There’s not much this place doesn’t do. Boasting a cocktail bar,
espresso bar and a restaurant, Grind has got all bases covered.
Seriously stylish interiors flaunt neon-pink LED signs, chalkboard
menus, whitewashed brick walls and a marble-top bar. Start your day
with one of its cold-pressed juices. We’d strongly suggest a taste
of the sweet citrus juice, which is packed with all the essentials:
orange, lemon, tangerine, grapefruit, turmeric and cayenne. End
your day with Tommy’s Margarita, and, for an extra kick, request a
dash of chilli.

In the middle of Covent Garden’s bustling market, this quaint café serves a variety of sweet and savoury crêpes. Slide into one of the booths and browse the menu – we recommend a Dirty Harry for chorizo, cheddar cheese, sun-dried tomatoes and ranch dressing if you like savoury or, if you have a sweet tooth, the Cheap Date filled with Mars Bar and Baileys will do the trick.

While an all-avocado dining concept may sound basic, Avobar pulls it off with flair. Pairing a breezy Cali aesthetic with superfood dishes, this is the place to perch on a wooden bench surrounded by avo-green tiled walls and hanging plants as you sip on an avo-based smoothie. If you’re feeling peckish, delve into pokè bowls, vegan tacos or brunch plates, and don’t forget to browse the shop, which sells a range of avocado-based skincare.

Named after the world-famous pasteis de nata, this café has a speciality that comes as small surprise. Come for freshly baked, creamy custard tarts dusted with cinnamon or icing sugar while watching the pastry chefs work their magic behind a glass wall, and pair it with a glass of Ginjinha – a traditional Portuguese cherry liqueur.

At some stage, we’ve all been served a bowl of gloopy, lumpy and
frankly bland porridge. In fact, we’d go as far as saying having a
taste for porridge is arguably the same as having the palette of a
Victorian child. But, that was before we were introduced to founder
of 26 Grains, Alex Hely-Hutchinson. Having honed her craft in
Copenhagen, Hutchinson immersed herself in the
complicated process of pre-soaking grains, before dashing straight
back to the city to share her secrets at her Old Street pop-up.
Today, home is Neal’s Yard, where you’ll find layers of berries,
seeds and cool Scandi-style interiors. Visit from 10-11.45am to
snag a bowl of famous five-grain porridge, dolloped with
spiced-apple, butter, sesame and almond granola. Rest assured, if
you’re not quite on board yet, there’s also a hefty selection of
other savoury sensations, including a smoked salmon plate. Insider
tip: this place recently introduced a supper menu, so swing by in
the evening to catch another blissful bite.

Exposed brick, wood panelling and original features… this is a trendy coffee shop at its best. Order a cappuccino and while away the afternoon admiring the 19th-century interiors. Alternatively come for brunch; the brioche french toast topped with whipped lemon ricotta, black-cardamom sugar and blueberry compote is our favourite.

Okay, so Beso isn’t exactly a café, but this is where
Mediterranean zest meets the Big Smoke – and it was recently rated
the best place in the city for scoffing sourdough pizza. Round up
the troops and head straight to its bar-facing high stools for a
full session of tequila-tasting and plate-sharing. We’ll be making
a monthly pilgrimage here, partly for its pre-theatre and takeaway
salad-bar menus, but largely for its dramatic design: picture walls
clad with colourful portraits, floor-to-ceiling windows and hanging
wine glass racks – all complemented by a thumping jazz soundtrack.
Just a heads-up: its handmade pastas are impossible to refuse.
Don’t say we didn’t warn you.

Blink and you’ll miss it: this tiny South American-Australian
mash-up café has an explosively flavourful menu. We’re talking
brekkie rolls that will leave you sated for the entire day,
featuring poached eggs, crispy baked prosciutto, avocados and spicy
caramelised onion salsa served on a brioche bun. Dishes aside, this
is the ideal location for a slow and lazy mid-afternoon lunch. With
dark-wood furnishings, warm pendant lighting and enormous artworks
plastered across the walls, it’s going to be our new Sunday
regular. Don’t visit without trying the rose latte – thank us
later.

A charming courtyard café in the heart of Covent Garden?
Naturally, It had Petersham Nurseries’ name scribbled all over it.
After successfully managing to pull your gaze from the shop’s
terracotta pots and vivid bouquets, direct your attention to the
extensive tea menu and order an extra-large berry-and-hibiscus
brew. The ideal lunch? Start with the vegetarian wrap, stuffed with
squash, broccoli and houmous, before chomping your way through a
slice of Petersham’s panettone. If, like us, you’re kick-starting
the new year with the usual detox, you’ll swoon over the salad
selection – not to mention the soup of the day.

Calling all coffee connoisseurs: this Seven Dials hotspot is
known as the best place in Covent Garden to get a proper cup of joe
among locals and, with one glance at its lengthy menu, you’ll see
why. Let’s be real – stepping into a packed coffee house can
sometimes feel as daunting as arriving in a foreign country for the
first time. Firstly, there’s milk to consider, next, how the beans
have been roasted, and that’s before we get to the cup size. But,
here at Monmouth Coffee Company, all baristas are trained in the
varying tasting notes of the beans, so we’re pretty certain you’ll
find your perfect match. Caffeine addicts should sign up to its
newsletter for updates of past and upcoming roasts.