The Borough Barista

Nice place, big downstairs space, but I wanted the coffee to be a little better.
OK, admittedly I ordered decaf because I can’t handle caffeine after noon without bouncing up and down on the bed like a 4-​year-​old and pissing off my wife. And it was decent, just not great like I was hoping. Maybe a regular flat white will be better next time.
Otherwise, it’s a nice place — friendly service, nice bright space upstairs and a big downstairs area with lots of seating. Good for an office coffee break or a more extended work session. Not sure about Wifi, but I saw some people with laptops, so probably. I’ll come back in the morning some time to better assess the coffee.

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 2^nd 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.

Good place for the morning coffee as it’s right below the building. The coffee itself is better than most, the breakfast and lunch selections are also tempting but so far I haven’t indulged. I personally try not to have a sandwich for lunch as it’s generally my main meal of the day unless I know I’m going somewhere special. Generally fast service, and being off of Haymarket and not directly on it, it benefits for a slightly lower footfall for people who want to come in and have a quiet coffee. I’ve used the place for a couple of meetings when it’s been too busy in the office!

I really enjoy this place. It’s close to my office. Service is always quick and friendly. The coffee is outstanding. I try to point out to people that, although there are tons of Costas and Prets and stuff nearby, you only have to walk a few more meters down the street to get coffee worth paying for. They know their stuff and they make really great coffee.

Stopped in to check out the new location over the New Year. Coffee is still top-​notch and the atmosphere even more comfortable and attractive as the original location. Love this place!

An independent coffee shop just off Haymarket has got to be a good thing. The area has the stink of the chain and the tourist trap and with it’s rough grey Farrow and Balls and rough hewn benchery it just screams lo fi and proud.
But hold on a second… £3.90 for a small sausage sarnie and an extra 60 pee to eat in! Not when you’re going to serve it to me on a paper plate alongside coffee in a take away cup.
Hell. Fire.
Coffee might be proudly served from a a La Marzocco Machine (a sign of quality for those who know their beans?) but even the undoubted cache of the cup o’Joe (excellent though exact bean unidentified) didn’t distract me from the that punchy pricing. If I’m near Piccadilly and want to spend nearly £9 on my breakfast, I’m going to the Wolesley…