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!