Paradox Design + Coffee — Restaurant in London

First visit to Paradox as it’s been highly recommended. I ordered a batch brew, the person serving me was polite and friendly. When I went to sit down to drink my coffee and to do some journaling on my iPad I was informed by another member of staff that laptops were not allowed. I explained it was an iPad I use to write on, I was told it was their rule and could not use it. I looked for a sign and enquired if I had missed it, I was told there is no sign it’s just their rule. Unsure how anyone would know this on first visit. I suggested it may be helpful to have one. While I sat to drink my coffee the person who informed me I could not use my iPad was walking around the seating area which doubles as a shop on their phone, the entire interaction was quite brusque, made me feel unwelcome and was not a relaxing place to stop for a coffee. I have no issue with being asked not to use a iPad but the interaction could have been handled in a more polite and friendly way.

Coming back to edit this as it seems the business thinks it’s appropriate to screenshot my review, put it on Instagram and try and shame me publicly for calling out bad customer service. Fully confirmed for me that this isn’t a welcoming place and isn’t willing to take on a reasonable suggestion to place a sign to be helpful to customers either in person or...

This place is very well regarded in London's specialty artisan coffee scene, it's situated in a small food and art market called netil market, which is close to Broadway market. The coffee shop itself is in a converted shipping container. Despite the size there is space available to sit out of the rain to have your drink. There is a good selection of coffee beans available to buy, not cheap but the price reflects the quality of the coffee beans available. This place is one of the few places in London where you can buy beans from a coffee roaster called friedhats, based in Amsterdam Holland. Naturally I had to buy some. The coffee drink I bought was their house filter which was very good indeed, and actually tasted better as it cooled. The coffee beans I bought from them were very good too. Competition for specialty coffee is tough in London, especially in this particular part of London. I can safely say that paradox design lives up to its...

Coffee has been perfectly fine in the past! However today I wasn’t even able to order - I joined the queue behind one couple who I soon realised already had their coffee and were just chatting, which I have absolutely no issue with. The person working saw me, and the couple saw me (the woman even making a move to try and get out from in front of me to let me order), but the person working had no interest and ignored these cues and kept chatting. I want to emphasise I have no issue with friendly service or catch-ups, I just wish the person working had paused to take my order and start my coffee while chatting to them as most coffee shops/local shops do (balance customer needs). Instead she completely ignored me so after a minute I just left. I then watched them do this to another customer that attempted to join the queue! Unfortunately do not feel comfortable spending my money here anymore as it was truly bizarre...