Due to the posh vibes of the borough, the best cafes in South Kensington don’t just serve up the best coffee. They also have the most mouth-watering sweet treats, the most inviting atmospheres, and the most eye-catching aesthetics.
As a matter of fact, many South Kensington cafes are some of the most Instagrammable cafes in London! While you’re at these South Kensington cafes, you can enjoy so much more than just a quick cup of coffee.
You can munch on a savory crepe from the Kensington Creperie, try a new dessert from Fait Maison, and settle down for afternoon tea at Caffe Concerto.
So if you’re looking for the best cafes in South Kensington, this list includes all of the best places for you to grab a cup of coffee.
In this guide:
6 Best Cafes in South Kensington
Kensington Creperie
As its name implies, the Kensington Creperie doesn’t just serve up fantastic coffee. It also dishes out fabulous crepes! The Kensington Creperie offers all of the traditional coffee options, including espressos, americanos, cappuccinos, and flat whites.
But you can also get something a little more creative, like a spicy cinnamon latte or a spiked Irish coffee. As for the crepes, you’ll have to choose between savory or sweet – or you can get one of each!
The savory options include chicken pesto, caprese, and Mediterranean. The sweet options include apple and cinnamon, Kinder Bueno, and strawberry cheesecake.
Fait Maison
Fait Maison is undoubtedly one of the cutest cafes in South Kensington. From its adorable plates, mugs, and teapots to its delectable sweets, everything at Fait Maison is absolutely picture-perfect.
And the sweet treats don’t just look good. They taste fantastic too! You can try the saffron dulce de leche, syrupy Middle Eastern basbousa, or the chocolate brownie and cotton candy treat known as fougi.
And since this is one of the best cafes in South Kensington, you’ll certainly want to add a beverage to the mix. The most popular experience is afternoon tea, which is the perfect combination of delicious desserts, warm tea, and an amazing atmosphere.
But if you’d prefer coffee, you can stop by at any time of day and order a café con leche, a Turkish coffee, or a Fait Masion rose latte. If all that isn’t enough to convince you to pay a visit to Fait Maison, the scrumptious breakfast options might.
You can enjoy the Fait Maison croque monsieur, the full English breakfast, or the classic Middle Eastern shakshuka.
Caffe Concerto
If you’re looking for the best coffee in South Kensington, Caffe Concerto is the place to go.
Caffe Concerto sources all of its coffee beans from Musetti, a premier Italian coffee company established in 1934. These beans are then brewed into your favorite coffee drinks, including espressos and cappuccinos.
You can also opt for a more creative style of coffee, including the pale pink ruby latte or the turmeric-infused golden latte.
And if coffee isn’t your style, Caffe Concerto is a fantastic place to go for afternoon tea in South Kensington as well. You can choose from a wide selection of teas while also sampling small sandwiches and wonderful desserts.
If you want to enjoy the sweet treats without having afternoon tea, stop by the patisserie. You can buy yourself an éclair, a pear danish, or a slice of strawberry gateaux.
Café de Nata
Café de Nata is named after the Portuguese pastry, pastel de nata.
Pastel de nata, or pastéis de nata if there’s more than one, is a custard-filled tart dusted with cinnamon. Legend has it, pastéis de nata were first created in the Jerónimos Monastery in Belém over 300 years ago!
Paired with a good cup of coffee, a pastel de nata is the perfect pick-me-up. The team at Café de Nata make these tasty pastries by hand every single day, so you know you’re getting the best.
After just one bite, you’ll find yourself coming back again and again to try all of the flavors, including blueberry, raspberry, and classic.
Hjem Kensington
With Fait Maison’s Middle Eastern influence and Cafe de Nata’s Portuguese influence, Hjem Kensington’s Danish influence adds even more diversity to South Kensington’s coffee scene.
Hjem Kensington is simultaneously chic and homey, which is representative of Scandinavian design.
With its loads of natural light, rustic wood shelves, and bright green plants, you’ll want to plop down in a seat and enjoy the atmosphere while getting some work done.
You can order any of your favorite coffee drinks at Hjem Kensington. But the matcha latte is undoubtedly the most popular.
There are also food items available, and the menu changes depending on the season. In other words, you know you’ll get the freshest food available.
If you only get one thing (in addition to your coffee, of course), get the delectable chocolate cake. It has dozens of rave reviews!
Maitre Choux
If you’re looking for the best choux pastry – and consequently, some of the best dessert – in London, Maitre Choux might claim the title.
Choux pastry is a type of French dough used to make many famous sweet treats, including eclairs, choux, and chouqettes. And you can get all of these desserts at Maitre Choux!
And Maitre Choux goes all out with its fun flavors. Try the blackcurrant cheesecake éclair, the Tahitian vanilla and pecan éclair, or the hazelnut and milk chocolate éclair.
Pair these sweet treats with a warm cup of coffee, and you’ll be all set!
Final Thoughts on the Best Cafes in South Kensington
The best cafes in South Kensington are influenced by cultures and cuisines from all around the world.
You can enjoy the flavors of the Middle East at Fait Maison, savor a scrumptious pastel de nata from Café de Nata, and enjoy the Danish-influenced interior of Hjem Kensington.
The chic borough of South Kensington is one of the best places to stay in London, including for first-time visitors. It includes many of the most beautiful places, the most iconic landmarks, the most famous pubs and the most Instagrammable places in London.
Are there other cute cafes in South Kensington that I should feature on this list? Let me know in the comments below!
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