Vanilla Black Coffee & Books — Restaurant in London

I think I missed it twice until I decided to try the 3rd time. Finally, I found this coffee shop among the rainbow houses and shops on Kennington Road, which has a very low-key sign board. But everything is worthwhile, because it is such a cheerful hidden gem. Ready to explore this lovely space with yellow coffee machine and yellow walls.

Coffee Shops Each Tube Station For Digital Nomads 32nd Stop: Northern Line-Kennington Station Vanilla Black Coffee & Books @Vb_kennington

Category: Independent Coffee Shop + Bookshop

WIFI: Reliable and free to use (a code needed)

Seating: They have two floors and a lovely backyard. There are many communal tables, chairs and stools on the ground floor, which could accommodate 25-30 seats. And they labeled Laptop free zone so that the seats can be made most of. And on the basement, it is another small world, with fire place, couches, communal tables and chairs, and a shared library, it feels just like at home. Charging Point: Yes. Bathroom: Yes

Ambience: The interior design is minimalist and chic. I like the bright color they use inside, and the yellow coffee machine really attracts people's eyeball and matches very well with the yellow wall, which makes you think about the happy moment of sunny days. Although it is located on the main street, it is very quiet and a good place to get your work done. Surrounded by cookbooks, stationary, homeware, and gifts, if you just sit back and read a cookbook with a cup of coffee or their loose leaf tea, it also makes you a lovely day.

Staff Friendliness: Very smilery and friendly, fast customer service.

Cost: Coffee ￡2.2-￡3.5 Tea ￡2.75 Hot Chocolate...

I've been living in Kennington for 10 years, and I usually go to Due Amici Garden Cafe, but I decided to try this place next door—and I regretted it the moment I walked in.

As soon as I sat down at a table with two chairs, I was immediately scolded and told to move to an uncomfortable window seat that felt like sitting on a roadside bollard. When I moved back to my original table, I was met with scrutiny from the manager, while he was casually chatting with other customers—who, by the way, were also sitting at two-chair tables without issue.

At the end, the manager lectured me about waiting to be seated, revealing that he had taken offence from the start because I "ignored" a sign I never even saw. He was insistent on having the last word, and that attitude was the last straw. They seem to think they’re running a fine dining restaurant rather than a café in Kennington. This kind of snobby gentrification is not welcome here.

And then there was the food. For £19, I got a tiny portion of rocket salad, some tasteless beetroot hummus spread so thin it could have been a spill, and a coffee served in a cup so small it was barely a sip. Yes, I sat at a table for two, and it seems they charged me for two as well.

This place is an absolute rip-off. The staff are rude, entitled, and unwelcoming. Avoid it. Terrible vibe, service from a mouthy stuck-up wanna be Michelin concierge. The restaurant next door is friendlier, cheaper, and...

The cafe was stone cold and needlessly so. It's a small glass fronted venue and the staff kept leaving the back door open when bringing food in from the kitchen. Worse, the front door was unweighted and patrons continually left the door open when leaving or entering. It was 4 degrees outside today and little warmer inside. Half the customers were wearing their coats indoors. The other half were looking up every time someone came or left to see if they would close the door after themselves. Three or four of us from different tables had to stand up repeatedly to go close the front or rear door after it had been left open.

This was hardly a relaxing environment in which to have a meal and we hurriedly ate our food and left as soon as we could. To make matters worse: my meal order was taken incorrectly, but that was really the least of our problems.

Front and rear doors need a mechanism installed to close them automatically. If doors need to be open regularly (e.g. for kitchen access) a heater should be installed above the door to stop patrons being refrigerated. If multiple patrons are eating their meal wearing their coats indoors you're not providing a welcoming environment. This...