Independent Coffee Shops: The Hidden Gems of Covent Garden, London

Covent Garden is among the top tourist destinations within London, and probably the world. Just sitting in the piazza, people spotting, you can hear so many different languages. Yet there’s so much more to Covent Garden … the quaint and quirky back streets and lanes are home to some exceptional independent stores, coffee shops and restaurants.

So, while visiting for the day or if staying over in a Covent Garden hotel, I’d like to tell you about some fantastic independent coffee shops I discovered on a recent visit.

Coffee Island, Upper St Martin’s Lane

I love a good flat white coffee … I’m very fussy. The one I had here in Coffee Island was the best ever. It was so good. The venue is very ‘on trend’ with a central barista station surrounded by wood and metal tables and chairs. A spiral staircase leads upstairs, to where we sat, looking down on the busy shop floor.

Around the outside were their range of coffee beans, with information, that they will grind for you.

We ordered, of course, a flat white. And to accompany this I picked the most gorgeous Chelsea bun packed with blueberries and pistachio nuts.

Toby opted for a cheese and ham pie, which looked delicious (and he said it was), along with a ‘Strawberry Twist’ granita, with rooibos tea, acerola, strawberry and elderberry.

BOKI, Earlham Street

During the day, BOKI is an independent coffee shop that offers and all-day menu of delicious-sounding sandwiches and salads. They serve a comprehensive range of coffee with the option of soy, oat or almond milk. We visited on a hot day, so chose a ‘superfruit’ smoothie (mango, berries, banana, apple), and a carafe of Raspberry homemade lemonade.

We sat on bar stools by the window, and watched the world go by as we cooled down. BOKI is a thin café that extends far back, which you don’t appreciate until you explore! At the rear of the building is a cocktail bar with seating, with a cocktail menu to suit all tastes.

Jacob the Angel, English Coffee House, Neal’s Yard

Jacob the Angel is a very popular coffee shop – and small – so we were lucky to find two vacant stools outside in the courtyard. I was hoping for one of their famous coconut pies, but they’d run out! Instead we picked a lovely orange polenta cake and a slice of fruit meringue. Both were really tasty. To accompany these, we bought a flat white (second of the day), along with a raspberry soda. It was all delicious!

Inside there is room to seat, I reckon, no more than 12-14 people. The food displays and barista/food prep area were at the back of the café. We visited ‘between meal’ times, but I have been told the food is lovely here. Salads, sandwiches and soups are all recommended.

If you are lucky enough to find empty seating when you pass Jacob the Angel, grab them, and enjoy what this venue has to offer.

Double Shot Coffee Company, Tavistock Street

This quaint little coffee shop is perfectly located for anyone with tickets to The Lion King (at the Lyceum Theatre) or a show at the Royal Opera House. Set back from the main road, Double Shot at first looks more like a restaurant than a coffee shop, due to the display of a pre-theatre set menu outside. Don’t be fooled though! They DO serve some lovely meals, but what caught our eye were the cakes! Oh, and the floral displays hanging from the ceiling!

We ordered a flat white (number 3!), an Oreo milkshake, and a giant cookie that we shared. It was really nice.

Inside there is a range of seating options – some cosy tables for two along with a family/group dining area. It was full of very trendy (skinny) young folk when we visited, taking it in turns to pose and pout for photos. I find this rather amusing (why DO they pout?!)

This is a lovely coffee shop, and one to visit if in the area.

Dinner?

There are of course many more independent coffee shops in the Covent Garden area, and I intend to keep adding to this post as I visit them. Some were simply too busy to find seating on my recent visit – next time!

But there’s one last place I want to mention, but it isn’t actually a coffee shop at all. I’m sensing you’re a bit coffee-ed-out by now? One of my favourite affordable restaurants in Covent Garden is Wildwood.

Wildwood, Bow Street

I like Wildwood because there’s something for everyone on the menu (pizzas, pasta, burgers), and they are always really friendly. It is located opposite the Royal Opera House – and if you get a good window seat is fantastic for people watching!

After a long day in London, on the way back to your hotel, I recommend you stop here. On our recent visit we ordered a Philly Cheese Steak stonebaked pizza and a Philly Steak and Cheese Sandwich.

I picked a refreshing virgin mojito to accompany my food.

There are also some quirky decorations in this restaurant, including this wall of clocks.

More?

Having eaten all that cake and pizza, and high on caffeine and fruit juices, surely you don’t have room for anything else? Other than a nice long evening walk through the piazza to watch some street entertainers?

Want to take a snack back to the hotel with you? Really?! Well, then may I suggest some cookies from Ben’s Cookies?

Ben’s Cookies, Covent Garden Piazza

Ben’s Cookies is right in the heart of Covent Garden, in a little corner of the piazza.

The cookies are really good (and if you buy a box of 5, you get 2 free!) They are baked in front of you and are absolutely delicious!

What is for certain is that you’ll never go hungry, or thirsty, in Covent Garden. Walk away from the multinational brands, go searching for the independent businesses. If travelling to London from the west, booking into the affordable Park Grand Hotel Paddington provides a great base with a short commute into Covent Garden via the Central and Piccadilly Underground lines. You won’t regret it x

Disclaimer

Our spending money was gifted by Hotels.com, but all views are our own.