Soho: unpolished, defiant and vibrant. A definition that works for Flat White as well, a trailblazer in the café renaissance whose star is still shining bright. Here coffee is excellent, independent and full of attitude.

The Venue
No-nonsense, back to basics seems to be the Flat White approach. The coffee is spectacular and the food a million miles away from your average greasy spoon. The décor has been intentionally stripped back to such an extent that blink and you might even miss this gem of a café in the heart of Soho. Diminutive in size, Flat White is proof that good things come in small packages; there's just enough space for the counter and a row of tables, a padded bench along one wall and a few small wooden stools. The wall opposite the coffee machine is used as a temporary art gallery that changes its showcase pretty regularly. This will be the only change, though. At Flat White the formula works so well that everything else remains the same: the prices, the décor, the menu. And the quality, for that matter.

The Atmosphere
There is a slight roughness around the edges, which is definitely intentional. It's a manly Kiwi café, not somewhere that's slick and polished. Hence you're unlikely to find yummy mummies (there's no space for the prams anyway), so expect to be sat beside tattoo artists, trendy fashionistas and other Soho cool cats. Some customers (think photographers and other media types) might remind you of the typical east London crowd, but the atmosphere is friendlier and less pretentious.

The Food
A delicious breakfast menu and a concise, mouth-watering selection for lunch complement the drinks. Breakfast (£2.30-£5) is served until late and leans toward the traditional, so expect Greek yogurt with fruit; muesli; porridge; French toast; scrambled eggs and more. The humble toast with spreads (£2.30) includes three large slices of good quality bread, toasted perfectly and served with some excellent jams. The lunchtime options (£4-£6.50) are more innovative, with ingredients like chorizo, piquillo peppers and noodles mingling with the simpler tomatoes, tuna, bacon and feta and to create very attractive salads and sandwiches. Resisting the temptation of the chorizo, zamerano and piquillo sandwich is very hard.

The Drink
Quality, prowess and pride are the key ingredients making of Flat White one of the best places in London for coffee, with their Square Mile beans helping in no small part too. Expect the usual suspects (flat white, long black, short black, mocha, cappuccino…) at a flat rate of £2.50, with most of the cups' froth adorned with hearts, leaves and other coffee art. Even a cup of hot chocolate is an event in itself: served in a glass, the chocolate is very rich, dark and unsweetened, and the top layer of foam is decorated with a spiderweb of sweet syrup. You will definitely walk away happy, whether you've had a caffeine kick or not.

The Last Word
Quality coffee and a creative menu are the trademark of Antipodean cafes in London and Flat White is definitely one of the best examples of how well this formula works.

venue information venue map view london review user reviews (2) image gallery (3)