Kassa Coffee — Restaurant in Hastings

I came here on 8th October 2024. This was the best cappuccino I've had in years! (And I have high coffee standards, having lived in Sydney for five years.) I just visited before a flat viewing, though I considered working here. The WiFi worked well. Dogs are welcome, which is lovely. Firstly, the atmosphere was very pleasant, with well dressed older men sitting reading (right up my street) in the front window; this was what made me enter as I couldn't really see in from the street and had planned to go elsewhere. There are tables/chairs as well as sofas and armchairs of various kinds. The menu seems to have very good Persian offerings, though I didn't try any. I ordered the cappuccino. It was £3 (amazing!), and was brought to my table by an attractive young woman, with great care and solicitousness. The coffee was a large size, decorated with a very pretty leaf design. To my amazement the foam was as flavoursome as the coffee, AND it was the perfect temperature! It was perfectly hot (ie not lukewarm) and lasted twenty minutes or more - I was writing and forgot to drink it but it also wasn't too hot on arrival (unlike Costa). The cafe has lovely bookshelves, and encourages conversation. The toilet was clean and tidy. I just didn't like the random chest of drawers outside it, and the main cafe itself had some other random furniture that didn't look as nice as it could - otherwise I'd give it five stars! A really delightful cafe...

Lovely Eastern Mediterranean and Middle Eastern food - if you are visiting St. Leonards definitely eat here. There's a great range of breakfast and lunch dishes including a large vegetarian and vegan selection. We had a combination dish which was like a Middle Eastern version of a thali, with lentil, chickpea, and potato and spinach dishes, with perfectly cooked rice; a mezze platter with hummus, feta, felafels and pitta; and some fantastic samosas served with chilli and tamarind sauce. Everything was beautifully spiced and the portions were generous. The coffee was excellent and so were the cakes. The whole place has a very relaxed vibe and we weren't the only ones thoroughly enjoying their visit. Prices are very reasonable, especially given the quality and quantity, but make sure you bring cash, as cards are not accepted. There is also an on-site...

Kassa is a jewel of a restaurant / café among the various St Leonard's eateries west of Hastings but still insisting on their own district identity. Delicious Persian / Afghan flavours alongside great coffee, pastries, classy omelettes, Mediterranean salads, hummus, meze, as well as eggs on toast, delicious teas, and a nice range of true vegetarian options. The ambiance is lovely. Seating either outside (nice in summer, windy in winter) or inside at vintage tables both small and large, comfortable lounge seats, well- stocked and used book shelves, and the great gleaming sea and south coast sky shining through the window. Prices on the reasonable side by local comparison, and one final surprise - it also houses an opticians, Kassa optics. Service friendly and the place though busy is always clean. Make a point of eating here and hang out for a...