The Espresso Room

Coffee shop · Bloomsbury

The Espresso Room

Coffee shop · Bloomsbury

31-35 Great Ormond St, London WC1N 3HZ, United Kingdom

Highlights

A charming little coffee bar serving expertly brewed drinks and tasty snacks, complete with quirky outdoor seating for a cozy pick-me-up.

31-35 Great Ormond St, London WC1N 3HZ, United Kingdom Get directions

google.com

$$$$$ · Menu

@onthegrid

"Most of Espresso room’s baristas have no previous experience, everyone is taught the essentials and the coffee is consistently excellent. They smile, know you, ask you about your day and make you laugh whilst preparing you the tastiest cup of coffee you can get in Bloomsbury. The space itself is pretty small but it lends itself perfectly to the set-up they have created with long single file queues positioned adjacent to the super cool baristas. This is the kind of coffee you don't mind queueing for (there's usually a queue) but with the chilled environment you can sit, you can stand, you can chat and you can guarantee that the coffee presented to you will be heavenly. TIP - The anzac cookie and/or the millionaire shortbread will blow you mind." - IYA Studio

On the Grid : The Espresso Room

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@onthegrid

"The Espresso Room, Bloomsbury. Most of Espresso room’s baristas have no previous experience, everyone is taught the essentials and the coffee is consistently excellent. They smile, know you, ask you about your day and make you laugh whilst preparing you the tastiest cup of coffee you can get in Bloomsbury. The space itself is pretty small but it lends itself perfectly to the set-up they have created with long single file queues positioned adjacent to the super cool baristas. This is the kind of coffee you don't mind queueing for (there's usually a queue) but with the chilled environment you can sit, you can stand, you can chat and you can guarantee that the coffee presented to you will be heavenly. TIP - The anzac cookie and/or the millionaire shortbread will blow you mind."

London

View Postcard for The Espresso Room

Anna S

Google

Super cute cafe with great cafe and soy, almond, coconut and oat (minor figures) milk. Prices are also decent! There are 4 tables outside but none inside fyi☻ Some pastries also available but have allergens!

Georgina Bond

Google

Excellent coffee and always reliable. I pop here from work all the time and I really recommend their flat white.

F S

Google

Absolutely amazing coffee, full of flavour. You can tell the difference in quality between their blend and others. Great service from Sebastian, always happy and friendly! Highly reccomend to visit if passing through for a coffee fix. Nice selection of fresh croissants.

adam stevens

Google

These coffees slap harder than will smith. I’ll be back after my slaycation.

G H

Google

I love independent coffee places, and this place did not disappoint. The tea I ordered was given a correct amount of time to brew and the white coffee wasn't drowned in milk like is often my experience. It's cosy inside, so more a grab and go type of place. There is quirky bench seating outside when the weather permits.

Robby Yung

Google

Great little espresso joint across the street from GOSH. The “winter cookies” are very nice and the service is always friendly. We come to GOSH more than we’d like to, but this place is an oasis on long days here.

Remi

Google

Really really nice tasting coffee. Smooth and delicious. Staff were super friendly too and the baked goods looked very tempting. Exactly what I needed on a drizzly Monday morning.

Mike MacCana

Google

Competent coffee let down by a staff member who dropped my coffee on the end of my very long table rather than actually deliver it to me, with predictable results. Other staff knew and apologised but didn't actually rectify the now half empty flat white 🤷🏼‍♂️

Grace K.

Yelp

YUP. Reasons why I love it: -On my way to school - Sustainable (the owner and I spoke about it, legit stuff) -great staff -welcomed in by the smell of heavenly coffee -taste= wonderful yuuuuuuup! Life moves so fast, sometimes we need to stop and smell the coffee...and then let it's elixir of life wake you with fancy jitters to get on your day.

Sarah H.

Yelp

I've been missing my morning matcha ritual in Los Angeles, so I searched out the green. Espresso room has a cool vibe. I asked for a matcha latte with almond milk, but they only had coconut. Still good, albeit a little on the Luke warm side. For a matcha latte with coconut milk, I paid 4,5£ for a large. The atmosphere is nice. I like the wall of coffee shops and the wooden tables.

Kyle C.

Yelp

Fantastic coffee. Hidden behind Great Ormond hospital, this is one of the most unassuming but excellent coffee shops I've ever been to. It is literally a hole in the wall, only a few stools, but a bench to sit outside if its nice out. I went for the flight, which featured two different kinds of espresso as well as a flat white. The espresso was very strong and bitter, I'm a bit weak when it comes to that, but very interesting. The flat white, however, was perfection. Perfect consistency, perfect ratio of milk to espresso. Really well done. The decor is funky and cool, and the baristas are friendly. Got to have a nice conversation, which is really pleasant when at a coffee shop. Overall, it was easily one of my favorite coffee shops I went to in London. 5/5

Kim S.

Yelp

This is a welcome and great little spot for on-the-go coffee. Taking the place of an impossibly small bookshop, Espresso Room has fit a whole lotta coffee and baked goodness into a small space. I mean, really, it's amazing. I had a flat white---my most recent fixation---and it was beautifully made (see pic). I grabbed just the right amount of buzz. Espresso Room uses Squaremile coffee, a brand I wasn't familiar with, but will look for now when I'm out and about. The baked goods are from Sally Clarke. I guess her stuff's supposed to be a big deal. Size-wise, I was skeptical as the lemon poppy muffin looked a bit dinky, but it did pack quite the tasty punch with real bits of lemon. Cake-y muffins give me the irrits, but Sally's was a good balance of "I'm having a treat, but pretending it's healthy." Service was friendly and the owner seems really chuffed to be in the 'hood and providing quality product. It's across from Great Ormond Children's Hospital. Honestly, that whole block usually gives me the creeps (I know, the wee ones are sick, have some empathy), so Espresso Room gives me a reason to screw up my courage and go for the caffeine fix. Outside there are a couple of lightwood benches for your eat-in order and inside a few spots to have a seat, if you'd like to drink out of a nice mug. But, again, I think this might become my regular spot for when I want a treat on the move.

Bea B.

Yelp

ER is a smart-looking, cosy spot just off the shi-shi Lamb's Conduit St. I've gone in a couple of times and have had slightly watery-tasting espresso, and, on the third visit, a super sour double espresso. Maybe the beans aren't ground finely enough for my liking, or maybe the shots aren't pulled long enough to suit me, or, in the case of the sour bomb espresso, maybe the extraction was too fast. Dunno. Maybe I'll just stick to the loose leaf tea. The service is friendly and the nibbles look tasty. I'll even overlook the reggae being played in order to brave the ER once again. -snag a spot out front (not much seating in the shop itself) and watch a snippet of the world pass by. It's nice.

M G.

Yelp

The flat white is good. I'm just visiting but FYI as of 2019, this and other locations are "cashless". This practice is a bit rude and discriminatory and cities in the US are banning this. I understand the concept behind cashless, but it sends a signal that not all are welcome. Coffee is for all ;)

Qype User (ErikM…)

Yelp

How I wish that The Espresso Room was closer to my office, I wish it was open on weekends, that it had seating, etc. Because it is the best coffee I have had in London so far and it is a shame to not be able to visit it more often. As other reviewers have mentioned they use Square Mile beans and use them to make coffee to perfection. The interior is small and cosy, basically it is just a room with a coffee machine in it. Definitely visit if you are into coffee and are in the area. Don't expect to sit down and read though.

Yon B.

Yelp

Decided to come here as I needed a good coffee and saw other reviews. One of the best coffees I've had in London. Great place, relaxed atmosphere. It's a bit on the small side but that's ok and adds to the feel. The soup was really great too. A filling tasty lunch. All in all thoroughly recommended. (so much so that I finally felt the need to sign up to yelp and write a review for it - this being my first yelp review after being a long Qyper, I've been converted)

Tim S.

Yelp

I walked into the tiny room, there were two staff and no other customers. The two staff looked miserable as sin and didn't even look up at me, even though they knew I was stood there waiting. I almost turned around and walked back out, when one of them asked what I'd like. I asked for a large latte. To my disappointment the latte was cold, definitely now 'the best coffee in london' as the sign states. Horrible experience from start to finish. I'm a coffee fan but certainly don't consider myself a coffee snob, however, the coffee here is s**t.

Ben M.

Yelp

Is this the smallest sit-down café in London? Funnily enough, there were three baristas there when I came in. Hah! So the thing is, I ordered an espresso and got a decent Autumn blend square mile espresso. Well executed. A few minutes later, I ordered a macchiato and was served a piccolo. Sigh. Just saying, it ain't much and I know i could be specific when ordering and it was still excellent coffee, just doesn't get the 5 stars. *** Updated *** 5 years on and I have decided a macchiato and a piccolo are the same thing. 5 Stars!!

Cat V.

Yelp

Went to Espresso Room in search of a place to sit and read my book in peace over a cup of joe. Sadly, I was upset to find that this cafe didn't really have room to do that...but the coffee was ok. I have had similar roasts and at a lower price but let's face it, it's London and everything seems expensive especially trending coffee shops. If you are in the area and want a decent cup of coffee, it's worth taking the trip.

Alex S.

Yelp

I forget how much I love this place. Guaranteed good chats, good coffee, good snacks. I also appreciate their willingness to do two sizes of flat white.

Kat B.

Yelp

As a (somewhat) starving UCL post-grad student with a distinct coffee-addict North American attitude, I hate to admit that I'm really pompous and annoying when it comes to my lattes, but the fact exists nonetheless. I hate fake coffee, instant coffee, watery coffee, half-assed coffee, and coffee that says it's espresso but isn't. In my London ramblings so far, I've yet to find that perfect cup (outside of small Italian cafes, that is). So, when another international student told me there was a place right by UCL that is rated "best coffee in London," I was predictably skeptical. Several other equally picky post-grads in tow, we went en masse to this tiny storefront, and I have to say I was happily surprised! The place is certainly tiny, but cute and minimalist, and the outside seating is good for a group of 6 or so. The "flat white" was the perfect latte (was 3/4 good steamed milk and 1/4 rich espresso, with a heart pattern on top!) and I'll give this place full credit for giving me the stamina to go to lectures and research seminars all night long afterward.

Yassir N.

Yelp

I was looking foreword to check this little place out ... since I'm a great atmospheres freak . And honestly I was pleased to see the simple mainly white decor of the Espresso room, such a cute little cafe. Of course the setting area was so tiny to fit more than a handful of people. but that made the place even more cosy for a cold mornings. Oh ya when I first got there I found a sort of line up in front of the shop, but that was rather a good first impression about the cafe and the line moved up very fast. The coffee! which was the reason to come here, was unfortunately a very average Caffè latte, it hardly has a coffee flavour at all. Plus the small latte was for a good £2.20 I found that a big expansive for an averaged coffee. However, I think I will go back again to this place since it is a nearby cafe. I also think it is a nice local cafe that has a character that could be enjoyed :D

Ahmad I.

Yelp

Best espresso bar in London hands down. Get the flat white...obviously. I'm back in London tomorrow and I'll be testing out all the competitors to see if Espresso Room maintains the number one spot. Something tells me I should just be spending all that time and money at Espresso Room instead of wasting it about town.

Val H.

Yelp

This place was good!! They have nondairy milks for us vegans. I got a matcha flat white with oat milk which was so tasty! The matcha was perfect. No sweetener. The place is super small inside so it's not good for working but there was some seating outside. It has such a cute atmosphere and the barista was very nice! Will be returning here before my trip is over.

Mathias H.

Yelp

Espresso room is one of my favorite spots for coffee in London. The place is tiny (can seat 4-6 people indoors but then it is really tight) but in warmer weather it is possible to sit outside as well. The espressos here are excellent and they staff as well as the owner Ben (who almost always seem to work) are really friendly and do not at all mind chatting about coffee, life and all. They usually serve Square Mile coffee but also try to vary it a bit with some Has Bean which always nice (as it otherwise often is the same coffee served everywhere in London) for variety's sake. The only negative is that they are not open on weekends which mean that I am often unable to stop by (meetings usually end to late on weekdays).

Peter T.

Yelp

Coffee here is smooth, well textured and tastes good. But the experience is half the equation. Espresso room has welcoming staff, a relaxed atmosphere and a good location. It's off the beaten track so the clientele are a mix of hospital workers (across the road), yummy mommies from Bloomsbury and students from the University of London. Espresso Room feels a bit like a hipster cafe, without the hipsters. In a word, excellent. In winter, make sure to wear a coat because you are going to be sitting outside. But it's worth the hike up through Lambs Conduit St to get to this hole in the wall because the mix of coffee, location and service are spot on.

Paul H.

Yelp

Absolutely perfect flat white. Good people, good vibes, great little space. It's a real gem.

Qype User (hhrtmn…)

Yelp

It was soooooo good that on my first visit I had a double macchiato followed by a large flat white. Possibly not supposed to drink that much coffee in such a short space of time but I couldn't help myself. I do hope that visitors to Great Ormond Street hospital area support this perfect coffee shop. They certainly deserve to thrive (some others close by do not). Looking forward to a return visit already. PS Pastry pretty perfect too

Jason F.

Yelp

Visited whilst at a conference at Conway Hall five minutes walk away. Had a delicious flat white! Several layers of flavour ending with a pleasant liquorice aftertaste.

Deborah B.

Yelp

I love the Espresso Room! It's exactly what is says on the tin and serves square mile beans from a small room near GOSH. The coffee is some of the best I have had in London, only Kaffeine and Taylor Street come close. I love how sustainable it is (the cups are made out of corn) and how friendly the baristas are. The food is also lovely and I'm a particular fan of their sandwiches and anzac cookies. If only all coffee was as good as this!

Qype User (LeoAfr…)

Yelp

Paid a visit to The Espresso Room earlier today and had a coffee epiphany of sorts thanks to the expertly poured flat white - seriously flavoursome. Ben the barista is great company too. Good to see the real coffee scene break out of Soho.

Alice-may J.

Yelp

Delicious coffee at decent prices (of course better than Starbucks's prices)! Always happy with what I get, and especially like that they put the sugar in for you (even my "one and a half" sugars) and grind the coffee as you order it. Service can be a bit slow at times, but it's usually not busy enough that it's ever an issue. Only open Monday-Friday unfortunately! However, it's a good independently-run find for consistently yummy coffee!

Mike S.

Yelp

Though I get a coffee from here a couple of times a week it was only yesterday that I tried one of their sandwiches. Chicken on wholemeal bread was spiked with artichoke hearts. The bread was exceptional and the filling generous. It was as good a sandwich as you could wish. Be warned they come in short supply and soon sell out. See you in the queue!

Apollonia G.

Yelp

Truly excellent coffee and a quaint little seating area outside. Well worth a visit .

Qype User (zosien…)

Yelp

I walk past it every day on my way to work so I was very keen on trying it out - I start my every day with a cup of coffee... The prices are ridiculous for this part of town (£2.50 for the so-called 'large latte' in a cup that is sold as small in my office cafe), belonging rather to some stuffed-up-their-own-backside cafe in Notting Hill... Also, whilst the guy making my coffee was nice, it took him forever to make it (skinny latte), I guess time consumed to make it was in order to justify the price. He assured me he would remember how I have my coffee for the future (a guy at a Pret I visit once a month remembers how I have it so no major achievement there). Nice coffee, not worth the time or the price. Will not be going back.

Kamal P.

Yelp

A very small yet cool place to grab a coffee and a snack. The artisan sandwiches are amazing and the staff are chilled and friendly. This place would be great in teh summer with their outdoor bench seating, will be making a trip back there when the weather gets warmer!

William S.

Yelp

Tiny but charmante. While in the area the Foundling Museum (40 Brunswick Square) and St. George's Gardens are well worth a visit.

Lizzie P.

Yelp

This place is tiny! Minuscule even, but the coffee is excellent! It's a tad on the expensive side but you are paying for quality! Even Bryan Adams was spotted sampling their coffee !

Marie-jose R.

Yelp

Excellent coffee! Little place but you can enjoy your coffee outside when it is sunny . Worth to visit !

Caren H.

Yelp

Really this place is the Espresso closet! Maybe 4 people can sit in (uncomfortably). There are some sandwiches and pastries available. They do have benches outside. (So come on a nice, sunny warm day!) Nicely made Square Mile espresso drinks.

Mallory S.

Yelp

Best coffee we had in London. Unfortunately they are not open on the weekends but we were able to get there during our last day in London. Super-friendly staff and fantastic espresso. These were the most expensive coffees of our trip by 50p or so - but well worth it!

Qype User (simoni…)

Yelp

Was there yesterday for the first time. Don't think I have tasted a coffee that good in a very long time! Loved it

Qype User (big_ba…)

Yelp

What a benefit for the good people over at the hospitals nearby. Tasty brownies. I have a felling there will be a few more of these around, i hope so!

Jean-Frederick M.

Yelp

The coffee is quite good but the prices are nothing short of extortionate. There is equivalent coffee being sold for much less not too far away from here... Look around!

Qype User (bangel…)

Yelp

Delicious coffee, small but perfectly formed, seating inside and out, tasty selection of sweet and savoury pastries, friendly and helpful - in one word - perfect! (Closed weekends.) P.S. Delicious home made sandwiches and baguettes too!

Ben L.

Yelp

One of the best coffees I have had in London. Small unassuming booth, friendly staff and VERY tasty coffee.

Qype User (make12…)

Yelp

This Cafe is an absolute gem. The flat white was of exceptional quality and the salmon, crème fraiche and caper sandwich was out of this world, you won't get the huge milky latte and doughy sandwich available from so many chains however you will get food and espresso to feed your soul. I had to ask them a bit more about the cafe and have done some research. The coffee is from square mile whose beans have won the world barista championship on numerous occasions. They use a temperature controlled La Marzocco, the rolls royce of espresso machines with an extra modification to improve shot consistency and the baristas are highly skilled, passionate about their work and very nice as well. Ok so there's not much space but it's the coffee and food equivalent of seeing your favorite band in your local pub, so who cares.

Joseph C.

Yelp

If you're just looking for good coffee (and not a coffee scene) then it's hard to imagine a better place than this. Espresso Room is a quaint shop (more of a minimalist coffee stand) but the product and service is top notch. I've spent a lot of time in coffee shops in Austin, Portland, San Francisco, Boston, and Tokyo and I would trade all those trendy coffee scenes for a place like this around the corner from my house. As for the coffee, they don't roast their own, but they made an excellent well-balanced cortado (I don't think it was on the menu) and latte. I appreciate that they pay just as much attention to pulling their shots right as most customers focus on velvety foam. The staff was cheerful and inviting (without being high on their own product) and most importantly, they are a critical part of creating an unpretentious environment where good artisan coffee is accessible to anyone. Nicely done ER team.

David S.

Yelp

Most consistently good coffe I've found in London. So much so I when moving flat I tried to find somewhere that would let me walk by in the morning for my coffee. Friendly staff, high quality. In a year and a half of one coffee a day (morning cappuccino) from there I had 2 coffees that I could fault, only because the milk was a bit flat. Otherwise all perfect. Names remembered, coffee preference remembered. A local and a regular within a week!

E S.

Yelp

Baristas fabulous and location charming... The flat white is plenty strong and hits all the notes, no sugar necessary for a smooth cup. Loved this place and will return!

Qype User (mjhump…)

Yelp

I'm always on the search for a great cup of coffee, away from over branded high street stores. On my travels around the city I stumbled upon this smartly designed coffee house, which serves excellent coffee with friendly staff all at a very reasonable cost. A fantastic array of sandwiches and sweet bites also. The mackerel sandwich is my favourite. Its located on Gt Ormond Street which is great on a sunny day to get a take-away and sit in one of the amazing open spaces near by. Definitely one to revisit again.

@onthegrid

On the Grid : The Espresso Room

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@onthegrid

London

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Anna S

Google

Georgina Bond

Google

Excellent coffee and always reliable. I pop here from work all the time and I really recommend their flat white.

F S

Google

adam stevens

Google

These coffees slap harder than will smith. I’ll be back after my slaycation.

G H

Google

Robby Yung

Google

Remi

Google

Really really nice tasting coffee. Smooth and delicious. Staff were super friendly too and the baked goods looked very tempting. Exactly what I needed on a drizzly Monday morning.

Mike MacCana

Google

Grace K.

Yelp

Sarah H.

Yelp

Kyle C.

Yelp

Kim S.

Yelp

Bea B.

Yelp

M G.

Yelp

Qype User (ErikM…)

Yelp

Yon B.

Yelp

Tim S.

Yelp

Ben M.

Yelp

Cat V.

Yelp

Alex S.

Yelp

I forget how much I love this place. Guaranteed good chats, good coffee, good snacks. I also appreciate their willingness to do two sizes of flat white.

Kat B.

Yelp

Yassir N.

Yelp

Ahmad I.

Yelp

Val H.

Yelp

Mathias H.

Yelp

Peter T.

Yelp

Paul H.

Yelp

Absolutely perfect flat white. Good people, good vibes, great little space. It's a real gem.

Qype User (hhrtmn…)

Yelp

Jason F.

Yelp

Visited whilst at a conference at Conway Hall five minutes walk away. Had a delicious flat white! Several layers of flavour ending with a pleasant liquorice aftertaste.

Deborah B.

Yelp

Qype User (LeoAfr…)

Yelp

Alice-may J.

Yelp

Mike S.

Yelp

Apollonia G.

Yelp

Truly excellent coffee and a quaint little seating area outside. Well worth a visit .

Qype User (zosien…)

Yelp

Kamal P.

Yelp

William S.

Yelp

Tiny but charmante. While in the area the Foundling Museum (40 Brunswick Square) and St. George's Gardens are well worth a visit.

Lizzie P.

Yelp

This place is tiny! Minuscule even, but the coffee is excellent! It's a tad on the expensive side but you are paying for quality! Even Bryan Adams was spotted sampling their coffee !

Marie-jose R.

Yelp

Excellent coffee! Little place but you can enjoy your coffee outside when it is sunny . Worth to visit !

Caren H.

Yelp

Mallory S.

Yelp

Qype User (simoni…)

Yelp

Was there yesterday for the first time. Don't think I have tasted a coffee that good in a very long time! Loved it

Qype User (big_ba…)

Yelp

What a benefit for the good people over at the hospitals nearby. Tasty brownies. I have a felling there will be a few more of these around, i hope so!

Jean-Frederick M.

Yelp

The coffee is quite good but the prices are nothing short of extortionate. There is equivalent coffee being sold for much less not too far away from here... Look around!

Qype User (bangel…)

Yelp

Ben L.

Yelp

One of the best coffees I have had in London. Small unassuming booth, friendly staff and VERY tasty coffee.

Qype User (make12…)

Yelp

Joseph C.

Yelp

David S.

Yelp

E S.

Yelp

Baristas fabulous and location charming... The flat white is plenty strong and hits all the notes, no sugar necessary for a smooth cup. Loved this place and will return!

Qype User (mjhump…)

Yelp