A white cup of tea with blue saucer on a table in Cafe Creme, Roman Road, Bow, East London

Photograph courtesy of Café Creme

The best places to have a cuppa tea along Roman Road

15 September 202315 September 2023 Simran Kumar

Looking for a great cup of tea on The Roman? We round up some of the best brew spots near you.

With the Winter closely approaching, it’s time to boggle down on where you can enjoy a nice hot cup of tea. On the Roman, we have a multitude of coffee shops and cafs which are loved by the locals for their hot drinks and treats, so, we have found the best places if you fancy a good old cuppa going into the new season.

Coffee and Fripes

Fancy a cup of tea whilst browsing some vintage clothes? Well, Coffee + Fripes is the perfect place to chill and have some amazing food while you refresh your wardrobe. Aïssatou Diallo, the French owner is working with vegan chef Kerran Kaur to offer a delicious vegan lunch menu for as little as £6.50 with food options that rotate weekly, between a variety of sandwiches, wraps, and salad bowls. She also sells homemade brownies and vegan treats to have alongside your tea, offering iced tea in the September sun.

Address: 512 Roman Rd, London E3 5ES

Sazzy and Fran

A gem of a café in Globe Town, Sazzy & Fran serves a small but perfect selection of teas. Delivered from Scottish tea house Jenier, sip on an English Breakfast while enjoying peanut butter on toast with banana and maple syrup on a quiet Sunday morning. We also think that its jasmine tea is an ideal partner to the café’s acclaimed acai bowl while sitting on a window barstool and surrounded by the calming effect of its plants. A blissful way to start any day.

Address: 33 Roman Road, London E2 0HU

Loafing

Loafing’s quirky, homey feel with mismatched furniture, which includes rustic red and green chairs, and a mix of circular and square-topped tables, makes the cafe look elegant and spacious. Sit here with an aromatic Earl Grey or try a South African favourite, sweet Rooibos. There is also jasmine tea, peppermint, and a gorgeously sounding rose pomegranate white tea. Bring a friend or two and share a pot. Enjoy these with one of the cafés sweet or savoury crêpes, and watch a slice of the Roman Road life go.

Address: 407 Roman Road, London E3 5QS

Recharge

Coffee in a brown cup and banana bread — Coffee and banana bread at Recharge – delicious

Praised for their coffee blend and tea, Recharge is a local favourite. Offering a delicious breakfast and brunch menu, it’s the perfect cosy cafe to wind down or finish off some last bits of work. From their full English breakfast, soups and freshly made falafel salads – We’re sure you’ll find a new favourite alongside a staple cup of English Breakfast.

Address: 140 Roman Rd, Bethnal Green, London E2 0RY

Mae + Harvey

Mae + Harvey carries on its tradition of carefully curating its produce through its colourful collection of teas. Its teas are from Zigzag, a British-founded tea company whose offices are based a couple of miles west in Whitechapel. Try their loose-leaf jasmine green tea, or the romantically sounding lavender rose and chamomile tea. Mae + Harvey’s owner, Natasha Sayliss, has also gone about creating her own aromatic in-house chai, with a blend of cardamom pods, star anise and fresh ginger peel. The café’s no laptops policy combined with a cosy atmosphere makes it ideal for a digital detox while enjoying your clean-living cup of tea.

Address: 414 Roman Road London E3 5LU

Bubbleupp

Not afraid to experiment with unlikely flavours, Bubbleupp’s tea range features everything from Iron Bru, to Red Bull to ‘Hubba Boba’ – chewing gum transformed into bubble tea form. Reviewed as the best shop for Bubble Tea for its unique range of flavours as well as the classics, it’s the perfect pick-me-up. Their milkshakes and cakes should also be on your list to try if not already.

Address: 361a Roman Rd, London E3 5QR

Cafe Créme

A Roman Road stalwart, Cafe Créme serves up sandwiches, soups, and fry-ups all day. But their tea, for a mere £1, will leave you warm and content. No frills nor froth, just a good old English brew. Sit in-house for a tea and a treat or, if you are in a hurry, get it to takeaway. A nice touch if you opt to takeaway: the servers add a little drop of cold water so you aren’t left with an angry tongue that has been scalded red hot.

Address: 566 Roman Road, London E3 5ES

If you enjoyed this read, then take a look at our best places for lunch along Roman Road.

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