Independent London cafés, visited in person, with where to park a motorcycle at each.
Every café on this page is one I have visited on a motorcycle, photographed myself and sat down with the owners to understand what makes the shop different. Charges for motorcycle bays have changed in parts of London, so each story notes where I parked. For a one-page overview of all my cafés, see the Motorcycle-Friendly Cafés guide.
Crouch End: Velasquez and Van Wezel
Ten years in, Martin at Velasquez and Van Wezel talks Brexit, community, and how a Dutch-Colombian coffee bar became a Crouch End institution.
Motorcycle parking: free parking on Elder Avenue
Queen’s Park: Kayan Specialty Coffee
Six months into running Kayan in Queen’s Park, Haider talks about the Sticky Date Iced Latte, a mentor found through good coffee, and life after a desk job.
Motorcycle parking: free bay on Winchester Avenue
Tottenham Hale: Holy Grain & Brew
Anna and Anton opened Holy Grain & Brew as a side hustle in Tottenham Hale. A year on, they talk about community, doing the work and what it took to get here.
Motorcycle parking: free on Ashley Road in any residential, shared-use or Pay-by-Phone bay
King’s Cross: Gramos
A motorcycle ride to Gramos Coffee Bar in King’s Cross Underground Station, and co-owner Charlotte’s story of building a single-origin coffee company from scratch.
Motorcycle parking: motorcycle bay on nearby Chalton Street
Southwark: Saint Nine
I sit down with Laith at Saint Nine to talk about opening a month before Covid, a mural its own artist has never seen, and running a shop five days a week.
Motorcycle parking: free on Lavington Street
Southwark: Old Spike
Old Spike runs seven London cafés and a roastery that funds paid barista training for people leaving homelessness.
Motorcycle parking: free on the Great Suffolk Street motorcycle bay
More to come
I add a new London café whenever I ride in to meet the owners. Looking closer to home? See the Hertfordshire Coffee Shops guide.
