Exploring the Best Cafés and Coffee Shops in Bloomsbury

Cafés and Coffee Shops in Bloomsbury

If there’s one thing we’ve got in abundance here in Bloomsbury, it’s cafés and coffee shops. From the traditional independent ‘caff’ that’s been around for years, to trendy, minimalist stop-offs and your favourite chains, there’s definitely no chance of you going hungry or missing out on your daily caffeine fix around here. So without further ado, I bring you my take on the best cafés in Bloomsbury, as well as in nearby King’s Cross.

Coffee shops in Bloomsbury

Sometimes all you need is your favourite hot drink, and maybe a cheeky pastry to go with it.

If that’s the case, I’d suggest you head over to the Brunswick Centre, which is just a 3 minute walk from the Mentone hotel. This is where you’ll find most of the coffee shops in Bloomsbury, as well as a good few cafés too.

Let’s have a look at what we’ve got at the Brunswick…

Starbucks

This is a very friendly place and one of my favourite coffee shops in Bloomsbury, in fact I pop in pretty much every morning. It’s quite a sizeable place with loads of seating inside and out, and they sell all your usual Starbucks favourites including warm food, as well as a selection of coffee lovers’ gifts. Open 7am to 9pm weekdays, and 8am to 8pm weekends.

Fatty Cat

This is a minimalist-style Asian artisan bakery which serves traditional pastries as well as some really creative ones, plus specialist coffee. It’s open every day except Sunday, 10.30am to 6pm. It’s very laid back and there’s a bit of seating inside but not much. Look out for the cat shaped bread!

Matris Bakery & Patisserie

A nice bakery selling a range of artisan breads, pastries and other treats. Indoor seating available. Open 7am to 9pm Monday to Friday, Saturday 8am to 9pm, and Sunday 9am to 9pm.

Bex Coffee & Chocolate

This is quite a sizeable coffee shop with plenty of indoor seating and a few tables and chairs outside too. It’s usually filled with people tapping away on their laptops, catching up on work or homework. As well as your everyday coffees, you’ll also find a variety of specialities, such as the Caramel Drizzle, Spanish Latte, Pistachio Mocha, Chai Tea Latte and the Sweet Hot Chocolate, plus a huge choice of sweet and savoury pastries and cakes, and a range of sandwiches and baguettes. Open 8am to 9pm daily.

Common Room

A very popular health food café, you’ll often see people queuing out the door here at busy times for their nutritious speciality whole food bowls, hearty grains and salads. There are screens you can use to place and pay for your order, and there’s a fair amount of outdoor and comfy indoor seating. Open daily 8am to 9pm.

T4

This Japanese bubble tea café serves a range of milk teas, cream crowns, smoothies and milkshakes. It’s only a small place with no seating, so takeaways only. Open daily 12pm to 8pm.

Truedan

Another bubble tea café but this one also sells a small selection of Japanese pastries and sandwiches to accompany your drink. Minimal seating outside. Open daily 12pm to 9pm.

Best cafés in Bloomsbury at the Brunswick Centre

Two of my favourite cafés near Bloomsbury Square are also located in the Brunswick Centre.

Gail’s

Everything at Gail’s is fresh baked every day, including all their bread, pastries and cakes. They always put a seasonal twist on everything too. It might be a café chain, but you still get that personal service feel, and it’s nice to know they donate all their surplus food to local charities.

There’s indoor and outdoor seating (including dog-friendly seating), disabled access, and a range of fresh produce to take away, such as cheeses, cured meats, butter and eggs. You’ll also see a selection of cake and biscuit gifts.

Open from 7am to 6.30pm Monday to Saturday, and from 8am to 6.30pm Sunday.

Riding House Bloomsbury

Although this is listed as a café, it’s more restaurant level really and very pleasant. The outdoor terrace is lovely during the warmer months, but there’s ample room inside for the rest of the year.

The menus are seasonal, changing throughout the year as new ingredients become available. There’s a very reasonably priced 3-course set menu available for lunch or dinner.

Breakfast is served Monday to Friday 9am to 11.45am, weekend brunch Saturday and Sunday 9am to 3.30pm, lunch weekdays 12pm to 3pm, and dinner Monday to Friday 5pm to 9.30pm, and Saturday 5.30pm to 9.30pm.

Other cafés near Bloomsbury

Here are a few of my favourite cafés in Bloomsbury outside of the Brunswick Centre…

Fork Deli

85 Marchmont Street, London WC1N 1AL
1 minute walk from the hotel
Open Monday to Friday from 8am to between 5pm and 10pm, Saturday from 9am to 4pm, and Sunday from 10am to 3pm
Tel: 020 7387 2860

Just around the corner from the Mentone, this homely café is a favourite of my family’s for breakfast, brunch and lunch. We like the fact that they support local suppliers and champion quality ingredients and fresh food, and the menus are nice and varied too, from hearty breakfasts to sandwiches and pastries.

There’s a fair amount of seating in the rustic-style interior, and a couple of tables out on the pavement.

La Dolce London

76 Marchmont St, London WC1N 1AG
2 minute walk from the hotel
Open every day 8am to 5pm

Another of what I believe to be one of the best cafés in Bloomsbury, La Dolce is a bright and modern-looking place with indoor and outdoor seating.

They serve a varied menu of cakes, pastries, sandwiches, bagels and things on toast, all beautifully presented.

The Observatory Coffee Shop

64 Marchmont St, London WC1N 1AB
2 minute walk from the hotel
Open Monday to Saturday 8.45am to 5pm, closed Sundays
Tel: 020 7813 9877
Website

As coffee shops in Bloomsbury go, this has to be one of the artiest. I’m pretty sure there aren’t any other cafés exhibiting and selling photography in the area, so if you’re into your art, definitely put this one on your list to visit.

Located within the Observatory Photography Gallery, the coffee shop offers a range of specialty drinks, all served by expert baristas. As well as coffees, you’ll find herbal teas, hot chocolate and fresh juices.

There’s also a decent food menu, including a selection of cakes, pastries, sandwiches and salads, all made with fresh ingredients.

Fortitude Bakehouse

35 Colonnade, Bloomsbury, London WC1N 1JD
8 minute walk from the hotel
Open Monday to Friday 7.30am to 3pm, Saturday 8am to 2.30pm, Sunday 8.30am to 2.30pm
Beignets from 11am until sold out
Tel: 020 7837 5456
Website

A personal favourite just a short walk from the hotel, Fortitude Bakehouse is tucked away on a quiet mews away from the hustle and bustle. Famous for its cream-filled “beignets” which – be warned – sell out within a blink of an eye once they’re put out – Fortitude specialises in the craft of sourdough baking. Founded by artisan baker Dee Rettali, author of Baking with Fortitude, the bakery is top quality and serves all sorts of delights, including almond croissants, cherry and almond bostocks, and the much sought-after and very sizeable pistachio chocolate bun. Drinks wise you’ll find single-farm coffee and Stonerolled tea. Be prepared to queue, especially at beignet release time around 11am.

Coffee shops near King’s Cross – Coal Drops Yard

I often point our guests in the direction of Granary Square as it’s pretty much the heart of King’s Cross, as well as being just a 20-minute walk from the hotel.

This Grade II listed building sits on the banks of Regent’s Canal and holds a lot of history, dating back to the mid-1800s. Previously a Victorian grain store, it’s now a magnet for visitors with its thousand fountains which ‘dance’ and light up at night. Once you’ve taken those in, you can head over to the equally historical Coal Drops Yard just across the way where you’ll find loads of cafés and grab-and-go coffee shops.

Here are a few top picks:

Alma

Open every day 8am to 4pm
Website
Email: info@almacafe.co.uk

Great for coffee, juices, smoothies, breakfast, brunch and lunch, this café is all about the good stuff, with everything locally and responsibly sourced, additive-free, nutritionally balanced, wholesome and organic. Menu highlights include crab eggs benedict and chorizo hash browns.

BAO King’s Cross

Open Monday to Thursday 12-10pm, Friday & Saturday 12-10.30pm, Sunday 12-9pm
Website

This is one of the best cafés near King’s Cross if you’re looking for something a bit different. Here it’s all about the bao buns – handmade and fresh steamed every day in the in-house bakery. But that’s not all that’s on the menu – other treats include 40-day aged beef rump rice, scallop with yellow bean garlic and cull yaw dumplings. You’ll also enjoy the setting – designed to mimic the tea houses of Japan – with wood-panelled walls and paper lanterns hanging from the ceiling.

Carhartt WIP Coffee

Open Monday to Friday 8am-5pm, Saturday & Sunday 10am-4pm
Website
Email: kingscross@carhartt-wip.com

This coffee bar is built into the Carhartt Work in Progress (WIP) store, which is a fashion brand with 80+ locations across the world. They launched the coffee arm back in 2016 and specialise in brews using beans from Assembly, the renowned roasters.

Gail’s

Open Monday to Friday 7am-6.30pm, Saturday & Sunday 7.30am-6.30pm
Website

Coffee shops near King’s Cross don’t come much more popular than Gail’s, where everything is fresh baked every day, including all their cakes, pastries and bread. I like this place for its personal service, which you’ll always get despite it being a chain. It’s also nice that all their leftover food is donated to local charities. And you can grab a few nice goodies from the shop, like cured meats and cheeses, as well as cakes and biscuits which make nice gifts.

MATCHADO

Open Monday to Friday 9am-6pm, Saturday 10am to 6pm and Sunday 10am to 5pm
Website

Organic matcha, artisan teas and handmade matcha sweets, scones, cookies and cakes from Japan are the order of the day here at this coffee shop in King’s Cross. Everything is made using local ingredients, and there are plenty of vegan and gluten free options.

Morty & Bob’s

Open Sunday & Monday 10am to 6pm, and Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 10pm
Website
Email: coaldropsyard@mortyandbobs.com

One of my family’s brunch favourites, this is one of the coffee shops near King’s Cross that’s well-known for its toasties – or ‘grilled cheese sandwiches’ if you want to be trendy. Other treats include the big breakfast, wild mushroom toast, smoked salmon bagels with whipped chive cream cheese, and the bacon brunch bun.

News & Coffee

Open Monday to Friday 8am to 6.30pm, Saturday 10am to 6.30pm and Sunday 10am to 5.30pm
Website

This is actually a kiosk in Granary Square where you can enjoy an in-house roasted coffee whilst browsing a huge selection of magazines and books from a variety of countries.

Other coffee shops near King’s Cross at Coal Drops Yard include:

Notes Coffee – open weekdays from 7.30am so ideal for commuters – and brunch is served all day

Oton – specialising in Japanese tapas – takeaway only – open every day 11am to 9pm

Redemption Roasters – coffee, brunch, cakes and pastries – open Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm and weekends 8am to 7pm

Wildcard – indoor and outdoor seating plus a grab-and-go kiosk for soups, sandwiches and pastries

Best cafés near King’s Cross – King’s Cross Station

There are also plenty of cafés and coffee shops at King’s Cross Station, including Black Sheep Coffee, Caffè Nero, Costa, Giraffe World Kitchen, Hermanos, Pret a Manger, The Pasty Shop, Prezzo, Starbucks, Upper Crust and Wasabi.

Coffee shops and cafés near King’s Cross – St Pancras Station

You’ll also find a number of cafés within St Pancras Station, including Gail’s, Starbucks, The Breakfast Club, Grind, Joe & The Juice, Le Pain Quotidien, MI+ME, Paul le Café, Pret a Manger and Aux Merveilleux de Fred.

Looking for the best cafés in Bloomsbury or King’s Cross for breakfast or brunch?

If you’re on the search for cafés near Bloomsbury Square or King’s Cross St Pancras that serve a decent breakfast or brunch, have a read of my other blogs:

Best Places for Brunch in Bloomsbury
Top Breakfast Choices in Bloomsbury
The Ultimate Breakfast Guide Near King’s Cross
King’s Cross Brunch Guide

There’s so much around the area in terms of cafés and coffee shops, you’d probably need a month to visit them all, so I hope these recommendations have proved helpful.

Heading into Bloomsbury London? The Mentone Hotel looks forward to seeing you!

With a variety of attractions within walking distance, the Grade II listed Mentone is set in the calming gated gardens of Cartwright Gardens. We offer over 40 rooms including singles, doubles and en-suites.

To book your room, please get in touch. All direct bookings benefit from a 10% discount and complimentary breakfast. And we’ll always be happy to point you towards the best cafés in Bloomsbury and King’s Cross for brunch, lunch or dinner!

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