Wednesday 6 November 2013

Canvas & Cream: Forest Hill

Late one afternoon on one of our café trips, we popped into Canvas & Cream, which is a large coffee shop, restaurant, and gallery located in the popular area of Forest Hill, and within walking distance of the Horniman Museum. Just around the corner from Forest Hill Station (which is served by both Southern Trains to London Bridge and the London Overground), this café is also well positioned with local bus routes rumbling by in all directions. However, there isn't any immediate parking, so if you are driving you may need to walk for four or five minutes from the surrounding streets, where there is free parking.

The only time I’d been to Canvas and Cream before was for a private event, and so to go back and see the café in its normal day to day environment was a pleasant surprise. The décor and café layout has to be one of my favorites so far. The interior is spacious, with plenty of tables and space – even for larger groups to stop by. It’s got a beautiful rustic and cosy feel to it – with a stunning piece of wood serving as a feature bar/counter top.

Canvas and Cream have a lovely selection of teas and coffees, serving my favorite – flat white, alongside a range of homemade cakes and pastries. We can’t comment on the food here as we didn't come to eat, but the menu looks tasty and the tables are always full around meal times. Pricing isn't the cheapest in the area but also not expensive considering the location and feel of the place.

In terms of working environment the openness of the café has both its pros and cons. It’s roomy enough that you can work privately, the staff were very accommodating in letting us use the free wi-fi, and being just attentive enough to keep us topped up on drinks without bothering us. On the other hand it can get busy at peak times, and making work phone calls might not be as easy if the café is full. 


During the summer they open up the front glass doors onto the main road – from a social point of view this is lovely as it brings a real airy feel to the place, however from a working perspective this can make it a little noisy for phone conversations.

Either way you look at it, this is a real gem in Forest Hill and we wouldn't hesitate to come back here for a cup of coffee and a cake, or even for a meal with friends. During quieter times of the day this is a great place to work from, and definitely worth a visit!

Monday 12 August 2013

Sugahill Café: Sydenham

Sugahill Cafe, Sydenham
It was a rainy morning in South East London when we trudged through the door at Sugahill in Sydenham, and we were very grateful of the warm welcome we received! Sugahill is a Café / Social Lounge / Gallery nestled just around the corner from Sydenham Station.

Sugahill is located on Kirkdale, a key road running between Sydenham and Forest Hill. We found free parking in the surrounding streets, but Sydenham Station is just across the road, as well as a variety of main bus routes crossing from several different directions, so you won’t struggle to get there. The station itself is served by both the London Overground and Southern train routes, making it very easy to get to.

Sugahill Cafe, SydenhamThe first thing we noticed about Sugahill when we walked through the door was the counter area with huge blackboard menu that stretches down the wall, and the variety of fruits and cakes on display. We then noticed the absolutely fantastic range of food you can order and the very reasonable prices, and so we quickly grabbed ourselves a table by the window! The café has a very pleasant atmosphere, and has been recently decorated. Whilst it’s not the largest of cafés, there was enough room for us to work comfortably. They have displays of local art on the walls (hence the title “gallery”). The manager was also very friendly and made us feel welcome.

Sugahill Cafe, SydenhamAs I’ve already touched on, the range of food and drinks here is truly excellent, and they really are inexpensive compared to other establishments. They offer a range of breakfast items, as well as sandwiches (including vegan and vegetarian), salads, and baked potatoes. Add to that the fruits and cakes available in front of the counter, and you’ve got an impressive range of different foods to choose from, and the added options for vegans and vegetarians will definitely increase the appeal for some. Both dishes we ordered were very good (porridge and poached eggs on toast!), and the drinks likewise.

This was a good place to work, with secure WiFi available, as well as plug sockets. The tables were quite small, so it mean we had to use one each, but it wasn’t too busy so this didn’t cause a problem. Having said that, there was quite a lot of footfall through the café so I could imagine could be busier depending on the time of day. It seems this café is well integrated with the local community too which is really nice to see, with a number of local businesses buying takeaway coffees for their staff. All in all this is a great café to visit.

Monday 29 July 2013

Hop Scotch Café: Honor Oak Park

Hop Scotch Cafe, Honor Oak Park
Last week we visited Hop Scotch Café in Honor Oak Park. This particular café could not be more easily accessible, being 100 yards down the road from Honor Oak Park station, on an intersection of several bus routes, and having plenty of non-permit parking in the nearby streets.

Honor Oak Park itself is a quiet, tranquil area, and so ambient noise was minimal. There is a cute little coffee garden at the back, and inside there’s a rustic collection of benches, wooden tables, and at the front a sofa and a couple of armchairs. We noticed a distinct "mumsy" feel during the day, as they play Disney films on the TV inside and serve “Babycinos”. However Hop Scotch has a lot advertised in the evenings, with a wide range of artists and bands performing throughout the week, and you can sense at night it changes from a chilled café to a vibrant bar.

From a work point of view there is free (unsecured) Wi-Fi and easily accessible plug sockets. The music selection is trendy and alternative, although perhaps a little loud for making work phone calls. Having visited here before I can say from experience that the coffee is consistently good, with a wide range of options offered. There is a lovely little food menu offering a twist on popular dishes, and prices for both food and drink are reasonable. When we visited there was no table service, and there was only one waitress serving, but as we were working we appreciated being left alone.

Overall our visit was a pleasant experience. It’s not the livliest place we've visited, but Hop Scotch provided a nice working environment provided you don’t need to make many phone calls, and a mellow place to meet friends for coffee. Just so long as you don’t mind the odd toddler running around your feet!

Monday 22 July 2013

The Montpelier: Peckham Rye


The Montpelier, Peckham Rye
In our quest to find the perfect working atmosphere, we thought we’d try something a little different today, and we visited The Montpelier, an independent pub nestled in the backstreets of Peckham Rye. We were tempted by the Wi-Fi availability and their enticing website, and we were definitely not disappointed!

Parking in nearby streets is free, but the immediate streets are permit only, so you may have to walk for a few minutes to get there. Peckham Rye station is only a short 6-7 minute walk away too, so it’s quite accessible, with good connections via the London Overground line. Despite being so close to a very diverse and vibrant area, this pub is tucked away in a quiet and leafy backstreet, and so it’s very peaceful, and you could easily forget where you actually are!
The Montpelier, Peckham Rye
The atmosphere at this pub hits you the minute you walk in the door. The first thing that caught my eye was a little sign that advertised the waiting list for the Back Room Cinema, which we later realised later is a function room at the back of the pub that’s been converted into a little cinema with chairs and a projection screen. The second thing that caught my eye was the piano in the corner, along with the signs showcasing the live music that’s available during the evenings and weekends. This pub is a creative haven, showcasing film and music for the local community.

The pub has a real vintage feel, with booth seats with tables along the windows and a central bar area that’s easily accessible from any corner of the pub. There’s also a huge variety of seats and other tables, and the pub itself is very spacious. The background music was jazzy but discreet, and so it didn’t disrupt us at all, which was pleasing given the problems we’ve had at other cafés. Plugs were also available under the booth seats which was an excellent added bonus for us. 


The Montpelier, Peckham Rye
We visited at lunchtime on a very hot day, and so we ordered a little food and a mixture of hot and cold drinks. The menu is quite unique, focusing on fresh, local, organic produce (their herbs are grown by their next-door neighbour!), and they had a selection of traditional lunch items and smaller dishes if you weren’t as hungry. However, remember this is a pub, so you won’t see quite the same range of lunch dishes as you may see in a more traditional café.

The Montpelier is a clear favourite for me of all the places we’ve visited, and I really recommend visiting, either during the afternoon for a quiet place to work, or in the evenings to see their more social side. The staff were very friendly and welcoming, and so we spent several pleasing hours in Peckham Rye.

Monday 15 July 2013

Blue Brick Café: East Dulwich

Another sunny day, and another visit to a gem of a café, this time Blue Brick Café in East Dulwich. Located on Fellbrigg Road which is just off the main road (Lordship Lane), this café is tucked away in a quiet back street with seating both outside in the sunshine and inside. Parking in the surrounding streets is free, and the main road has many different bus routes running through it, as well as East Dulwich station a ten minute walk away.

A quirky, self-styled vegetarian bistro with a commitment to using local produce, this café has a laid-back atmosphere and is pleasantly decorated with vintage tables and chairs. It was an ideal spot for us to spend a couple of hours working in the afternoon, with Wi-Fi and table seats available (but no plugs so remember to charge beforehand!).

Although the food is all vegetarian or vegan, there’s a wide selection of high quality dishes, and so it was easy for us to select something from the menu. It also encouraged us to consider something different from what we would normally choose, which creating a refreshing and unique experience. There was also a good range of teas, coffees, and organic drinks. Prices are reasonable considering the area, but payment is by cash only so make sure you’ve been to the bank!

While not the largest café in the world, it was a quiet afternoon so we could work away with ease without feeling disturbed. However, being on the smaller side, there was a little bit of kitchen noise drifting through, and if the café was full it could become harder to work in that environment.

A lovely example of a small independent café nestled in the back streets of East Dulwich, and well worth a visit for something a little different from the normal coffee chains. Their commitment to organic local produce shines through, and their interesting menu left two self-confessed carnivores perfectly satisfied which was a pleasant surprise.

Monday 8 July 2013

Braziliana Cafe: Crystal Palace

The Braziliana, Crystal Palace
Continuing in the search for work-friendly cafés in South East London, we visited Braziliana Café in Crystal Palace. Located on Westow Hill, this Brazilian café is well located near the top of Crystal Palace Park, with free parking in the surrounding streets as well as several key bus routes nearby.

The café has wide front windows opening onto the street, and a choice of comfy or table seats. We selected window seats at a table, and although this is was a great spot for working, it should be noted that there is a lorry loading bay outside the shop which meant a lot of noise that disrupted a few of our phone calls. However, the café does have Wi-Fi access (code provided after ordering) and easily accessible plug sockets, which helped balance out the slight noise problem by the windows.

Drinks and food were reasonably priced and they had a selection of Brazilian cakes and pastries available at the counter. There was also an interesting shop area at the back of the café selling genuine Brazilian products. It should be noted that for a true coffee fan, the selection of coffees available wasn’t huge, and the food available is all distinctly Brazilian, but that didn’t pose a problem for us, and I happily sampled one of the Brazilian cakes.



The Braziliana, Crystal Palace

The café has a community and family run feel, with pleasant décor and interesting Brazilian themed items located around the café. The background music was also Brazilian themed, and easy to listen to in the background, creating a pleasing atmosphere. There is a small function room downstairs which was being used for what looked like an English or Portuguese lesson, but this didn’t disturb the main café area at all. A toilet is also located downstairs which was immaculately clean and maintained. The staff were very pleasant and left us to work away in peace which was excellent for us, and we were able to pay by card which was an added bonus.

All in all it was an excellent place to work, with the only potential problem being the loading bay outside creating a little too much noise. Perhaps our timing was unfortunate as there were a number of different deliveries going on (our visit started from 10am), so we would recommend sitting further back in the café to avoid this.

Monday 1 July 2013

Cafe Provencal: Herne Hill

So it's been a while since our last post...but we've come up with another little beauty. Herne Hill's Cafe Provencal. We're looking at this cafe with a slightly different slant as we we expand our search and look for a "work friendly" cafe. The current economic climate has spawned a new generation of entrepreneurs - myself included - who work remotely, from home, or in this case...from a cafe. You see them everywhere, tapping away on laptops or tablets, and so we began the search for somewhere that isn't Costa Coffee, Starbucks, or Cafe Nero. A mutually beneficial relationship with the independent coffee shop.

We were quite specific in what we were looking for: wi-fi, reasonable prices, an environment conducive to being able to work, and a bit of a spark...something that would make the cafe stand out from the rest. Somewhere you could recommend, a hidden gem. Cafe Provencal definitely fit the brief!

The location is easily accessible, right by a train station, along several bus routes and, although the immediate area is permit parking only from 12pm-2pm, there's parking just a 4-5 minute walk away. The wi-fi code is immediately provided, however unfortunately there are no plugs so make sure your electronic devices are fully charged!

As you go in there are 3 or 4 semi separate rooms, and so there is sufficient quiet/privacy to make phone calls if needed. That being said, the cafe is on a main road - and in the couple of hours we were there 4 or 5 emergency vehicles went by, sirens blaring. For families there is a dedicated "child-friendly" area in one of the rooms. Overall the atmosphere was great though, quiet enough to work but not loud enough to be disturbed.

Prices are reasonable, and the menu selection has a wide range available. Tea is served in vintage, mismatched tea cups and saucers. The staff were friendly and attentive, but didn't bother us - which was obviously great for working.

Monday 11 March 2013

Chinwag: New Cross Gate

Chinwag, New Cross Gate
So not only is Chinwag our first review but it's also where our little brainchild was born. Tucked away on the main road into New Cross Gate, Chinwag was recently turned into the stunning little cafe/restaurant it is today from, in true London style, a fried chicken shop.

The ambient here is fantastic, with the red telephone box door really setting the mood for a quirky blend of rustic/industrial decor, make sure you check out the light fittings! And as firm believers in music playing a huge part in creating the right setting, we're pleased to say Chinwag really have hit the nail on the head with a blend of trendy modern and retro classics playing in the background.

Chinwag, New Cross GateThe coffee is good and there are soya/dairy-free options available. Price is cheap (£1.95 for a flat white) albeit not being a particularly big cup. We came in here for food, and can only say the service was second to none. The waiter was very attentive, with a bottle of water and 2 glasses being presented without even being asked. The menus fitted in with the decor - old books with hand written pages stuck inside listing the food choices. Very trendy.

The food. Ahhhh the food. With the burgers being advertised as "literally the size of your face," how could we resist?! And they DEFINITELY did not disappoint. The meat was perfectly cooked and they were absolutely MASSIVE. We could have easily shared one. They don't come with any side orders, but to be honest you don't need them. We shared a "bucket" of chips for £1.50, and with the burgers priced at just £6.99 we have no complaints whatsoever.


A couple of practical points now. Unfortunately there is no wi-fi here, and they don't take card - however they are only 2 or 3 shops down from the Sainsburys Local, which has a free cash point. Parking, as in most of London, is difficult but not impossible. There are several back streets with parking available, and worst come to the worst - the big Sainsburys/TX Maxx carparks are just a few minutes walk.