Can anyone recommend some really good coffee houses in London? I'm not interested in doing a big London tea (I won't have time and anyway, my favorite tea comes from Mariage Freres, a French company). I'm staying in the Regents Park area if that helps. Someplace contemporary and stylish or old and stylish. Really good coffee is a must, though, I hate going into a place that has great atmosphere but lousy coffee, food, etc.

This is a tough question - there isn't really the equivalent of the English tea experience for coffee. We are invaded more by the likes of Starbucks The coffee chain that seems to win the awards is Caffe Nero. Probably your best bet is to look out for a French patisserie - I'm sure there are one or two in the Primrose Hill district which is very near to Regents Park<BR>

btilke, A great place for coffee in London is Carluccio's. The coffee is terrific as is the atmosphere and service. They serve a limited but popular menu, but you can order as much or as little (just coffee) as you like. If it the dinner hour and they are very busy, you may be asked to sit at a large and attractive communal table in the center of the coffee house/restaurant. This place has a warm, trendy feel and it is particularly fun to enter through their mini-market where among other things they have a Vespa for sale. This place was an instant success when they opened. I was last there jan 2001 and I bet it has lost none of its cachet. FYI, they have three locations but I have only frequented the 8 Market Place location near Regent and Oxford Streets. They are also at Fenwick-Bond Street and St. Christopher Place. Give this place a try if you can.<BR><BR>linda

Hopefully the following are still open for business...Nero's on Old Compton Street (was considered trendy), Bar Italia on Frith (expensive), Patisserie Valerie on Brompton near Harrod's, Maison Bertaux...I was once in London with a friend who is a coffee addict and he thought the coffee at Caffe Italia (outside of Victoria Station) was the best tasting he had there...there's a place called the Bramah Museum of Coffee & Tea at Maguire and Gainsford Streets...the tube stop is Tower Hill or London Bridge...there was a cafe there.

If you want to drink coffee at a chain, go for Caffe Nero. It is a lot less expensive than the likes of Coffee Republic (extortionate) and Starbucks (nearly as extortionate but starting to look tatty and past it, I M O). <BR><BR>Caffe Nero also has cards that you get stamped for free drinks. None of the others do that. <BR><BR>C Nero are everywhere.

I second Linda's recommendation for Carluccio's Cafes... I enjoyed a lovely light meal at one of them with a friend and could see it would be a great stop for a lighter coffee and snack too.

I go to Patisserie Valerie at Old Crompton Street(the original one) and Amato. Both places serve good coffee and cakes to killed for.

Thanks for all your suggestions. I will try Carluccio's and Valerie's Patisserie--I'm arriving on Sunday, either of them open that day?

Bar Italia is the best coffee in London, bar none. It's on Frith Street, and the scene inside and out is incredibly interesting. I'm not sure what "expensive" means -- when I was last there (last year), a cappuccino was 1 pound 50 pence -- much less than what you pay at Starbucks! There is a Caffe Nero across the street on Frith if you want to taste-test. Just take the Northern Line from Regent's Park down to Soho (you can walk to Frith Street from the Tottenham Court Road or Leicester Square stops). <BR><BR>Valerie's Patisserie, the original, is right around the corner on Old Compton (not Crompton) Street, so you can walk by that one too and see which one best suits your taste.<BR><BR>All three of these are open on Sundays.<BR><BR>Have a wonderful time.