Cafe Nile is a light, airy neighbourhood cafe that’s ideal for whiling away a couple of hours with a good book.

The Venue
Cafe Nile – not to be confused with the completely different Nile Cafe down the road near Stockwell – is a pretty little cafe located a short walk from Clapham North station. It’s instantly appealing on account of its large windowed frontage occupying the corner of Clapham High Street and Bedford Road. Peering in, you’ll spy a few simple tables and chairs and a small sofa space with the entire room centred around the serving desk, displaying an array of cakes and sandwich fillings. The decor is neutral and the cream tones do well in further lighting up the room, which is bright and enticing in the summer months particularly. It’s impressive in its simplicity.

The Atmosphere
This is a quiet neighbourhood cafe and you’ll rarely struggle to find a seat. Mainly a refuge for locals, you’ll see a mix of single coffee drinkers settling in with a good book or their laptop, couples enjoying a quick bite on their way to the common and mates catching up over tea and cake. It’s a relaxing, comfortable spot that’s ideal if you want to escape the hustle and bustle of the main high street. The staff are friendly and welcoming, and you’ll always be met with a smile. This is no Starbucks and you won’t be stuck waiting in a queue for ages to get your cappuccino.

The Food
The food at Cafe Nile is fresh, tasty and homemade. Pre-packaged sandwiches are not the order of the day here. Instead, you can choose your bread and a range of fresh, delicious-looking fillings from the counter. They change regularly but staples of a creamy egg mayonnaise with big chunks of egg or a rich mozzarella with pieces of sweet tomato and a tangy pesto dressing are as good as they sound. And the cakes alone are worth the visit with muffins, sponges and tarts on offer with various fillings. The carrot cake is a firm favourite though, with a moist sponge, delicately sweet flavour and creamy sugared icing. Yes, you will have to go for a run around the common afterwards. Prices are reasonable and certainly no more than the various chain coffee shops that pepper the area. You can have a sandwich followed by a generous chunk of cake with a good amount of change left over from a tenner. Who needs Pret?

The Drink
If you’re easily annoyed by coffee shops that do bad coffee then Cafe Nile should impress. The cappuccino is frothy, creamy and comes with a generous sprinkling of sweet chocolate powder on top. And for just under £3 it’s a winner. Lattes, espressos or – shock horror – regular coffee are also available as well as a selection of teas. If it’s something sweet you’re after then they also have a choice of standard soft drinks and juices.

The Last Word
Cafe Nile revives your faith in the local independent cafe. Support the indies and skip past the many chains that dominate the area. You’ll be glad you did.

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