Notes and Music – London

Address: 31 St Martins Lane, London WC2N 4ER

(Also at 36 Wellington St, WC2E 7ED)

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7240 0424

Web:  http://notesmusiccoffee.com

Beans used: Square Mile

Food available: Yes, small selection of breakfast, lunch and dinner items and some pastries.

A pearl in Covent Garden. Though located next to Trafalgar Square, Notes manages to remain hidden from the tourists. It does get busy though, and you may have to wait for a table. With a cool interior, jazz music playing in the background and movies screening in the basement. Your coffee will be made by one of the delightful staff, putting together a nice lightly flavoured coffee that is as smooth as a vanilla ice cream.

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The Breakfast Club – London

Address: 33 D’Arblay Street, London, W1F 8EU

Other locations:

Hoxton – 2-4 Rufus Street, London, N1 6PE

Angel – 31 Camden Passage, London, N1 8EA

Spitalfields – 12-16 Artillery Lane, London, E1 7LS

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7434 2571

Web:  http://www.thebreakfastclubcafes.com/

Beans used: Matthew Algie

Food available: Yes, large menu selection or brunch, lunch and dinner offerings.

With several locations around London, this review will focus on the one in Soho.

We don’t normally review chain cafés, as they’re usually pretty ordinary. However, The Breakfast Club is a bit different. It’s very popular and for good reason. You’ll be waiting a long time, however, if you rock up around 10am on a Sunday morning, their busiest day of the week. Once inside you’ll be greeted by a bright, buzzing vibe, decent food and great coffee – very good coffee. Pop in during the week and it’ll be in your hands much quicker than on a busy Sunday morning. 

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Look Mum No Hands – London

Address: 49 Old Street, London, EC1V 9HX

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7253 1025

Web:  http://www.lookmumnohands.com/

Beans used: Square Mile

Food available: Yes, usual café style range of salads and small meals

Look Mum No Hands is the result of the unusual merger of café and cycle repair shop. It makes sense; get your bike fixed and enjoy a coffee or meal whilst you wait. We’ll stick to what we know and review the coffee, which is consistent, smooth and not too strong. The atmosphere is lively yet relaxed and there’s plenty of literature around to keep your eyes busy. Sit outside, or inside, or get one to ‘ride-away’.

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Salvation Jane – London

Address: Unit 2, Oliver's Yard, 55 City Road, London, EC1Y 1HQ

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7637 3347

Web: http://www.salvationjanecafe.co.uk/

Beans used: Square Mile (available for purchase)

Food available: Yes, small menu (with a promise to grow) with a nice selection of breakfast and lunch items as well as baked products.

Only just over one week old, Salvation Jane is the younger sibling to the popular Lantana café in Fitzrovia. We decided that we knew the coffee was going to be good at this place before we even walked in. So, instead of putting the barista to the test with our usual order, we leapt at the opportunity to enjoy an affogato. Antipodeans will welcome such a treat as they can be hard to find in London. Needless to say it met our expectations. Your order will be taken and served by one of the easy going, friendly staff who don’t mind a bit of a chat. I said to my co-blogger at the time, “I have a feeling about this place – it’s going to do really well”.

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