London’s best cafés

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. 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.

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.

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.

Juliet’s Quality Foods is a gem. Alongside great coffee, trendy breakfast dishes are the name of the game at this Tooting favourite. We like the fancy eggs benedict, made with sourdough and topped with buttery smoked eel; the smoked caviar folded eggs; spicy shrimp patty bun; smoked pumpkin and goat’s curd omlette... need we go on? 

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 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.  

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 come for a full brunch spread and every other Thursday a vegan supper club takes place in the evenings. 

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.

Taking its name from a classic book on Kentish Town local history, this tiny neighbourhood drop-in is an enduring hit with caffeine-loving locals. TFB is now totally vegan: everything from the milk to the dhal to the cookies. Inside, there’s just one long(ish) table for communal sipping, but ample space for takeouts – all very handy for commuters spilling out from the station next door.

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.

This roadside café been through some changes 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 moto 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 boasts minimal interiors that let the truly innovative menu shine through. You won’t find bog-standard avo toast here – instead you’ll get salt beef and sauerkraut croque madames, and sloppy merguez sausage and fried egg breakfast buns. Burnt imports its beans from east London favourites Climpson & Sons, and pastries from the Dusty Knuckle. 

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.

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.

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’.

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.

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.

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.