London by area,
January 12 2024
Café culture is thriving in the capital, and this corner of Central London is no exception. The neighbourhoods around the historic Marble Arch in Central London have a wealth of world-renowned museums, prestigious art galleries, exclusive shops, and, of course, the world-famous Hyde Park. To complement the experience, there are also some lovely independent cafés, offering delicious drinks, baked treats and friendly vibes. From quirky to trendy and too tempting to say no to, here’s our pick of the best Marble Arch cafés.
Created by lifestyle brand makers Monocle, The Monocle Café is very much on trend. The café serves delicious hot and iced drinks, lunch nibbles and the oversized Swedish buns are hard to resist. There are a couple of outside tables and seats underneath the handsome striped awning, but the best seating is in the lounge at the back. It’s decked out like a stylish living room, with a Swedish sofa, a TV, 60s coffee table and plenty of cool publications to read. If you’re tempted by the accessories on display at this cool café in Marble Arch, many are available to purchase in The Monocle Shop, next door.
This place has kerb appeal in abundance, from the cute seasonal window displays to the pretty outdoor seating that wraps around this corner café. When you head inside, you’ll quickly realise Daisy Green is more than just a pit-stop for a quick coffee. Come here for a delicious brunch with an Australian twist and choose the bottomless option if you want 90 minutes of fizz to go with it. There’s seating in the downstairs secret garden where the ceiling is covered in faux flowers, and dishes range from healthy granola to delicious bacon rolls with poached eggs and hollandaise sauce drizzling out of the sides. Plus, Daisy Green is dog friendly, so it’s a great place to pop in with your pooch.
The famous Brooklyn coffee chain has landed in London with a splattering of coffee shops. The closest Blank Street Coffee to Marble Arch is around the corner on Old Quebec Street, where a stylish oasis has window seating and an outdoor terrace for those sunny afternoons. This coffee chain has become a bit of a TikTok and Instagram favourite thanks to its trendy mint green and light wood decor and famous cold brew drinks. The original cold brew is the best – a shot of cold-brewed coffee with a hint of milk chocolate and caramel. While this place is mostly about the coffee, the staff can also rustle up a delightful pistachio cream focaccia.
Be warned: the fresh-from-the-oven baked goods here are so good-looking, you may walk in planning to be healthy but lose that willpower at the counter. The matcha croissant goes perfectly with a coffee in the morning. Boxcar Baker and Deli at Wyndham Place is a charming place to catch up with old friends or take a pause during a dog walk (yes, Boxcar is dog friendly). But it’s walk-ins only, so check if there’s a seat before you order if you want to stay. It’s popular! The bakery and deli are over two floors with window seats and two-person tables on the ground floor and bigger tables downstairs. Alongside the oh-so-tempting pastries, you can choose from daily salads, sandwiches and wraps to eat in or take away with you. If you fancy more Boxcar magic, you could also visit Boxcar Bar and Grill just steps from Marble Arch on New Quebec Street.
With imported produce on the shelves and traditional French drinks and pastries in the café, this is as close to a French café as you can get this side of the Channel. But So French also serves cups of English breakfast tea, which may not be common in France but is a bit of a must if you’re in Marble Arch. When you walk in, you’ll see shelves bursting with cute chocolate boxes, sauces, cheeses and drinks to put into a hamper take home. But the café is the star attraction, with delicious Arabica bean espressos a speciality. Grab a chausson aux pommes to go with it or a croque monsieur at lunchtime.
With these stellar cafés on your doorstep, Marble Arch is an excellent area to base yourself for a trip to London. You also have a top hotel here too – our Thistle Marble Arch hotel is steps away from the famous landmark on Bryanston Street. So come and stay with us and enjoy a great night’s sleep.
