopping street filled with fresh produce, art and crafts etc. Coupled with the vibrant street and wide selection of tea, it's safe to say that Tiosk's philosophy is to promote healthy and clean eating!
Where: 3 Broadway Market, London E8 4PH
Contact: +44 (0)20 7851 1795
Opening Hours: Monday – Saturday, 8.30AM – 6.00PM, Sunday, 10.30AM – 6.00PM
Nearest Overground Station: London Fields
4. Motown Desserts
If you can’t get enough of those sweets, you should try out the desserts and ice cream from Motown Desserts next. Situated just outside central London, you can easily hop on London’s Overground to get here. The name of the shop is self-explanatory as a reference to the American record company, which makes the entire concept of this desserts café a very musical one!
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Motown serves from “Greatest Hits” desserts to “Tea-ckle Your Vocals” teas! Remember Monmouth coffee? Yup, they serve yummy Monmouth coffee beans here too! You should definitely check this place out as even famous people like Nouman Ali Khan has been when he was in town ? Says a lot about the place, eh?
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Where: 157 Bethnal Green Rd., London E2 7DG
Contact: +44 (0)20 7739 5935
Opening Hours: Monday – Sunday ; 12.00PM – 12.00AM
Nearest Overground Station: Shoreditch High Street, Bethnal Green.
P.S. They have another branch in Whitechapel, you might want to check out more here
5. BB Routemaster Bus
Round up your cafe-hopping trip around London with a final twist. Afternoon tea aboard the BB Routemaster bus! We've previously covered halal afternoon tea in BB Bakery, but if you want a truly unforgettable experience, you can also opt to have afternoon tea while onboard a bus that'll bring you around the main sights of London!
#HHWT Tip: Do remember to book your halal afternoon tea in advance and state it in your reservation! They also cater for gluten-free and vegetarian diets.
Price: Adults from £49, Children (6to11) from £35
Where: Pick up from 8 Northumberland Ave OR Victoria Coach Station
Contact: +44 (0) 20 3026 1188 or [email protected]
Departure Times: 12.30noon or 3.30pm at Northumberland Ave OR 12noon, 2.30pm and 5pm at Victoria Coach Station
Nearest Underground Station: Trafalgar Square
After going through this list? Diet starts tomorrow for me! Happy snapping and munching! <3
Want to hit all five cafes? Don't worry, check out our custom map to help you navigate your way around!
*Do note that these cafes are not halal-certified. The halal status of the ingredients used in the food items are true to the date of posting. We advise all readers to confirm on this before visiting the outlets and to visit at your own discretion.