Sacred have upped the ante in the world of cafes by serving a proper coffee, serious tea, real fresh food and, just as importantly, a warm environment that tingles all of your senses.

The Venue
Just off Carnaby Street, if you want to relax and let yourself go in a hedonistic world of tea and coffee then you need to experience Sacred. The cafe has been laid out across two floors. The ground floor isn’t especially large but it’s not small either. There’s enough space to comfortably seat a handful of shoppers giving them each enough space to look at their purchases without knocking over anyone’s drink, and there’s also room for a refrigerator stocked with interesting bottled juices and soft drinks. At the far end is the counter with a selection of cakes, ciabattas and crusty rolls. The large blackboards behind the dark wooden counter give the cafe a sort of rustic feel as does the bare brick wall that runs the length of the venue.

The staircase leading to the basement floor is lit by a series of medieval looking torches with candles lining the wall. At the bottom of the stairs is the toilet which really is an experience in itself. The small but almost sensuous room has been decorated as if it were a shrine to all the events that it sees on a daily basis. The dark green paint and green plants make it feel like stepping into the wilderness whilst the incense and candlelight are very relaxing.

Away from the toilet are tables and chairs working their way around the outskirts of the room. This leaves a nice open space in the centre that is actually very calming. The bench that runs around the outside wall, however, isn’t very comfortable as it isn’t quite deep enough. The coffee tables are also very low making them more suitable for resting your feet on. The burgundy and bronze colour scheme give the walls warmth and the various paintings hanging on the walls of tropical islands and rainforests give off a Carnaby Street flair. At the far end of this basement are two comfortable black leather sofas next to the large stone Buddha that sits in his cove surrounded by stones and candles.

The Atmosphere
The music gives off a free-spirited vibe that shifts between an infectious salsa beat and a far more zonked out, slightly more experimental sound. Most of the people inside have either come alone to write or with a friend with whom they can indulge in quiet conversation. Whether you come with a friend or not you’ll find the atmosphere extremely relaxing.

The Food
The chicken and avocado bap comes with sundried tomatoes and makes for a nice light meal to have with a cup of tea or coffee. The different flavours complement each other to produce a subtle and pleasant mix. There are a range of baps, rolls and sandwiches all with healthy fillings as well as a small selection of cakes including carrot, banana and chocolate fudge.

The Drink
Sacred’s pride and glory are their hot drinks. A lot of effort has gone into creating a special cup of coffee and the perfect tea, the idea being that some southern hemisphere hospitality is required to create a decent hot beverage. Blended and roasted the New Zealand way, you can expect an extensive range of coffees including a Flat White, Long Black, Mochaccino, Cappuccino and Cortado among others. If it’s a hot day you might be tempted by an iced coffee.

If you fancy a really good tea that has had a lot of thought put into it then take your pick. All the teas are made from loose leaves that sit in pouches, not tea bags, and are served in rather quirky teapots with little intricate designs on them. Your teas range from the classics (breakfast, Earl Grey and lapsang souchong) through to your herbals (chamomile) to your fruit teas (red berry) and green tea (£2.75). A selection of wellbeing ayurvedic teas are also available for those looking to energise, detox or relax. An interestingly entitled Passion tea contains a fascinating list of ingredients including apple, cinnamon bark, ginger mistletoe, cardamom, lemon peel, ginseng and cloves.

The Last Word
Get in tune with your chakras by ordering a cup of brew and sitting next to the Buddha downstairs. It’ll revitalise you’re body and prepare you for the second half of your shopping leg.

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