european_cafe_watch.html

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title: European Cafe Watch
description: So what makes a good cafe then?
keywords: cafe, cafes, europe, settee, sofa, sofas, armchairs, good cafe, good cafes, Brussels, Berlin, Luxembourg, Brighton, Cambridge, Bristol, Exeter, Kingston, Amsterdam, Plymouth, Worthing, Uppsala, Galway, Maastricht, Budapest, Vienna
layout: hh
---

<div style="with:320px; float:right; margin-top:-2em">
<p><img src="picture/illustration/ecw_map.gif" width="292" height="264" alt="Illustration: map of Europe showing the locations of the featured cafes">
<h2 style="padding-left:15px">HH cafe reviews &amp; photos</h2>
<ul class="close">
<li><a href="amsterdam.html" title="Amsterdam lunch cafe reviews">Amsterdam</a> NL</li>
<li><a href="cambridge.html" title="Cambridge Coffee &amp; Cake Guide">Cambridge</a> UK</li>
<li><a href="delft.html" title="Delft cafe reviews">Delft</a> NL</li>
<li><a href="florence.html">Florence</a> IT</li>
<li><a href="leuven.html" title="Leuven Cafes">Leuven</a> BE</li>
<li><a href="london.html" title="London Cafes">London</a> UK</li>
<li><a href="luxembourg.html" title="Luxembourg Cafes">Luxembourg</a> LU</li>
<li><a href="maastricht.html">Maastricht</a> NL</li>
<li><a href="madrid/index.html">Madrid</a> ES</li>
<li><a href="oxford_cafes.html">Oxford</a> UK</li>
<li><a href="pppp.html" title="Paris Cafes &amp; Restaurants">Paris</a> FR</li>
<li><a href="rotterdam.html" title="Rotterdam Cafes</li> Bars &amp; Restaurants">Rotterdam</a> NL</li>
</ul>

<p><img class="inline" src="facade/bristol-boston-tea-party.jpg" alt="The Boston Tea Party"/></p>
<p class="caption">The Boston Tea Party, Park Street, Bristol, England</p>

<p><img class="inline" src="facade/galway-ard-bia.jpg" alt="Ard Bia"/></p>
<p class="caption">Ard Bia, Quay Street, Galway, Ireland</p>

<p><img class="inline" src="facade/istanbul-simdi.jpg" alt="Şimdi"/></p>
<p class="caption">Şimdi, Asmalımescit Caddesi No. 9, Beyoglu, Istanbul, Turkey</p>

</div>

<blockquote>
<p><strong>see also:</strong> <a href="european_phrase_book.html">European phrase book</a></p></blockquote>

<p><strong>What is better than watching people on television</strong> in <em>Eastenders</em>, or listening to the repartee of the characters in <a href="http://www3.mistral.co.uk/whitedot/htdocs/comm1.htm"><em>Friends</em></a> as they sit in <em>Central Perk</em> café? Well, since you need telling, <strong>the answer is to spend time in a real café</strong>, watching and <strong>talking to real people</strong>. Spend your money on coffee instead of on a television license or cable subscription!</p><h2>The S-list - cafes with sofas</h2>

<p>Luckily, not all of that time spent in front of the television was for nothing: <em>Friends</em> teaches us that <strong>every café needs a sofa</strong> <a href="why_sofas.html" class="why" title="Why every cafe needs a sofa">&nbsp;WHY?&nbsp;</a>. This page exists to tell you where you can find suitably equipped cafes.</p>

<p>The city with the highest cafe factor is <strong>Cambridge, England</strong>, which is unusual because it's really quite a small place: the following public sofas are within walking distance of each other.</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="cambridge.html#picturehouse">Picturehouse</a> cafe, St Andrews Street, Cambridge, England <a class="why" href="http://uk.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?GridE=545227&amp;GridN=258210&amp;place=CB23AR&amp;db=pc&amp;title=Picturehouse+Cinema&amp;cat=ind">&nbsp;MAP&nbsp;</a><br />Big and open, with lots of comfy sofas; usually has mellow music.</li>

<li><a href="cambridge.html#cb2">CB2</a>, Norfolk Street, Cambridge, England <a class="why" href="http://uk.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?GridE=545950&amp;GridN=258450&amp;place=tl4595058450&amp;db=grid&amp;title=CB2+cafe&amp;cat=res">&nbsp;MAP&nbsp;</a><br />Something for everyone: books, Internet access, various furniture and a cosmopolitan crowd.</li>

<li><a href="cambridge.html#7a_jesus_lane">7a Jesus Lane</a>, Cambridge, England <a class="why" href="http://uk.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?GridE=544931&amp;GridN=258775&amp;place=CB58BA&amp;db=pc&amp;title=7a+Jesus+Lane&amp;cat=res">&nbsp;MAP&nbsp;</a><br />Classy with live jazz, but not at all expensive; two excellent sofas.</li>

<li><strong>Starbucks</strong>, Market Square, Cambridge, England<br />Yet another horrid 'outlet', but with satisfyingly big sofas downstairs.</li></ul>


<p>Meanwhile, the S-list cafes in other European cities are</p>
<ul>
<li>Maple Leaf Cafe, <strong>Bodmin</strong>, Cornwall, England <a class="why" href="http://uk.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?GridE=207210&amp;GridN=67002&amp;place=PL312DN&amp;db=pc&amp;title=Maple+Leaf+Cafe&amp;cat=res">&nbsp;MAP&nbsp;</a>
<br />Cosy haven of friendliness and Canadian style, with the sofa hidden upstairs</li>

<li>Cafe Cinema, Hackescher Markt, <strong>Berlin</strong>, Germany
<br />Lots of atmosphere - that old cinema style.</li>

<li> <a href="cafe_of_the_day.html?day=thursday">The Boston Tea Party</a>, Park Street, <strong>Bristol</strong>, England <a class="why" href="http://uk.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?GridE=358133&amp;GridN=173087&amp;place=BS15PF&amp;db=pc&amp;title=The+Boston+Tea+Party+(cafe)&amp;cat=res">&nbsp;MAP&nbsp;</a>
<br />Modern down-to-earth North American-style hang-out. The best.</li>

<li>Jacques Motte, Grande Place/Grote Maarkt, <strong>Brussels</strong>, Belgium
<br />Not bad for a chain; modern with a good choice of coffee.</li>

<li>Cafe Mir&oacute;, &Uacute;r&iacute; utca 30, <strong>Budapest</strong>, Hungary
<br />Colourful Miro-style decor and gorgeous waitresses.</li>

<li>Coffee Company, Markt 19-21, <strong>Delft</strong>, the Netherlands
<br />Spacious, light and minimal, with high ceilings and big windows.</li>

<li>Common Grounds, 2-3 North Bank, <strong>Edinburgh</strong>, Scotland <a class="why" href="http://uk.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?GridE=325535&amp;GridN=673618&amp;place=EH12LP&amp;db=pc&amp;title=Common+Grounds+Cafe&amp;cat=res">&nbsp;MAP&nbsp;</a>
<br />Studenty feel and a long coffee menu, with the sofa hidden downstairs.</li>

<li>The Boston Tea Party, Queen Street, <strong>Exeter</strong>, England <a class="why" href="http://uk.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?GridE=291988&amp;GridN=92779&amp;place=EX43RP&amp;db=pc&amp;title=The+Boston+Tea+Party+(cafe)&amp;cat=res">&nbsp;MAP&nbsp;</a>
<br />As in Bristol, but <em>huge</em>.</li>

<li><a href="http://www.ardbia.com/">Ard Bia</a>, Quay Street, <strong>Galway</strong>, Ireland
<br />A hidden gem, with classy furniture and a good menu.</li>

<li>Simdi, Asmalimescit Sokan 69 (Atlas Apt.), Beyoglu, <strong>Istanbul</strong>, Turkey
<br/>Stylish and classy retro cafe that gets it all right.</li>

<li> <a href="cafe_of_the_day.html?day=saturday">Puccinos</a>, Fife Street, <strong>Kingston</strong>, England <a class="why" href="http://uk.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?GridE=518193&amp;GridN=169489&amp;place=KT11SF&amp;db=pc&amp;title=Puccinos+Cafe&amp;cat=res">&nbsp;MAP&nbsp;</a>
<br />Bright and comfy, Italian style, with above-average fare.</li>

<li>Le Loir dans  la Th&eacute;i&egrave;re, 3 rue des Rosiers, <strong>Paris</strong> IV, France
<br />Surprisingly bohemian for Paris, but pretentious and expensive all the same.</li>

<li><a href="http://www.joho.nl/internat/index.html?store_rotterdam.html&amp;
2">JOHO Travel Cafe</a>, Korte Hoogstraat, <strong>Rotterdam</strong>, the Netherlands
<br/>Funky backpacker-style cafe with basic sandwiches and outside sofa.</li>

<li>Hawelka, Dorotheergasse, <strong>Vienna</strong>, Austria
<br />Really old and atmospheric - the ultimate dingy cafe.</li>

<li>Ungersb&ouml;ck, Schulerstrasse, <strong>Vienna</strong>, Austria
<br />Fantastic over the top furniture - very posh; and very expensive.</li></ul><h2>Good cafes - more than just a sofa</h2>


<p>Sometimes the best cafe in each	town doesn't have asofa. For example:</p><ul>

<li>Coffee Connection, Taksteeg, <strong>Amsterdam</strong>, NL
<br />Bright North-American style, with excellent multiple-choice coffee and bagels.</li>

<li>Cafe Arte, <strong>Andernach</strong>, DE
<br />Modern city-style cafe - a rare find in Germany.</li>

<li>most of the cafes on Oranienburger Strasse, <strong>Berlin</strong>, DE</li>

<li> <a href="cafe_of_the_day.html?day=wednesday">CB1</a>, Mill Road, <strong>Cambridge</strong>, UK <a class="why" href="http://uk.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?GridE=545909&amp;GridN=258037&amp;place=CB12AD&amp;db=pc&amp;title=CB1+cafe&amp;cat=res">&nbsp;MAP&nbsp;</a>
<br />The best cafe-bookshop around, with Internet access tucked away downstairs.</li>

<li>Scalywags, Wagenstraat, <strong>The Hague</strong>, NL
<br />English tea room with cake, character, cake, a theme, cake and cake.</li>

<li><a href="leuven.html#metropole">Metropole</a>, Oude Markt, <strong>Leuven</strong>, Belgium</li>

<li><a href="london.html#troubadour">Troubadour</a>, Old Brompton Road, Earls Court, <strong>London</strong>, UK
<a class="why" href="http://uk.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?GridE=525633&amp;GridN=178192&amp;place=SW59JA&amp;db=pc&amp;title=Troubadour+cafe&amp;cat=res">&nbsp;MAP&nbsp;</a>
<br />Busy, chatty and very old, with classical music.</li>

<li> <a href="http://www.chiggeri.lu/">Chiggeri</a>, rue du Nord, <strong>Luxembourg</strong>
<br />A great place to spend all day: cool original decor and excellent fare.</li>

<li>De Percee (now renamed), Wijckerbrugstraat, <strong>Maastricht</strong>, NL
<br />Relaxed atmosphere and music inside; well-situated terrace outside.</li>

<li>Georgina's, Covered Market, <strong>Oxford</strong>, UK
<br />One-off studenty cafe with very tempting selection of snacks, reasonably well-hidden from the the crowds of tourists.</li>

<li><a href="madrid/delic.html">Delic</a>, Costanilla de San Andrès, 14, <strong>Madrid</strong>, ES.</li>

<li> <a href="pppp.html#lapalette">La Palette</a>, rue de Seine, <strong>Paris</strong> VI, FR <a class="why" href="http://uk.multimap.com/world/browse.cgi?place=rue+de+seine&amp;db=w3&amp;scale=6000&amp;width=500&amp;height=300&amp;lon=2.337&amp;lat=48.855&amp;zs=&amp;emap.x=285&amp;emap.y=54&amp;title=La+Palette">&nbsp;MAP&nbsp;</a><br />A great traditional Parisian cafe - none of your newfangled rubbish.</li>

<li>Lorenzos, Athenaeum Place, <strong>Plymouth</strong>, UK<br />Bright and cheerful, also with cool original decor, and huge mugs of coffee.</li>

<li><a href="rotterdam/urban-espresso-bar">Urban Espresso Bar</a>, Botersloot/Nieuwemarkt, <strong>Rotterdam</strong>, NL<br />Stylishly modern and white interior with excellent coffee and snacks.</li>

<li>Storken, <strong>Uppsala</strong>, SE<br />Old posh furniture with lots of 'rooms'.</li>

<li><a href="out_in_vienna_28_february.html#1">Kleines Cafe</a>, Franziskanerplatz, <strong>Vienna</strong>, AT<br />The ideal small cafe for your 'local'.</li></ul>

<p>N.B. Worthing, England, is not included as there are no decent cafés there.</p>