London Blend: Kipferl, Angel

TimW
By TimW Last edited 142 months ago
London Blend: Kipferl, Angel
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Our caffeine-fuelled quest to find the best coffee shops in London.

Cafés — like bars and restaurants — are plentiful in Angel. So when one arrives on the scene that is a cut above the rest, it's worth taking notice. Kipferl relocated fairly recently from smaller premises in the Barbican area and the Austrian coffee shop and eatery has added a continental flavour to the ever popular Camden Passage.

Stylistically, Kipferl fuses Viennese sophistication (smart staff, beautiful tortes) with an Alpine spirit (wood panelling) to produce a clean, contemporary atmosphere. It's not cold or pretentious though. Old fashioned touches like newspapers attached to reading sticks give the space a lived-in, mittel-European charm.

At lunchtime, Kipferl is split in two with the back half serving hot food — Austrian specialities of course — while the front keeps to the café style with coffee and cake running the show. The coffee menu is inspired by 19th century Vienna, when patrons could choose drinks according to strength. So, the coffee is recommended according to your 'palette', from mild (like the melange, an espresso with hot milk) to the strong (Verlängeter — a bit like an Americano).

Like a lighter cappuccino, the melange is delicious, while the accompanying Linzer torte, dense but lightened with fruit jelly, doesn't disappoint either. It's also a nice touch that Kipferl coffee comes with a small glass of water and accompanying chocolate. A great place to stop off at in N1.

Open all days except Monday, find Kipferl at 20 Camden Passage, N1 8ED.

See previous reviews in the series on the London Blend Map.

Last Updated 08 May 2012