Foyles Cafe

tomaplaw

One of my favorites in London 21st November 2009

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Foyles Jazz Cafe is the perfect place to take a classic novel and relax into your chair absorbing the atmosphere around you. I often go there to write, as they offer everything from tea and cafe to red wine and olives - all at a reasonable price.
The cafe does get busy between 5 - 7, so finding a chair can be tricky. They often have live bands come to play, which can actually be too noisy at times, but it's something you get used to. One thing that does annoy me, is the amount of red wine you get for 3 pounds - especially at the end of the day (mind you only one of the staff members does this, so stay clear of the skinny 30 - 40yo guy with black hair lol).

CPaskell

Good value coffee, nice atmosphere 4th September 2008

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I really like Foyles, although now it has had the refurb I do miss the stacks of records and CDs for sale near by. The music they play is not too distracting and adds to the atmosphere. The staff are fab - friendly, fast and with good knowledge of their products. Good range of cakes and snacks - particularly if you like vegan/gluten free cakes. The coffee is well priced - £1.80 for regular normal coffee in a bigish mug - much better than Starbucks in my opinion and not bitter tasting at all! They used to have free wi-fi although it is not working currently... however the staff always let me try to find a working network with my laptop and I don't have to buy anything for the privilege (again, unlike Starbucks!). A great little home-away-from home in the middle of central London (and no tourists!) - what more could you want in a cafe??!

critical

Refurb - oh dear! 26th August 2008

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Have just returned from the newly refurbed Foyle's Jazz cafe. What have they done! the cozy ambience with a lovely jazz backdrop has been replaced by soviet style refectory with only the sound of the faulty air conditioning to break the low murmur of complaint from returning customers - hopefully this is only the first stage of a full makeover...

Niamheen at 26/08/08

Eeeek! I hope so too. Thanks for the update.

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Alita

Eclectic jazz with your lukewarm coffee 16th August 2008

3 found this helpful

Yes, you are often wedged in between two strangers and yes, the music is generally awful but there's no better place to sit and read your recently purchased obscure tome while looking out onto a bustling Charing Cross Road and revelling in your sullen ego. Maybe, just maybe, one day you'll glance up and see your disconsolate counterpart reading the fifth in the series of some largely unknown cult manga. Your eyes will meet and babies will occur some unspecified time later.

It's not Cafe Nero and never will be. Thank God!

mazphd at 19/08/08

This is a beautiful review. And almost makes me want to return to wallow in self pity / 'free' comic mags whilst fantasising about a dickens-esque style of life, as the rain swish swashes gently against the window panes...

then i recall how bad the music can be...

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mazphd

creased sleeves and dirty plates 8th July 2008

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Like another reviewer, i've been here and felt disappointd.

Despite the fabulous book and music related setting the cafe lacked soul, inspiration and even a smile from the Foyles staff team.

Cheer up folk! its the wonderful world of books you're in , not a space for misery guts and dirty plates :P

I'm hoping my experience was a 'one off'. At the time the music wasn't playing, and books and plates had been left by the wayside, forlorn and a little lost. Hence the (harsh) two star rating. BUT I look forward to enjoying the setting, the jazzed atmosphere and perhaps a better brew at another date. As judging by Niamheen's comments foyles can do better!

On the up side, when playing the music is great filtering through from the blues and jazz of the main store.

So at present a worthy hideaway, that just needs a little push in the right direction to make it suitably inspirational and in tune.

Niamheen at 14/07/08

Oh that's a shame! From my experience they are better. Hope they're not going downhill :-/

mazphd at 15/07/08

it's just a splendid excuse to have to return and find out! Loved your review - thats given me the inspiration to return! that and the 'free wifi' :-)

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lucyserpell

Not as nice as it should be 8th July 2008

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This should be a great cafe in a great space. Unfortunately the staff are miserable and there is never anywhere to sit. Tables are rarely cleared so you end up squashed in next to people surrounded by dirty cups and dishes. A real pity as it could be a gem

Niamheen

Fantastic independent hideaway 7th July 2008

4 found this helpful

I love Foyle's. It's a great independent book shop. Then I discovered that they had a lovely jazz café tucked away upstairs and now I love it more.

It's a gorgeous space attached to Ray's Jazz Record Shop. Great music playing in the background, wifi, and a big window for you to watch the world go by. A great place to meet friends. The coffee is ok, and the food is decent, but for the space and the atmosphere, it's 5 stars everytime for me.

MartinKemp

The Perfect Coffee Shop 24th March 2007

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I was surprised that no one had reviewed this before. It is simply the ultimate coffee shop, in my opinion. It does and has everything a coffee shop should have.

One of the great attractions, aside from it being situated in one of the most famous bookshops in London, is music. It is attached to a music shop that has such a fantastic selection of music i start to salivate just thinking about it. It used to be called Ray's Jazz Cafe, but it got absorbed into Foyles and I don't think it is any more (to be honest, I'm not sure...). Frankly, it's name is not important - the important thing is that they also have live events - normally during the late afternoon/early evening - perfect for when you've finished work and fancy getting a coffee with friends. I've heard some incredible things there - often by people I've never heard of, but it's always interesting - and frequently challenging. I've heard a man with a trombone play a incredibly intentse 20minute track which, as i remember, seemed to involve a lot of notes you wouldn't normally find on a piano. And this was at 5pm in the afternoon one thursday!

The staff and lovely, and there's a fantastic mix of people there. It goes without saying that the coffee is superb - there's one guy with dreadlocks that'll make you a cappuccino to die for... It's really that expensive either and with a nice selection of cakes and other items to eat - most of it homemade - you're not going to get hungry.

Also, there's free wifi which seems fairly reliable when I've used it.

If you like interesting music, good coffee and a lovely atmosphere, give this place a try. You won't be disappointed.