Macondo

Café con leche and cake.
Can’t beat it.
I lament that it no longer exists in Islington nearly every weekend… luckily this one isn’t that much further away.

I went here everyday for my BF or Brunch when I visited London. ;)

Coffee and cake! Yes, yes, I know they have other things to eat, but when I go I want coffee and a big slice of whatever delights are in the window.
It’s a small place, so finding seating can be a problem. But if you get a seat inside, it’s a cozy place to meet with friends and stay away from the cold or rain.
There is outside seating, but it’s a small deck, hard to manouver, filled with smokers and uncomfy wire chairs. Then again, if the weather is good, suck it up and sit outside.

I kept walking past Macondo and earmarking this place for a visit. Three months later, I wanted somewhere to go to finish a book, so I decided to come here.
This is a lovely café on Hoxton Square. The coffee is excellent and the cakes a pretty fine.

Let’s say it’s 11pm, you’re in a Shoreditch bar drinking and some of your crowd are starting to bounce off the walls and talking about taxis to The Egg, or getting in the queue at 333 but you just don’t feel like all that fun and nonsense tonight, you just want something quiet and easy… step in Macondo.
When everywhere else is losing their head around you, Macondo is a late-​night oasis of calm where you can hear each other talk, share a slice of chocolate cake, drink hot beverages or simply knock back more wine. Decent red wine too. Providing you find somewhere to perch (good luck fighting for the hammock chair), your night will become a relaxing and ambient affair. It feels like being invited around to chill at the home of some cool artist you’ve befriended in Mexico City.
I’ve not eaten here for a main meal, and I’ve never been in daylight hours but I think the atmosphere is spot-​on and the chocolate in any shape or form (cake, brownie, hot chocolate) is worth the high price. People, this is REAL good chocolate. Trust the Aztecs and Mayans!

Great location: Check
Overpriced fodder: Check
Pretentious décor: Check
Seriously not a fan of Mecondo, a hot chocolate costs nearly as much as a glass of wine, that incidentally comes in a tumbler. I imagine the terribly middle — class owners though it would be a hoot to serve wine ‘like a houseparty’ in inappropriate glasses.
There are very comfy sofas and one of those amazing hanging egg chairs, but it’s so small you may kind yourself hanging around, waiting to be seated.
Awful ‘lounge’ music plays in the background, it just doesn’t do it for me.
Although their coffee is amazing.

I have a love/​hate relationship with Macondo. This is mainly due to the fact that their cakes are marvelous, moist, and delicious but the portions are overzealous and the coffee is bland and watery. I do not usually fancy buying an overpriced coffee that does not even have the ability to taste like anything. I do still love the cakes though, and will just have to bring a partner in crime next time so that we can share the cakey goodness and make sure none of it is wasted.

Now I rarely use the following as a criticism because I’m a little bit of an aesthete but I’m afraid Macondo is a perfect example of the ol’ style over substance tag.
Despite its great location, sweet staff and beautifully decorated interior I don’t rate Macondo’s coffee in the least. I think it was when I spent around £4 on an iced coffee akin to dishwater during the summer that I fell out of superficial love with this little Hoxton café.
If you want to hear trendies that look like they’ve not a penny to their name discussing stocks and bonds over the Guardian and, in my humble opinion a bad cup of coffee, then hit Macondo, if you want a decent cup of coffee, avoid it like the plague.

Located on Hoxton Square, Macondo is the perfect detour from galleries, shopping or just an excuse for a good coffee. It has a relaxed vibe with somewhat of a homely feel, comfy sofas, lamps and ever changing artwork on the walls make it all the more inviting.
The bar-​gallery is a contemporary continental café with heavy Latin American influence with the food, drinks & décor. Most of the food is freshly made on site, the cakes are baked everyday and sit on the shelves in generous portions. A slice of cheesecake is usually too much for 2 people!
As it’s such a small café it can fill up quickly during lunch so you might have to resort to take out if you’re in a hurry. They do take bookings though and can organise private parties so it’s always worth giving them a call if you know you want to eat there.
All in all, a great place to hide out for a few minutes/​hours, take a look at some art and gorge on possibly the best cakes in town.

I ran in here one day after i was reading my book in Hoxton square park and it started to rain! I was pleasantly surprised to find a really warm and cosy café with a relaxed atmosphere. Random seats, green glasses, a fine selection of cakes on the window and some interesting looking artwork on the walls are some of the things that make this café so special.
I ordered some apple cake, which was served with a little pot of cream.
I cant finish this review without commenting on the staff, who are so friendly and down to earth.