Starbucks

When I stay at the Tower Hotel next door, I stop here every morning on my way to work and get a coffee, and sometimes breakfast as well.
This Starbucks is not usually too busy (which is nice), but even when it is they manage to get orders out reasonably quick. It is always clean and well staffed, and I have never had anything happen here that would warrant marking them down in a review for.
The only shortcoming of this particular location is that there isn’t a lot of seating inside, but they do have quite a bit outside along the Thames, which is very nice. The location is right next to Tower Bridge and the Tower of London, with St. Katharine’s Docks right next door as well. If you are a tourist, this is a prime location to grab your morning coffee and breakfast before you start your day.
This location closes pretty early (7:00pm), but I guess there’s not a great need for coffee much after that anyway.
Overall a nice location and a familiar bit of home for traveling Americans staying next door at the Tower Hotel.

Lovely spot of a coffee… This shop is located right next to Tower Bridge on the St Katharine dock side. As this is the quieter side you get to enjoy a beautiful view but without the stampede.
When we visited the shop was not very clean and neat nor was the toilet. I am guessing it was just before closing time… If not then I would not visit here again!

OMG. Tourists. Probably because this Starbucks is directly next to Tower Bridge. Tourists. OMG.
I am not a tourist but I happened to be doing a very touristy thing the day I stopped in. I visited the Tower Bridge exhibition to view the bridge lift through the glass walkways. Sometimes I forgot that my city of residence is full of tourists and that there really isn’t an off-​season when it comes to tourism.
First thing to note about this Starbucks is that it does not accept the Starbucks card. This is because this location is attached to the Guoman Hotel and therefore, is a franchise store. I despise Starbucks franchise stores. They look like Starbucks but then you get to the till to pay and BAM! No Starbucks card accepted. No points toward your perks. No free upgrades and shots. Nothing. Shame on your Starbucks for allowing franchise stores.
Second thing to note is that this Starbucks is located on the north bank, at the base of the east side of Tower Bridge. There was a burger truck parked near the «mermaid + world» statue that is located between the pier and the outdoor seating of this Starbucks.
I walked in and the place was full of people. Busting at the seams. My mistake was that I walked in from the door on the pier side. The correct way to enter is to enter through the door on the road side because the pier-​side door is where everyone is standing in the toilet queue. And by everyone, I mean every damn tourist in the city. The only possible way to order at the till is to enter through the road-​side door.
Seating is limited and crowded. I accidentally stepped on some dude’s coat which was hung over the back of his chair. He didn’t notice but I did and I hoped I didn’t have dog poo on my shoe or gum or anything that could have transferred to his coat.
My coffee was not of the correct temperature and I’m not entirely sure is was made a a skinny. So, I consumed a zillion calories and got zero Starbucks points for doing so.
There are so many other Starbucks options in this area. I think this is one to avoid. Especially since they don’t accept Starbucks cards!
Wow. That’s a lot of characters for a two-​star review.