A coffee shop crawl through Angel to find the best cafes in Islington

If you’re looking for the best coffee shops or cafes in Islington, you could spend an entire weekend wandering from Angel to Highbury and still not hit them all. Especially if you’re using TikTok as your guide.

Islington is that kind of neighbourhood, with its leafy streets and independent bakeries that look like they’ve always been there. Cafes in Islington where baristas know regulars by name and pastries sell out before noon.

So naturally, I decide to test the most viral cafes and coffee shops in Islington, according to TikTok.

This isn’t just about coffee in Angel or Islington. It’s about flaky pastry layers, matcha obsessions, brownies devoured by toddlers, and the difference between a nice local and a worth crossing London for.

Let’s start walking.

Map of the best coffee shops & cafes in Islington, London according to TikTok

Down to business then. Here are the best cafes in Islington according to TikTok:

1. Best pastries: Pophams
2. Best matcha: Katsute 100
3. Best lunch stop: British Patagonia
4. Best coffee: Compane
5. Best local coffee shop: Jolene

1. Jolene on Colnbrook Row

A great local but not a pilgrimage

When people talk about the best cafes and coffee shops in Islington, Jolene inevitably comes up.

The Colnbrook Row branch looks small from the outside, and when we visit, the pastry display isn’t overflowing. There are just a handful of options, and this is mid-morning on a weekday.

It’s worth knowing if you’re coming for a pastry smorgasbord – the Islington branch of Jolene doesn’t look like it swings that way.

We order a sugared raspberry donut. It’s nice. Soft and lightly sweet, the usual donuty thing. But the filling is minimal and its not a cafe treat worth coming specifically to Islington for.

Then comes the Valentine’s heart brownie at Jolene. Now we’re talking. It’s dense, fudgy and properly chocolatey. It has that almost sticky richness that coats the tongue. My three year old demolishes it with alarming speed, chocolate smudged across cheeks like war paint.

The cappuccino is very smooth – exactly what you want from coffee in Angel on a slow morning.

Jolene is a solid entry in the cafes in Islington category. It’s just not one I’d travel across the city for.

Rating – 3/5

Address – 16 Essex Rd, London N1 8AA

2. Pophams

The best pastries in Islington

If we’re ranking coffee shops in Islington by pastry alone, Pophams is difficult to beat. This is where laminated dough becomes theatre.

The marmite and schlossberger cheese swirl is salty, mature, deeply savoury with flaky layers that shatter lightly under your fingers. The honey and smoked salt bun hits sweet first, then buttery, then gently salty.

And then there’s the seasonal Danish situation. The kind of pastry that balances fruit sharpness with creamy fillings and crunchy toppings. It’s layered and considered, and not too sweet.

The coffee holds its own, but let’s be honest. You’re here for the pastry.

Among cafes in Islington and Angel, this is one of the few I would make a journey for.

Read more in our full Pophams review:
Is Pophams the Best Bakery in Islington?

Rating – 5/5

Address – 19 Prebend St, London N1 8PF

3. Katsute100

The best matcha cafes in Islington

If you care about matcha, Katsute 100 changes the conversation.

This Japanese cafe in Islington feels calm and precise. The matcha drinks are properly made, vibrant rather than milky and vague.

But the real star is the matcha crepe cake.

Think – layer upon layer of thin crepes stacked with matcha cream. The texture is soft and yielding, almost sighing under your fork. The flavour is earthy and gently sweet. It’s one of my personal favourite things to eat in London.

When people ask about the best coffee shops in Islington and Angel, I quietly redirect them here.

Read more
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Rating – 4/5

Address – 100 Islington High St, London N1 8EG

4. Compane

Minimalist vibes and serious coffee

Compane in Islington looks like it was built for TikTok. The cafe has clean lines and is fitted out in soft neutrals. It’s got that cool modern aesthetic.

But thankfully, it’s not style over substance.

The coffee is deep and slightly molassey, with a richness that lingers. It’s confident.

There’s space to sit, but not much. Treat this as a great coffee shop in Islington for a takeaway cup.

If you’re serious about coffee in Islington and Angel rather than pastry theatrics, Compane is a strong contender.

Rating – 4/5

Address – 47 Camden Psge, Angel London N1 8EA

5. British Patagonia

Vegan pastries and one very good iced matcha

British Patagonia might quietly be one of the best coffee shops in Islington if you care about plant-based baking done properly.

First, the iced matcha latte. It’s clean, bright and balanced, with just enough edge to keep it grown up. The milk rounds it out without muting it. On a mild Islington afternoon, it’s exactly what you want in hand while wandering towards Angel.

And then there’s the pastry counter. This place really shines when it comes to vegan treats.

Flaky croissants, including stuffed croissants that actually feel indulgent. My favourite is the pain au chocolat with layered pastry and a deep cocoa centre.

And then the almond croissant, with its golden, shattering layers on the outside, and inside a juicy almond filling that borders on custardy in places.

If you’re mapping out the best coffee shops and cafes in Islington for vegan pastry, British Patagonia deserves a serious look.

Rating – 4/5

Address – 178 Upper St, London N1 1RG

So what are the best coffee shops and cafes in Islington?

Spending a day wandering through coffee shops in Islington reminds me why this neighbourhood is so easy to love.

There’s this steady hum of very good baking, very good coffee, and cafes that invite you to linger a little longer than planned.

Some cafes in Islington lean into laminated pastry perfection. Others carve out a niche with beautifully made matcha. A few are simply reliable neighbourhood anchors where the cappuccino is smooth and the staff remember your order.

And that’s the magic of coffee shops in Angel and Islington. The sheer variety of great cafes will keep you hooked.

Are all of these coffee shops in Islington worth crossing London for? Probably not. But that’s not the point.

The point is that within a short walk of Angel station, you can have an excellent caffeine crawl. You can compare almond croissants. Debate matcha depth. Argue about donut filling ratios.

And isn’t that the best way to spend a weekend?

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Have you tried any of the best coffee shops and cafes in Islington, London? Let us know :)