A refreshing change among an overabundance of chains, The Borough Barista is a nice stop gap among the tourist traps. Hosting a pally gallery, down in the basement, it is by far one of the more interesting places to quaff a coffee within walking distance of a tube near a W1 postcode.
Although they made a mean Soya Flat white, these guys close at 5.30pm and they mean it. Sorry I mean, they were just mean about it!
Expect to be be told that you only have 4 minutes of coffee supping time left at 5.26. Of course I respected that and I heeded their hostility when my coffee was served in a paper cup, not a China one, nevertheless expertly made at 5.27 at which time, the metaphorical chasing you out with a broom starts.
Such a shame it's not open slightly later when it's right in the middle of the Haymarket theatre district and I always need a pre-show coffee as not to fall asleep in a play's 2nd Act.
Well still, I'd rather be burned by tonguing a scalding coffee than be burned by the taste of a mediocre chain's dirty brown water.
After ordering on eggshells you can also unconvincingly teeter, on the edge of your seat in their precarious "window box" of an outdoor area.
I rinsed their wi-fi for 4 minutes, then bid them farewell and wished them a good evening after charging my phone and seething at their miserly charge of 50 pence for Soya Milk.
I pity the fool who prefers a surly expert, to a nice ninny in homogenous coffee house. Oh wait.. read more