Latest reviews for Cafes & Coffee Shops in Carnaby Street, London, United Kingdom

Sacred Cafe - Great coffee a few steps from Regent St by pinotlover

pinotlover — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 22:22:26 +0000

Review by pinotlover

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7734 1415

Website: http://www.sacredcafe.co.uk/

Why have Italians not discovered the flat white? This is the best way possible to do coffee with milk - a shot of espresso topped with textured, not frothed, milk.
Friendy service from mainly Kiwi staff and cosy ambience especially in the basement. For something different try the lolly cake... crushed malt biscuits and marshmallows bound together with butter and condensed milk and rolled in dried coconut. (tastes better than it sounds). Another Kiwi invention apparently.Why have Italians not discovered the flat white? This is the best way possible to do coffee with milk - a shot of espresso topped with textured, not frothed, milk.
Friendy service from mainly Kiwi staff and cosy ambience especially in the basement. For something different try the lolly cake... crushed malt biscuits and marshmallows bound together with butter and condensed milk and rolled in dried coconut. (tastes better than it sounds). Another Kiwi invention apparently.

Flat White - Service is Flat, But Coffee is More than Alwite by laissezfare

laissezfare — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:45:48 +0000

Review by laissezfare

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7734 0370

Website: http://www.flat-white.co.uk

Tags: amazing brew, quick bite, crowded

[This is part of a larger review of London coffee houses which can be found here: http://wp.me/pwXBH-or]

Although it is really a trek from my office to Flat White, Iâ¬"ve tried this Soho-based coffee house a number of times and almost think Iâ¬"ve walked into a funky little American coffee house on a college campus somewhere. There is always rock music on the radio, the staff sort of ignore you (at least me!) and I donâ¬"t really like the vibe all that much (itâ¬"s a bit up its own backside if you ask me), but the coffee drinks are pretty good. Here, I like the eponymous drink the best.[This is part of a larger review of London coffee houses which can be found here: http://wp.me/pwXBH-or]

Although it is really a trek from my office to Flat White, Iâ¬"ve tried this Soho-based coffee house a number of times and almost think Iâ¬"ve walked into a funky little American coffee house on a college campus somewhere. There is always rock music on the radio, the staff sort of ignore you (at least me!) and I donâ¬"t really like the vibe all that much (itâ¬"s a bit up its own backside if you ask me), but the coffee drinks are pretty good. Here, I like the eponymous drink the best.

The Breakfast Club - it is a nice place by xiaodonggua

xiaodonggua — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 08:49:50 +0000

Review by xiaodonggua

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7434 2571

Website: http://www.thebreakfastclubsoho.com

Tags: cosy, quick bite, good brew

that is okthat is ok

Bar Italia - Lives up to its name by larsrose

larsrose — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 19:29:08 +0000

Review by larsrose

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7437 4520

Tags: quick bite, lively, italian

A little piece of real Italian spirit, in the heart of London. They know their coffee and its the perfect place to stop for a panino.A little piece of real Italian spirit, in the heart of London. They know their coffee and its the perfect place to stop for a panino.

Fernandez & Wells - by rfinean

rfinean — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:05:31 +0000

Review by rfinean

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7287 8124

Website: http://www.fernandezandwells.com/beak.php

Tags: quick bite, amazing brew, lively

An espresso with zing!An espresso with zing!

Make Mine - Rude by davhud

davhud — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 13:47:42 +0000

Review by davhud

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 7636 1308

Website: http://www.makemine.co.uk

Tags: takeaway, crowded, good brew

Make Mine has the rudest staff in Soho, unhelpful and made my day miserable for being personally assaulted by the chefs and the cashier, just because they made a mistake with my order! The sandwiches are not bad but for less of your money you can find better. So if you want to have a bad day stop by Make Mine!

Make Mine has the rudest staff in Soho, unhelpful and made my day miserable for being personally assaulted by the chefs and the cashier, just because they made a mistake with my order! The sandwiches are not bad but for less of your money you can find better. So if you want to have a bad day stop by Make Mine!

Cafe Soho - Best value lunches in Soho? by lowjohnny

lowjohnny — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 15:15:07 +0000

Review by lowjohnny

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7287 8572

Tags: cosy, european, quick bite

I work in the area and have pretty much eaten here every day for almost a year, which is very unusual considering my attention span for most things.

Cafe Soho is not exactly in a prime location for walk by traffic, so I'd imagine they rely heavily on word of mouth to drum up business.

The sandwiches are to die for, and the daily hot food specials are very tasty with generous servings.

My personal favourites would be the Ground Beef Burger (low carb) and Roast Beef Special sandwich.

Yes, I like my meat, so much so that they call me "more meat boy" because I generally order everything with extra meat for a mere Â£1 more.I work in the area and have pretty much eaten here every day for almost a year, which is very unusual considering my attention span for most things.

Cafe Soho is not exactly in a prime location for walk by traffic, so I'd imagine they rely heavily on word of mouth to drum up business.

The sandwiches are to die for, and the daily hot food specials are very tasty with generous servings.

My personal favourites would be the Ground Beef Burger (low carb) and Roast Beef Special sandwich.

Yes, I like my meat, so much so that they call me "more meat boy" because I generally order everything with extra meat for a mere Â£1 more.

Milk Bar - by Caffemania

Caffemania — Wed, 27 May 2009 13:09:29 +0000

Review by Caffemania

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7287 4796

Tags: amazing brew, quick bite, cosy

what a decent coffee place in Soho. This is one of the best coffee shop in London. I love this place and also the music that play in the shop is great as well.what a decent coffee place in Soho. This is one of the best coffee shop in London. I love this place and also the music that play in the shop is great as well.

Crepe Affaire - by gilka

gilka — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 00:42:55 +0000

Review by gilka

Rating: 3.00

Tags: quick bite, cosy, fun

Crepe Affaire is fine, but here is the real thing:
http://www.gilka.co.uk/2009/04/20/la-creperie-de-hampstead/Crepe Affaire is fine, but here is the real thing:
http://www.gilka.co.uk/2009/04/20/la-creperie-de-hampstead/

Princi - AMAZING by biancalabufala

biancalabufala — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 01:13:54 +0000

Review by biancalabufala

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7478 8888

Website: http://www.princi.co.uk/

Tags: cosy, lively, bakery

This place is just AMAZING...................
This place is just AMAZING...................

Reynolds - Short black, long wait by littlevegemite

littlevegemite — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 16:59:38 +0000

Review by littlevegemite

Rating: 3.00

Tags: amazing brew, top food, quick bite

Great food- small portions and great produce.

Out of hours it is perfect for a snack - but in the mornings and at lunch time it all takes far too long. The layout is a bit pokey, but this is a place that needs a serious barista that can turn things around more quickly.

Great quirky brand, great food, good coffee, but I generally can't face going there as all that waiting makes me cranky!Great food- small portions and great produce.

Out of hours it is perfect for a snack - but in the mornings and at lunch time it all takes far too long. The layout is a bit pokey, but this is a place that needs a serious barista that can turn things around more quickly.

Great quirky brand, great food, good coffee, but I generally can't face going there as all that waiting makes me cranky!

Zilli Cafe - Dinner quality at lunch prices by emmanx

emmanx — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 10:55:16 +0000

Review by emmanx

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7287 9233

Website: http://www.zillialdo.com

Tags: italian, cultured, lively

I happen to be lucky enough to work just around the corner from Zilli cafe. Anytime I'm in the mood for some tasty comfort food without the nasty pools of butter usually found at your local cafe, I head into Zilli to pick up whatever Italianesque my heart fancies.

My last meal at Zilli Cafe consisted of a blackened fillet of salmon with roasted carrots and freshly-made mash only for £7, well worth the £2 extra since lunch in Soho is at least a fiver. For the more budget conscious, Zilli's paninis are only about £3.50 and have a variety of combinations, roast vegetables rocket and mozzarella is my fav. Not to mention the endless trays of fresh pasta ready to for flash boiling and dumped into your favourite sauce...

Not to be underestimated, Zilli Cafe also serves a mean cup of coffee, similar to what you get in Rome. Give it a go, you'll be glad you did. Some outdoor seating in the summer too!I happen to be lucky enough to work just around the corner from Zilli cafe. Anytime I'm in the mood for some tasty comfort food without the nasty pools of butter usually found at your local cafe, I head into Zilli to pick up whatever Italianesque my heart fancies.

My last meal at Zilli Cafe consisted of a blackened fillet of salmon with roasted carrots and freshly-made mash only for £7, well worth the £2 extra since lunch in Soho is at least a fiver. For the more budget conscious, Zilli's paninis are only about £3.50 and have a variety of combinations, roast vegetables rocket and mozzarella is my fav. Not to mention the endless trays of fresh pasta ready to for flash boiling and dumped into your favourite sauce...

Not to be underestimated, Zilli Cafe also serves a mean cup of coffee, similar to what you get in Rome. Give it a go, you'll be glad you did. Some outdoor seating in the summer too!

Le Pain Quotidien - if you have time by foodrambler

foodrambler — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 01:29:03 +0000

Review by foodrambler

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7486 6154

Website: http://www.painquotidien.com/

Tags: cosy, lively, brasserie

Light and spacious with pine scrubbed tables, this is like walking into heaven after the scrum on Oxford Street. They do hearty salads around the Â£10 mark and nice wine - perfect for a lazy lunch, but not great if you're planning a quick stop, as they seem a little understaffed.Light and spacious with pine scrubbed tables, this is like walking into heaven after the scrum on Oxford Street. They do hearty salads around the Â£10 mark and nice wine - perfect for a lazy lunch, but not great if you're planning a quick stop, as they seem a little understaffed.

Cotton Cafe - ATTN: Breastfeeding ladies... Go elsewhere. by pips

pips — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 14:57:27 +0000

Review by pips

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 02072873200

Tags: quick bite, breakfast, cafe

Cotton Cafe is the same, standard kind of sandwich bar that you find all over London. It serves baked potatoes, sandwiches, breakfasts etc and you'd probably only go there because it's the closest option - there isn't any other reason to.

I popped into the Cotton Cafe today for a baked potato with cheese and beans. It was okay.... Not earth-shatteringly, brilliant, not awful, just okay... Actually, if anything, it was a bit soggy. Go to Caffe Tosca instead, folks.

What was absolutely NOT fine about the Cotton Cafe, and is the reason that I will never set foot in the place again, was hearing a young woman who, in a cafe containing just TWO other people (aside from her partner and their baby), was loudly berated by the man behind the counter for having the audacity to very discreetly, breastfeed her 2 month old.

Various excuses were made by him for his revolting behaviour including the gems: "this is a place for eating"
Uh, hello? What did you eat when you were an infant, mate? I'm pretty sure that it wasn't cheese and beans on a spud.

The lady breastfeeding rightly pointed out that she couldn't go outside to do it (genuine arctic winds today) and that the child would scream if left unfed. She was then told that she'd have to leave!
Justifiably angry, she asked for her money back and was told "you've drunk two coffees". But she had not drunk two coffees. She hadn't had a *chance* to take more than a sip before being told that she'd have to leave. She finally got her money back by going ballistic (and bloody good for her too), but the refund was most unwillingly given.

I finally got my baked potato at this time and left just as they did. On the way out, I noticed that a customer was sitting reading a copy of the Sun. I'll stake my life that the boobs in *that* are okay.

So horrible. So unnecessary.

Cotton Cafe = FAIL.Cotton Cafe is the same, standard kind of sandwich bar that you find all over London. It serves baked potatoes, sandwiches, breakfasts etc and you'd probably only go there because it's the closest option - there isn't any other reason to.

I popped into the Cotton Cafe today for a baked potato with cheese and beans. It was okay.... Not earth-shatteringly, brilliant, not awful, just okay... Actually, if anything, it was a bit soggy. Go to Caffe Tosca instead, folks.

What was absolutely NOT fine about the Cotton Cafe, and is the reason that I will never set foot in the place again, was hearing a young woman who, in a cafe containing just TWO other people (aside from her partner and their baby), was loudly berated by the man behind the counter for having the audacity to very discreetly, breastfeed her 2 month old.

Various excuses were made by him for his revolting behaviour including the gems: "this is a place for eating"
Uh, hello? What did you eat when you were an infant, mate? I'm pretty sure that it wasn't cheese and beans on a spud.

The lady breastfeeding rightly pointed out that she couldn't go outside to do it (genuine arctic winds today) and that the child would scream if left unfed. She was then told that she'd have to leave!
Justifiably angry, she asked for her money back and was told "you've drunk two coffees". But she had not drunk two coffees. She hadn't had a *chance* to take more than a sip before being told that she'd have to leave. She finally got her money back by going ballistic (and bloody good for her too), but the refund was most unwillingly given.

I finally got my baked potato at this time and left just as they did. On the way out, I noticed that a customer was sitting reading a copy of the Sun. I'll stake my life that the boobs in *that* are okay.

So horrible. So unnecessary.

Cotton Cafe = FAIL.

Market Place Cafe - Daylight need not apply. by bellaphon

bellaphon — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 18:39:30 +0000

Review by bellaphon

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7636 9671

Tags: cosy, quick bite, good brew

This greasy spoon cafÃ© (GSC) is located in a loveless basement in an area thatâ¬"s already strewn with the likes of Carluccioâ¬"s (their first ever branch incidentally), Strada and Apostrophe (yuck!). As far as I know this place has been here since pretty much time immemorial.

The newish lovely lady owner reminded me that the whole place had been refurbed (still looks forlorn IMO) and the menu slightly revised to reflect the 21st centuryâ¬"s obsession with healthy eating. Well, Iâ¬"m having none of that as I came here purely for the Full English. The inclusive tea came in a pot and was a decent enough brew. The fry-up was gregarious in quantity, satisfactory tasting and like all greasy spoon fayre; tremendously good value. The only tiff I have is why do most GSCs including this one insist on serving up horrible tasting MRM (mechanically recovered/reclaimed meat) sausages, Iâ¬"m sure that going for the Wallâ¬"s variety instead will still pass as ok and wonâ¬"t break their budget. Brill service nonetheless.

Despite the rant, this is still a haven and a near oasis of calm from the madness of Oxford Circus.

Enjoy.

This greasy spoon cafÃ© (GSC) is located in a loveless basement in an area thatâ¬"s already strewn with the likes of Carluccioâ¬"s (their first ever branch incidentally), Strada and Apostrophe (yuck!). As far as I know this place has been here since pretty much time immemorial.

The newish lovely lady owner reminded me that the whole place had been refurbed (still looks forlorn IMO) and the menu slightly revised to reflect the 21st centuryâ¬"s obsession with healthy eating. Well, Iâ¬"m having none of that as I came here purely for the Full English. The inclusive tea came in a pot and was a decent enough brew. The fry-up was gregarious in quantity, satisfactory tasting and like all greasy spoon fayre; tremendously good value. The only tiff I have is why do most GSCs including this one insist on serving up horrible tasting MRM (mechanically recovered/reclaimed meat) sausages, Iâ¬"m sure that going for the Wallâ¬"s variety instead will still pass as ok and wonâ¬"t break their budget. Brill service nonetheless.

Despite the rant, this is still a haven and a near oasis of calm from the madness of Oxford Circus.

Enjoy.

Patisserie Valerie - Relaxed breakfast by Julesdit

Julesdit — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 20:31:46 +0000

Review by Julesdit

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7437 3466

Website: http://www.patisserie-valerie.co.uk

Tags: cafe, hot / cold drinks, seating area / eat in

The sight of all the cakes and pastries that greats you when you enter this cafe is divine. Feeling slightly hungover from a fabulous night before, Patisserie Valerie was the perfect antidote and a great place for a relaxed sunday breakfast. If I didn't have a train to catch I would have loved to stay longer.The sight of all the cakes and pastries that greats you when you enter this cafe is divine. Feeling slightly hungover from a fabulous night before, Patisserie Valerie was the perfect antidote and a great place for a relaxed sunday breakfast. If I didn't have a train to catch I would have loved to stay longer.

Star Cafe - Charming by CristinaA

CristinaA — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 14:04:17 +0000

Review by CristinaA

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7437 8778

Website: http://www.thestarcafesoho.co.uk

Tags: cosy, lively, crowded

It has stood the test of time, and Mario the owner is an absolute charmer!

The menu is a mix of Italian treats and traditional English plates, anything is form the menu is going to be hearty, wholesome and tasty.

I love the old placards they've collected over the years and the red &white checked table clothesIt has stood the test of time, and Mario the owner is an absolute charmer!

The menu is a mix of Italian treats and traditional English plates, anything is form the menu is going to be hearty, wholesome and tasty.

I love the old placards they've collected over the years and the red &white checked table clothes

Just Falafs - A good place for the first time falafel eater... by CristinaA

CristinaA — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 12:49:59 +0000

Review by CristinaA

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7734 1914

Website: http://www.justfalafs.com/

Tags: lively, middle eastern, expensive

I love falafels, I could eat them for breakfast, lunch and dinner so I'd say I'm a bit of an expert!

What I like about Just Falafs is the way their menu allows you to have different combinations of fillings and you can choose how many falafels you have. The falafels themselves aren't the best, a bit dry. They must be doing something right as it's always busy at lunchtime.I love falafels, I could eat them for breakfast, lunch and dinner so I'd say I'm a bit of an expert!

What I like about Just Falafs is the way their menu allows you to have different combinations of fillings and you can choose how many falafels you have. The falafels themselves aren't the best, a bit dry. They must be doing something right as it's always busy at lunchtime.

Mrs Marengo's - Colourful desserts by CristinaA

CristinaA — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 12:36:00 +0000

Review by CristinaA

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7287 2544

Tags: food, vegetarian, cafe

Mrs. Marengoâ¬"s serves a delightful array of mixed cuisine including excellent vegetarian options.

Try their infamous burger that comes with sweet potato fries or if you need to satisfy your sweet tooth there is a superb selection of homemade colourful desserts, you won't be disappointed.Mrs. Marengoâ¬"s serves a delightful array of mixed cuisine including excellent vegetarian options.

Try their infamous burger that comes with sweet potato fries or if you need to satisfy your sweet tooth there is a superb selection of homemade colourful desserts, you won't be disappointed.

Morris Of Bond Street - Morris Of Bond Street by adriano13

adriano13 — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 20:02:43 +0000

Review by adriano13

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7734 6930

Tags: cosy, quiet & relaxed, amazing brew

Outstanding service, with a wide range of food and drink. Cleverly secluded just of New Bond Street.Outstanding service, with a wide range of food and drink. Cleverly secluded just of New Bond Street.