South London Louie — Restaurant in London

Lovely café, great coffee but £9 for tomato toast still feels off

South London Louie is a beautiful spot. Great coffee (Redemption Roasters), friendly team, and a relaxed setting inside the gallery.

I ordered the tomato toast: one slice of sourdough, a few tomato slices, a thin layer of tapenade, and a garnish. No sides, no extras. It looked good but felt very minimal.

This wasn’t a knee-jerk reaction. I gave it some thought and posted a review that questioned the value. The café responded with a detailed breakdown of their costs and asked me to update it which I’m doing here.

To their credit, they use good ingredients, bake their own sourdough, pay the London Living Wage, and after VAT and overheads, make around £1.95 profit on the dish. My own estimate was about £2 in total cost, so we weren’t far off.

The ingredients were very good, and the dish tasted great. But it’s still hard to see past paying £9 for a single slice of toast with tomatoes. The portion is modest, and the value just doesn’t quite land.

I’d happily return for the coffee and the atmosphere. But I’ll be more selective next time about...

South London Louie is an absolute gem for coffee and treats! The cortado coffee was perfectly balanced, rich, and smooth—one of the best I’ve had in the area. The latte was equally impressive, creamy, and wonderfully prepared. But the star of the show was the cinnamon bun—it was absolutely delicious, with the perfect mix of sweetness and spice, and a soft, flaky texture that melts in your mouth. It’s clear that everything here is made with care and attention to quality. The staff were incredibly warm and friendly, creating a welcoming atmosphere that made the experience even more enjoyable. Whether you’re stopping in for a quick coffee or indulging in one of their baked goods, South London Louie is a must-visit. Highly recommend for coffee lovers and...

It's my favourite café in the area, my safe place if I have a bad day. The occasional hardstyle makes a horrible atmosphere, but usually the acoustics are totally fine. Could use one or more vegan baked goods, I do find the banana bread a little overpriced at £5 a slice. Coffee is great though, staff is nice, lovely interior. (Edit as response: Hardstyle as in the techno genre. I could hear the bass through my ear plugs AND noise cancelling...