Brown and Green

Station cafes aren’t usually up to much; a lone Upper Crust is the norm for what most of us will find on out commute. But not the people of Crystal Palace; located inside the Overground station at the top of Anerley Hill is Black and Green Café, a real-deal, proper foodie event worthy of a visit whether you’re bound for the train or not.

Stylish and twee, the décor feels as far from a station café as you could imagine. Mismatched furniture, odd crockery and artistic touches flourish behind large stone arched windows. It also helps that Crystal Palace Station is itself not too shabby and that the grand park is right outside. Ingredients are sourced locally and in keeping with the organic vibe that runs through the place, healthy children’s meals are available for family brunches. The menu keeps things simple with bacon butties, scrambled eggs with chorizo, croissants, porridge and toast all around the price it would cost to get into central London and back on the Overground. Larger dishes include a full English, homemade soup and roll and toasties. Fresh juices and a range of fair trade tea and coffee are also on hand to wash it all down.

This isn’t the only Brown and Green Café in existence. Run by local sisters Laura and Jess Tilli, the pair also own the smaller sister venue at Gypsy Hill Station. If only all London’s stations had cafés as good as this. Oh well, two down…