Recently it has become easy to find good coffee in London. The arrival of a new craze for artisan blends, careful roasting and detailed grinds has filled the streets with alternatives to the likes of Costa and Starbucks. Okay, maybe ‘filled the streets’ is going a bit far but there has been a notable independent presence building. Milk Bar is one of our favourites. Located a little way from the West End on Bateman Street, the coffee house with the red, white and blue stripes in the doorway is the place for coffee done right. That means served by a passionate barista, from a La Marzocco and using a signature house blend. And as for those red, white and blue stripes, we imagine that they are a nod to the Australian origins of the shop. Every other independent coffee shop in London seems to have an antipodean connection and Milk Bar is no different.
Beyond the handsome wooden façade the place has a simple design. Plain walls, rows of utility seating and dangly light bulbs are subtle enough to allow the focus to fall on the artwork that is hung on the walls. Just as simple as the look of the café is the menu. Think pastries, granola, salads and eggs. Weekend brunch at the Milk Bar is the perfect pre-West End stop. Quick, relaxed and informal – it’s scrambled eggs and salmon, a Square Mile latte and then off into the bustle.
