Alchemy Café - The City — Restaurant in London

I have been wanting to visit Alchemy for a couple of years now. I have had them on my list since summer 2020 when I happened to walk past while they were closed. I was finally back in London this week, and was so excited to finally check them out and also brought along friends. There were 4 of us and we all got drinks and a couple of pastries. the flat white I ordered was decent and the young lady who took our order and served us was amazing. The other couple of drinks and pastries didn’t taste very fresh. However, the reason why this place isn’t getting 5 starts from me, is actually because of a gentleman who works there but was not on the clock yet. He had arrived well after we placed our order and we were waiting for 2 additional seats to open up next to the 2 we already were sitting on. A man was getting out of his seat and we were clearing standing there waiting, and suddenly, this employee, swoops in and takes that seat before we had a chance to put our drinks down. Not only was this employee sitting in the customer seating area, he continued to get up and make himself drinks behind the counter and go into a back room and come back to sit next to us and began eating a bowl of noodles. And he even rudely, asked us to move over even tho, we were all there before he got there and he took the seat from us which we were waiting for. It left such a negative feeling for me and my friends and we quickly finished our drinks and left. I will never return to this cafe again and I am so disappointed that a place which I have been wanting to visit for so long, would have an employee treat us with such disrespect. I would recommend just ordering your drink to go if you have no other option in...

Alchemy Cafe is one of those rare places where everything just works. From the moment I walked in, I felt welcomed by the warm, inviting atmosphere — a perfect blend of rustic charm and modern comfort.

The service? Absolutely impeccable. The staff were not only attentive and friendly but seemed genuinely passionate about what they do. They took time to explain the menu, offer recommendations, and made sure I felt looked after throughout.

Now let’s talk food and drinks — truly outstanding. Every bite was a burst of fresh, vibrant flavour. You can taste the quality ingredients and the care put into each dish. The coffee was brewed to perfection — smooth, rich, and aromatic — easily one of the best I’ve had in the city.

What really stood out, though, was the ambience. Whether you're there for a quiet solo coffee, a casual meeting, or just to escape the hustle of the day, Alchemy Cafe strikes the perfect balance between relaxing and energising.

In a world full of average coffee spots, Alchemy Cafe is a shining example of what a great cafe should be — thoughtful, soulful, and deliciously memorable. I’ll definitely be returning (and bringing friends along...

I wouldn't normally leave a review but I'm a bit puzzled by the reviews below. Maybe I'm biased as a regular customer but I feel the need to jump to their defence. The staff, New and old, have always been lovely to me and a pleasure to talk to. They are incredibly knowledgeable about coffee if you engage them in a positive manner. What they do at this cafe is different to other cafes. At first it can seem over complicated but once you settle in its the best coffee experience you can have. Take your time to read the menu as there is a wide selection of beans and it's constantly rotating. It does get very busy and there can be a wait but they also serve a quick brew if you're in a rush. If not it's the best coffee in the area so it's well...