TOP 5 Cafes in Covent Garden Perfect for a Coffee Break

Discover the BEST cafes in Covent Garden! These coffee shops have quality espresso, solid bites, and a friendly atmosphere.

If you’re visiting London, there's a 99.99% chance you'll make your way to the Covent Garden neighborhood. Not only is Covent Garden market, a top tourist attraction, located in this area, but popular spots like Trafalgar Square, the National Portrait Gallery, and Leicester Square are minutes away.

If you find yourself in Covent Garden and in need of a caffeine fix, or just a spot to sit and rest your feet, continue reading to discover the BEST cafes in Covent Garden. These are my absolute favorite and most visited coffee shops.

Try one or all five and let me know which Covent Garden coffee shops ended up being your favorite!

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This map shows my favorite coffee shops in Covent Garden. Click the icon in the very top left to see a list view of each pinned location. Click the top right button to enlarge the map. Click the star to save to your own Google Maps account. To access this map once saved (after clicking the star), open Google Maps (on your phone/computer/tablet), click the menu button, go to "your places", select "maps", and you will see this map listed.

Blue - TOP 5 coffee shops in Covent Garden
Black - honorable mentions

Drury 188-189 Covent Garden Cafes London-1

1. Drury 188-189

One of the best cafes in Covent Garden for an affordable lunch and a lively atmosphere

Hands down one of my favorite cafes in Covent Garden. I visited Drury 188-189 several times on my last trip to London. The vibe was comfortable and lively as the place was always filled with visitors.

You’ll find people chatting with friends, grabbing a quick lunch, or reading a book. This coffee shop is all about the #DisconnectToReconnect trend that many cafes in Europe are adopting. This means no WiFi and no computers.

The coffee is wonderful and they make a mean flat white, but the food is what really stands out.

This is one of the best cafes in Covent Garden if you’re looking for a solid food selection. The homemade pastry selection is divine. Try the caramel pistachio brownie.

The food menu has plenty of healthy options like avocado toast, yogurt bowls, fresh pressed juices, and sandwiches. The lunch option where you pick 3 pre-made salads or pair a protein with 2 salads was a great deal at £9 to £11.

2. Monmouth Coffee Company

One of the best Covent Garden coffee shops for coffee snobs seeking the highest quality espresso

Monmouth has developed a cult-like following with its high-quality brews and beans. The location at 27 Monmouth Street is the original location…hence the name.

They’ve now expanded to two other locations, one in Borough and one in Bermondsey.

This Covent Garden cafe is best for takeaway as the chance of finding a seat in the small area in the back is slim.

There's a small selection of sweet and savory pastries if you need a light snack. You can also buy a bag of beans to take home.

Monmouth roasts their own beans and their baristas are awesome at helping you find a roast you’ll love.

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3. The Black Penny

One of the few cafes in Covent Garden that offers WiFi and won’t give you the evil eye for bringing your laptop

The Black Penny offers excellent coffee, reliable WiFi, and a stellar all-day breakfast menu. Pair your morning latte with a breakfast hash, brioche French toast, or granola bowl.

The space is small but has a few tables and chairs inside and out as well as counter space. The service is friendly and they don’t mind if you bring your computer and work.

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Photos: Abuelo Cafe

4. Abuelo Cafe

One of the best cafes in Covent Garden for Instagrammable bites and solid toasts

Abuelo is one of the cutest little cafes in Covent Garden. Take a seat at the communal table or the snug sofa corner. This small space is beyond cozy and serves organic farm-to-table meals.

The coffee is high quality and made from organic single-origin beans.

Abuelo makes some delicious and very Instagrammable toasts. Try the honey whipped mascarpone with figs, the roasted pumpkin on activated charcoal sourdough with goat cheese, or the truffle mushroom. Whichever you decide you won’t be disappointed.

Photos: Lundenwic

5. Lundenwic

One of the few Covent Garden coffee shops to tick all the boxes: WiFi, seating, solid coffee, and excellent food

Lundenwic is a small Copenhagen-inspired Covent Garden cafe. The space has a clean and bright design. Seating is available along the narrow counter on the main floor. Additional seating with a few tables and chairs can be found downstairs…which is surprisingly bright and welcoming.

This is one of the best cafes in Covent Garden if you want some healthy bites to go or to stay in if you can find a seat.

Salads, warm toasties, and yogurt bowls are thoughtfully prepared alongside some top-notch cakes and pastries.

My favorites were the ricotta and berry brioche and the grilled ham and cheese toastie.

Honorable mention - Redemption Coffee Roasters

If The Black Penny is full, try Redemption Coffee Roasters just down the street. There's a fair amount of seating and a nice menu of pastries, sandwiches, and toasts.

Honorable mention - Neal Street Espresso

Neal Street Espresso makes a mean flat white, serves balanced espresso, and offers friendly service. The WiFi is also reliable and there's a decent amount of seating inside. The only negative is that the cakes can be hit or miss.

Honorable mention - Intenso Coffee Shop

If you like Italian-style coffee and fresh Italian pastries, you'll love this spot!

In summary

I hope this helps in your search for some of the best cafes in Covent Garden. Each of these coffee shops are well located and a perfect spot for a break between sights!