Fan of a decent brew? Us too. Luckily in this area of London you will be spoilt for choice. Choose below from our favourite coffee shops in London Bridge.
There is not much better than a decent, freshly made coffee. During my 8 months spent living in the Bermondsey area of London Bridge, I made it a mission of mine to find the best independent coffee shops in London Bridge.
I am pleased to say, I believe it succeeded in this mission and no, there will not be a Starbucks, Costa or Nero in sight.
All of the coffee shops listed are within a short walking distance of London Bridge Station and while some are just ‘grab and go’ locations, many are great locations for catch ups with friends as well as cafes to work from in London Bridge.
If you are planning on working from one of the locations listed below, remember I have only listed independent coffee shops, meaning please do much sufficient purchases during your time working here. This is a busy area of the city but many coffee shops are still struggling finically, therefore please do consider this.
The Best Coffee Shops in London Bridge
The Watch House
Address: 37 Shad Thames, London, SE1 2NJ and 199 Bermondsey St, London, SE1 3UW
The Watch House is a specialty coffee shop with a few locations across the city, including one in London Bridge. They serve a range of espresso-based drinks, coffee, and brunch offerings.
While the Shad Thames location is a lot larger, my personal favourite is Bermondsey Street. It has a much more personal feel with a the odd outdoor table, plus it is located just off of Long Street – a long road leading from the train station filled with multiple independent pubs, bakeries and shops.
Please note they operate a 90-minute time slot on tables during peak periods.
Chapter 72
Address: 72 Bermondsey St, London SE1 3UD
Chapter 72 and Cocktail shop was born out of a passion for great coffee and delicious cocktails in an all day and evening relaxed setting.
The coffee shop is named after the 72nd chapter of the book ‘The Coffee Roaster’s Companion,’ which is considered a bible for coffee roasters, of which they wanted to pay tribute to.
Chapter 72 is known for its specialty coffee, which is carefully sourced from the best farms around the world and roasted in-house to ensure freshness and quality. The shop also offers a range of pastries and baked goods, including croissants, muffins, and cakes.
Happy Cat Coffee
Address: 72-82 St Thomas St, London SE1 3QX
Despite the name, Happy Cat Coffee, is not one of London’s cat cafes. It does however serve one of the best coffees in London Bridge. Located on the edge of the Vinegar Yard – a great street food market and location for drinks – Happy Cat Coffee is more of a ‘booth’ than traditional cafe, however, there is plenty of outdoor seating around if you are not just looking to take away.
They also pride themselves on only serving ethically sourced coffee.
Fuckoffee
Address: 167 Bermondsey St, London SE1 3UW
Fuckoffee (who are also the owners of the West Papua Coffee for Freedom Foundation that is not for profit) is more than just a provocative coffee shop with a cheeky atmosphere delivering an unforgettable service. They also set out to establish an ethical, transparent, coffee-growing supply chain.
Alongside this they offer a quirky location with decent coffee and really good snacks to go along with it. When living in Bermondsey these guys did become my go-to cafe in the London Bridge area.
Grind
Address: 2 London Bridge, London SE1 9RA
Grind is your go-to ‘instagrammable’ coffee shop location, however, despite the obvious concentration on interiors, it does not compromise their food or coffee.
For great brunch – make this your choice while in the area and order the buttermilk pancakes, you will not regret it. Grind is your go-to location for a catch up with friends as opposed to sending an afternoon working on your laptop with a fresh coffee.
In the evenings, they also have a cocktail menu alongside their espresso bar. An early evening visit here for cocktails before heading to one of London’s best gaming bars would make for a great catch up event.
Origin Coffee
Address: 84 Scoresby St, London SE1 0XN
More Southwark than London Bridge but Origin Coffee is still worth a visit.
Tucked away beneath the railway arches, the independent coffee shop in Southwark currently serves delicious coffee, along with breakfast, lunch and brunch at the weekends.
The offer a bright, spacious sit-in area, perfect for a few hours of work alongside a late breakfast. Origin Coffee are another company focusing on ethically sourced drinks.
When it comes to London Bridge coffee shops there are endless to choose from, however, the above are my personal favourites and go to recommendations.
I also have to give a further shout out to Black Sheep Coffee, while they now have multiple locations across London (and the country), they do still serve really great coffee and are always worth a visit.
Each offers something slightly different. However, if you are looking for a great catch up location – choose Grind, for cafe working space in London I would recommend WatchTower, and for simply fantastic coffee – Happy Cat Coffee.