Secondo

Great coffee shop. It is surely the perfect option if you are struggling and you need a fresh cup of coffee. I love the way they treat you when you enter the cafe - everyone is greeted properly and treated very well.

The service was extremely poor. We bought a wowcher and the only way to redeem the voucher was booking the table via email. He refused to take bookings over the phone. Robert Beckford (the owner!) which was dealing with the enquiry and took about 4 days to respond to the email, if at all. 

When I asked to deal with someone that was willing to respond to my email/ inquiry he responded with this email:

From Robert:
Excuse me ! I have responded to your email: I  think it's best for you to get a refund. The refund you get from the person you buy the voucher from: there you are I have dealt with your inquiry: have a nice day.

Needless to say we attempting to get a refund. 

I wouldnt go to this place ever again, dirty cutlery and salad from the bags.. it looks and feel dirty, smell damp... before we had our main course we just left, couldnt stay there any longer..

Heard about secondo through my pal he asked me to come along felt very embarassed at first but thought id give it ago was a good location retro feel to the place was impressed was not what i expected which was good had a great time spoke to some lovely people food was great be looking up for the next one.

Really shocked to see the reviews I have seen on here. I went to my friends birthday party last month and enjoyed myself very much so i can see things must have changed alot since the last reviews they are now holding events. Staff was very helpful and well organised very nice location and loved the 1940s theme food was very tasteful and at a high standard. The vibe was very nice dj was good everything was very organised from bringing our food to dj set up. I would defiantly recommend secondo for a party was very impressed.

Went to Secondo for breakfast today and had the best omelette in ages…and I’m French, I know about good omelette! The prostions are very generous, and you can create your “own” breakfast by choosing 5 items out of a list of bacon, sausages, smoked salmon, kippers, etc…a very good idea!
Also love the interior, Secondo is definitely the most interesting place i’ve been in South London. Highly recommended.

Thank you Secondo, I had the most wonderful birthday party ever! The venue is absolutely brilliant and the staff and owner have been so helpful in getting me all i wanted for the night, even my favourite italian Amaro! Food and cocktails were incredible and my friends still go on about it. If you want to have a great party, lots of dancing and fun, this is the place…and just in case you’re wondering, they don’t charge a hire fee, amazing!

The owner has absolutely the worst demeanor of any small business owner I have ever met in my life. We were visiting London and ordered tea to go and asked if we could have the wifi key to download a google map so we could plan our day. He said, “no” and when we pushed him why not he starting yelling at us and telling us that it’s his business and he can do what he wants. Obviously it was enough to for us to walk out and enjoy the free wifi and a tea at a cafe around the corner. Based on the reviews of his racism towards non blacks (I’m Latino and my GF is Middle Eastern) there was clearly some hidden anger. I would never frequent that cafe again.

I'd give it no stars if possible.

Okay so I get that the whole "vintage" and "laid back" look is in right now, but honestly the shop just looks trampy. It is conveyed as a cool hip new shop that has clothes and food "wow". I must admit the reviews on here and my brother had convinced me to try it in the first place. But I am extremely disappointed.

The photos on secondo website are sadly outdated and since then they have changed their layout, which is usually a good thing, but in their case it is not.

MY EXPERIENCE WITH THE FOOD:
I ordered tomato and basil soup which costs a whoppping £4.50 for a small cup filled to the brim! the soup tasted and looked like they just blended some plum tomatoes then heated it up! and to top it all off there was no traces of basil! I mean at least TRY to disguise the fact that it wasn't really soup.

I would recommend Esca for quality and averagely priced food, not this trampy overrated and over-priced place.

I have to say that Secondo has restored my faith in Clapham North and is now somewhere my girlfriend and me try to go each weekend for a little r&r.
The clothes are nice to have a look through but it is the food and ambiance we go for.
The staff are very welcoming and polite and will happily explian what they have on the menu, and what a fine menu it is too. Nothing pretentious, but just good home made pies, cakes, roasts and other treats.
last time we went there was an offer for a coffee and cake for £4. They don't charge extra for Soy Milk, and the cakes...well, these are portions the size my nan would have given. They certainly make the cakes sold at more 'chain' cafes look very sorry for themselves.
As said before there is free Wifi and you are never made to feel that once you have eaten you are just taking up space and they want you out.

Secondo sold my clothes 8 months ago and still haven't paid me. I've contacted the owner, Robert Beckford, about fifteen times by phone, text, email and letter and all I get is excuses. I don't know whether he's chronically disorganised or a crook. We shall see. I do hope that he will soon give me a good reason to improve this review.

Secondo is literally one of the nicest cafes I've ever been to. An oasis of calm in the sea of filth around Clapham North, it reminds me very much of a lot of chilled places you get in the greenfields at glasto. There's free wifi, great food, lovely fresh orange juice, and stacks of 2nd hand clothes to rummage through, if you're not too busy working. They even have a spare mac power adapter if you've forgotten yours.

Everything is just right here. I love it.

I have just been there to book my 40th birthday party on Friday July 16th... it looks like a wicked place... I have negotiated 2 for 1 drinks with owner..until 10... parkings free if you need it...music is 50's through till now... i am a aska fan so I am bringing some of those old ska 45's to play...if you can dj..then owner is ok with it...as long as the vibes are cool... the food looks amazing...and the best bit..retro clothes for people to wear on the night if they want to...

Text me if you wanna come to my party as I am anticipating 30 from my work..anothe party has booked for 15 there... and I reckon the more the merrier...

my numbers 07852178262 .. i will issue you password for on the door entry....

Nico

The only thing I don't like about Secondo is that it isn't mine. I wouldn't change a single thing. The food is varied/fresh and generous portions, the cakes are perfect, coffee is great, it's well priced, the music just right,the design and décor is relaxed and interesting, the lady (owner?) who works there is friendly- I haven't been to one of their evening 'vintage balls'yet but it looks like a good night.

This place is great. A little cool sanctuary from the many drunk crazy people wandering up and down clapham high street as golfers etc. Nice atmosphere for a late night coffee or beer and really nice food. Think that if it had a bit more advertising it would be a busy little place. x

I go to Secondo almost every week, i have lived in clapham 13 years and its almost one of the best thing thats happen to clapham...My children and friends love, Nice healthy food, friendly staff, interesting clothing and vintage furniture, posters bits and bobs for sale. I tell every one about it and take everyone one there. Makes a change to all the other pretentious places in Clapham...also free wifi.

Secondo is definitly at odds with Clapham high st. But it's one that needs to be discovered. the owners clearly enjoy what they do. Give a try to one of their quiche or home cooked pies. £4 and you'll get not just a slice but a succulent large plate with salad, avocado and other goodies that makes you think you've just landed on the unknown gem of this part of Clapham North.

If Secondo stays open for longer than 6 months i will eat my hat. Is it a cafe? Is it a vintage clothes shop? Are they selling scooters? I'm just not sure..... What i do know is that Secondo is almost always empty and must be feeling the pain from the economic downturn.

I wish them all the best, but if they want to make money they're going to have to pick one of the above and nail it. My advice - Go for the coffee shop option. Cafe Nile across the road seem to be doing pretty well and this part of the high street is crying out for nice cafes and coffee shops. I guess we'll have to wait and see :)