A brand new all-day café and brunch spot has just opened at Hawley Wharf, and it boasts a serious pedigree. Camden Coffee Roastery is a standalone venture by the people behind East London’s long-standing Exmouth Coffee Roasters.
It was due to be a second branch of their popular Whitechapel Rd café Grounded, but launching with a full-scale on-site roastery producing a signature Camden Espresso blend, GM Clyde felt the name better reflected what they are trying to achieve.
It certainly has promise to be a stylish new addition to the hangouts in this part of Camden, with a café facing Castlehaven Park serving a full range of coffees and teas alongside a brunchy menu ranging from daily pastries to classic egg dishes, loaded pancakes, salads and more. There’s a shop for taking home bags of beans, loose leaf teas and tasty things for the home kitchen, while out back an outdoor terrace spills out into Dockray Place, home of weekend produce market The Spread under the railway arches.
During the launch period there’s a reduced menu, but the team are keen to make friends with locals, and are offering residents a first drink free, with a 50% discount on both food and drinks until the end of October. Share the love of coffee and mention Camdenist when you visit.
The offering at the Whitechapel Grounded looks exactly like the kind of laid-back lazy mid-morning dining fayre that would make a welcome place for Kentish Town and Camden Town heads to chill, nicely tucked just off the madness of the main weekend drag, too.
Switching to the Camden Coffee Roastery name feels like a risk, as it sits uneasily between stepping on the toes of George over on Delancy Street at the renowned Camden Coffee Shop, or confusion with the Market’s own Camden Coffee Co which has had various locations nearby.
It seems no one can resist the lure of the globally recognised ‘brand Camden’ (I mean, we’re fine ones to talk), but the proof of whether this attractive new spot becomes a firm favourite with residents, not just the more curious day-trippers, will be in the quality of the produce and the vibes. From what we can see so far it looks like it’s got a good chance, which is exciting.
Camden Coffee Roastery, Castlehaven Road, NW1.
Details of full opening to follow
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