Bea's Of Bloomsbury, London EC4M

I tend to have lunch with a more determined cause of familiarising myself with the City and all the best places to eat and drink. Next to the magnificent St Paul's cathedral is the newer shopping centre, One New Change. My attention is always drawn to Bea's of Bloomsbury, a delightful looking cafe/cake shop.

I finally found the time to go insider and have a coffee. The blue and grey walls make this warm and welcoming, in an otherwise much advertised yet unspectacular shopping centre. There is a huge array of cakes displayed, which all look equally gorgeous and delicious, with the loveliest cupcakes making it an even more difficult choice. They also cater for breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea. With all the choice, I settled for a coffee.

Excellent coffee, for just £1.80, which was brought over to my table. I know it may seem unimportant but makes for a small luxury when most coffee shops these days expect you to pick up your own coffee.


This is a chic place with city people coming in for either a quick take-away or a pleasant change to the otherwise usually austere city surroundings.

I would however say that the experience was let down by the unfriendly waitress who, when I went to the till and asked if I could pay, was abrupt in telling me that she was serving another customer. I will certainly go back but a word of advice, a smile wouldn't hurt. Afterall I did ask to pay, not for a discount!

Bea's of Bloomsbury, St Paul's, 83 Watling Street, London EC4M 9AF http://www.beasofbloomsbury.com/