Flat White

It took us a long time to drag ourselves out of bed this morning and by the time we reached Flat White we were in desperate need of nourishment. The door of the shop has a self-closing mechanism to keep out the autumnal cold and I loved the seemingly slapdash way it had been weighted with cups. I had a brief panic when we opened it and took in the tiny space within but suddenly there was a table free and Ian made a run for it whilst I ordered.

There’s a black leatherette bench wrapping round the edge of the room and stools from Unto this last (a great little Brick Lane workshop). Bare glowing filament bulbs hang above the counter and the crockery is basic and somehow slightly school days (oval metal plates, standard tumblers, white cappuccino cups). The whole thing was very 60s, very Soho: scrawny, stylish folk in black T-shirts being nudged from hangovers by caffeine and James Brown playing loudly.

The coffees and food came fairly swiftly. Ian has been a latte man for some time but the flat white hit the spot with its creamy texture and strength. The macchiato was also good and strong, there was a slight bitter edge but it melted away with the banana bread. And the banana bread was good: heavenly smooth and thoroughly warmed.

By the time we left we were awake and ready to face the slightly seedy Soho world. Berwick Street is a great little place, so completely different from the nearby mass commercialism of Oxford Street. There are a number of fabric shops as well as several other cafes, all heaving with a Saturday brunch crowd. The street’s best known though for its fruit and veg. market and most of the stalls were using lovely old Victorian-style carts.

Flat White
17 Berwick Street, Soho, London, W1F 0PT