This place is amazing. It is so stylish and just perfectly presented. And the coffee is AMAZING. It is rather expensive, but when you see whats going on in this joint its all worth it. The piccolo latte is featured here and what a joy it is to see. Everything is designed with intention here and I like that. Fernandez and Wells currently has 3 venues in London, a Food and Wine bar, a Cafe and the Espresso Bar that I find myself in today. I must must must see the other two if this is any indication of the quality I may find. Fernandez and Wells only uses full cream milk, and I have no arguments there. It’s delicious and creamy and the strong coffee sits perfectly in the centre of my tongue. They really have it bang on here. They also serve organic soups made on site, organic luscombe drinks and delicious freshly carved meats for sandwiches. And the afternoon treats are not to be ignored either. This Espresso bar is very pleasing on the eye and leaps and bounds beyond anything else I have seen in London to date. Located in a small lane on St Anne’s Court it attracts the sneaky passers by and those that know they are there. Full of Australians and Kiwi’s again although this time run by a very enthusiastic English man who has a definite passion for his job and for coffee. Really great strong coffee, good tunes, warm atmosphere, great food and wonderful people, in the heart of London, really this is quite a gem.

I spent a long time on Lantana’s website before I visited the cafe in Central London, which I don’t usually do until after I have been there. I don’t know why that is relevant, but it is a very good website. This is a cool cafe, a very cool cafe. I like the way it looks, it has a great feel from the outside and from the inside and I could certainly waste an afternoon here. Another Australian gem on the sunny side of a central London street. Monmouth coffee used here and I must say that it is my favourite coffee in London so I am really excited for it to be my first today. And duly noted as I enter a shiny La Marzzocco machine and two happy mazzer grinders buzzing to the late morning crowd. Beautiful looking flat whites served here and one of the coolest Barista’s I have seen in ages. I would have liked the temperature to be a little higher to be honest here, but I’d prefer it not quite hot enough as opposed to too hot any day. The coffee was not strong enough to strike any lasting characteristics on the palette however very enjoyable. Perhaps clever in attracting a broader range of coffee drinkers in a city accustomed to very milky coffee. Or perhaps a way to make you order two? I proceed to order a piccolo in order to satisfy my habit and find that this is indeed a much better choice for me. A strong espresso and less milk and a sure kick of caffeine that is not at all bitter and completely complimented by a fairly sweet milk. Lantana was the winner of Best New Cafe in 2009 and rightly so I think. Not only is the coffee wonderful but as Lunch is getting set up around me I see fabulous choices and a regular lunch rush on its way.