Against strong competition worldwide, from Vienna to Buenos Aires to Paris, two London cafes have made it onto the Telegraph’s list of the most beautiful cafes in the world. London is known for its ever-changing food and drink scene with new places opening up almost every other week.
However, some are not known for the buzz of being new but rather for their long history as a hub for people to meet, chat and enjoy a coffee together. Bar Italia, one of the oldest cafes in Soho, became a home away from home for many Italians. Replicating Italian-style cafes, or as they are called in Italy, “bars”, Bar Italia offered a taste of home, both in coffee and style.
With neon lights welcoming people through the doors and its vintage Gaggia coffee machine, Bar Italia teleports its customers out of Soho. Located at 22 Frith Street in Soho, the bar is open from 7am to 4am and offers almost 24-hour coffee and food for everyone; the early shifters and the late party animals.
In true Italian fashion, ‘bars’ offer a selection of drinks and are not limited to just coffee or tea. With sandwiches, cakes and pastries, you can pair it with your choice of drink from an espresso to an Aperol Spritz.
However, the competition is fierce and Bar Italia wasn’t the only Soho cafe to make the list. Soho’s staple Algerian Coffee Stores, which opened in 1887, has also claimed the title of one of the most beautiful coffee shops in the world.
Described by the Telegraph as “an atmospheric rarity in central London”, the small and aromatic cafe doubles as a takeaway offering customers to stand and sip a single shot for £1.20 or a double shot for £1.50 .
With its seemingly endless display of coffee beans, Algerian Coffee Stores sells 96 different types of coffee blends that can be purchased in store or online. Each bag is freshly roasted and made to order. Depending on the blend, prices range from £4.70 up to £27. If coffee isn’t your thing, you have a selection of specialty teas and confections to choose from as well as tea or mocha pots to make your favorite drink at home.
Open Monday to Saturday from 10am to 6pm and closed on Sundays, the shop is located at 52 Old Compton Street. With character and a coffee-infused air, Bar Italia and Algerian Coffee Stores have made a name for themselves as London cult classics.
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