Come with us as we visit and review EVERY Australian and New Zealand coffee shop in London. See our weekly column Coffee Cult for more.
AS an Australian living in London, you probably crave the coffees easily available Down Under. Surprisingly, the UK capital offers the coffee-drinking Aussie a wide range of options. So, if you are after a Tim Tam and the best flat white or even a Violet Crumble with your top roast bean, sip no further than our list of recommended Australian coffee shops in London.
Kaffeine
This Australian/New Zealand owned café, located near Oxford Street, offers a funky atmosphere to enjoy your quality coffee. Boasting a wide range of scrumptious treats, like their famous ANZAC biscuit or Portuguese tarts, Kaffeine offers the London-based Aussie a place where fond memories are re-kindled and friends are made.
Address: 66 Great Titchfield Street, London, W1W 7QJ
Tel: 0207 580 6755
The Flat White
This little café in Soho has a big reputation for serving some fantastic coffees. It also offers Antipodean sweet treats and possibly the best espresso in London. This hotspot has become a meeting point for Australian and New Zealand expats and is usually full from early morning. Pop down and try the ‘flat white’, an Australian/New Zealand coffee that is stronger than a regular latte and less frothy than a cappuccino.
Address: 17 Berwick St, Soho. London. W1F 0PT
Tel: 020 7734 0370
The Milk Bar
The Milk Bar is the little sister of Antipodean coffee shop The Flat White and offers the same excellent Australian/New Zealand coffee, though be it in a slightly smarter setting. This chilled café also offers a selection of light meals for eat in or take away.
Address: 3 Bateman Street, London, W1D 4AG
Tel: 020 7287 4796
Lantana café
Winner of Time Out’s 2009 London café of the year Award, Lantana café offers superb coffee and delicious Australian-infused dishes in the heart of London. Try one of their famous Aussie-style breakfasts while sipping on a flat white. Great meeting spot for expat Aussies.
Address: 13 Charlotte Place, Fiztrovia, London W1T 1SN
Tel: 020 7637 3347
Workshop (formally St Ali)
Coming to London from Melbourne, Workshop (formally St Ali) offers breakfast, lunch and dinner, and some fantastic coffee. You’ll be greeted by an Aussie voice as you make your way to a table where you will no doubt order something from Down Under. Friendly service from this Australian café and restaurant.
Address: 27 Clerkenwell Road, Clerkenwell, London, EC1M 5RN
Tel: 020 7253 5754
Read out review at Coffee Cult visits Workshop
Allpress Espresso
Popular in New Zealand and Australian, Allpress Espresso is an Antipodean café that reflects Australian and New Zealand coffee culture. Considered to be one of the leading Kiwi coffee shops for quality and price in London, Allpress Espresso is a great meeting spot for expats looking to hear familiar accents.
Address: 58 Redchurch St, London, E2 7DP
Tel: 020 7749 1780
Nude Espresso
Winner of Independent Café of the year UK 2010 awarded by the Café Society, this Australian-run café/bar will please expats and those looking for a healthy bite to eat. Order a flat white coffee or a long black and soak up the atmosphere in this spacious London café. Great food available and wi-fi is free.
Address: 26 Hanbury St, London, E1 6QR
Tel: 07804 223 590
Caravan
This funky brassier is headed by New Zealander Chef Miles Kirby and offers a plethora of dishes, each created to work with the wide variety of different and unique ingredients on offer. Try the squid ‘pancake’ or the peanut butter and blue cheese wontons for a taste of something sensational.
Address: 11-13 Exmouth Market, London, EC1R 4QD
Tel: 02078338115
Green Cauldron
Australians are very passionate about their coffee, and with this in mind, Green Cauldron is planning on opening 50 shops throughout the UK over the next five years, starting in Liverpool. Owning their own 100-acre farm Down Under, they are so proud of their coffee they also intend to sell wholesale to independent coffee shops.
Address: 55 Castle Street, Merseyside, Liverpool L2 9TN
Tel: 01772 702 335
Check out their website greencauldron.com for the latest news on the promised (and much needed) London outlet.
Know of any other Antipodean coffee shops in the English capital or around the UK? Any other places to get your favourite rare Aussie and Kiwi fare? Add them in the comments section below.
First published in July 2011 – updated in 2012 due to overwhelming Australian caffeine cravings