Formerly known as Stepping Stones, Stepney City Farm has been expanding its profile in recent years. They've introduced a farmer's market, and now their small cafe has extended its opening hours to Wednesday - Sunday, making it one of the few decent choices for coffee and lunch in the area.
The cafe, run by Jassy Davis of the blog Gin and Crumpets, features coffee from Climpson & Sons in east London, which is as good as one would expect from those fine bean-roasters. The simple but effective lunch menu offers a handful of decent dishes, while the cakes (in particular the lemon poppy seed loaf) are excellent. But the highlight was the salted caramel affogato, a shot of espresso poured over ice cream. We're unilaterally declaring it the only way to keep cool this summer.
While the cafe's spartan premises aren't much to look at, there's a nearby gazebo with chairs positioned beneath it. There's also the farm itself, which has pigs, sheep, cows, quails and a tribe of friendly Toggenberg goats. If that doesn't appeal, there's also a farmer market each Saturday.
Stepney City Farm Cafe is in Stepney Way, E1 3DG and is open 9.30-14.30 Weds-Fri, 10.30-16.00 weekends.
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Disclaimer: We review anonymously and pay for all our meals/drinks.