Ca’puccino, an Italian coffee company with locations in several department stores, has arrived in London. The place they’ve chosen for their first UK venue? Harrods, of course!

The Venue
Although Harrods is without a doubt a top location, Ca’puccino’s space – between stationery and the customer service area in the basement – is a bit hard to find. However, it’s worth seeking out for an escape from the hectic atmosphere of the floors above. The cafe is tucked away on the side, with a mix of soft grey sofas and white leather armchairs with little, silver, circular tables. A glass-fronted counter displays delicate handmade pastries as well as a choice of sandwiches and ice cream.

The Atmosphere
Thanks to its location, it’s safe to say that you can expect the crowd to be a majority of Harrods shoppers, keen to escape the hustle and bustle of the department store with a cup of coffee and a pastry. The decor keeps things feeling laid back, but with a contemporary, trendy edge.

The Food
The perfect accompaniment to a good cup of coffee is a piece of cake, and while you won’t find the typical slice here there are plenty of pastries to sink your teeth into. There are several types of croissants (coronettos in Italian) with varieties including plain butter, raspberry, custard, apricot and gianduia, a chocolate and hazelnut mixture. The apricot coronetto is light and buttery with crisp edges and a sprinkling of icing sugar. The pastry is flaky but not greasy, and the apricot filling is thick and sweet but not too sugary. Other pastries are available and prices range from £2.50 to £4.50.

Other food choices include savoury tarts (artichoke, courgette) for about £4 as well as panini sandwiches (£7 - £8) that are named after Italian cities. The Novara is made with pecan bread, gorgonzola cheese and fig jam, whilst the Udine is made with white bread, rainbow trout, marscapone cheese and salad. If all the pastries haven’t satisfied your sweet tooth, gelato is also available in flavours like peach and strawberry, chocolate and mint and pistachio and white cream.

The Drink
Much as you’d expect, there’s quite a long list of coffee and coffee-related drinks here. The highlight, of course, is the cappuccino (£3 for a single and £3.50 for a double). The drink is thick and milky, with a fluffy layer of foam - swirled into a heart shape, which is a sweet touch. A regular coffee, Americano-style, costs £3. Plenty of other drinks are available as well, including tea, hot chocolate, freshly pressed and squeezed fruit juices, and Bicerin, a traditional Italian drink made with coffee and melted chocolate. If you need something a bit stronger than coffee, options with alcohol are available (including a drink made with coffee and Marsala cream) as well as bottles of Italian beer for £5 and wine for £6 - £7 for a glass and £40 - £55 for a bottle.

The Last Word
A lovely little hideaway in Harrods, perfect for a relaxing cup of coffee or something a bit more substantial.

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