fashion cafe

Clapton in east London has some strong food game at the moment and Cafe Miami is definitely one of my new favourites.

It’s in good company too, with French bistro Les Nénettes serving up a magnificent Croque Madame, Red Velvet Lattes at nearby Palm Vaults, amazing Danish baked goods at Charles Artisan Bread and from what I’ve heard, top class tacos at DEL74.

More than just a fun name, Cafe Miami takes inspiration from its location inside the Strand Building, a striking Art Deco gem that’s more South Beach than Lower Clapton Road. It was originally built as the Hackney Electricity Demonstration Hall and Offices in 1925 and has since been converted into flats with an enviable courtyard terrace.

Cafe Miami is a petite all-day spot that draws a good crowd for weekend brunch with tempting American comfort food. It’s simple yet welcoming, designed in dreamy pastel hues with a counter laden with cakes. The soundtrack is 90s R’n’B, the staff wear Cafe Miami logo tees with stone wash jeans and there’s a cheeky wifi passcode that’s too rude for them to say aloud. OF COURSE I was going to like this place!

We started by ordering some hot drinks and were given some vanilla-scented popcorn to graze on while waiting for our food. My Matcha latte with almond milk was absolutely perfectly (with plenty of high quality matcha and no bitter taste) and Steven’s Flat white, made with Workshop Coffee, was potent and milky with a nutty flavour.

Everything is freshly-cooked with care at Cafe Miami and we were really wowed when we saw the size of our dishes. My Nutella-filled pancakes topped with banana (£8.50) included three giant, fluffy pancakes stuck together with gooey Nutella and finished with sliced banana and a good ole’ drizzle of maple syrup. They were just heavenly and I managed to get through two thirds before sliding the rest across the table in defeat.

Steven went for a diner classic of American waffles with bacon, maple syrup and blueberries (£9). The heart-shaped, golden waffles were nice and thin and loaded with the most delicious Canadian maple-cured bacon, fresh blueberries and lashings of maple syrup. The savoury waffles had quite a neutral flavour and made an ideal base for the bold, in-your-face smokiness and sweetness.

Obviously, we had more than enough for a filling brunch, however if you’re feeling really indulgent, Cafe Miami also offers snacks like Pop Tarts, Grilled grapefruit and Toasted banana bread with Nutella.

Cafe Miami definitely scores points for its mouthwatering food and cool interiors, but it’s also really chilled and the staff are friendly and laid-back. I can’t wait to go back and try their toasted sandwiches, avo toast and fish finger tacos.

All photos by Chérie City

Ok, so Café Beaubourg is hardly off the beaten track – it stands in a square of sublime artiness, neighbouring the Centre Pompidou – but it has become my favourite place to stop for a coffee in Paris. The shadow cast over Café Beaubourg was the museum’s pretty much justifying but still annoying strike , just when we wanted to see the Pierre Soulage exhibition.

I posted about Café Beaubourg back in July this year, but I couldn’t resist visiting again (in the name of research), so I’ve got better pics to show you just how yum it really is.

Often described as a haunt of the ‘fash pack/jet set/fashionistas’ or whatever you want to such privileged folk, Café Beaubourg is more BCBG than bobo, but don’t worry, there’s no sectioned off, limited view area for ‘civillians’ (thanks for that, Liz Hurley).

cafe-beaubourg-outside

A café crème (€5.50) on the terrace feels divine after a long day wandering around the city and it’s in a prime spot for watching art students, Marais hipsters and chihuahuas going about their day. In the winter, the terrace is covered heated, but if you really want to warm up, dine on the other side of the red velvet drapes and cosy up on a banquette in between concrete columns and bookcases.

Cafe Beaubourg

Café Beaubourg’s logo-emblazoned sugar lumps and cool soundtrack give away that it’s another outlet from that old paragon of ‘good taste’, Hotel Costes, and I was completely in awe of their amazing lightning bolt cups – kleptos, control yourselves!

cafe-beaubourg-coffee

But most importantly, the search for the best croque madame is temporarily over, as Café Beaubourg’s is a traditional béchamel-smothered 2 slicer, complete with fresh bread and butter and a delicious french salad, drizzled with red wine vinaigrette.

In future posts, you will understand my utter contempt for dry and flimsy pain poilane rip-offs, and believe me, there are many of them in gay Paree.

cafe-beaubourg-croque

It’s a lot more than you’d expect to pay at €13, but it was so rich and filling that we could barely eat our dinner that night. The quality of the food is excellent and it’s in a good location if you find yourself feeling weary or with a rumbling tummy in central Paris.

Unlike the notoriously frosty service at Hotel Costes, our waiter at Café Beaubourg was efficient, polite and even helpful when we asked him about the museum closure, despite having to rush around managing the whole terrace on his own.

Café Beaubourg, 43 Rue St-Merri, 75004 Paris, France

Nearby: Centre Pompidou, Fontaine Stravinski, le Marais, la Seine,

Metro: Rambuteau or Hôtel-de-Ville

Brunch at Cafe Miami in East London

Bon café @ Beaubourg