Canary Wharf is one of London’s busiest business districts, and it runs on a steady flow of good quality coffee. Here are the best spots in the area for the perfect cup. In 1920s London, the trendiest drink of choice was a French 75 – a small, simple cocktail topped with Champagne. Today, the statement drink of choice is something a little lighter: a smooth and silky flat white with a milk-foam fern leaf, or a cold brew that’s been seeped for 16-hours in a special cold flask. Alcohol consumption is declining in the UK, and in its place a new drink of choice has emerged: specialty coffee (it seems we still need a bit of a buzz).
Unlike the instant Nescafe or Kenco we’re all familiar with, specialty coffee maintains the highest possible standards throughout the entire supply chain, from the bean to the farmer, to the barista. Throughout the 2010s, the number of independent coffee shops serving up artisanal coffee increased seven-fold, reflecting a generation that is no longer content with the humble instant brews that have until now served us well.
Best Coffee Shops in Canary Wharf
Canary Wharf is the financial heart of London, and it’s teeming with bankers, businesspeople and other busy bodies bustling to and fro mountainous offices, so it’s no surprise that the area is brimming with excellent coffee establishments. Here are the best spots in the area.
Black Sheep Coffee
Black Sheep Coffee (est. 2011) is a homegrown coffeehouse that’s now an international chain, but in Canary Wharf, it still has the feel of an intimate local coffeehouse. Black Sheep earned its reputation as a coffee innovator by introducing the first specialty grade 100% Robusta beans, which they also sell by the bag (‘Robusta Revival’). Compared with arabica, robusta beans have higher levels of caffeine and a thicker crema, so it’s a great choice for those extra bleary-eyed mornings.
Black Sheep in Canary Wharf is favoured among locals for its hard-hitting Robusta coffees and palatable non-coffee products like turmeric lattes. If you have the time to stop for some food at Black Sheep, the nutella-filled Norwegian waffles are always a hit, as is the pecan pie.
Other stand-out Black Sheep coffees include the tart, citric Blue Volcano arabica single-origin, which is grown in the Colombian mountains, as well Love Berries, which has delicate tasting notes of chamomile and blackberry.
8 South Colonnade, E14 4PZ
Notes
Notes is a Canary Wharf local’s favourite – so much so that it recently opened up a second branch in Crossrail Place. This specialty shop serves up single-origin beans that are roasted locally in the city, and their flat white is distinctively smooth and strong. In terms of food, you’ll find Welsh Rarebit, various avocado toast variations, sweet pancakes and plenty more on the menu.
There’s a time for coffee and a time for wine, and by night, Notes transforms into a chic wine and cocktail bar. Naturally, their espresso martini is one of the best in the city.
Notes is busier than your average coffee house, so service can be a little slow – but this won’t be a problem if you’re already accustomed to the frenetic business energy of Canary Wharf coffeehouses during weekdays.
Unit CR24 Crossrail Place, E14 5AR; Canary Wharf Station, E14 4JB
Joe Blake’s
Joe Blake’s coffee shop in Canada Place Mall delivers exactly what you need it to: a punchy, well crafted crema-topped coffee accompanied with an even better cake or pastry. Joe’s specialty coffee beans are roasted locally in East London, and the sweet bites are freshly baked down the road every day in Hackney.
The creamy, flakey pastel de nata is a notable crowd-pleaser, but what really sets Joe’s apart from its competitors is the ‘cruffin’ – a creative, perfectly balanced mix between a croissant and muffin that works surprisingly well. It’s hard to say no to one (or two, maybe three…) sugar donuts at Joe Blake’s, which are filled with goodies like Kinder Bueno, custard, jam and Nutella. There are plenty of vegan and gluten free options, too.
Level 1, Canada Place Mall, E14 5EW
Change Please
There’s something about coffee from a van that hits differently. It’s purposeful, unpretentious, and always a welcome sight when walking through the cold streets of London on a wintery morning. Change Please at Reuters Plaza in Canary Wharf is more purposeful than most coffee vans, because 100% of their profits go toward helping the homeless get back on their feet.
Coffee is a big part of this initiative as the organisation trains those in need to become pro baristas themselves, employing them or introducing them to potential employers. A 2023 impact report shows that 70% of those who participated in Change Please’s barista training programme found jobs or returned to education, which is all the reason you need to pick up that ever-so-tempting gooey brownie with your cappuccino when passing by.
It’s not just a good deed either, coffee at Change Please is stellar. The Tall, Dark & Handsome blend maintains a sumptuous balance between Peruvian and Brazilian beans, leaving tasting notes of hazelnut and caramel. For a fruiter flavour that’s lighter on the palate, the Sweet As A Nut Peruvian single-origin is a fantastic choice. Change Please closes at 3pm, so you’ll want to catch it early.
1 Reuters Plaza, London E14 5AJ
Cafe Brera
For a more epicurean coffee experience that can run well into the evening, try Cafe Brera in Westferry Circus. This Italian establishment began serving excellent coffee long before the oat milk flat white reigned supreme, and it has consistently maintained the high standards of espresso you’d expect from an Italian coffeehouse.
The Canary Wharf site delivers a full-bodied espresso blend with a speciality score of 87, marking both quality and uniqueness. Aside from classic coffee options like lattes, cappuccinos and americanos, Cafe Brera serves up unique beverages that cater to the hippest of the hip, such as charcoal oat milk lattes and CBD flat whites. The coffeehouse also sells its specialty beans by the bag, which are more affordable than its competitors at around £7.50 a bag.
Food wise, expect crunchy toasted paninis, fresh salads and a palatable selection of fresh pastries and cakes at this lovely Canary Wharf cafe.
31 Westferry Circus, E14 8RR
640East
640East in Montgomery Square is everything you’d expect from a modern coffeehouse. This industrial-themed establishment is made from two up-cycled shipping containers, and it serves specialty coffees, craft beers, and irresistibly flakey pastries.
Coffee beans at 640East are roasted locally by Caravan Coffee Roasters, and it changes the rotation of single-origin filter options every few weeks, so there’s always something new to try. Nestled directly opposite Canary Wharf station, 640East is always bustling with atmosphere from locals on their way to the office and visitors who want that Instagrammable swan latte art 640East is known for.
Montgomery Square, Upper Bank Street, E14 5JJ
Ole & Steen
A favourite in Denmark, Ole & Steen at Crossrail Place cuts no corners when it comes to the quality of its coffee and pastries. The coffee is sourced from Modern Standard Coffee – a British speciality coffee supplier founded by Lynsey Harley, who is a qualified Q Grader and UK Cup Tasting Champion.
Ole & Steen was founded more than thirty years ago by two Danish bakers with a simple mission to make better bread, better pastries, and better coffee. There are more than 300 bakers working for Ole & Steen, so you can be sure that your danish pastry or smørrebrød (an open rye-based sandwich) is as fresh as you will find in Canary Wharf. This shop is open until 8pm on weekdays and 7pm on weekends.
Crossrail Place CR34, Mall Level -1, Canary Wharf, London E14 5AR
Final take
In this busy financial district, you are never too far from high quality specialty coffee. Whether you want to knock back a simple, strong espresso the Italian way at Cafe Brera, or stop by Ole & Steen for a gorgeous golden pastry, this area really is a coffee-lover’s haven.
