I have been hanging out to visit Gwilym Davies' new
Prufrock Coffee location on Leather Lane. Having already had amazing coffee at the
first Prufrock site in Shoreditch High St and having enjoyed many a fine coffee from Gwilym's stands at the Columbia Road and Whitecross Street markets, I was fairly sure I was in for a top notch flat white. And I was right - it's amazing that now that we are so spoiled for good coffee in London you start to distinguish between "good" coffee and "excellent" coffee. Just think, a few years ago I was forced to drink double tall lattes at (gasp) Starbucks and now I can take my pick and critique from at least 6 great cafes within 5 minutes walk of my office. Anyway I digress - the flat white I had at the new cavernous Prufrock space in Leather Lane was sensational. I am a little confused by the aforementioned cavern though - so much space and so little furniture! Don't get me wrong - after crowding into many a teensy cafe (yes Flat White I mean you) it is nice to have some space (one of the reasons I really like
Notes and
Store St) but they don't seem to be using half of it. Anyway - I am super excited about this opening (snigger) and I look forward to seeing how it develops and what they do with all that space. Leather Lane is fast becoming the new coffee destination - I am very fond of
Department of Coffee & Social Affairs just down the way. I am surprised that the cafe called "All About Coffee" further down towards Clerkenwell Road still has the audacity to keep that name, given the contrast. In case you are visiting Leather Lane around a weekday lunch time as I did I can highly recommend the lamb, halloumi and salad wrap stall - man, so tasty. Also my other "insider tip" (although I'm not sure I qualify as a Leather Lane insider...) is that if you want a quiet spot to munch on your lamp wrap and slobber into your flat white, take a short wander into Dorrington St and find the church of
St Alban the Martyr where there is a lovely peaceful courtyard with seats - a great little oasis, unknown to most.
I am so happy that the City is getting a few more awesome coffee places. Gwilym just needs to open a proper coffee shop with some food (to supplement the cart) on Whitecross now.
ReplyDeleteYou're old stomping ground right Tom? Have you found a "local" coffee place in HK?
ReplyDeleteIt always feels a bit strange buying coffee at Prufrock in Shoreditch given the fact it's in a clothes shop. Nice they now have a shop that's 100% dedicated to coffee.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean Adam - but I kinda like coffee counters in shops, not sure why!
ReplyDeletegod bless the antipodeans who are giving this city perfect coffee. the house of lords should ennoble the person who started this movement as Lord Flat White of London.
ReplyDeleteLove it - his cousin could be Duke Cortado
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