Please note, Mouse & De Lotz is now closed. Time Out Food editors, JANUARY 2020.
So many lovely neighbourhood cafés and delis have opened in Hackney that they scarcely provoke a raised eyebrow any more, still less one raised over a delicate vintage china cup of tea.
Despite their ubiquity, they all have their particular strengths; one of Mouse & de Lotz’s is its very decent prices, which have helped it garnered plenty of heartfelt appreciation from locals.
If you’re wondering about the name, it’s derived from the surnames of cheerful proprietors Nadia Mousawi and Victoria de Lotz.
The renovated storefront and clean Farrow & Ball aesthetic are country-kitchen agreeable, with old milk bottles and mouse-eared prints giving it real character.
The coffees (brewed from Square Mile Coffee Roasters’ current seasonal espresso blend) are well made and there are several snacks for children, too (clearly labelled on the menu) – Marmite sandwiches, say, or own-made houmous with soldiers.
The menu is dominated by sandwiches, a long list with a wide range of fillings. There are also breakfast items such as granola and pancakes, and sweet items including a cake of the day.