10 Best Cafes in Camden For Coffee And Pastries

A guide to the best cafes in Camden is long overdue, and if you’ve been to The London Local before, you know that one of my greatest passions in life is tracking down the best cafes in London.

There are lots of cute places to grab the best coffee in Shoreditch and Chelsea, lots of amazing cafes in Old Street, and if you just want to chill in coffee shops in Stoke Newington, I’ve already got you covered. But today, I will be talking all about the best cafes in Camden, including Camden High Street and Camden Market, of course, but not only.

10 Ultimate Best Cafes in Camden

I’ve been meaning to write about the best cafes in Camden for a while, the first reason being I seem to find myself there quite often. Whenever you make new friends in London – especially foreigners, they’re bound to want to visit the area and find the best things to do in Camden Town. That’s why you might want to check out the best charity shops in Camden Town too, as I’ve written about them some time ago and they’re really a sight if you’re looking for secondhand books in London, clothes, accessories, and homeware.

There are many coffee shops on Camden High Street and Camden Market, not gonna lie. The Coffee Jar, Casa Tua, famous Monmouth Cafe (which is also one of the best coffee shops in London Bridge, near Borough Market, one of the best markets in London), The Coffee Tree… The goal of this guide is to enlighten you on the path to the best coffee in Camden.

Later on, I’ll obviously be writing more specifically about other parts of London, with the best cafes in Angel, and the best cafes in King’s Cross, notably. But for now, let’s get on with the ultimate list of the best cafes in Camden!

Best Cafes in Camden: The Coffee Tree

The first Camden cafe I want to tell you about couldn’t be any other than The Coffee Tree – definitely some of the best coffee in Camden. There are two other branches in London, one on Shaftesbury Avenue, and the other branch is their amazing coffee shop in Old Street. I love The Coffee Tree because of their freelance slash student vibe – you’re pretty much welcome to have a cup of their amazing coffee while building up your business there if you know what I mean. 

Being a freelance writer, I’m always on the lookout for the best cafes to work in London, and I literally rarely sit down at a coffee shop where there are no plugs or no WiFi. London is an expensive city, isn’t it, and in tourist areas like Camden, if I need to splurge on coffee (okay, let’s say, some pastry as well), I’m going to need to have a run for my money. If you’re looking for some amazing coffee shops in Camden High Street, The Coffee Tree is definitely going to be your first destination. 

There’s a bit of everything for everyone there, so if you’re looking for a cafe in Camden with vegan or gluten-free options, The Coffee Tree will have some pastries there for you. Vegan banana bread, viennoiseries, brownies, wraps and sandwiches for light lunches, and amazing specialty coffee in London – what’s not to like? 

Italian Cafe Camden: Casa Tua Camden

There’s nothing I love more than coming across Italian cafes in London, so much so that I’ve already told you all about the best Italian coffee in the city a while back. Let’s now add to this list Casa Tua Camden, one of the very best cafés in Camden Town. Very underrated, if you want my opinion, whether we’re talking about the location, the deliciousness of their coffee, or the freshness of the food.

If you’re looking for a Camden cafe for breakfast, then that’s the perfect place, especially if you’re going with longtime friends or family. There’s something about Italian coffee shops in London that just brings out the family vibe, something very intimate and interesting. At Casa Tua Camden, you can order Altamura bread, one of the very best breads in the world, if you want my two cents. 

It’s quite rare to come across an Italian cafe in Camden, and Casa Tua blends the tradition of Italian coffee with English breakfast types of food. When you visit, you can get some fresh fruit juices, amazing roasted coffee, English breakfast, porridge, but also focaccia, arancini, fresh pasta, and panini. As the concept of Casa Tua is “create an experience of home dining in Southern Italy” with old Italian recipes from the Puglia region, I think the blend is pretty successful.

Cafés in Camden Market: The Coffee Jar Camden

And then if you’re looking for some cool cafes in Camden Market, you have the amazing Coffee Jar. Located on Parkway, this is the place where you can get some of the best coffee in Camden, with a side of delicious pastries and sweet treats. Whether you go for breakfast, brunch, or lunch, you will definitely find something amazing to bite in.

The Coffee Jar Camden menu is filled with really stunning cakes, and I think it’s worth highlighting that again. The coffee selection is not that wide, and it’s easily some of the best coffee in Camden – and probably in the whole of London. 

Since the coffee shop is open seven days a week, you can visit before work on a weekday, or before strolling around Camden Market on the weekend. Your call. A Camden coffee house unlike any other, with exceptional customer service as well, by the way.

Best Cafes in Camden High Street: Fabler Bakery

Ah – absolutely love Fabler Bakery if you’re looking for both the best coffee in Camden and a great, spacious place to have breakfast at the same time. Fabler Bakery is a super instagrammable bakery in London, to start with, and they’ve got some through and through experience when it comes to baking. If you’re looking for a vegan cafe in Camden, they have an extensive selection of pastries and baked goods available to suit all kinds of diets. 

Whether you’re looking for the best coffee in Camden or just a light bite on your way to visit Camden Lock, you’re going to be well-served at Fabler Bakery. I’m talking about their famous buns, available in versions for everything-eaters, gluten-free peeps, vegetarians, and vegans. There are also amazing sandwiches there, juices, coffee, and, something I am a sucker for – pizza al taglio, something typically Roman. 

If you’ve been to The London Local before, you probably already know I share my time between London and Rome. As such, when I tell you about the best Italian restaurants in London or the best Italian coffee shops in London, I know what I’m talking about. 

And Fabler Bakery really has their pizza nailed down to perfect. One of the most instagrammable cafes in London, very low-key, very no-frill, but thrilling all the same. Beautiful decor, homemade food, and an overall great moment await you at Fabler Bakery Camden. One of the best cafes in Camden Town, even if they don’t label themselves as a coffee shop only. 

Best Vegan Cafe in Camden: The Fields Beneath

I might write about all things vegan in Camden later on, but for this guide to the best cafes in Camden, I’ve chosen to include The Fields Beneath first. Let me start off by saying that The Fields Beneath is the best vegan cafe in Camden. I could literally stop here but I’m also going to add some sparkle to it, saying that it’s one of the most instagrammable cafes in London.

I think that by now – and if you’ve been to The London Local before, you know that I love finding instagrammable cafes, like the picture-worthy coffee shops in Shoreditch, flower cafes in Chelsea, or Covent Garden. All the beautiful plants at The Fields Beneath make it a super comfortable, cozy, and friendly atmosphere, in addition to this cafe serving the best coffee in Camden.

Located between Kentish Town and Camden, The Fields Beneath has some outstanding vegan pastries. I’ve already told you a lot about the best vegan bakeries in London a while back, and if you’re looking for vegan cookies or vegan donuts, I’ve covered that for you as well here. But The Fields Beneath is on a whole other level.

The best cafe in Camden? Most probably, especially considering just how many alternative kinds of milk and stunning pastries, vegan sandwiches, and wraps they have going on there, just under the railway arch. Plus, there are some of the most amazing charity shops in North London located very close to Kentish Town, so you could definitely do yourself a “two birds one stone” kind of favor.

Best Cafes in Camden Town: Hidden Coffee

When it comes to Hidden Coffee, I’d say it’s one of the best-underrated cafes in Camden, just a stone’s throw away from the Camden Overground station. If you’re just looking for something a tad different, with super cute decor and probs the best coffee near Camden Market, Hidden Coffee is your best bet. The fact that the service is always top-notch makes it that much more enjoyable in the morning when you’re starting a full London itinerary, or just looking for a great cup of coffee before heading to work.

Many of us are looking for cafes in Camden with outdoor seating as soon as the sun appears – we all know just how often the sun shows itself in London, don’t we? With some seats inside and outside of the cafe, there’s a choice for everyone just pumping themselves up before starting the day. Different vibe than other cafes in Camden High Street, with a vibe that really echoes the name of Hidden Coffee. Great, great selection of hot drinks, coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and delicious pastries, sandwiches, and paninis as well if you’re onto a Camden cafe for breakfast.

Best Cafes in Camden High Street: Think Coffee Ink

Located at the end of Camden High Street and tickling Mornington Crescent, Think Coffee Ink is one of those themed cafes in London that I absolutely love. Aside from being one of the best cafes in Camden, it’s also a barbershop and a piercing and tattoo studio. Love it when coffee shops in London mix it up a bit, making them different from the ever-growing mass of cafes. That’s what you need in a city like London, isn’t it, when you’re trying to grow – be better, or be different – or both. 

The staff at Think Coffee Ink is really friendly, and to be honest, those are some really fair prices when you consider the location of the coffee shop. There, you’ll be able to sit and read your newspapers for a bit, scribble down in your notebook, and legit just take time to sit, think, and watch the world swirl around you. They might have some of the best pastries in London too – especially their brownies, a real delight.

Best Cafes in Camden: The Espresso Room

The Espresso Room is definitely not one of the best cafes in Camden High Street – actually, it is in the Camden Borough but located nearer Russell Square. Don’t leave it out, though, even if you’re around Camden Town. Russell Square is definitely one of my favorite areas in London, with the beautiful British Museum and its Egyptian art and pharaoh torsos. The Espresso Room has quite a few branches around London, in Holborn, Covent Garden, London City Island, and on Great Ormond Street near Russell Square. 

The Espresso Room near Russell Square is one of the smallest cafes in London, to be fair, and it also offers some of the best coffee in Camden. So you can definitely sit down on the benches outside when spring comes around, but it’s a bit small so you might want to grab and go. Since it’s really, really, really one of the best cafes in Camden, I definitely urge you to visit.

Best Cafes in Camden for Breakfast: Camden Bakery

Let’s go back to the best cafes on Camden High Street now, with the ever-so-delicious Camden Bakery. Ever since I discovered this place a few years ago (before the pandemic?), I’ve been hooked and if you’re looking for a Camden cafe for breakfast, you’ll be well-served at the Camden Bakery. First of all, the window is always filled with some of the most decadent-looking buns and doughnuts you’ll ever see in London. I’m talking huge, sweet, sprinkled with sugar.

The place is quite huge, and once you go inside, you really literally won’t want to leave. I feel it’s one of the best coffee shops in Camden because of the selection of pastries which, I have to admit, always tugs at my heart. There are more cakes there than in Wonka Land, and there are not many cafés in Camden Town that actually feature so many delicious-looking layered cakes, full of color. 

I’ve always been very well-received there, and the size of the cakes, OMG. Lots of savory treats as well, from delicious bread to pizza, sandwiches, and salads. Just anything you’d need, you know, and plainly and simply one of the best bakeries in London.

Best Cafes in Camden: Store Street Espresso

Store Street Espresso is another one of the best cafes in Camden, located not too far from the British Museum. As such, if you’re shopping around Oxford Street or taking a stroll near Covent Garden, you’ll be really close. If you’re up for a lil’ walk, then you’re going to taste some of the very best coffee in Camden at Store Street Espresso. It’s worth noting that they use some amazing coffee roasters coffee beans from Square Mile, and that makes all the difference. 

It might look like a coffee shop as small as The Espresso Room, but there’s plenty of seating space inside. That means that when you sit down there, you won’t feel rushed to finish your coffee in record time. One of my favorite things to order there is the latte – and how could it not be, when I’ve spent months in Italy ordering caffè latte to hold hands with my morning croissant? 

A really smooth cup of coffee, that’s what Store Street Espresso does best. However, if you’re also looking for the best cafe in Camden for breakfast or lunch, their menu is well-curated, and that’s an understatement. An artist spot with great decor, great food, great coffee, and an amazing location – could we really wish for anything more?

Bonus: Best Cafes Near Camden: Monmouth Coffee

I’ve decided to add a lil’ bonus to this list of the best cafes in Camden, with Monmouth Coffee – because sometimes, I really feel like some places need to be included even if they’re just a bit further out. I’ve talked about Monmouth Coffee quite a lot on The London Local already. First of all, it’s one of the best cafes in London Bridge, right off Borough Market. Aside from being one of the best coffee roasters in London, the coffee shop chain has a very sustainable mindset that I abide by. They have cups on loan that you can keep or give back when you visit again to get a clean, sanitized one. 

Read: 13 Seriously Best Cafes in London Bridge

It’s probably the one of best cafes in Camden for breakfast, with definitely some of the best coffee in the whole of the area. I love the atmosphere, sober yet young, very London-like, to be fair. There are not lots of Camden coffee roasters, but Monmouth Coffee brings a breath of fresh air to the touristic places that are Camden High Street and Camden Market. Wherever I go, I keep finding a Monmouth Coffee when looking for a cool cafe near me. 

The first Monmouth Coffee shop was established back in 1978 in Covent Garden, where they still have a shop. Which is, let’s say it, still one of the best cafes in Covent Garden if you’re down for real, badas* artisan coffee in London.

10 Ultimate Best Cafes in Camden

And there you have it, The London Local’s ultimate guide to the best cafes in Camden Town, Camden High Street, and Camden Market. Of course, there are many more coffee shops where you can grab some of the best coffee in Camden. But I’ve chosen to tell you about independent coffee shops, places with original coffee roasters, including a handful of cool cafes to work in London if you’re a student or a freelancer.

I haven’t put a strong accent on cafes to study, as I’ve already written a full guide to the best cafes to work in London some time ago that you can check out if that’s what you’re after. But, if you’re just looking for the best coffee shops in London, I can recommend further reads for you:

• The most instagrammable cafes in Chelsea
• Super cute cafes in Covent Garden for brunch, breakfast, and artisan coffee
• And the best cafes in Old Street near Shoreditch

Until next time!

PS. Did you know that you can find amazing things to do in London with no money? Yes, it’s possible!