Arcadia England

By Anna Lewis

Go beyond the bland Starbucks coffee and check out these quirky cafés that fulfill any mood you are in.

The Attendant 

Combine urinals with a great cup of a coffee and you would get The Attendant Café in Fritzovia. Located only a few minutes from Oxford Street, the underground café was formerly home to a Victorian public convenience. 

On the sidewalk, an intricately woven wrought-iron casing covers the stairs leading into the coffee shop. Below, guests first see a wall covered in customers’ signatures in every color. Originating in 2013, the attendant welcomes anyone to add their mark to the graffiti mural.

Inside, original Doulton & Co porcelain urinals, installed in the 1890’s, are combined with wooden panels to create the counters for people to sit at. Beneath the counters are green metal barstools, which match the original Victorian floor tiles. 

Despite their quick deliveries, friendly baristas bring coffees that don’t lack in detail. A mocha latte is served with a flower pattern on the surface and chocolate scrapings sprinkled on top.

Ava Price is an Attendant regular. “It’s great coffee in a unique setting. Can’t ask for more,” said Price. “I love showing it off to friends.”

For anyone who wants a reasonably priced coffee and an opportunity to go back in time, The Attendant is only a flight of stairs away.

The Attendant (the-attendant.com, 020 7637 3794). Coffees cost from £3. Open from 8am – 6pm Monday to Friday, and 9am – 6pm Saturday to Sunday.

Holborn Grind

Ask any coffee addict why they started drinking their favorite caffeinated beverage and they’ll probably say it was to get work done. Only a minute away from the Arcadia Learning Center, The Holborn Grind coffee shop is the ideal location for any student who needs to finish an assignment.

Inside the shop, a light grey tiled counter matches the greys in the walls. Opposite of the door, is a brick wall with a neon LED sign that says “love is the drug”. Cheerful staff take your order and swiftly deliver the coffee to either the marble tables in the back or the wooden counters facing out onto the street. Half of the walls are made up entirely of windows, providing an abundance of natural light.

Those who hate working in silence will enjoy the alternative rock music softly playing and the staff talking quietly amongst themselves.

The coffee is strong, but a free glass of water is provided alongside the order.

Will Humphrey chose the Holborn Grind because he saw the counter space as he walked by. “I hate sitting in a library to do work,” said Humphrey. “Being able to look up and people watch while I think through a problem is nice.”

Holborn Grind (grindandco.com/hoborngrind, 020 3693 3400). Coffees cost from £2.50. Open from 7am – 10.30pm Monday to Thursday, 7am – 12am Friday, 9am – 12am Saturday, and 9am -7pm Sunday.

Look Mum No Hands 

Bicyclists who enjoy a good cup of coffee will love Look Mum No Hands. Combining skills of both baristas and mechanics, customers can get their bikes fixed as they sip on coffee at the Old Street location.

Inside the shop, a ceramic owl wearing a fluorescent pink hat sits on a pile of coffee mugs. Cacti sit on tables. Bicycles hang in the windows, bike pumps are sporadically positioned and a disco ball hangs in the center of the ceiling. 

Closely placed tables, sofas and benches encourage discussion amongst the customers, which is ideal for those still learning about the biking world.

Matching the theme of the shop, the coffee selection is impressively varied. Staff dressed in black make the coffee and speedily deliver it to the customers. An iced mocha served in a tall glass is evenly chilled and isn’t overly sweet.

Outdoor seating is also available. Enclosed within tall gates, the area is a refreshing contrast to the nearby busy street. String lights are draped above the wooden picnic tables and potted plants, providing a calmer atmosphere than the one inside.

If customers are interested in doing something after their coffee, Look Mum No Hands also has speakers, speed dating and seminars.

Look Mum No Hands (lookmumnohands.com, 020 7253 1025). Coffees cost from £2.50. Open from 7.30am – 10pm Monday to Friday, 8.30 – 10pm Saturday, and 9am – 10pm Sunday.

Ozone Coffee Roasters

It only takes one step. As soon as people enter Ozone Coffee Roasters, located near Old Street, they know the café is unique. Directly in front of the entrance is a giant sectioned-off hole in the floor that displays enormous metal equipment below. 

The rest of the café possesses an industrial look as well. Different metal pulleys hold up individual light bulbs attached to ropes. The ceiling is full of exposed piping and dim factory windows line a wall. Customers have the option of sitting at a table with big vintage leather booths, or at the steel counter. The counter wraps around the kitchen, allowing customers to watch their coffee be made.

Hannah Cahoon a barista at Ozone Coffee Roasters believes their café is special because they roast their own coffee and create their own blends.

“We supply our coffee to other restaurants and well over 100 different cafés, which is quite cool,” said Cahoon. “We’re very, very into our coffee.”

A house blend espresso with notes of dark chocolate and orange rind is served in a dark grey miniature mug. Although tiny, the blend is energizing enough to make any customer want to emulate the hard work that is going on downstairs.

Ozone Coffee Roasters (ozonecoffee.co.uk, 020 7490 1039). Coffees cost from £2.30. Open from 7.30am – 9pm Monday to Friday, and 9am-5pm Saturday to Sunday.

Kaffeine

With thousands of Australians living in London, it only makes sense to have businesses created for them. Those who want coffee from Down Under should go to Kaffeine located on Eastcastle Street. 

In addition to coffee, Kaffeine offers an inviting atmosphere to catch up with friends. After customers place their orders at the copper covered bar, they can sit on the raised oak benches with matching tables large enough to seat four to six people.

Baristas hurriedly deliver coffee with an extra glass of water. Each drink is topped with a flower or heart and are pleasingly sweeter than normal British blends of coffee.

The entire café embodies a laid-back attitude. Most customers are groups of friends socializing and laughing while sipping their coffees. 

“This is actually my first time here, but I really like it so far,” said Megan Hawker. “I like that everyone seems to be talking so it’s not like I’m being bothersome to people trying to get work done.”

By capturing the sociable atmosphere found in many Australian coffee shops, Kaffeine is a welcoming place for anyone who needs to de-stress and escape from the busy London life.

Kaffeine (kaffeine.co.uk, 020 3730 5878). Coffees cost from £2.50. Open from 7.30am – 6om Monday to Friday, 8.30-6pm Saturday, and 9am-5pm Sunday.