The Best Coffee Shops & Cafes In Haggerston According To TikTok
The Best Coffee Shops & Cafes In Haggerston According To TikTok
We Tried the Viral Cafes In Haggerston – Here’s What Actually Delivers
Finding the best cafes in Haggerston sounds simple enough. Grab a coffee by the canal, enjoy the sun bouncing off the houseboats, call it a morning. Except it never really works like that. One flat white becomes two, someone suggests matcha, and suddenly you’re knee-deep in what can only be described as a fully committed cafe crawl.
We start at Toconoco for a quick drink. But once we’re out, it feels irresponsible not to just pop into another spot. And then another. So rather than pretend this is accidental, we decide to treat it properly. If we’re going to hit the most viral coffee shops in Haggerston, we might as well rate them honestly.
We’re judging on more than just latte art. Points are gained (and lost) for consistency, flavour, comfort levels, atmosphere, and whether the whole experience feels cohesive rather than cobbled together.
Because a great cafe isn’t just about one good cookie. It’s about whether you’d happily linger, return, and recommend it.
So here are the cafes in Haggerston that actually deliver. And some that don’t.
Quick info on the best cafes in Haggerston
- Best setting to linger: Batch Baby
- Best canal vibes: Towpath Cafe
- Best lunch stop: De Beauvoir Deli
- Best kid-friendly cafe: Toconoco
- For a quieter coffee stop: 52a Coffee House
Read on to find out more on the best cafes in Haggerston.
Map & route for cafes in Haggerston
One of the best things about exploring cafes in Haggerston is how walkable it is.
You can do a full Haggerston cafe route without breaking a sweat:
- Start at Toconoco for matcha and onigiri
- Walk down toward Towpath Cafe on the canal
- Loop up to Batch Baby in the Rose Lipman Building
- Walk across to 52a Coffee House
- Finish strong at De Beauvoir Deli for doorstop sandwiches and tea
It’s canal-side charm meets brutalist architecture meets Japanese rice triangles.
1. Toconoco
For matcha & onigiri
Toconoco describes itself as a kid-friendly Japanese cafe, and it absolutely is. There’s a small play area with a mini slide, and I already know my three-year-old would be obsessed.
But it’s not just for children.
The shrimp onigiri (triangular rice parcels wrapped in nori) are surprisingly addictive, reminding me of prawn mayo sandwiches in the most nostalgic way. Meanwhile, the matcha latte is beautifully balanced, strong without being bitter, gently sweetened to enhance rather than mask the flavour.
The matcha blondie, however, lacks excitement and feels a little flat. I’d skip that next time and focus on the savoury menu or their limited set lunch offering.
If you’re searching for the best matcha in Haggerston, this is where you’ll find it.
Rating: 4/5
Address: Unit A, 28 Hertford Rd, London N1 5QT
Read more
Japanese Treats at Happy Sky Bakery, Shepherd’s Bush
2. Towpath Cafe
For canal magic, but beware the hype
Towpath is the cafe everyone talks about, and the social media hype is intense.
It’s perched directly on the Regent’s Canal, and feeds diners through its tiny hatches. Sunlight flickers off the water, long boats bob along, runners and cyclists fly by.
We queue for around twenty minutes, which raises the stakes.
The Merinda tomatoes with mojo verde justify the hype. They’re bright, juicy and layered over a zingy anchovy-caper-garlic sauce that elevates them beautifully. It’s a dish that feels alive.
Other dishes are fine but oddly flat.
Towpath isn’t bad. Far from it. But when a neighbourhood cafe becomes a social media destination, then expectations have a way of inflating. Especially if you’ve waited in a queue to get in.
If you’re already by the canal, absolutely go. Would I queue again? Probably not.
Rating: 3/5
Address: 42 De Beauvoir Cres, London N1 5SB
Read more
Is Brunch at Towpath, Haggerston Worth The Hype?
3. Batch Baby
For Brutalist Cool & Proper Coffee
Next up, we head to Batch Baby, partly because it’s been cropping up on our feeds and partly because the lovely Rose Lipman Building is impossible to ignore.
Built in 1969, it’s all raw concrete and 70s optimism. Batch Baby leans into that aesthetic beautifully, with its high ceilings, industrial bones, and warm mid-century touches. It feels like somewhere you could open a book and forget the time.
The rhubarb crumble cake is soft and moist, carrying a gentle fuzz of fruit. Meanwhile, the Persian love cake is slightly dry through the sponge, although the bright lemon flavour and glossy pink icing redeem it somewhat.
The batch brew, however, is wonderful. It’s strong stuff, served on a cheerful orange tray with a glass of water, which somehow makes the whole experience feel considered.
Batch Baby also have a refreshing selection of sodas, our favourites being the peach and rhubarb soda which is deliciously bright.
Would I come back? Without hesitation. Batch Baby is without doubt one of the best cafes in Haggerston for vibe alone. The coffee is a plus.
Rating: 4/5
Address: Rose Lipman Building, 43 De Beauvoir Rd, London N1 5SF
Read more
Is The Dreamery Ice Cream worth a 20 minute queue?
4. 52a Coffee House
For Dependable But Not Dreamy
From the outside, 52a Coffee House looks small. But inside, it stretches out in a wide arc, which is narrow but has plenty of seating. Rustic, charming, with those pretty red and pink tables outside that must feel glorious in summer.
The iced latte is solid – no theatrics, no drama. It does exactly what it promises.
The cookies, however, disappoint. Both the peanut butter and the mini egg version look like they’ll be soft and squidgy, but instead they snap and crumble. The sweetness tips just a little too far, and that anticipated chew never materialises.
Still, as a reliable stop on your Haggerston cafe crawl, it holds its own. Just maybe temper your expectations on this one.
Rating: 2.5/5
Address: 52A Southgate Rd, London N1 3JF
Read more
The £40 Halal Short Rib Everyone’s Talking About At Bone Hoxton
5. De Beauvoir Deli
For fantastic mint tea and beef sandwiches
De Beauvoir Deli sits in what might be the prettiest pocket of Haggerston, but it’s less about viral aesthetics and more about substance.
The iced mint tea with orange blossom syrup is unexpectedly brilliant. Fresh mint brightness meets soft floral sweetness, and together they create something brilliant.
Meanwhile, the beef and horseradish sandwich arrives on thick doorstep bread, generously filled and properly balanced. It’s satisfying in that reassuring way that only a good deli can deliver.
If you want a proper lunch stop on your way to find the best cafes in Haggerston, this is the one. De Beauvoir Deli feels grown-up, confident, and refreshingly unbothered by hype.
Rating: 4.5/5
Address: 98 Southgate Road, London, N1 3JD
So what are the best coffee shops & cafes in Haggerston?
After a full cafe crawl in Haggerston, fuelled by caffeine, sunlight and mild competitive scoring, a few things become clear.
Batch Baby earns its 4/5 because it gets the balance right with strong coffee, great vibes, and somewhere you’d happily linger for hours. Minor pastry flaws don’t derail what is, overall, a very cohesive experience.
52a Coffee House lands at 2.5/5. The coffee is dependable, but inconsistent sweet treats and a slightly forgettable overall feel cost it points. It’s fine. It’s just not magnetic.
Towpath, meanwhile, settles at 3/5. The canal setting is undeniably beautiful and there are flashes of brilliance on the menu, but long queues and uneven dishes make it harder to justify the hype.
De Beauvoir Deli comes in strong at 4.5/5 because it’s confident, cohesive and drinks and food are both great. It’s the sort of place you go back to again and again.
And then there’s Toconoco at 4/5. Great matcha, strong savoury options and a warm, welcoming atmosphere. It’s only held back slightly by a few underwhelming sweet bits.
Ultimately, finding the best cafes in Haggerston isn’t just about one standout latte or a viral pastry. It’s about consistency, comfort, atmosphere, and whether you’d come back when nobody’s watching.
Some spots are genuinely worth your time. Now you know which.
Read more
The Ultimate Guide – Where To Eat Kunafa in London
