Federation Coffee: Brixton

I was in a bit of a quandary about whether to pay a visit to Federation Coffee in Brixton, considering the SW postcode – and this being a blog about SE cafes/bars – but my curiosity won out in the end and I made my way over to the SE/SW divide on an incredibly wet and windy day. Having visited Brixton Village Market in the past, I was familiar with the layout and entrances – for the first time visitor however make sure you do a bit of Google Maps-ing before heading down there. The entrances are tucked away between market stalls, and once you find your way in it really is like stepping into a different world!

New Zealand run Federation Coffee is located in the heart of Brixton Village Market, just a 2 minute walk from both the Tube and Rail stations in Brixton. Brixton is very well connected via bus, underground and train, so although there is no free parking locally it's not hard to get here. As with all of the units inside Brixton Village Market, the actual cafe space is quite small.

There are a few tables and chairs inside, and a bar with stools around half of the edges. There are also a couple of tables and chairs outside and, as this is an indoor market, the outdoor seating is suitable whatever the weather! On this particular visit I stayed for about half an hour, and watched the nearby guests come and go - there's quite a fast turnaround time, with the average visit seeming to be quite short - and I can't imagine you would have to wait for long to grab a chair, even at peak times.

There is no free Wi-Fi on offer at Federation Coffee, but to be honest it's not the kind of place we would come to work. It definitely more of a sociable cafe, and the perfect place to stop for a quick coffee or snack.

Speaking of coffee...Federation Coffee are currently serving Alchemy coffee, and this is something they really do excel in! The flat white I had was beautifully smooth and absolutely delicious, and came complete with obligatory latte art, which is always a nice touch. They don't rush to make your order, and the result is truly worthwhile!

The staff are very friendly and there's a lovely relaxed atmosphere inside. Prices aren't anything outside of what you would expect for an independent coffee shop, and although the coffee cups aren't massive, the quality and taste of the coffee is well, well worth sacrificing a larger size for.

All in all, Federation Coffee in Brixton is a must-visit for any coffee lover, and well worth the trip for anyone living outside the area. While you're there, enjoy visiting some of the other independent shops and restaurants in Brixton Village Market, and feel no shame in smugly introducing your friends to this hidden gem.

The Peckham Pelican: Peckham

The Peckham Pelican is fast becoming one of my regular haunts. Situated along Peckham Road, between Peckham and Camberwell, this was the last place I expected to find a new indie café. The area itself is easily accessible as it sits on the main road along a number of major bus routes, and there is plenty of parking along some of the roads splitting off from Southampton Way (just opposite). As you walk through the door you’re hit with a warm atmosphere of mismatched wooden tables and chairs, benches and scatter cushions. The space inside is deceptively large, and towards the back of the café is a raised area with chintzy red leather sofas and a piano.

Before heading to order your drink one of the highlights is the “Jeremy Deller” mug wall – you’ll need to select your mug from a collection of novelty and plain designs before getting it filled with good old tea or coffee. Coffee snobs will need to leave your airs and graces outside - this isn’t a coffee bar, they serve filter coffee or filter coffee. During the day they also offer a selection of delicious cakes, ‘build your own’ bagel menu, and other light food such as homemade soup.

Expect to be surrounded by skinny jeans and gently whirring Apple MacBooks, the Peckham Pelican definitely attracts the artsy, hipster types - not surprising considering it’s just down the road from the Camberwell College of Arts. There is free wi-fi and power points aplenty, and the soft music playing in the background is not invasive at all, with the high ceilings creating an atmosphere perfectly conducive to working (including making phone calls), socialising, or simply curling up with a mug of tea and a good book. You don’t feel rushed to finish your drink and leave, the staff are friendly and the atmosphere inside is very relaxed. 

As the day wears on this place really comes into its own, offering very reasonably priced beer, wine, cocktails and pizza. It starts to get a little busier in the evenings, and there are plenty of things going on, including live music, art exhibitions, once a month bookclub, Monday evening ‘Pelican Pictures’ dinner and a film, a DJ on Friday and Saturday evenings, and starting this year: Happy Hour on Tuesday – Friday from 5pm – 7pm.

All in all, this place is a fantastic all-rounder café/bar, covering all the bases. Prices are reasonable across the board, the atmosphere is suitable for work or social, décor is quirky and yet still cosy, free wi-fi and plugs are always a plus, and it’s nailed the day-to-night transition perfectly.

Cherry & Ice: Sydenham

It was a rainy afternoon in December when we decided to pop into Cherry & Ice in Sydenham, SE26. In a slight break from our recent tradition of work place venues, our visit here was purely to warm up with a drink and some lunch whilst out and about, and Cherry & Ice didn't disappoint.

Located on Sydenham High Street, a couple of minutes walk from the train station and several different bus routes, Cherry & Ice is very easy to get to. They have a wide selection of food and drinks, so you'll easily find something you want from the menu. The prices are very reasonable, with teas and coffees costing between £1-£2, which is excellent value. They also provide a wide range of gluten-free and dairy-free cakes, as well as sandwiches, jacket potatoes and salads. In fact, the staff were more than happy to make something off the menu for me which was very helpful!

The overall experience was very positive, with food and drinks that were really well priced, and a cafe that was very convenient to get to. However the cafe itself is quite small with few tables, and the atmosphere is lacking; it's doesn't have a quirky or interesting vibe that some of the other local cafes have. The counters are very appealing and exciting with rows of exotic cakes and sandwiches, but somehow this doesn't transpose across to the seating areas. The cafe also doesn't have Wi-Fi which would put some people off, especially if, like me, you often look for a quite hideaway to do some work.

Overall, I would recommend Cherry & Ice for value for money and pleasantness of the staff, but if you were looking to work or take someone to an unusual, quirky cafe, you might want to consider some other options.

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!

Sugahill Café: 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.

The 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.

As 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.

Hop Scotch Café: 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!

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 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. 

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.