5 Best Cafes in Shoreditch, London: Company & Coworking
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I didn’t have much time in London, so I knew that wherever I stayed, I probably wouldn’t venture outside of that area much. I ended up picking the neighborhood of Shoreditch, which turned out to be perfect. There are a lot of things to do in Shoreditch, but not so much that I’d get FOMO of not being able to do everything in the area. Although I only spent three days in Shoreditch, I went to a lot of cafes. Probably around ten or eleven, no joke.
I’m no local by any means, but I have some thoughts.
London is one of the best cities in the world for a tea latte. Y’all also drink hot beverages in the burning dead of summer. I respeckt it. There is such a high density of coffee shops all around London that it’s almost overwhelming trying to pick one if you aren’t a compulsive cafe hopper like myself. So I decided to whittle down my experiences into a list of my favorite cafes in Shoreditch depending on what you’re looking for!
Best Cafes in Shoreditch
Out of the double digit cafes in Shoreditch I visited, only one was actually bad. Then like three or four were…meh, I wasn’t mad I went, but probably wouldn’t return. From there, I picked the best of the best cafes in Shoreditch based on five criteria. That way, depending on what you’re looking for, you can easily pick the best for your itinerary and needs.
Let’s get into it.
Best Breakfast: Artist Cafe
- address: 311 Old St, Shoreditch, London EC1V 9LA, United Kingdom
- hours: 8am-4pm daily
Okay first up, I’m giving the prize for best breakfast to Artist Cafe. Of course, they have incredible drinks as well, but based on the fact that they’re open early in the morning every day and are centrally located, it’s a great cafe to start the day. Plus, they have a full breakfast and brunch menu – AND it’s delicious.
It has a very artsy vibe too, when I visited I saw a small group of writers in the corner seemingly talking about their WIPs, which was exciting. I wish I had the charisma to join in, but alas. One day.
Best Variety: Brush & Lever – Specialty Coffee
- address: 61 Princelet St, London E1 5LP, United Kingdom
- hours: 8am-4pm weekdays, Sat & Sun 10am-4pm
Brush & Lever is part coffee shop, part local art gallery. Right down a side street on Brick Lane, this cute little shop is a bit of a “hidden gem,” in the sense that not many tourists know about it, but it’s a resident favorite.
But what stands out most to me, and what earns it the title of one of the best cafes in Shoreditch, is its excellent drink menu. Along with the classics, it has an incredible selection of iced coffees and unique teas.
Best Quiet Spot: No Rush Specialty Coffee
- address: 104 Old St, London EC1V 9AY, United Kingdom
- hours: 8am-5pm weekdays, Sat 9am-4pm, Sun 9am-2pm
Another super local neighborhood spot is No Rush, but they’re on the more lowkey side. Lots of plants, a bit of a walk from all the action, and a quieter atmosphere, this is the best cafe if you’re looking for a place to really slip into your cuppa and take a stimuli break.
The space is beautiful and relaxing. I saw lots of vinyl records on the wall, but since I was only stopping in for take-away, I didn’t really see whether they were playing the records or just for decoration. Either way, really chill calming cafe.
Best Coworking Spot: Ozone Coffee – Shoreditch
- address: 11 Leonard St, London EC2A 4AQ, United Kingdom
- hours: 7:30am-4pm weekdays, Sat & Sun 8:30am-4pm
Ozone Coffee, along with Grind, is probably one of the most popular local chains in the area. I’ll admit, tastewise Ozone walks the walk. But at the same time, it’s also one of the pricier options. So…what put it on this list? In my humble opinion, this location makes it the best coworking cafes in Shoreditch.
There is just sooo much space. Lots of large tables for solo work or even group collaboration. Even the bar seating has a wide enough surface for a laptop and a notebook, with plenty of power outlets throughout. As someone currently traveling as a grad school student, I occasionally need to hole up in a cafe to churn out assignments, so it’s always good to know where to go.
Best Lunch: Small Square Cafe
- address: 6 Ravey St, London EC2A 4QW, United Kingdom
- hours: 6:30am-3:30pm weekdays, Sat & Sun 7:30am-1pm
There are a few different perks to this cafe. The first is that it’s super cozy and cute. Second, it’s one of the earliest opening cafes in Shoreditch. But something unique it has that you won’t find in other coffee shops is that their lunch menu is IT.
They have pre-packaged meals, as well as a cold and hot food bar that is absolutely delicious. Plus, the staff are all really sweet. This was a surprise find for me, and definitely think more people need to be talking about this cafe!
Conclusion
Again, depening on what you’re looking for, these are my picks for the best cafes in Shoreditch. All had good tasting drinks, welcoming atmosphere, and are spread out in the neighborhood so you’re never far from a good cuppa. If you’re wondering how the heck my heart survived drinking my way through all these cafes in Shoreditch…well, just know this is not unusual for me okay. I am a beverage queen, especially when it comes to teas.
The one thing I didn’t find though was a REALLY GOOD boba spot. I tried two places before I just eventually gave up. Does London actually have a good boba scene? Somebody let me know where it is if so because…I didn’t find it.
If you’ve visited Shoreditch, do you agree with my coffee shop list? Which spots would you include in a list of the best cafes in Shoreditch? Let me know in the comments below – and also which neighborhoods I should check out next for London’s best coffee culture!
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