For some WI chic with your morning coffee swing by Gipsy Hill's newest resident, The Blue Mountain Cafe, for slice of home-made cake and an armful of freshly-cut flowers.

The Venue
Situated opposite Gipsy Hill train station, this kooky little cafe has brought a lovely villagey feel to SE19. The black-painted exterior is softened by a colourful display of fresh flowers displayed in battered nickel buckets and rough-cut wooden boxes. Inside it gets even cuter with a chest-high scrubbed counter filled with home-made gateaux, chocolate muffins and moist slabs of dark, rich fruit cake. A brassy coffee machine knocks out heavenly coffee in front of a warm, open-bricked wall. There's a smattering of old wooden tables and the odd decorative wreath adorn the green and cream walls giving it a charming 'Auntie's pantry' appeal.

The Atmosphere
Step into this warm, coffee-scented cocoon of Southeast London and the noise of the nearby traffic of Gipsy Hill just melts away. Relax with the papers, a mug of creamy coffee and something sticky and calorific and mornings will fly by. Lazy day tunes drip from the speakers and the staff are genuinely nice and friendly. Although it's popular as a takeaway with the local commuters, it is also a haven for folk who live and work in the area. From mothers with newborns, to freelancers with laptops and students reading clever books, popping in for a latte and a cheery chat makes you feel a real part of the local community.

The Food
A selection of home-made cakes sit temptingly on the wooden counter, the huge, dark, chocolate fudge cake is well worth the cardiac risk. The creamy vanilla-topped carrot cake is also worth a mention, it's moist carroty-ness feels somewhat healthier than its chocolate cousin and therefore makes an acceptable breakfast choice. The warm croissants and pastries come fresh from the on-site oven and have all the glory of a French patisserie. The lunch menu includes some fantastic Pieminster pies such as the Heidi Pie filled with spinach, goat’s cheese, sweet potato and garlic, it's a huge bear of a pie which will certainly keep you going till spring. The goat’s cheese and grilled pepper baguette is a delicious example of the lunch menu and just stuffed with good quality creamy cheese and sweet, roasted peppers. Salads, quiche and antipasti are also available making a nice change from the usual range of sandwiches.

The Drink
The standard noisy coffees are all a here, creamy lattes, frothy cappuccinos and rich mochas and there's a fancy range of teas including Earl Grey, chai tea latte and the creamy sweet Jochan's chocolate chai. Fresh orange juice comes straight from the fruit and the milkshakes are good, old fashioned affairs and are always a real hit with the kids.

The Last Word
Although there's no aproned old ladies touting plum jam, the Blue Mountain Cafe certainly brings a touch of old-fashioned WI to the area, making for a real treat at breakfast, lunch or afternoon tea.

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