If one wanted to sit at a cafe with a view or personality in london for a few hours and prepare for an interview while sipping espresso, where would one want to sit?

London is huge...is there an area where you will be so we can narrow it down?

fair point!

staying in mayfair and only real plan for the day other than sitting at a cafe is going to the tate modern.

thanks!

There are plenty of sofas in Tate Modern (among the galleries) where you can sit (sans espresso) and enjoy the view of the Thames.

The Royal Festival Hall foyers, further along the South Bank, also offer views, sitting possibilities and cafés.

The British Library has no views, but is used to people sitting writing and staring into space in its café areas, but that's across town. Or maybe you'll want a change of scene.

Most packged food in supermarkets has allergy/dietary information shown on the back.

Your nearest supermarket is a small Tesco on Bedford Street (off the Strand). It has a selection of gluten free biscuits, cakes, bread, breakfast cereals and pasta on a shelf facing the bread and milk sections, at the back. There are also lots of ready meals and fresh soups, and some will be suitable.

A slightly larger Sainsbury's is on Victoria Street (catch the number 11 bus from outside Charing Cross Station) and get off outside the Army & Navy department store. Sainsbury's is opposite.

Holland & Barrett tends to sell dietary supplements, but there was a branch on Villiers Street, as you walk towards Embankment tube station).

A better shop for gluten free diets is Greens Foods on Strutton Ground.
This is a road off Victoria Street with a small market on it, about a block before Army & Navy.
http://www.greensfoods.co.uk/

Eat sells sandwiches and salads, and gives clear allergy information for each item. Some of the salads would be OK. There is a branch on Villiers Street.

De Gustibus sells artisan bread, including spelt bread. For branches see:
http://www.degustibus.co.uk/experience.html
I think that the Borough Market shop is open Mon-Sat, but the market is only on Thurs-Sat.

Sorry last message posted in wrong place

If the weather's nice, Somerset House (home of the Courtauld Museum) has a rooftop cafe overlooking the Thames. It's a bit removed above the fray there.

Also the Tate Modern has a notable cafe with a panoramic view across the Thames.

Third thought, on the Regent's Canal at Little Venice, there's a tea barge. (Near Warwick Avenue Tube station.)

Don't know if any of these places has espresso.

I think I have revealed my predilection for water views for quiet introspection.