Coffee Shop shoot-out
So in the name of research, I tried out two of Soho’s finest coffee shops this morning, one after the other – Fernandez & Wells on Beak Street and The Breakfast Club, to see which one stacked up better.
photo | anteenah
Fernandez & Wells is a cashmere jumper to the Breakfast Club’s hemp weaved cardigan. Minimal in presentation, black and white
throughout, clearly attractive to Soho’s well-heeled creative clientele and charges a premium for the pleasure. The coffee is very good though, but a little on the small side, no full measures here and only one size on offer. The spread of cakes and sandwiches is very good – door step sized cheese and onion sandwiches ready for toasting, home made carrot cake thickly spread with icing and large pot of Greek yogurt with nuts and honey. Service is superb with a full Antipodean contingency manning the till, the Gaggio and the mops.
photo | Lameen
The Breakfast Club is a different affair altogether. Only a five-minute stroll between them, Breakfast Club is instantly warmer in atmosphere. Random and bohemian is style, it definitely feels part of the Soho community – Polaroid’s of regular customers on the walls, different seats throughout, wooden, odd-sized tables and free Breakfast Club badges at the till to wear with pride. BC feels like a Greenwich Village stalwart with regulars holding court in small, quiet corners.
photo | noodlepie
The coffee is fantastic, large, overflowing cups and the bacon sandwiches on offer will keep you going all day.
So if it’s urban cool you want, head for F&W, or if it’s a more relaxed, woolly jumper with the cappuccino kids, get down to the Breakfast Club.
Fernandez & Wells
43 Lexington St
W1F 9AL Map
Soho
Tel: 020 7734 1546
The Breakfast Club
33 D’Arblay Street
London W1
Tel: 020 7434 2571