Guide to the best cafés in Shoreditch

Kiwi originals Ozone Coffee Roasters bring a sustainable, environmentally-friendly ethos to the Shoreditch outpost. Though spread across two floors of a large industrial space, the queue to get in regularly snakes down the street when weekend brunchtime rolls around. The menu increases flavour and decreases waste by utilising fermentation and pickling techniques, resulting in dishes such as kimchi, smoked fish kedgeree and eggs Benedict on bubble 'n' squeak. The Antipodean commitment to good coffee is in full force here as well.

The original location of the now-familiar Grind chain, Shoreditch Grind is a vintage-style coffee shop just off the Old Street roundabout. It's a great place to stop by for brunch, with its all-day brunch menu featuring dishes such as salmon crumpets or thick-cut French toast. You can also just pick up a pastry on your way to work, or see for yourself what all those Grind coffee ads on the tube are about.

The Shoreditch branch of Attendant Coffee Roasters is a modern community hub with whitewashed walls and a stunning live plant wall that's well worth snapping for your 'gram. You can stop by for breakfast, brunch or lunch all day here, with the concise but varied menu featuring filling fare such as breakfast rolls, sandwiches, pizza and soup. If you're a budding barista yourself, you can also pick up coffee beans and brewing equipment here.

Serving freshly brewed coffee to East Londoners since 2009, FWD:Coffee has several outposts in the area, including this one in the heart of Shoreditch. The quirky spot features an eclectic soundtrack, unique lighting fixtures, and efficient, friendly service, and is a good choice to get some quick work in. Though there's a concise choice of breakfast and lunch dishes available to choose from, the focus is on the quality coffee. They serve only speciality coffee, constantly tweaking it to give customers a delicious cup.

This effortlessly cool boutique offers stylish clothing, accessories and footwear for men and women, as well as homeware, wall art and other items. The family-run Aida highlights independent brands and unique style influences. If you're wondering what it's doing on a list of best cafés, fret not – the store is also home to its own coffee shop, letting shoppers relax and recharge in a comfy setting. PS - their rose latte is a sure-fire social media hit.

Taking their cue from the world-famous Australian brunch culture, Friends of Ours have linked up with local suppliers such as the Dusty Knuckle Bakery and Dark Arts Coffee to ensure quality ingredients in inspired dishes such Green Eggs with labneh, greens, zhoug, hazelnut dukkah and organic sourdough. Their coffee and drinks game is on point as well, and the snug café, adorned with works by local artists, blossoms in good weather, setting up benches on the sunny pavement.

Far from your usual chill café, this haven for motorcycle fans from all walks of life includes a restaurant, bar, tattoo parlour, barbershop and more. You're welcome whether you own a motorcycle or not – in fact, lounging about on the leather sofas, sipping coffee and watching bikers ride in on their hogs will sound like a perfect lazy Sunday to anyone with a fondness for the two-wheels.

Having helped spearhead the speciality coffee movement in East London, Nude Coffee Roasters are an influential name on the local roasting scene. Their coffee is sourced from sustainable, environmentally friendly growers and roasted at their roastery in Shoreditch. In addition to the high-quality coffee, you can grab some light brunch fare, as well as pick up quality coffee for home.

Artisan coffee suppliers Allpress have a pair of sites in Shoreditch – their original roastery on Redchurch Street, and a café in a former industrial building on Shoreditch High Street. Both serve espresso drinks and filter coffee, as well as sandwiches and a variety of brunch dishes if you get hungry. Freshly-roasted coffee blends are also available for purchase.

The final stop before crossing Regent's Canal into Haggerston, By the Bridge is a comfortable café serving organic and Fairtrade food and drinks. Breakfast and brunch dishes such as pancakes and omelettes, Buddha bowls, sandwiches, bagels, pastries and other light snacks are available throughout the day, accompanied by hot and cold drinks, including fresh smoothies. Cocktails are also on hand to tempt you into lounging the day away.

Origin Coffee is an independently owned speciality coffee company. At their flagship location in the heart of East London, they showcase the full range of their monthly feature coffees. With light flooding the coffee shop through the large front window, and a colourful mural behind the wood-panelled espresso bar, the café is a cosy spot to enjoy a carefully poured espresso in. Tasty treats are available as well.

Both a church and a coffee shop, Kahaila invites everyone to come and take a break from the busy Brick Lane area. Open to any and all, regardless of background, Kahaila strives to make visitors feel like they belong and are welcome. They only use ethically and, where possible, locally sourced products, and also operate as a charity, addressing issues that concern the local community, nationally and beyond. 

Committed to the art of the speciality coffee, Long & Short Coffee Roasters use only the finest, highest-scoring speciality coffee and experimental processing to craft their brews. Their Brick Lane café is a weekend-only affair that's hidden away among the various vendors of the Tea Rooms Market, but they're worth looking for – their coffee is sure to hit the spot after browsing the various stalls.

By functioning not only as a café, but as a training ground for future baristas, Paper and Cup helps people recovering from addiction to gain work experience, learn new skills and take steps towards a more fulfilling life. The cosy, colourful café also sells second-hand and vintage items in a warm, welcoming atmosphere, not to mention brews up a mean cup of speciality coffee. Snacks are offered as well.

The Coffee Junction café and bakery in Shoreditch is spacious and homey, offering both cosy indoor banquettes and outdoor seating, with good WiFi if you need to get work done. The calm, peaceful setting is also ideal for slowly enjoying one of the generous cups of coffee. Freshly baked house-made pastries, breakfast baps, soups and hot specials such as chilli con carne are available if you're hungry.

At Lady Dinah's, you can relax in the company of cats, permanent residents of the café for as along as they're happy to stay – some are even available for adoption. A team of on-site carers ensures our furry overlords are well taken care of, while the café staff do the same for you. You can enjoy a variety of sweet treats here, such as red velvet cake or salted caramel brownies, or indulge in afternoon tea with a list of classic British teas.

Another spot that draws on the thriving Aussie café culture, Lantana is a popular brunch spot just off of Old Street roundabout. The star of the show are their famous Australian weekend brunches, featuring sumptuous dishes such as strawberries and cream French toast, or stacked corn fritters with halloumi. Wash your food down with a house cocktail, freshly squeezed OJ or quality coffee, and imagine yourself on the beach with a surfboard in hand, ready to hit the waves.

The second café by the small, independent and family-run Alchemy Coffee Roastery opened at Zetland House in 2019. Offering plenty of room in a minimalist space with white tiled walls, the Alchemy Café serves the company's exquisitely brewed coffee – often in beakers or other alchemical equipment – along with cakes and light brunch options. And if you're stuck, the knowledgeable baristas will gladly help you choose the right coffee for you.

This small corner boutique by the Milanese 7Gr. coffee company serves as a showcase for their trained baristas' skills and latte art, as well as the company's commitment to providing London with an authentic Italian espresso experience. Grab a takeaway coffee or find a seat on the pavement and enjoy the fruits of the company's training courses, or even enrol in one yourself.

The founders of Ditto Music, a global music distribution company, fell in love with Melbourne's hole-in-the-wall coffee culture during a visit there and decided to help bring it to Britain. At their snug Shoreditch coffee shop, they offer their unique, ethically sourced and Liverpool-roasted blend of Brazilian, Nicaraguan and Guatemalan beans. Homemade cakes, snacks and bangin' tunes are also available.