The Bridge

Easily the cosiest coffee shop I've been to in london.   Great coffee, cool decor and the owner is a true patron.  

By far the best coffee shop I have ever been to in London. Perfect service, glorious cakes, and in my opinion the best coffee in London.

It's so diffcult to describe this little gem place that I discovered when I was in Shoreditch last weekend, but, what I can promise is that a visual tsunami is awaiting you.  The design concept is truly what I call "outside the box" and the ambiance achieved by this concept is absolutely genius and magical indeed.

In addition, what makes this novelty place so special is the warm, familiar service that makes you feel like a local, even on the first visit. If you like coffee and happen to be in Shoreditch area, a visit to The Bridge will definetely put a smile on your face.  Absolutely loved the place and can't wait to be back.            



 

Dropped into this wee bar over the weekend. Convincing decor, relatively friendly staff, however, the drink prices are extortionate, £5.50 for a single shot Gin & Tonic, which was barely a full measure (keep your eye on the bar staff) of the cheapest brand known to man!

We sat by the bar for over an hour, which gave a good insight into the experience of others……. after a while the resounding “how much?” became a joke as the bar staff happily directed venturing West Londoners to the nearest cash point…..yup, sorry Tarquin/Rupert/Topher & Pen, cards aren’t accepted here.

By the end of the night an overwhelming sense of being duped sat heavy in our hearts, not only by the premium priced hooch but also the way in which the atmosphere stages decades of a ‘family-run’ business…..Im afraid not, merely 18months ago rental DVD’s lined the walls….. a cheap trick in even trickier climes, one commonly used to fleece tourists (and West Londoners) …….the discerning local twigged and moved on months ago.

A unique and quirky place, good to take friends to if you feel like going somewhere a little different. However, the staff are rude. An old man that works behind the counter got angry at my girlfriend when she mentioned that he’d made her tea wrong and politely asked if he could replace it. He replaced it but continually told us we were “out of order”, shaking his head at us and saying that because of us he’d wasted a tea bag. When we left he piped up and started getting angry again, telling us how bad we were (apparently for asking for our tea to be made correctly). Weird.

Sorry...can't fault it! Amazing coffee, pastries, service, decor, ambience, welcome...!

Thought of one thing...have witnessed some rather rude and unecessary behaviour from some customers...those people should stay at home, more room for us!

Love you guys!!

Popped in on a freezing cold Saturday afternoon to warm up with a coffee and was not disappointed! Loved the downstairs counter area where you order; long polished dark wood bar, walls heaving with old photographs and memorobilia and the cabinet of cakey-goodness.
There's no particular era the owners seem to love, more an eclectic mix of everything they think is cool. Some of the pieces I spied: leather boxing gloves, bagpipes, gilt mirrors and victoriana, old radios behind the bar, glorious coffee machines, leadlight lampshades and classic movie posters.
Yes, it was a bit pricey, but loved the feeling of being in a '30s Manhattan cawfee shop.
Then we went upstairs to the first floor dining area. Basically, they've shoved as many regency chairs and chesterfield sofas in there as will fit, decorated with floaty, sheer fabric and strange lamps. I liked the fact that it was cozy and quirky - sure beats the sterile Starbucks-esque environment of other coffee houses.
Coffee was great but sadly my millefeuille was a little dry and a tad overpriced for what it was. If cakes seemed a little fresher I'd go for 5 stars.
I think I'd love to go back here for a coffee now and again just to enjoy the atmosphere - anywhere that plays Ella Fitzgerald gets my vote.

Great decor, especially the room upstairs which is regularly packed with hipsters making loose plans for world domination. Worth the pricey coffee for the quality eaves-dropping if not the decor.

This seems to be a very marmite place but I must say that I love it. After wanting to try out this place for ages, I recently made it here and, double espresso in hand, clambered up the stairs to the first floor area. I think it's great! Lots of antique sofas and tables, lots of kitsch, the music was 30s-50s, and I believe that they were playing Fred Astaire.

I thought that my espresso was quite good and I know that I will be back but, after the lack of positive comments on the cakes, I think I will stick to drinking espresso.

I found this quirky place today just by chance. I already knew the staff fron their second shop in Walthamstow.
The Turkish coffee is great, the cafe itself looks georgeous, the cakes and tartes look at least very good, but I didn't try them.

went there yesterday. asked for two glasses of wine. recognised the bottle as exactly the same type that you can buy for two bottles for a fiver in nearly any stoke newington or dalston off licence. sometimes even three bottles for a fiver. and the price for small two glasses here ? nine pounds !

A relatively new addition to the Shoreditch end of Kingsland Road. The nearest competitor this place has for coffee is Old Shoreditch Station which is located only a few shops down. I must say that i don't think it can compete.

The coffee is average and is overpriced for what it is. The downstairs is small and sometimes feels busy, even when there are not many customers purely because of the awkward shape of the bar.

Upstairs is much nicer with a relaxed atmosphere and different, it somewhat tacky decor. If your in town then don't be gutted if you give this a miss, head down the road for a coffee instead. Totally average, very hoxton coffee place.

Judging by the reviews, this place seems to be the coffee house equivalent of Marmite: you either love it or you hate it!

I'm in the former school of thought. I loved the quirky, vintage decor of the bar once I walked in, but the upstairs seating area just blew me away. It's so crazy, it's wonderful. The staff were really nice and friendly as well, and checked on me several times even though I chose to sit upstairs, right by the front window (i.e. the furthest from the staircase).

The coffee and cake I had, however, weren't fantastic. I had the server's favaourite - a strawberry tart - and for the price, expected something far better than what I got, but I figure they've got to pay for the antiques somehow. I mean, the decor can't be cheap.

That being said, I do like the place. Like the previous reviewer meneer said, it's very Shoreditch, but I mean that as the highest of compliments. It's quirky, it's got character, it's memorable and it's relaxing. Just don't come in here if you're on your last few pennies!

the staff was friendly and the interior was nice but the coffee wasn't good, the cake was stale and it was very overpriced (£9 for two double espresso and one little portuguese custard cake)
it's very shoreditch: phony and expensive

By far the best place to have a coffee in East London. The owners have dedicated so much attention to detail that you can’t help but be impressed.

Upstairs is my favourite place for meetings in Shoreditch. So relaxing and so comfortable.

It's a must see.

Oooh and Aaah, I am so in love with this place! The only thing missing is the Orient Express stopping by on the bridge above!
The upstairs is a a little 19th century heaven. I know that £2.50 for cappuccino/hot chocolate is a little bit too much, but with the experience you get it so worth it. I spent a very lazy afternoon there feeling like I was on a date with Willy Wonka :)

A lovely coffee shop with vintage coffee makers lovingly preserved to keep working by the Greek owner. We had a lovely chat with him as we sat at the bar and had coffees and lunch. The food was a nice portion with a large helping of green salad and the most yummy couscous that has hit my plate in a long while.

It is a small venue, so seating can be a challenge if you're looking to pop in a stay a while, but he told us that they will be opening the upstairs soon for seating -- in fact, according to the photos, it looks like it could be open now.

It's conveniently located right at the Waterston Street drop for the 243, 147 and other buses. It's definitely worth the visit if nothing other than to see these beautiful machines in action as you grab your coffee to go.

Happened across this place today and just loved it. Incredible decor, delicious coffee, charming staff - the polar opposite from the corporate blandness of Starbucks.

This lovely little cafe just popped up the other day so myself and my housemates popped down, you know, to test it out for the locals. Selfless.

It's a tiny little place with seating for about 15. The walls are almost completely covered in kitsch prints and paintings, boxing gloves and old signs to Brick Lane.

In the window and behind the counter are pieces of golden machinery- the espresso cup dispenser (pictured) and an old gramaphone give the place a real retro feel to it.

Hot chocolate I had was delicious and the cream on the top was fresh and devine. My housemates' coffee was lovely and rich, they claimed.

The owners are Italian (I believe) and introduced themselves to us and invited us to come back again (which we shall) which gave it the personal touch sometimes lacking in establishments.

It's the sort of place you can imagine being a cover for a waterhole in a time of prohibition or something, although I think it only does coffee and no booze! Although with the array of syrups they had you could spend a twitchy afternoon trying out them all!

I'd recommend it as a place to catch up with a small group of friends/family or perhaps a date of you can get a seat!

Small but perfectly formed!