Bond St. Coffee, Brighton, UK

There are many coffee shops in Brighton, from international chains to smaller chains such as the excellent Taylor St Baristas, to independent shops. If you are a coffee connoisseur, then a trip to Bond St. Coffee is a must: these folks take their coffee very seriously. Bond St. Coffee is an independent shop and is located (as the name suggests) in Bond Street in the North Laine.  Their coffee is roasted by Horsham Coffee Roaster and they serve speciality coffees from around the world – the menu changes regularly. You will find expresso based drinks such as the Americano and wonderful long black and milk based espresso drinks such as latte and cappuccino on the menu. You can also have tea and hot chocolate too. They also serve a selection of cakes and pastries from local suppliers.

The Outer Studio Café at Charleston, Firle (near Lewes), East Sussex, UK

Type of shop: English café

I visited Charleston, the beautiful South Downs countryside home and retreat of the Bloomsbury Group, a few weeks ago on a glorious early summer day. The house and gardens are open for around seven months a year and feature designs and art work by the artists Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant. The house is a museum piece with the rooms presented to look as it did when it was lived in and entrance on most days is by guided tour only. A visit to Charleston is a must for anyone with an interest in the Bloomsbury Group or early 20th century English art.

Charleston House

Refreshments were required after my guided tour and where better to stop than than the on-site café, The Outer Studio Café? The cafe is open from midday and is housed in Charleston’s out-buildings which once functioned as the family laundry, apple store and garage.

Southsea Coffee Co, Portsmouth, UK

I love artisan coffee shops and in the age of Starbucks, Costa and Nero, it is heartening to see independent shops opening. Southsea Coffee Co opened just over two years ago in Southsea in Portsmouth and serves coffee roasted by hasbean. There are espresso based drinks (latte, cappuccino etc) and hand poured coffee (this changes regularly). They can serve you a long black, a coffee I got to love in Australia and one I have rarely seen on offer in the UK. They also serve a selection of special blend teas and herbal teas, hot chocolate and smoothies. In the Summer, there are iced coffees and teas. There is a beverage for everyone!

Beigels, Barbican, London

Type of food: Bagels

Within a half mile radius of the Barbican, there are a number of chain food shops – Pret A Manger, Eat and Subway – all offering lunch options for the many people who work in and visit the area. I have been to both Pret and Eat many times and I can understand their ubiquity (mainly) in London. However, I do like supporting independent places and a work colleague recommended Beigels to me. She came back with huge and delicious looking bagel so I had to try the place.

Beigels is a little shop on Goswell Road, opposite the Italia Conti Theatre Academy, that sells bagels. There are plenty to choose from, including breakfast bagels, cheesy melts, typical sandwich fillings and toasted bagels with peanut butter. Of course there are the specials too such as pastrami and hot salt beef. There are even burger bagels.

Third Village Coffee, Darlinghurst, Sydney

UPDATE 7th September 2016: The Stanley Street branch of Third Village Coffee has closed. The shop at 150 William Street is still open.

I was told about the wonders of an Australian coffee soon after I arrived in Sydney. Indeed one of my friends who was originally from England before moving to Australia, lamented the lack of a good long black coffee during a return visit to England and was befuddled by Americano coffees! However, this was only because he didn’t go to the right places 🙂

Le Petit Tarte Cafe and Patisserie, Glebe, Sydney

Type of food: Breakfast/brunch and cakes

Le Petit Tarte Cafe and Patisserie is a charming little place on Glebe Point Road that serves great coffee, delicious breakfasts and lunches and (so I’ve heard) fantastic cakes and pastries, hence the name. Sadly, I did not get round to trying their cakes (terrible of me – they looked great) but I did have breakfast and coffee and I loved it! 

Canvas Coffee Shop, Portsmouth (UK)

Type of shop: Social enterprise speciality coffee shop

Canvas Coffee Shop is a pop up shop within Portsmouth & Southsea train station, that serves their own blend of speciality coffee, roasted in Hampshire. They also sell local tea from All About Tea, a selection of home made cakes, pastries and local ice cream. In addition, Canvas is a social enterprise with all profits going towards social initiatives.