The Counter Cafe (E3 2PA)

7 Roach Rd, London E3 2PA

http://thecountercafe.co.uk/

Unpretentious is the word that perhaps best describes this café. Artsy is another one, probably because of the lofty exhibition space in the entry foyer.

It’s probably not the sort of place you’d stumble upon by accident, unless you happen to like wandering around industrial areas, which is not something I’d recommend in London (speaking from experience).

Counter Café is situated on the enigmatically named Fish Island in Hackney, directly on the River Lee Navigation canal. Affording great views, it also overlooks the Olympic Stadium at Stratford. 

For free car parking, visit on Sundays; I’ve no idea why the council sees fit to charge for car parking on Saturdays since the area isn’t exactly thronging with visitors.

The café takes rustic shabby chic to a new level, and makes clever use of old cinema/theatre seating at some of their tables. The lighting inside can be dim particularly at tables away from the windows, so take a reading lamp in winter.

Low light conditions with cake as the highlight

The cake selection is not particularly extensive, but it always tastes great. Brownies are a staple. I thought banana cake was also a staple until one visit when there wasn’t any – I had to “make do” with the carrot cake, which I felt was a more than satisfactory trade off. 

The prices are very reasonable, which is both a good thing (economically) and a bad thing (when you then order three cakes instead of two).

The crowd is a mixed bag which makes for good people watching. The staff are relaxed, and help make the Counter Café a great place to hang out and while away quiet afternoons.

I particularly enjoy coming here when it’s cold and miserable outside because it always makes me feel warm and cosy inside. 

CakeMyDayLondon Rating

Coffee is my Cup of Tea (E8 3PH)

Mentmore Close, London, Greater London E8 3PH

http://coffeeismycupoftea.com/

We discovered this café after a visit to the E5 Bakery, as it’s about 3 doors down and has bathroom facilities (which the E5 lacks). I rather like the concept of using railway arches as cafes – rustic interiors with chunky wooden communal tables combined with industrial metal sheet walls, awkward spaces made to work with clever interior design, and no wasted space.

Having been here a couple of times the jury’s out in my opinion.

The first time I visited I loved the cake selection. The second time I found it lacking. 

Various takes on the banana slice are on offer (with peanut butter, with chocolate chips), although it can tend to being a bit dry and would be enhanced by about a million percent if it were served warm (or toasted) with butter.

Two people. Three cakes. Nothing wrong with that is there?

However, the prices are extremely reasonable, so this little café offers excellent value.

Would you like a bucket of cactus with your order?

I also like the fact that on the street outside is an innovative car-shaped bike rack. Nothing to do with the café, but I thought I’d mention it anyway as it’s a great initiative (http://thecityfix.com/blog/1-car-10-bicycles/).

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Cadence (SE19 2AA)

2a Anerley Hill, London SE19 2AA

http://www.cadenceperformance.com/cafe/

I know two things about “serious” cyclists:

1. They always moan about their weight
2. They eat a lot of carbs. 

Sometimes, they will moan about their weight while eating carbs. And the most annoying thing is that they are not fat.

I once attended a cycling event with Ben and overheard the following conversation:

Guy 1: I tried on some skin suits, but most were too baggy in the arms.

Guy 2: What size did you end up getting?

Guy 1: Ladies small.

Which probably explains why Cadence, a bike shop, has a café area serving some of the richest, most delicious cakes you will find. My particular favourite is the raspberry and lemon sponge, but there is usually a very wicked chocolate Guinness cake on offer as well.

Unfortunately I don't have my own cake photo, but I managed to find a calorie free one online. 

During one visit I was left at a table alone, while Ben chatted at length with one of the mechanics in the workshop. I ordered two slices of cake for us to share, but by the time Ben joined me I’d demolished both and only a few lonely crumbs remained. “Don’t worry” he said, “I’ll just have a muesli bar”.

If you enjoy stuffing your face in the company of fit, toned, sweaty, shaved-legged men wearing lycra, this is the place for you. The only downside is that the coffee is (apparently) to be avoided.

Never mind the “bike workshop” aesthetic & décor, I just come here for the cake. 

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Amandine (E9 7HD)

176 Victoria Park Rd, London, Greater London E9 7HD

http://amandine-cafe.tumblr.com/

I love this place. I love it so much that I would live here if I could and just eat cake all day.

Amandine Café is tucked away down a side street around the corner from the well known Lauriston Road. We stumbled upon it one day after finding that all the tables in all the cafes on Lauriston Road were taken. Dejected, we turned the corner onto Victoria Park Road in hopes of finding a cafe with a spare seat. I’m so glad we did.

On our first visit to Amandine our table was strewn with toy rubber dinosaurs, thereby earning it the moniker of the “Dinosaur Café”, which is how we will refer to it now and forever.

Eat or be eaten. 

Their cakes are delicious. All of them. They serve a wonderfully dense and flavoursome chocolate and guiness cake (see picture above), and I also have fond memories of their lemon meringue cake (see picture below). Imagine… meringue in a cake! Heavenly.

The inside seating area is cosy to say the least, but there is a postage stamp-sized courtyard out the back that is perfect on sunny days. 

A slice of their Lemon Meringue was like eating sunshine. Whatever that means. 

The courtyard also has a bountiful cherry tree, which sadly seemed to be feeding the neighbourhood birds rather than customers… tsk tsk. Hopefully next summer they won’t let this wonderful crop to go waste and perhaps cook up a cherry pie or two. 

A perfect little hideaway for urban palaeontologists.

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You don’t bring me Flowers (SE13 5ND)

15 Staplehurst Rd, London SE13 5ND

http://www.youdontbringmeflowers.co.uk/

We (being husband Ben and myself) discovered this café one day by accident, en route to another café nearby which had closed down (unbeknown to us until we turned up to find a locked door). 

Playing with my new smart phone (oh the joys!), I typed “coffee” into Google, and this little place came up in the search results. What a fantastic find! As the name implies, it is a café-cum-florist… or is it a florist-cum-café? No matter.

What's not to love about this setting?

  

Spread over two floors and stylishly decorated, this little shop offers up “proper cakes” prettily displayed on an array of cake platters. 

Records play on a real record player. 

Your order is brought to your table arranged on a floral-printed tray. 

What is not to like?

I will now only eat cake off a floral tray. 

The cakes are simple but sublime, the aesthetic is eclectic and thoughtfully put together. Off the upstairs dining area is an adorable little courtyard, perfect for sunny days. The dining area itself is beautifully decorated with comfy sofas and rickety tables.

I will keep coming back here whenever I feel the need to be transported into a floral fantasy world.

CakeMyDayLondon Rating