Ciya Cafe — Restaurant in London

The shop outside and in seemed inviting and well loved. I was the only one there so service was quick. Two lattes please, with an extra shot of coffee in both. And these two donuts. £15.10! I thought, it’s the summer holidays, it’s all good.

Then he appears with the two smallest cups you could possibly ask for. Do people arrive for an 8am coffee and expect this? I can’t lie; I was fuming beyond belief. ‘I can put them into a large cup for you?’… I’m sorry, what is that going to do other than make them appear even smaller?

Coffee was nothing to write home about, not justifying by the price for the small amount that was provided. I felt slightly cheated and was inspired to ignore independent cafes based on this experience.

Edit: As I received a response from the owners which I cannot reply to, I will here. The cups on top of your coffee machine were not the ones you chose to provide the latte in. The donuts price, combined with the exceptionally small lattes were the shock. I was happy to pay your coffee price, should an appropriately sized cup be used.

It is true that you offered larger cups, as stated in my original message above, but that does not excuse the fact that flat white cups were used for latte drinks, which was significantly smaller than what was on show or was expected. I also do not appreciate the patronising tone of your comment 'our prices are clearly displayed''- the value for money was the issue, not...

We sat down and waited but two people, not busy, behind the counter made no move so I had to go and ask whether they would serve us. 'You place your order at the till' - ... thanks! The food offer was also confusing. As this is a deli you would hope to see at least some of the cafe food displayed. I asked about the deli salads and was just shown little plastic labels with three offerings. If I had seen the food I certainly would not have ordered it. Quiche for my companion was very thick, stodgy and bland with almost burnt pastry. We asked for cucumber in place of coleslaw but this did not appear, and the other accompanying salad consisted of just lettuce ((nicely dressed). I opted for the 'two deli salads' . One was chunks of beetroot with the odd green bean., on the same flat plate as lots of very liquid tomatoes. It was called panzanella but it was hard to find any bread in it. The effect of these two red salads swimming on a plate was dismal with no garnish or colour/texture contrast, so I asked whether the two deli salads came with bread. 'No' . The 'gluten free' chocolate brownie was a tiny square of chocolate gunge - certainly gluten free! but not a brownie as we know it, inedible. Of course I should have complained at the time but I did not want to further spoil what should have been a happy occasion with my young companion. The bill of nearly £24.60 for this fare was laughable. We left...

I recently came to the cafe and it instantly felt like a warm hug. From the moment I walked in, I was struck by how genuinely lovely the staff were. They greeted everyone with big smiles and made me feel right at home, even though it was my first visit. It's clear they love what they do and it really adds to the overall experience. Beyond the incredible service, the cafe itself has such a wonderful, homely vibe. The decor is cozy and inviting, with comfortable seating and a real sense of warmth. It’s the kind of place where you can easily lose track of time, whether you're catching up with friends or just enjoying a quiet moment with a good book. Every detail, from the gentle background music to the comforting aroma of fresh coffee and pastries, contributes to that feeling of being in a home away from home. It’s truly a lovely spot, and I can't wait...