The best cafés in Soho

If you're dead serious about coffee, then you need to check out The Department of Coffee and Social Affairs. This Soho coffee shop can be found down a little alleyway just off Carnaby Street, where they serve a menu of hot drinks, sandwiches, pastries, and cakes. The café is bright, roomy, and trendy, and makes for a nice spot to catch up with an old pal while sipping a cup of the good stuff. You can even try your hand at being a barista at one of their coffee-making classes.

Algerian Coffee Stores opened in 1887 and hasn't changed much since. They have an extensive menu of 80 coffees and 120 teas sourced from all around the world, served with a big dose of the owner's impressive bank of coffee knowledge. The bright red façade is hard to miss, complemented by a signature candy-striped canopy. Many of the original fittings are still intact inside, including wooden shelves, counters and display cases.

Flat White is located right in the heart of buzzing Berwick Market, and they serve, you guessed it, flat whites (and other hot beverages, of course). Their artisanal coffee is sourced from the award-winning Drop Coffee Roasters in Sweden, focusing on natural and single-origin flavours. They are also committed to using sustainable and ethical practices. You can also enjoy light bites like toasties, bagels and sandwiches.

Bar Italia is an iconic coffee shop in the heart of Soho on Frith Street, established in 1949 and popular amongst London's Italian community for its coffee and lively atmosphere. It feels like you've stepped into a coffee shop in Italy, with its red and white decor and signature neon sign. It stays open super late daily and is a major hotspot in Soho's post-night-out scene.

Enjoy single-origin coffee packed with flavour at Tintico, a cosy, plant-filled coffee shop in Soho. It's the perfect spot to connect with like-minded coffee lovers or pitch up with your laptop and get some work done. Along with their drinks menu, they also serve tasty food, like Spanish tortilla with eggs and manchego on toast.

After its successful start in Edinburgh, Söderberg made its way to the streets of Soho. This Swedish-inspired coffee shop and bakery serves coffee, brunch dishes and fluffy sourdough pizzas in a cosy, stylish space. The open sandwiches and cardamom buns are also top-notch and, depending on the time of day, you can also enjoy cocktails like the fika martini.

Gear up for this bike shop crossed with a coffee shop in Soho, where you can sip on excellent coffee while picking up equipment for your next big bike ride. It's perfect for meeting like-minded cycling fans in a trendy, minimalist setting while enjoying exquisite coffee.

Grind is a chilled-out, stylish espresso bar on Beak Street in Carnaby, serving breakfast classics, cakes, small bites and drinks. It’s independently run, and they roast their coffee for hot cups of the good stuff but also for cocktails, like their classic Espresso Martini and Hot Flat White Russian. They also serve unique drinks like the butterfly pea latte.

You'll find Hideaway Coffee shop hidden down a side street just off Brewer Street. It's cosy, simple and stylish, with a handful of out-front seats for alfresco drinks on warmer days. Young, hip crowds flock regularly to this quaint Soho coffee shop to enjoy artisanal brews and seasonal specials like pumpkin spice lattes.

21Soho offers a stylish yet inviting spot in the heart of Soho for coffee, cocktails, and live comedy. Unwind in the chic café with a coffee and light bite, or take advantage of the flexible co-working space. The bar pours expertly crafted cocktails, a selection of local beers and spirits, and carefully chosen seasonal wines. With a dynamic line-up of comedy acts and a packed schedule of performances, the venue provides a vibrant mix of entertainment and social experiences.

Bar Jackie is a stylish all-day café and bar located on the ground floor of the elegant Broadwick Soho hotel. Boasting opulent decor and laid-back atmosphere, it lets guests start the day with Italian pastries, breakfast plates, and freshly brewed coffee. As the day progresses, the menu shifts to pinsas and classic aperitivos, perfect for a leisurely bite. Outdoor seating is also provided.

B Bagels has reimagined the traditional bagel bakery with a modern café twist across its locations. Alongside hot drinks and fresh juices, they offer an extensive selection of bagels with diverse fillings, from classic options like tuna mayo to signatures such as chicken avocado and vegan schnitzel. The Soho branch also serves breakfast bagels and a variety of fresh lunch salads.

The acclaimed Kiss the Hippo speciality coffee company prides itself on its forward-thinking brewing methods, ethically sourced beans, and strong commitment to sustainability. Renowned as trailblazers in farm-to-table coffee, they export their premium blends globally while maintaining their London roots. With multiple locations across the city, including this Soho café, they continue to offer artisanal coffee in thoughtfully designed spaces.

Originating in Stockholm, Arket is a contemporary clothing store blending fashion, lifestyle, and Nordic design with a focus on both style and practicality. Every Arket store features a vegetarian café inspired by the New Nordic food movement, serving hearty sandwiches, comforting coffee, and dishes made with sustainably sourced, seasonal ingredients.

This minimalist Soho café, designed with light wood panelling, balances modern elegance with a cosy atmosphere typical of Japanese cafés. Popular treats here include beautifully presented cakes, croffles, and shaved ice, while savoury options like tonkatsu and noodles are also available, along with hot and cold drinks.