Host Cafe
The right ambience can transform the dining experience.
I have had food on a moored barge, on the side of a dock with a sheer drop less than 10 cm away or on unfinished work benches. All of those surroundings added to the dining experience. Yet this coffee shop is rather special as it goes for grandeur.
To get this type of vibe, setting up in London provides opportunities everywhere if you know where to look. Although once you have found a place, whether or not they would welcome you setting up shop is a different matter. Finding somewhere which is usually not in use during the work week workday would be ideal. Once you have overcome that hurdle, obtaining the interest of the worker bees is the next hurdle. Some bright little bee has hit upon an idea of how to deal with both problems – setup inside a working church.
Among the majesty of the stained glass windows, the pews and majestic art work, coffee tastes that little bit better. By its nature, perhaps a place best for a solo coffee as you look around and check out the carefully stained stained glass windows.
Host Cafe is somewhere I used to often drop by when I worked around the corner. This time, I was there as I was up in the city for a haircut. Have to be careful as hair makes the man sometimes. As for the coffee, the latte was carefully poured with delicate latte art, creamy milk and deep coffee taste. No hint of burnt flavour here. Probably one of the best coffees you can have in London.
It is also in an atmosphere where your ideas can fly. About 30 metres up in this room. Much creative energy is in abundance.
They say that food and drink tastes better based on your surroundings. That is something carefully curated in fine dining, given the carefully placing of the cutlery, chair, food and crockery. Something that is a bit more difficult for a coffee shop. However, if you have a unique selling point, why not use it.
You never know what you might think of here. Especially when backed up with excellent coffee like this. Perhaps, you will find the meaning of life and that’s not living to eat, at least not all the time.
A quiet eating 8.5/10.
A coffee is about £3.80 excluding service.
69 Watling St
London EC4M9BW