Workshop Coffee, Fitzrovia

A few weekends ago, we went to babysit our sweet little niece in Finsbury Park, but I wanted to grab breakfast in town beforehand. It's rare that John and I stumble anywhere farther than a 5-minute walk from our front door on the weekends, but for some reason, we were feeling particularly motivated (especially we knew that caffeine would be helpful in entertaining a 2-year-old for a whole afternoon) so I browsed citizenMag for ideas of where to go. I love the short, at-a-glance reviews in citizenMag, and was happy to read that one of my favorite coffee shops, Workshop Coffee, had a new(ish) outpost in Fitzrovia.

Unlike its larger, sister café in Clerkenwell, Workshop's Fitzrovia location is more akin to its Holborn sibling: an coffeebar serving its usual delicious range of roasted beans accompanied by a wonderfully curated selection of pastries and granola. Tucked away from the frantic pace of nearby Oxford Street (we managed to pop into Topshop afterward for a last-minute present for my sister-in-law), this branch of Workshop is a welcome pause from the din of modern life.

There's a small, but perfectly formed seating area in the back where you can take a copy of your favorite paper (NYTimes for me) or magazine (Kinfolk would probably fit best in the surroundings) to peruse alongside a flat white.

The decor is simple but beautiful. Since we bought our house last year, I tend to take note of even the smallest details (for example, I wanted to walk off with one of the gorgeous gold and marble tables above, but a) it was heavy and b) um, that would be stealing) and these days, I tend to spend a little too long in restaurant bathrooms taking pictures of tiles and brass sconces. Welcome to adulthood, people.

But I digress.

We went a little crazy over the pastries, especially the kouign amann (which I'd never tried before, but tasted like a syrupy, sweet croissant) and the jam donut. John dug into a delicious pot of granola and yogurt (he's the healthier one).

We sipped our soy flat whites, read the news (on our phones) and by the time we greeted our niece at the door, my caffeine and sugar levels had prepared me for a rigorous game of "Pirate Ship" (which consisted of sliding her off the ottoman in the living room into a "shark-infested" ocean of pillows and a shark backpack, much to her squealing delight and to cries of, "Again! Again!").

Although this smaller outpost of Workshop in Fitzrovia didn't serve my favorite full Workshop brunch menu (you've got to try their French toast in Clerkenwell), the quality was still there and the service just as friendly.

Have you been to Workshop Coffee? What did you think? If you don't live in London, then this is definitely one to add to the list for your next visit! It would make a great break from sightseeing and shopping ...

We were generously hosted at Workshop Coffee in Fitzrovia by citizenMag - thank you! All opinions are my own.