[This is part of a larger review of London coffee houses which can be found here: http://wp.me/pwXBH-or ] Although it is really a trek from my office to Flat White, I've tried this Soho-based coffee house a number of times and almost think I've walked into a funky little American coffee house on a college campus somewhere. There is always rock music on the radio, the staff sort of ignore you (at least me!) and I don't really like the vibe all that much (it's a bit up its own backside if you ask me), but the coffee drinks are pretty good. Here, I like the eponymous drink the best. read more

Full review at http://thehappinessprojectlondon.wordpress.com And ever since I started getting into coffee, and testing out coffee shops, Flat White has been mentioned again and again as the caffeine holy grail. It was the Byron to my burger, an Antipodean caffeine dream, the crown jewels of Soho coffee establishments. So I had high hopes. But then bloody @theheliocentric on twitter responded to my excitement about going with these words: it'll be far too milky and my excitement was dented. Oh no, another overhyped place, a Byron disappointment? Not quite. Flat White is just opposite Yautacha, next door to the Cafe du Marche, and a really cool venue. They were playing brilliant blues when I was there and in walked the most fabulous collection of cool trendy people - and a large number of interesting beards too. Lots of people on their own which is a great sign. Very friendly Ozzie/Kiwi (sorry I still can't tell the difference sometimes) staff. And then my flat white (£2.50) which had a lovely kick (Brazilian, Sumatran and El Salvador beans) and great coffee art (it's important m'kay) but arghhhhhhhhhhhhh it was too bloody milky! God I'm beginning to sound like a real whinger but I just know how I like my coffee now which is why it is such a great thing to get into and work out what you like. However, as the people from Kaffeine pointed out to me, it's really about the customer telling them how they like it done so next time I'd ask for a double shot and slightly less milky. And I wouldn't be surprised if I get lots of comments that a flat white is supposed to be milky (apparently coffee is also supposed to be lukewarm, that's me told) but it's just a very personal thing. Do pop in it's a great venue (probably coolest coffee shop so far and it smells amaaazing inside) and I'll definitely be back again, they're really nice, you can check out the beards and the carrot cake looked fab too. read more

Good coffee, but lousy attitude from some of the staff. I'm travelling and needed to do some work so popped in for a coffee and a pastry to avail of their internet. Unfortunately the wifi was down, not a huge deal, I thought, I'll just ask them to check on it, the staff member response "oh yeah, it's really unstable and goes down a lot" *turns away and carries on as normal*. Erm, OK, would an apology kill you? Or maybe you could offer to reset the router? Or maybe just not be cold an rude. Same staff member, when I asked where the bathroom was told me it was "drying" after being cleaned. For over 30 minutes. Is it really too much to ask that a coffee shop have a useable bathroom and working wifi in 2016? read more

Awesome! Unlike everywhere else in London a cappuccino here is a cappuccino not a frikkin Latte or milk soup. Dem Aussies n Kiwis know how to make coffee. read more

For photos see Greedy Diva @ http://greedydiva.blogspot.com/2010/03/flat-white-soho.html Flat White was the first decent coffee shop we visited when we first moved to London. I can still remember the tears, the kissing of the ground, the hugging of the coffee machine when its joyous brew first revealed itself. One of the primary reasons for choosing our current abode was its proximity to London's premier coffee source of the time. The only other option that we knew of then was Marylebone's "The Providores", which also makes a great cup of coffee, but the place gets so packed with locals seeking solace after a morning's shopping spree at The White Company that its not uncommon to leave with bruises. Other alternatives have sprung up near Flat White since then. It's younger bro, Milk Bar, Fernandez and Wells, Lantana, Kaffeine, Foxcroft & Ginger, Kaffe Automat and LJ Coffee House are among them. TPG is most decidedly a Fernandez man. However, when I'm feeling a little home sick for the southern hemisphere, Flat White is a little escape where I know I'll hear an Aussie accent and taste a coffee that smells like home. I was at Flat White during the week, when it occurred to me that I'd never published a dedicated blog post about it. Those well worn, local haunts are, at times, so much like a comfy slipper that they make the easiest omissions. And it's also the case that Flat White is not news to any serious coffee drinker. But what it means to me might not be what it means to you, and with the sudden proliferation of new options you may have simply forgotten about it - so here it is anyway. A flat white is an antipodean style coffee (let's not get into that debate about whether it was born in Australia or New Zealand - just as for the pavlova debate, as a Melbourne gal you must know what side of the fence I'm firmly planted on). It should be strong, not overly milky, and with little of the froth that goes into your capp or latte. Don't even think about ordering grande. Flat White opened in 2005 and roasts Square Mile beans. The flatties emanating from the shiny La Marzocco machine are rich and smooth, with that caramel like hit and just the right amount of milk. FW's coffees are generally perfect every time - although TPG would counter that they're sometimes not hot enough, and my trusty friend, The Rather Unusual Chinaman, found his recent FW flat white too milky in his review this week. Gasp! I love the Turkish toast with simple spreads or avocado. TPG goes for the toasted banana bread or the bagel with grilled haloumi, bacon and BBQ sauce which is a corker. The pastries are also fluffy and delicious, and there's a range of salad options at lunch time. Although the music and clubby darkness may give the impression of somewhere that's too cool for school, the New Zealander baristas are friendly and chatty, and it's just a little more frenetic than the slightly more chilled out Milk Bar. I only wish they had the weekend papers in store. Forget about throwing another shrimp on the barbie - if you really want to channel your inner antipodean, head to Flat White and "smash back a flattie, mate". read more

This place is tiny so more a place for a quick break from shopping. But it has THE BEST COFFEE IN SOHO. They take coffee-making to an art form. You might not be a coffee snob or expert, but you will recognise the difference when you try this small but perfectly formed cup of coffee. And just so you know the background, the owners are from New Zealand, which in most cases guarantees a much better than average cup. They give the Italians a run for their money. (Disclaimer, I am kiwi so may be biased in this area). read more

Nice coffee, not my favourite in London but friends love it so maybe it's just my personal taste? It's a cosy little place with cute furniture, very Soho! Can get really busy at the weekends and there are better places to grab takeaway coffee in the area. read more

Without doubt the best coffee in London. I'm not talking Soho, central London or London Borough of Westminster, Camden etc, I'm talking the whole darn thing, right out to the M25. I'm not sure how they do it, but the taste is amazing. I have the great fortune of working in Soho so Flat White is a short walk on a daily basis - god knows what I'd do for coffee if I ever moved on from that area. If you're ever there, pop in... but please be prepared to wait. All good things come to those who wait, and that includes great coffee. We're not talking instant, express coffee here, produced on a conveyeur belt - it takes these guys time to brew the good stuff. read more

I've been frequenting this place for 3 years since I worked up the street. The coffee (from Monmouth Coffee) is just gorgeous, the flat white being my favourite, which just brings back memories of happy trips to NZ, and the staff are always fun to chat with. There's no toilet so you have to go across the road to the pub, but they seem to have an agreement that it's fine to do so. The cakes are good and the sandwiches reasonably priced given the location. It get's packed around lunchtime and after work and despite the aircon unit in the window it's hot and stuffy in the summer. That said, sitting on a bench outside in the sunshine, watching the goings-on along the street market and sipping awesome coffee is one of my favourite places to be in London. read more

Agree with others quite expensive but heh you're in central london so what else do you expect. Go for: Strong good coffee (not hot milk with coffee) Intense flavour Ambiance and buzz Sit down and watch the world as you listen to some loud but great tracks Breakfast bite Don't go for: Speedy on the fly coffee Quiet spot to think read more

Amazing coffee. Delicious breakfast. Read about this on Yelp and stopped by on a trip to London. I'm from the US and I've never had a 'flat white' before, but I am a big espresso fan. The flat white at Flat White was truly fantastic. Breakfast was also great. The OJ was fresh and tasty. The muesli was also good (although a bit sweet for my taste). I'd go out of your way to make a stop here if you like espresso drinks. Note: cash only. read more

After so much hype, Flat White was slightly disappointing. I had a great sweet potato foccacia, but the coffee wasn't as great as expected. It did remind of me Seven Seeds coffee in Melbourne, but I found the coffee at Brick Lane Coffee a lot more reminiscent of Melbourne coffee. The atmosphere however was great, they played great coffee music and the staff were pleasant. read more

came here when it opened in 2004 or 2005. one of the first places in soho to successfully nail an authentic cup of oz/kiwi style coffee. is it as amazing as it was back then ? honestly ? well .... no. but it's 2016, still in business and still cranking out awesome coffee. read more

For my money the best cafe in London. I've visited this cafe on and off now for 3 years and I've never been disappointed. They always deliver a great coffee. The fantastic latte art that comes on their 'flat white' never fails to get your attention. read more

Hands down the best coffee shop in London. It's a tiny little place, as are most great places in Soho. The flat white here is to die for... They do some great snacks and light meals, and the guys that work here are all wicked. read more

Bloody amazing coffees. I love the 'flat white' the most. So creamy and strong. They always have some tempting delicious cakes around too, which I usually indulge in Lovely guys that work here too. read more

Tasty coffee and good service. You have to request the amount of sugar you want in your coffee, which means I can't get away with secretly adding an embarrassing amount of sweetener. On second thought, that is probably for the best. read more

I have come to discover the Flatwhite a little late in my London life. I blame this mainly on the fact that I work in Canary Wharf and not - like other hip digital coms people - in Soho. It is coffee but not as we know it. The right balance of milk and coffee (something that seems to pose a challenge for those guys at Starbucks) and a 'to die for' cinnamon apple tarte. So far I have only had smily, friendly baristas serving me a decent cup of coffee. The atmosphere is relaxed but cozy (don't expect plush sofas, though), all very warm and in shades of brown. Great place if you need to panically finalize your presentation or just inhale the coffee fumes, meditate over the beautiful leafy milk pattern and feel at ease with the world. The only downsite was that I seemed not to be able to get any kind of wireless access. Hey, I took it as an excuse not to work but to people watch and improve my knowledge of antipodean accents. read more

it seems as though this country doesnt undersrtand the idea of a good coffee shop. a place that feels like your living room, with better eyecandy and the best caffinated drinks just waiting to be made at your request. flat white has filled that void. my friend hope took me here, being a coffee drinker herself, saying "this place just *feels* good." now im not a coffee drinker. but the house special, the "flat white," came out so pretty looking i almost wished i did. instead, i sat back, enjoyed my tea and muffin (real muffin. none of this strange thing kind of shaped like a muffin but is engish and therefore not) while we chatted about this and that. there were lulls in the conversation, and yet there was always this air of ease. we picked up a couple of the magazines sitting there and relaxed. next thing i knew 3 hours, and several more cups of tea and coffee, and a few croissants, had passed. i have repeated this experience several times. when ever i have a day off i now find myself camped at a table, reading and people watching to the sound of the awesome music they play (thats alwats different), and the rythmic clank and thud of the coffee machine. feels like home. read more

I read about Flat White a few weeks back when I was planning my trip to London. I was looking forward to a decent cup of coffee after drinking too many horrible attempts at "coffee" over the past couple months. Either I forgot what a proper coffee was supposed to taste like, or this place just makes a really really good one. I think it's a bit of both actually. I ordered a flat white to go because I forgot to bring a book with me. Upon taking my first sip after walking a few steps out of the store, I felt the urge to run back and hug every employee there... I resisted though. Honestly, these guys know how to pull a perfect shot. I don't even care about the atmosphere in the cafe (it seemed pretty nice, but I didn't really get to experience it too much). The coffee is what sets this place apart, and really, when I'm looking for cafes, the coffee is the only thing that truly matters. read more

So I'm a weakling and appreciate the big American chain coffee but when I fancy a good coffee I walk an extra five minutes and come here. Amiable service, tasty coffee, amazing little pecan choc biscuits, and a really nice environment... read more

I did some searching on Google for amazing espresso in London and Flat White kept coming up. I'm out here on holiday and decided to drop in. I have to admit that I was disappointed. The coffee was OK and the sandwich I had was pretty amazing, but the atmosphere left a lot to be desired. The people working didn't seem too cheery and the inside was dark and dingy, with the music too loud to have a reasonable conversation. One of the nice things about cafes is that you can actually have a conversation at a reasonable volume, but in the case of Flat White it wasn't much better than a bar. I'm a much bigger fan of the nearby Fernandez & Wells. read more

B E S T C O F F E E in Soho. Especially if you're an Antipodean... Yeah, y'know what I mean. Unfortunately it's a tight space so might be slim pickings if you want a seat. They do have a sister cafe down the road on Batemen street which has more seating and some banging smoothies read more

Flat White is definitely up there on my favourite places for coffee, and in London, it has yet to be beaten on taste. The portions are very small, cup-wise (6ozs I believe though take away sizes are marginally bigger) but you get two full shots of espresso in there for your money. It's DIVINE...to be more precise, the espresso has a distinct and well-balanced flavour. On this occasion I ordered a mocha to drink in and also ended up being tempted by their spicy chocolate cake and, to finish, a pot of peppermint tea. The mocha wasn't a good choice overall. Whatever chocolate they use in it doesn't mix well with the espresso- it had a marginally bitter finish to it. However, it's my fault really for not ordering a flat white- poor judgement on my part. The slice of chocolate cake was dry and crumbly but it was moreish and spicy. It was spicier than most I'd tried in fact, but not overpoweringly so. Again, very well balanced. I wish I had the recipe- I could have eaten the whole cake! (and, for the price it would have been easily do-able!!) Maybe next time. The pot of peppermint tea was bog standard Twinings, but for £1.50 it was a bargin- it made 4 cups. The staff were friendly, the space was tidy and comfortable but the music was way too loud. I visited at 6pm however and the cafe was nearly empty- maybe in peak times the music isn't so in your face. I didn't realise it was cash only and apparently cash-points in Soho are few and far between, but it was a lovely evening so its only a minor inconvenience. I'll definitely be back. read more

It's a great little coffee shop. The coffee is amazing. It's not really a place to hang out for long as the benches are not very comfortable and it's very crowded most of the time. But I still like it! It has a real buzz to it! read more

Highly popular, it can be challenging to find a table. I ordered a ginger and lemon tea, but it was really just hot lemon water. There was hardly any ginger at all. No matter hot much you steeped and smooshed the lemon and ginger(?) there really wasn't much flavor. Apparently the coffee is good though. On a positive note, no one tried to rush us out. read more

Brusque service, expensive coffee in tiny portions, and awkward layout that has you half-blocking the doorway if you're waiting for a takeaway cup? I'm just not seeing the charm. The eponymous flat white was a watery, somewhat overextracted long macchiato. Not very smooth, not particularly bracing, and with a harsh finish. This place just doesn't stand out for me in a neighbourhood that has a handful of solid caffeine purveyors. read more

I had a large soy cap - it's Auz style quality but too weak (only single shot for a large?) and not warm enough. Coffee had a great aroma though & service was great. read more

The coffee taste well - especially their own blend of squaremilecoffee. I have one at home. Unfortunately they dont use neutral soymilk (even though they use good soymilk). Therefore the good taste get a little bit lost. But I have to admit that I never drink coffee with sugar. ;) The coffee is overpriced , the place always full , but for sure a nice place to hang out. The muffins are great! read more

Really delicious breakfast and coffee. Limited seating on the weekend but it's a very casual place so seats open up quick read more

Flat White - Poached eggs on toast and smashed avocado - Coffee & Tea Near Me - London, XGL

The only downside I can com up with this coffee bar is that it is too poplar, no matter what time you go in there, it is hard to find any place to sit! The place has been voted as the best coffee bar in London in 2007 so maybe that is why.. I love it's artisan look, the smell of the freshly brewed coffee and the location in middle of Soho. Very stylish but still down to earth. They also have good selection of organic herbal teas and great muffins. One of my favorite cafes. read more

The second best coffee in London. And no wonder, they use Monmouth coffee. This little coffee shop in Soho serves delicious coffee, pastries and other breakfast goodies. I suggest ordering the flat white. I would say that's there signature drink and my favorite. It's a small place and I often get my drink to go and stroll through the great hood of Soho, coffee in hand and happy read more

Good coffee, nice music, warm atmosphere. Good for a lazy morning cafe during the week end!

This isn't quite as good as some of the other coffee places around soho like speakeasy but they do have a nice set of seating

Great coffee but no card facilities! What?!

This place was recommended to me by a friend of mine who has been living in London for the past year. The location was pretty great. When I first walked in there weren't many others in the cafe but the atmosphere was pretty relaxed and staff were friendly and up for a quick chat. The coffee was great, perfect drinking temperature straight away which is sometimes hard to find. Costs were pretty standard £2.80 for a flat white (!) and £5 for a tomato, basil and mozzarella baguette. The other items on their menu looked pretty good too, I'll definitely be going back for more. read more

Flat White - Flat White - Coffee & Tea Near Me - London, XGL

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Flat White is probably one of the standout coffee shops in London - which is a lot to say in a city with such a great coffee culture. I've mostly had their cappuccino and flat white (both 2.8£), with the occasional cortado. They always are executed expertly, with quite a bit of (welcome) variation in taste (it seems to me they switch up the beans used fairly regularly). The inside of the shop is quite cozy and service is quite good (if you manage to get a table). I haven't really tried their food beyond a chocolate brownie. It was sadly sugary and dry. Still, their coffee more than makes up for it. A great coffee shop in the center of Soho. read more

Nice coffee.Nice place. a 6-ounce cup cost me £3.Yeah It was good.

I have been to this cafe at least twice a month for over a year now, and although initially being excited to finally find a decent coffee in London (yes, I am yet another antipodean) I have noticed that not only is everything getting more expensive, but the service worse, the staff more aloof and lazy, and the coffee less astounding. All this culminated in my friends and I waiting over an hour yesterday for poached eggs on toast and some banana bread. Flat White is no longer worth sitting in a cramped shop making sure we've got cash and don't need a bathroom - the coffee doesn't make up for the rest of it anymore. read more

Flat White, now serving Square Mile Coffee, is home-away-from-home in London for that growing tribe of NinthFourIntelliGrumpyBlueStumpRitualBarrelBottlegensiaStAbraco. If that doesn't mean anything to you, it's good coffee, trust me. read more