Whether you fancy a game of checkers or a cuddle with a cat, there are plenty of unique cafes in London to while away an afternoon or grab a quick bite.
1. Draughts
While away several hours at London’s first board game cafe Draughts. Enjoy an old favourite or try something entirely new with more than 1,000 board games to explore. Pre-book to reserve a table and don't forget to order some snacks, from loaded nachos and Korean chicken to Buffalo cauliflower and halloumi fries, as well as draught beers chosen by the cafe's Kickstarter backers.
Where: Waterloo (Arch 16, Leake Street, SE1 7NN) and Hackney (41 Kingsland High Street, E8 2JS)
2. Attendant
Discover a unique coffee bar in a completely unexpected location: a Victorian-era gents’ toilet. Attendant opened in January 2013, having turned the abandoned lavatory’s porcelain urinals into tables and the old bathroom attendant’s office into a cosy seating area. Now the lunchtime crowd packs into the small space for artisan coffee, sandwiches, soups and salads.
Where: Fitzrovia (27a Foley Street, W1W 6DY)
3. Lady Dinah's Cat Emporium
Cuddle up with one of the rescue cats that call Lady Dinah’s Cat Emporium home. The Bethnal Green tea house and cat cafe puts the welfare of its kitties at the top of its agenda, asking guests to largely leave them to their own devices. Still, you could find your cream tea interrupted by a fluffy guest climbing into your lap. Filled with faux-vintage furnishings and cutesy crockery, the cat-filled cafe in London serves high tea, cakes and light snacks.
Where: Bethnal Green (152-154 Bethnal Green Road, E2 6DG)
4. The Breakfast Club Spitalfields
A roster of English and American breakfast and brunch favourites await you at The Breakfast Club Spitalfields including sweet and savoury stacked pancakes, fried chicken waffles and the traditional fry-up.
Don’t forget to check out The Mayor of Scaredy Cat Town, a speakeasy bar hidden beneath The Breakfast Club Spitalfields. Whisper the secret phrase to a waiter and be guided to a secret underground bar via the Smeg fridge...
Where: Spitalfields (12-16 Artillery Lane, E1 7LS)
5. Biscuiteers
Decorate your own bespoke biscuit at Biscuiteers. The boutique and icing cafe has an incredible range of tempting sweet treats on offer, but it's much more fun to make your own. Choose from a range of seasonal biscuits and then go mad with sugary toppings to create your own decadent masterpiece.
Where: Notting Hill (194 Kensington Park Road, W11 2ES) and Belgravia (14-15 Eccleston Yards, SW1W 9AZ)
6. Jack & Beyond
Famous for its bottomless cake and fizz deal, Jack & Beyond serves delicious cake slices to be devoured within a 90-minute sitting, including red velvet cake, frosted Victoria sponge, carrot and cinnamon cake and cheesecake crumble. Dog lovers should check out the pawsome dog afternoon tea featuring banana woofin and carrot pupcake for your furry friends.
Where: Battersea (146 Battersea High Street, SW11 3JR)
7. Café in the Crypt
As the name suggests, Café in the Crypt is located in the crypt of St Martin-in-the-Fields church, hidden under the bustling west-end streets. Dine in the quirky cafe with vaulted ceilings and ancient tomb stone decor, and tuck into breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea or dinner. All proceeds go to St Martin-in-the-Fields.
Where: Westminster (St Martin-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square, WC2N 4JH)
