Here time is gold (and free coffee)
1. ZIFERBLAT: DRINK COFFEE AND PAY ONLY FOR TIME
Never before has the saying 'time is money' made as much sense as in Ziferblat, a coffee shop where you only pay the time What's going on in the establishment? Here every second counts (and costs) . For three pence a minute, this innovative space open in trendy Shoreditch neighborhood serving free coffees, cookies and other snacks (yes, no alcohol). You can even take food from outside and prepare it in your kitchen.
The place is very unique: it works more like a multipurpose space and social club with a vintage atmosphere. Clients can use the facilities as a meeting place, to read, connect to the internet or even play the piano. They just have to watch the clock they have on the table and not get lost with the time. Ivan Mitin is the young Russian who has made gold with this idea. He has other pay-per-minute coffee shops in cities like Moscow, Kazan, Nizhny Novgorod and kyiv.
Vintage watches, protagonists in Ziferblat
two. DRINK, SHOP & DO: THE RETRO CAFETERIA WHERE EVERYTHING IS FOR SALE
Just two minutes from Kings Cross Station, a former Victorian bathhouse houses Drink, Shop & Do. With a very retro aesthetic, with patchwork sofas and blankets, 1950s sideboards, vintage ceramics and 1960s furniture, in this café everything is for sale . And it is that in addition to serving special teas and kitsch sandwiches, this coffeeshop is also a shop and craft workshop. Many emerging artists use this original London café as a showcase for their work. It is common to see customers have a coffee while playing Scrabble or crocheting . They organize workshops, monologues and private parties. The bar is littered with (irresistible) cranberry, almond and chocolate walnut cakes. They also offer a good cocktail bar.
coffee and lots of art
3. CHIN CHIN LABORATORIST: BEET ICE CREAM WITH NITROGEN
In the alternative neighborhood of Candem Town we find a cafeteria converted into a real ice cream laboratory : Chin Chin Laboratories. A small corner full of bottles, multicolored test tubes, thermos flasks and liquid nitrogen pipes. Waiters wear white coats and serve personalized ice creams of all unimaginable flavors They freeze on the spot with liquid nitrogen. And all in front of the customer's eyes. The moment is magical and the result is spectacular: soft ice cream with a much creamier texture. There are the most daring flavors on the menu: from wine and chocolate to others from beetroot with goat cheese or caramel with chips . They claim they are addictive. And to accompany, a good coffee or a cup of hot chocolate.
Quite an ice cream show with nitrogen
Four. LOOK MUM, NO HANDS! LOVE FOR BICYCLES
Mallots that adorn the walls and wheels that hang from the ceiling. Look Mum, no hands! It is a declaration of love for bicycles. Located in the trendy neighborhood of islington , this cafeteria is a reference for cyclists in London. Those who visit this place are not only caffeine addicts, but also bicycle addicts . They serve good coffee, creamy smoothies and delicious British pastries (all homemade). It is also a repair shop and a meeting space where workshops and other activities are organized, such as markets where you can exchange bike parts. It's a true bike paradise : there are allusions to the two wheels even in the cups and in the patterns of the cushions.
A bike addicted cafe
5. THE ATTENDANT: FROM PUBLIC URINAL TO CAFETERIA
Under Foley Street, very close to Oxford Circus, there is a very peculiar underground cafe: The Attendant. What makes this coffeeshop special is its location: it occupies what used to be victorian gents public baths . Can you imagine eating on the urinals? Here it is possible. The coffee tables are precisely the original porcelain urinals, made by Doulton & Co in the late 19th century. We also find a hand dryer from the period and tiled walls. However, everything is very clean. The restoration has included a thorough industrial cleaning. In his Pinterest account it is possible to see the images of how everything was before the restoration (if you are scrupulous, do not look). The Attendant has only been open for a year and has already become one of the trendy coffee shops in the neighbourhood. They ensure that their snacks and sandwiches take you straight to heaven.
A café over vintage urinals
6. CAT EMPORIUM LADY DINAH: COFFEE WITH MINIMUM
Attention cat lovers. In the hipster neighborhood of Shoreditch (the same one where Ziferblat has just opened), London's first cat-friendly venue is about to open its doors. We are talking about Cat Emporium Lady Dinah, a cafeteria where lovers of felines can enjoy a good cup of coffee while petting or playing with their kittens . Inspired by popular cat cafes in Japan and Austria, Lauren Pears pitched the idea of creating this cafe on the Indiegogo crowdfunding platform to raise money. And boy did it raise! The answer was amazing: netizens donated over £100,000 to the project . Now Londoners are eagerly awaiting the opening date.
*** You may also be interested in...**
- 21 reasons why we love coffee - Let's talk about coffee
London's first cat friendly