It's an unusually Sunny Saturday morning in London. Rays of sun beat against the Limehouse DLR station illuminating each brown-red brick forming this normally dull station. Optimizing the amount of sun-soakage, I wait for the next train to Bank at the far west end of the platform. I pensively gaze over the central London horizon conjuring up ideas of what to do and where to eat when I realize the sun flooding my sight sensors.
As I gaze down to take a slight relief from the sun, I see what appears to be one of those circular Mongolian huts... what do they call them again? Ah yes, YURTS! Images of a three family nomadic Mongolian tribe taking settlement along the Limehouse DLR station began to fill my mind when I was suddenly disrupted by the fast approaching bright red train to Bank. I entered the train and as the doors closed, like a curious child, I lightly smudged my face on the bacteria infested window in order to get a better look at these yurts as the train headed for Shadwell.
"I'll be back"... I thought to myself as the Mongolian settlement quickly was swallowed into the East London horizon....
Sunday morning - again unusually sunny indicating an imminent and appropriate Sunday Funday! Parched for a cup of freshly made coffee, I head over to the Limehouse java-godsend called Husk. But wait... closed?!! How can a hipster cafe be closed on a Sunday?? Where else in Limehouse is it possible get large dosages of quality caffeine? With a lack of caffeine and shattered expectations, my shaking fingers tremble as they look for a close by options. "Limehouse coffee" I searched for. And the result?
Yurt Cafe
Huh..... To my surprise, these Mongolian settlers I visually discovered just the day before have somehow created a cafe?? What would it be like? Will I be sitting on furs of random animals munching on yak meat? Without further ado, or thought, I crossed the congested river of cars otherwise known as Commercial Road, waded under the Limehouse DLR station and low and behold, a small insignificant sign....
(--- Yurt Cafe
Surely this was an act of the coffee gods. As I walk to the settlement grounds, I see a group of brightly coloured anime hair youngsters seated outside around an old rickety wooden table smoking, soaking up the Sunday sun, and drinking what smelled to be amazing coffee.
My curiosity (and feet) quickly led me to the main attraction: the yurt! This circular nomadic looking tent surprisingly housed an assortment of mismatched wooden tables, seats cushions, random persian carpets, flowers and an amazing ceiling letting in a thick ray of light so obvious, you could almost hug it like a tree.
Without thinking, I ordered a coffee from the cheerful non-mongolian staff along with a slice of carrot cake and another gluttonous unnecessary slice of banana toffee cake. As I inserted my debit card into the machine, I noticed a sign to my right... "Relaxation Room" Hummmm.... After inquiring the smiling Yurt staff, it looks like the room is for anyone who would like quiet time. Whether that be in the form of meditation, yoga, or just sitting and contemplating a range of things from the meaning of life to absolutely nothing.
I sat down on some pillows near a small yurt window loving every second of this unusual but welcoming caffeine oasis in the heart of Limehouse. In an almost cafe-barren Limehouse, I am not able to express my level of content that this circular tent exists and that I can walk here each weekend to sip on their wonderfully brewed black java liquid while munching on great snacks and not to forget weekend brunches until 4pm!
Mongolian tribe or not, it is with a big smile and happy stomach, that I welcome this fine new addition to the Limehouse neighbourhood! read more