The cafe in a toilet - no, I'm not taking the piss.

What would you say if I told you that I recently found myself sipping coffee with several urinals in my line of sight? What if it wasn't just coffee, what if I ate there too? Am I grossing you out?

The Attendant is a cafe located in one of Londons disused Victorian toilets, a short walk from the bustling Oxford Street. The toilet was built around the 1890s and became disused in the 1960's. My curiosity was piqued ever since I heard about it, not on the Loo tour, but via word-of-mouth. It had novelty, clever use of space and a reputation for a really good cup of coffee. The things I do for a good cup of coffee...*sigh*.
 

The cafe kept a lot of its features, the tiles, the urinals, a cistern and hand drier. But all are, naturally, disused, purely ornamental and CLEAN! (Seriously, they'd have to be, can you imagine the food safety inspection before they were allowed to open??) The urinals are now used for individual seating with two small spaces set aside for a couple of tables and the main service area.

I dragged a friend of mine there recently to try it out. The coffee was like having a taste of home, it was that good. Smooth, perfectly balanced and strong. The Vegemite on toast just made my day, and, unfortunately, gave my friend food envy as they didn't have any gluten free bread.

Having arrived fairly early on a Saturday morning, we easily got a table. We sipped our coffee chatted and watched other people come in and be tickled with the novelty of the space. We didnt feel rushed at all.

Unfortunately the space is so small they don't really have a kitchen so the gluten free options for my friend were limited to the sweet offerings.

I had a good time at the Attendant. It had good coffee, quirky surroundings and a chilled atmosphere. It even had a special wall dedicated to 'graffiti' complete with toilet puns. So yep, my friend and I added our names to the wall, as if you wouldn't!

And in case you are wondering, yes, the toilet cafe had a toilet...

Would you visit and add your name to the wall?

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Paper and Cup - Cafe review

If you happen to be poking around Shoreditch and fancy a quiet hideaway then Paper and Cup is the perfect answer. I came across it after visiting Lady Dinah's Cat Emporium on the weekend. Already full of tea and scones from Lady Dinah's, I still couldn’t resist the call of coffee.

It’s a cute little place just off Shoreditch High Street. Its fronted by large windows, bright blue and white signage and a couple of tables and chairs out front (best for the warmer months I think!). Inside is a small but cosy space filled with the smell of Union coffee. There is a  large coffee bar with all sorts of tempting treats, a bookshelf lining the wall on the left with a couple of tables in front of it, bar seating at the windows, and, tucked away towards the back is a small room suited for a larger group. Naturally I made straight for the coffee then perched on a bar stool at the large windows for a bit of a read.

Being off the high street, the cafe is quiet and overlooks church grounds which is a nice change from the usual bricks and mortar. The vibe is chilled, the staff don’t rush you and there are water bottles and glasses on the tables which I think is a really nice touch. Even better, if you forget to bring a book, you can buy one for a pound from their bookshelf! Why other coffee shops don’t do that, I'll never know!

Actually, the best bit, as I found out later, is that Paper and Cup is a not-for-profit café created by the Spitalfields Crypt Trust, which means all proceeds go to a good cause. The café helps...

"Provide a supportive training ground for those in the later stages of recovery and rehabilitation… trainees learn how to become baristas, serve customers, work in a team and manage a small cafe." 

So you can have your coffee and a treat and feel good that your money is going to help people get back on their feet. Brilliant!

The only drawback as far as I could see is that if there are more than two of you, you might not easily find a spot to sit. But that wasn’t really an issue for me.

So, if you do find yourself in the area, definitely stop by and check it out.

Have you stumbled across a cool not-for-profit store?

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Artisan Coffee, Putney

Approaching Artisan, I'm welcomed by a sign that strikes my coffee loving core with serious and profound truth. I have found my home.

Inside Artisan is a line for the coffee. It's a large warm space filled with wooden tables to share and cluster around over coffee, cake or toasties.

I order my flat white and toastie and take a seat with my friend. It's the second time I'm there that week and I'm eager for the smooth taste of their delicious coffee. The owners are an English and Australian couple and they have brought their love of good coffee to Putney in southwest London.

The waitress brings my coffee and sandwich with a smile and I take my first sip and am surprised. It tastes different to the one I had a few days ago, still good but slightly stronger and sharper with a slightly bitter aftertaste. I'm not sure if it's the batch of beans or a different barista. Thankfully it's still good and tastes a lot better than your average London coffee.

I sip my coffee, munch on my toastie and people watch. Some are there with a book, some are there catching up with friends even a few mums pop in with their little ones in prams. Its a nice vibe, relaxed and friendly. I like it. Putney's coffee haven. If your closer to Stamford Brook, there is one there too.

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Birdhouse Cafe - St Johns Hill

Stepping off St Johns Hill into the the hum of the Birdhouse cafe we're greeted with the warm smell of coffee. It's busy, almost all the tables are full but we find one towards the back and take a seat. A staff member appears provides us with sunny yellow menus on clipboards and a jug of water.

I scan the menu, all day breakfast and a selection of Bocaditos are on offer. Everything looks good but I narrow it down to the avocado with mint and feta on toast or the mushroom and goats cheese bocadito. Both are tempting but the feta/avo combo is calling to me. 

My friend decides on the butternut squash, caramelised pecans, spinach, roasted peppers and roquefort bocadito. Along with two flat whites, we settle in for a cosy catch up. The Bocadito is a good size and they must have used up an entire avocado for mine though it could have been better with a little more feta. The coffee is good, leaning more to the bitter brew than I prefer, but full of flavour all the same.



Its a small establishment but it has a continuous stream of customers. Some take a seat, others ogle the dessert cabinet and some stop by for a takeaway coffee. Its a pleasant place, and aside from the lady at the register when we went to pay (maybe she was having a bad day but she seemed a little grumpy) the staff are nice and dont rush you.

I enjoyed the Birdhouse cafe because it has a chilled atmosphere, good coffee and they serve you water without you having to ask - something loads of "good" restaurants dont do. If you find yourself in Clapham Junction one day fancying a cafe that is not a chain and does a decent coffee, take a walk up St Johns Hill and try a cuppa there.

What cafes in London do you like? Any I should try?

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