First opened in Shoreditch in 2001 with the ambition to be different from other chain cafes, Apostrophe has included good quality Italian coffee, herbal tea, breakfast porridge, daily baked pastries, freshly prepared lunch sandwiches and soups all under one roof.

The Venue
Situated on the corner of Baker Street and George Street, this cafe is in the heart of the capital yet just enough distance away from the hustle and bustle of Baker Street station and Oxford Street. The interior is bright and spacious, with its south facing facade and floor to ceiling glass walls, the space is filled with natural light and warmth. The furniture arrangement is contemporary and sleek. Long wooden bench tables with ottoman-style seating upholstered in black leather can sit four to six people, perfect for catching up with a group of friends.

The rear end of the cafe offers more private seating area where you can read, contemplate or work on your laptop. The kitchen is encased with back lit semi-translucent panels, posing in the middle of the space as a glowing white box. The recognisable colour scheme is bold and simple. Contrasting combination of black and bright pink is presented in all details from product packaging to the feature wall to the outdoor furniture.

The Atmosphere
The atmosphere is easygoing and relaxed. There is a sense of freedom here, you can sip on your drink for hours without being disturbed or rushed. The soft music in the background and the sunlight pouring in from the glass wall provide an ambience that is indulgently warm and elegant. Pots of jam and large jugs of water with mint and lemon are free of charge, there are even daily paper provided for your leisure reading. The service is friendly and helpful. The seats are regularly wiped to remain clean and crumb-free.

The Food
With the aim to offer traditional boulangerie food with good quality ingredients, all the pastries and bread are baked fresh daily in the kitchen. The menu offers more than a dozen of gourmet sandwiches (£2.80 - £3.95 for take away, a bit extra for eat in) and pastries (£1.20 - £2.20 for takeaway) that are beautifully displayed in the four metre long glass box at the entrance. The Menton (about £4), made with Sicilian meatballs, mozzarella and black olive tapenade, is toasted, warm and juicy with a hint of zest. The Lyon sandwich (about £4), with chicken, creme fraiche and chilli jam served in a baguette is creamy and filling. The drizzle of coriander on top marries with the sweet chilli sauce, adding a touch of Oriental flavour. There are also 10 varieties of soup (£3.45) on rotation, with two available at a time. All soups are made with fresh seasonal ingredients and free range meat, served with a wholemeal bread roll and butter. The Minestrone soup is thick and chunky with lots of vegetables and orzo (rice shaped pasta) that melts in your mouth.

The pastries are more disappointing. The cinnamon swirl is dry and bland, and the pain au chocolat is big in size but with too little chocolate to balance it. The pecan caramel Danish, however, is an indulgent treat with sweet sticky caramel layered in crispy pastry and just £2.60. There are also organic cakes, muffins and cookies on offer, and whole cakes (carrot, banana, and cheesecakes) can be made to order for special occasions.

The Drink
The hot drinks menu illustrates a large variety of coffee and teas to please everyone. The coffees include Italian style espresso, macchiato, latte, cappuccino, mocha, hot chocolate and cinnamon lattes, which is your usual latte with a shot of cinnamon syrup. Iced coffee is also available and herbal teas (£1.75) are served in tea pots with loose tea leaves. There are about a dozen interesting blends to choose from, such as forest berries and lemongrass and ginger. Iced tea is only available in summer time, there are however many different juices (£2.25 - £2.75) on display, with orange, carrot, pineapple, apple and pear, and apple and beetroot, all sitting in big glass jars above the counter in an array of colours.

The Last Word
It is good to know that Apostrophe not only provides excellent quality of food with fresh organic or free-range ingredients, it has also followed its ethical business principles to reduce waste and improve energy efficiency for our environment. It offers a space for you to unwind and forget that you are only steps away from a manic London shopping district.

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