Caffè Nero

Yes, it’s just another Caffe Nero but it does have an upper floor which makes it great for studying and getting work done! It has a pretty busy lunch crowd and late afternoon/​early evening crowd but mornings are great if you’re looking for a quiet place to get caffeine and do some reading.

I’m not very fond of these chain cafeterias like Starbucks or Nero Caffe but this one comes handy when walking along the Queen’s path, especially in winter. Then the cup of hot chocolate or tea will stimulate us for the rest of the walk!

Yes, this is just another Caffe Nero, one of the thousands of chain restaurants that is devouring London and sadly eroding London’s potential to become a city full of local, original cafes and restaurants like New York.
However! This Caffe Nero is unlike all the other Caffe Neros and Costas and Prets and Eats, specifically because of its location. I actually come here quite a lot because of that. It sits right on the water, looking out over a small pub and the Thames. If you grab a leather armchair on the upper floor, this Caffe Nero is one of the cheapest ways to sip coffee with a view of the river, and on top of that, no one will ever rush you to leave because there is ample seating.
I’m always on the lookout for peaceful places to read a book in London. It’s usually very quiet here, because this is a high-​traffic tourist area, but no one ever wants to stop in because it’s a chain! More peace and quiet for me :)
The wi-​fi on the second floor is spotty though, and there is a noticeable lack of power outlets, which can be good if you’re like me and you’re easily distracted by the internet while trying to do coursework.

Caffe Nero is a decent chain… though I’ve had better coffee elsewhere. I was hungry and in need of caffeine when I stopped. I have to say the carrot and coriander soup I ate was pretty delicious.
Though there is a more unique place a few more yards down the street that I missed because this was the first place I stumbled into.

Standard chain coffee shop, similar to Starbucks and Costa. It has plenty of sitting space, with the first floor being much nicer than ground floor, less busy and overlooking the Golden Hinde. Coffee is not one of its strenghts, but soy lattes are not bad. 2 stars for average coffee and one extra for its friendly baristas