London’s best cafés

Rons – which occupies the front unit of Holdron’s Arcade on Peckham’s Rye Lane – is an all vegan café which will serve you up the best flat white in the area. It’s a cosy space but it’s full of love, and the owners are dead serious about the coffee, which is consistently delicious. Food-wise, everything is plant-based – including the patisserie – though the crisp-then-soft majesty of their cinnamon roll will quiet any and all skeptics.

The Dusty Knuckle is one of those places that actually deserves the hype it gets, and the Haringey version is thankfully a little more low-key then its older brother in Dalston (though you’ll still find queues of tote bag-bracing hipsters come Sunday). The rotating sandwich menu is always great, but the pro tip is to go on a Saturday for the egg chilli cheese; a crispy, salty, spicy mess of a sandwich with a runny yolk, coriander and green chillies, sandwiched between two doorstop slices of focaccia. For something sweet, try the cardamom bun and the feta and honey swirl. The vibes inside are nice and chaotic (no wifi), the staff are all delightful, and there’s pizza on the weekends.

In the courtyard of Dalston’s creative hub, this Aussie-owned gem mixes cosy industrial/studio vibes with a serious attitude to coffee. House beans are sourced from Alchemy, guest names appear on rotation and there’s an equally alluring Antipodean-style menu, plus there's a monthly book club for wholesome types. There's also a bakehouse branch in Hackney Downs, which specialises in cake, patisserie and sourdoughs.

Stroll into this Italian-ish Hackney restaurant in the daytime, and it's like walking into a Wes Anderson movie; all wood-panelled walls, masterfully tiled flooring and 1960s posters for Italian vermouth brands. A former greasy spoon, Leo’s retains shades of classic caff-ery, like E Pellicci’s as stage managed by Grand Designs’ Kevin McCloud. Eat amaretti and sip on cappuccino from vintage Duralex cups and saucers while feeling as sophisticated as Sophia Loren.

The super scenic Pavilion is a cut-above. Grab a coffee to accompany you on a stroll around Vicky Park, or linger on nearby benches with Sri Lankan-inspired brunch and breakfast items. Dahl with roti is always a good choice, but if you're after something a little stickier, then the cheese and kimchi toastie is the one for you. Extra napkins at the ready.

Hiding in plain sight, this lowkey spot on Bethnal Green Road strikes a rare balance between quality and heart. It offsets the pretension that plagues Shoreditch with the friendliness you’d expect from a local caff. Gecko started out specialising in coffee, so the drinks never disappoint. They now serve a small but perfectly formed menu of vegan brunch options which change with the seasons. A steady stream of regulars return to enjoy the plant-filled decor and warm ambience. FYI, they’re also pet-friendly. 

A social enterprise and neighbourhood cafe serving Palestinian crafts (pottery, soap, textiles) and produce (stock up on their olive oil) as well as coffee and lunch – think soups, wraps, traditional Palestinian mezze, and cakes and more. On Sundays there's a full brunch spread and every other Thursday there's a vegan supper club in the evenings. 

This female-owned Finsbury Park cafe is dog and kid-friendly, so the perfect place to pile into after a stomp in the park with your assorted animals and children. Try the masala potatoes for brunch, or a stuffed hummus and kimchi ciabatta. Monthly communal supper clubs on long, family-style tables are also fun and often vegan-friendly.

The nanna vibes at Lewisham's The Copper Tea are strong. Its sign may say ‘New Cross Appliance Centre’, but rest assured there’s a tiny little café serving banging breakfasts and a strong cuppa in quirky china behind those quaint floral curtains.

Juliet's Quality Foods is a gem. Trendy breakfast dishes are the name of the game, like the fancy eggs benedict, made with sourdough and topped with buttery smoked eel. Just brilliant. 

A social enterprise cafe, Fair Shot is a registered UK charity and works with young adults with learning disabilities and autism. They also make a mean cup of coffee, with small-batch beans from Curious Roo. If you're looking for a more substantial feed, then Matilda Streatfeild – previously chef-de-partie at arty bistro Toklas – is head chef.

The most achingly fashionable of Balham’s breakfast and brunch spots, Milk is chic rather than cute. Come for a just coffee from the extremely good-looking espresso machine, or settle in for french toast made with housemade brioche, strawberries, and tonka chantilly cream. At weekends, pancakes are a draw, with macerated red plums, blackcurrant cheesecake, and cocoa honey tuille flavours.  

A sweet little sourdough bakery and artisan coffee shop in Walthamstow's Grade II listed Central Parade. Grab a loaf and settle in for lunch of the house toastie with tomato relish, cheddar and red leicester, or soup, wraps and salads. Then wash it down with a Mozzo coffee. 

E5 Bakehouse has come a long way since 2010 when founder Ben MckInnon cobbled together his first oven from carpenter’s offcuts under a Hackney railway arch. Its primary archway home these days is in E8, a stone’s throw from London Fields. Indoors it’s quietly buzzy from dawn to dusk with informal tables of drinkers and diners feasting on delicious vegetable-forward lunches, very good coffee and wine, and of course the legendary E5 loaves, buns and cakes. 

This roadside café been through some changes over the years since it first opened in 1938 – being re-built after a World War II bomb raid, closing down and re-opening again years later – but it has stayed true to its biker roots. The space holds regular bike and classic car events, catering to motor heads from all over. Caff-style breakfasts come with eggs, bacon and the sweet smell of petrol. 

This pint-sized cafe on Askew Road just feels crisp. Not burnt to a crisp, as the name suggests, but calm. Minimal interiors let the truly innovative menu shine through. You won’t find bog-standard avo toast here – instead you’ll get anything from salt beef and sauerkraut croque madames to a merguez sausage and fried egg sloppy breakfast bun. Burnt imports its beans from east London favourites Climpson & Sons, and pastries from the Dusty Knuckle. And if you’re having such a lovely time that you want to stay the whole night long, you’re in luck. Burnt opens to serve up small-plate dinners Thursdays and Friday, and occasionally hosts series of themed supper clubs.

Being slightly out of the way affords this spot on the Hammersmith riverside a breezy two floors and a courtyard, where buckets of natural light ripple through some very tasteful crittall-style windows. Food here is as important as the coffee (which comes from Ozone). The ever-rotating, totally seasonal menu ranges from kimchi-fried rice to black rice porridge with miso sauce. This is a spot where you can easily whittle away a few hours, just be warned: you’ll be surrounded by what sometimes feels like every labrador and their yoga pants-clad owner in west London.

This super-homey café in Hackney is popular with locals, and for good reason: the food is delicious and the staff are lovely. You’ll find café classics like smashed avocado on the menu, but the specials board is where it’s at: you can’t go past the never-fail soup of the day.

A legend on Borough Market and beyond, family-run Karaway Bakery is now selling its incredible award-winning rye breads and Eastern European cakes in a tiny café tucked away in Westfield Stratford. The choice is bewildering, but sampling is encouraged and it’s all backed up by decent coffee and sandwiches.

It’s all about tea and cake at Highness Café, a homely spot in Highbury with mismatched wooden tables and a menu that’s written on a chalkboard above the counter. Expect the likes of thick peanut-butter brownies, iced blood-orange cakes and plump sultana scones.

As effortlessly chilled as they come, Birdhouse is the Clapham coffee bar of your dreams – everything is intended to soothe, staff are lovely, the sandwiches are great and the warm banana bread is nigh-on irresistible. Partnered with a perfect espresso, it’s a guaranteed cure for those rainy-day blues.

On a mission to bring some Melbourne magic to the streets of Hammersmith, this cool Aussie café brews up some terrific stuff. It uses Square Mile’s Red Brick beans for espresso and serves inventive brunch-style food – its kimchi-and-cheddar toastie is a best-seller. Just add some ace craft beers and natural wines.

Much of the emphasis is on the restaurant and cocktail bar, but Grind’s dedicated espresso bar is a magnet for London Bridge's caffeine heads. Slip in for weekday breakfast or weekend brunch, pump up your afternoon or enjoy a post-work warm-down over a long black, a flat white or a latte (made from certified organic beans). Grind also does its bit for the environment by using compostable, plastic-free coffee pods. There are also cafe branches in Liverpool Street, Greenwich and Shoreditch, as well as coffee shops and trucks dotted throughout the city.

London’s unwaning love affair with all things Scandi continues with Danish chain Ole & Steen's gradual takeover of London. As well as the initial branch in Covent Garden, you'll find these brooding coffee and cake spots as far afield as Canary Wharf, Chiswick and Hampstead. Inside, it’s super-slick and definitely not hygge, although the food is the star: wonderfully dark chocolate swirls, apple pie, savoury rolls and – best of all – wickedly seductive cinnamon slices.

Formerly a pop-up espresso bar in a converted taxi, this now-permanent café by the Thames has a coffee roaster in its dining area constantly pumping out beans. The menu offers much more than java, though – try the rose petal beetroot latte if you fancy something both healthy and unapologetically pretty. There’s a proper brunch menu, too.

A serene Antipodean hangout (with some Scandi-chic add-ons), Bühler & Co is a brunch beacon for the baby-toting denizens of Walthamstow and a popular stop-off for coffee too. Good provenance also abounds across the sodas, booze and excellent veggie/vegan menu – welcome to the wholesome ‘good life’.

A lovely neighbourhood café housed within West Hampstead’s Grade II-listed St James Church, the Sanctuary is now part of a community hub that includes a post office, gift shop and debt-advice centre. Coffee and cakes are all bang on the money. Note: on Sundays, the church is used as a church.

Fulham’s chattering classes have a solid HQ in the shape of Boys ’n’ Berry – a bang-on-trend café focusing on wholesome food and coffee, with plenty of cake on the side. It specialises in double-shot organic brews (from espressos upwards) with matcha lattes and almond milk.

A tiny eccentrically decorated place with a total commitment to quality across the board, Lowry & Baker on Portobello Road is a local godsend. Food is served on a delightful jumble of unmatched crockery, but the perfectly brewed coffee – with beans from Monmouth – comes in well-warmed white cups.

From the quirky décor to the massive windows giving a full view of the Archway scene, this unpretentious family-owned spot is perfect for a leisurely catch up. There’s just one blend of coffee on offer, but it’s decent enough – especially with back-up from cooked breakfasts, sandwiches, salads and home-baked cakes.