Buckhurst Hill, Sandwiches, Cakes, Etc Restaurant Guide

“Down a classic dodgy Dalston alleyway, this beautiful place awaits!” (there’s also an offshoot in Green Lanes, Haringey). “I love the good old Dusty Knuckle”, which inspires affection not just for its “absolutely top bread, pastries and sarnies” plus “excellent coffee”; but also for its social enterprise role supporting at-risk young East Londoners.

A “spectacular breakfast” – “the options are hard to choose from, but none are a poor choice” – is the top culinary feature at these Kiwi haunts, whose zeitgeisty vibe and in-house roasting (omg the smell in Shoreditch!) makes them a magnet for a “top notch coffee” at any time of day.

“The original and the best”, agree fans of this legendary East End Jewish deli, which is “well worth a detour any time, day or night” (thanks to its 24/7 opening) for its “fantastic” beigels (stubbornly spelt in the traditional European manner), stuffed with classic fillings including salt beef, lox and pickled herring. “Amazing value” too – it feels like they’ve forgotten to change the prices for the last 20 years.

Caffeine aficionados beat a path to the Leather Lane premises of “one of the early champions of speciality coffee”, where they imbibe information from the “friendly and knowledgeable staff” along with their brews. It’s a “comfortable refurbished space”, and there are “great pastries” and breakfast/brunch options to munch on.

“Decent croissants and the best brews”, delivered by “unfailingly lovely service, however long the queues”, still win legions of fans for London’s original cool coffee shop group, even if it has real competition these days from more Antipodean-style challengers. “They’ve been my top choice for over 35 years, but I can no longer cope with the uncomfortable seating at the OG Covent Garden outlet, so SE1 it is”, which is “perfect to combine with a Borough Market visit”. There’s also a third branch at Bermondsey’s Spa Terminus.

“Viennese in style” – this “elegantly understated” sibling to The Wolseley sits on the easterly fringe of the West End, and is “very much a power location”: “the ambience is perfect for business meals – bustling but not too noisy – with well-spaced tables and comfortable seating”; and “obliging” service that’s “efficient and warm”. Its “Mittel European brasserie menu with schnitzel/goulash/wurst etc” is “nothing special, but it is consistent and very acceptable” and “with something amongst the selection of dishes that anyone and everyone can eat”. “Despite the loss of founders Corbin and King, it is mercifully unaltered under its new ownership” with ratings practically identical to last year’s. Top Tip – “fabulous for breakfast”, whether you are dealmaking or not.

Loyal locals endure the (sometimes lengthy) queue for this favourite Hampstead hang-out, thanks to its “very good coffee” and “top breakfast” (shakshuka something of a speciality).

“Decent croissants and the best brews”, delivered by “unfailingly lovely service, however long the queues”, still win legions of fans for London’s original cool coffee shop group, even if it has real competition these days from more Antipodean-style challengers. “They’ve been my top choice for over 35 years, but I can no longer cope with the uncomfortable seating at the OG Covent Garden outlet, so SE1 it is”, which is “perfect to combine with a Borough Market visit”. There’s also a third branch at Bermondsey’s Spa Terminus.

“Cakes to die for!” say fans of this tiny Scandi café in a cute Covent Garden cut-through, with a handful of seats outside in summer. Top Menu Tip – Prinsesstårta (a Swedish cake, layering sponge, cream and marzipan).

“One of the few remaining eccentric Soho sites left” – this “long-established fixture” was founded in 1871 by an exile from Paris. “Individual, exceptional and entertaining”, “the food still makes it a destination” – “including wonderful cakes better than any chain”. It is, though, “very busy, clearly on the ’to-do’ list of many tourists”.

“One of the original Aussie coffee shops”, founded in 2009 by Melburnian Peter Dore-Smith and now with two branches in Fitzrovia serving “fabulous artisanal brews”. They make a “perfect escape from the chain experience of nearby Oxford Street” with their “great service and vibe”, “fresh sandwiches” and “very good lunchtime salads”.

“One of the original Aussie coffee shops”, founded in 2009 by Melburnian Peter Dore-Smith and now with two branches in Fitzrovia serving “fabulous artisanal brews”. They make a “perfect escape from the chain experience of nearby Oxford Street” with their “great service and vibe”, “fresh sandwiches” and “very good lunchtime salads”.

This “small, often crowded” independent coffee shop by Soho’s Berwick Street market is a pilgrimage site for caffeine junkies, as the source of Antipodean ‘third wave’ coffee culture in Britain since its 2005 opening. And yes, “the coffee’s very good”.

“Great coffee and extremely moreish light snacks” is the simple-but-winning formula at this ethical and sustainable Scandi-style roastery that started life in Richmond six years ago and now has outlets scattered across some of central London’s foodie enclaves.

Lady Bamford’s quartet of London ‘rus in urbe’ cafés should have caught the zeitgeist, with their focus on home-produced organic ingredients from her estate. But the offering is variable, with food that’s too often slated as “poor”; or incidents of “staff hanging around not knowing what to do”. The Pimlico branch scores the best of the bunch, but it’s worthy of note that visitors to the Daylesford farm mothership in the Cotswolds report an altogether different and “delightful” experience.

“Down a classic dodgy Dalston alleyway, this beautiful place awaits!” (there’s also an offshoot in Green Lanes, Haringey). “I love the good old Dusty Knuckle”, which inspires affection not just for its “absolutely top bread, pastries and sarnies” plus “excellent coffee”; but also for its social enterprise role supporting at-risk young East Londoners.

“Great coffee and extremely moreish light snacks” is the simple-but-winning formula at this ethical and sustainable Scandi-style roastery that started life in Richmond six years ago and now has outlets scattered across some of central London’s foodie enclaves.

This five-year-old in the City (now with three outlets) has won international recognition for its “exceptional” coffee, sourced from some of the world’s leading independent roasteries. The name? Founders James Hennebry and Mat Russell picked up the caffeine habit in Melbourne, location of Rosslyn Street.

“Decent croissants and the best brews”, delivered by “unfailingly lovely service, however long the queues”, still win legions of fans for London’s original cool coffee shop group, even if it has real competition these days from more Antipodean-style challengers. “They’ve been my top choice for over 35 years, but I can no longer cope with the uncomfortable seating at the OG Covent Garden outlet, so SE1 it is”, which is “perfect to combine with a Borough Market visit”. There’s also a third branch at Bermondsey’s Spa Terminus.

“Great coffee and extremely moreish light snacks” is the simple-but-winning formula at this ethical and sustainable Scandi-style roastery that started life in Richmond six years ago and now has outlets scattered across some of central London’s foodie enclaves.