Guide to community cafés in London

Root/25 is a non-profit café that doubles as an arts and events space. It's also home to Restless Beings, an international human rights organisation supported by the café’s earnings. The menu is eclectic, featuring everything from quiches and cakes to food inspired by the Islamic world.

You’ll find Grow located along the canal in Hackney Wick featuring pretty views of the canal and surrounding area. They’re independently-run and pride themselves on putting people and the planet over making a profit. The menu is inspired by Middle-Eastern fare and there’s often a host of events taking place, like live music and open mic nights.

Redemption Roasters is a prison-based coffee roaster that aims to help reduce re-offending rates by providing prisoners with coffee industry skills and even going on to help them secure jobs once they’re released. They have a handful of shops but their original two-floor spot in Bloomsbury is a firm favourite to grab espresso or a filter-based speciality coffee.

Café Van Gogh is a non-profit vegan spot in the heart of Brixton that works in partnership with a charity to provide employment training for adults with mental health problems and learning disabilities. They use compostable coffee cups and takeaway packaging and are consistently working towards being a totally zero-waste café.

This social enterprise café is run by Tower Project and functions to empower and provide training opportunities for people who have a learning disability in Goldsmith Row. They serve a menu of coffee, cakes, baked treats and other lunch-style dishes in a warm and welcoming environment.

Paper and Cup is a social enterprise coffee shop that trains homeless people and people in recovery from addiction and preps them to learn new skills and gain work experience to eventually become a barista. They serve a menu of speciality coffee and snacks as well as a range of second-hand items.

Aside from selling one of the best croissants in the city, 215 Hackney is certainly doing their bit when it comes to giving back. They donate a whopping 20% of their profits to War Child, a charity that works to ensure a safe future for every child living through war. They also serve an excellent menu of Middle Eastern fare, like traditional Israeli shakshuka and Jerusalem bagels.

Luminary Bakery is a social enterprise bakery that provides opportunities to disadvantaged women in the city. They work with women who have experienced more than one disadvantage, such as domestic abuse, sexual exploitation and trafficking, and equip them with the tools to prepare for employment in a safe and trauma-informed environment. They serve a menu of sweet treats and coffee in a welcoming setting in their London venues.

Good Company is a partnership between Change Please, a social enterprise coffee shop concept, and sustainable brewer Toast Ale. The establishment provides a diverse range of food options throughout the day, including breakfast and cakes supplied by Breadwinners, a social enterprise that supports refugees. The lunch and dinner menu offer a selection of sandwiches, salads, and hot pies, complemented by Toast Ale's beer, which uses surplus bread in its brewing, and Change Please's coffee, which puts back 100% of its profits into helping the homeless. Additionally, Good Company regularly hosts events, and customers are encouraged to contribute to the schedule.

Having relocated to Sutton from Tooting, The Sound Lounge is a grassroots music venue with a strong emphasis on sustainability and community. Certified carbon neutral and encompassing a café, bar, and stage, the venue serves plant-based food and reinvests its profits back into the community through various projects, workshops, and trainings for those living with disadvantages.