While we love exploring London, we also love our holidays. We’ve just been to the French Alps and to Lyon and want to share our best finds with you. Lyon is a really great city, cultural and culinary, less touristy than Paris, and it has a great travel and bicycle network too.

One of the highlights was Bernachon, the world famous chocolatier that is 60 this year. The place is divided into two: there is a licensed cafe-restaurant on one side and a chocolate shop on the other.

After two very healthy salads, we both went for a chocolate-eclair type cake called a ‘religieuse’ which means ‘nun’.

Then there’s the hot chocolate. At 7 Euros it’s not cheap, but it’s divine and it comes in a jug that serves about two cups. Bernachon is a total must and while it must be a magnet for tourists, we were surrounded by ‘locals’ – the benefit of going in February no doubt. Bernachon is at 42 cours Franklin Roosevelt, 69006, Metro Foch, Tel 00 33 4 78 24 37 98. It’s open until 6.30pm Monday-Saturday and until 7pm  on Sundays.

Also wonderful in Lyon is Saisons restaurant at L’Institut Paul Paul Bocuse, the father of modern French cooking.

Saisons is not to be confused with Paul Bocuse’s 3 star Michelin restaurant, L’Auberge du Pont de Collonges or his brasseries in Lyon itself – Le Nord, Le Sud, L’Ouest and L’Est. Saisons is his training school for chefs and restaurant and hotel managers and you’re served by keen to please, endearingly nervous students. It means you can experience great nouvelle cuisine for a fraction of the cost.

We had a three course meal for two with delifgtful amuse-bouches, cheese, coffee and wine for about a hundred Euros, making it extraordinary value.

Our starters were a veal millefeuille and scallops with artichoke; our mains were guinea fowl and halibut with lentils. Pudding was a praline mousse in choux pastry with mango sorbet – and a classic lemon tart with vanilla ice cream. They also brought dainty soup and cheese choux creations, some macarons, nougat and financiers too. We’d really recommend this place to everyone coming to Lyon.

To find Saisons, which is just west of Lyon, take Metro D to Gorge de Loup, then the number 3 bus to Ecully Le Trouillat (the buses indicate which stop is coming next and it’s about a twelve minute journey). L’Institut Paul Bocuse is signposted and the building resembles a chateau.

Saisons (00 33 4 72 18 02 20) is not open at the weekend or on Wednesday evenings – book as far ahead as possible.

As for Lyon’s bouchons (local restaurants serving traditional regional dishes, many of them offal-based), we tried three: Le Garet (no website), wonderfully stuck in time and with hearty portions (7 Rue du Garet  69001 Lyon, France 00 33 4 78 28 16 94, Hotel de Ville Metro); Cafe Des Federations,authentic and where one highlight was a poached egg floating around in a thick gravy with lardons (8 rue du Major  Martin, 69001,00 33 4 78 28 26 00, Hotel de Ville Metro).

Our favourite though was Daniel and Denise which as two branches and we went to both. One is quite traditional (156 rue Crequil, 69003, 00 33 4 78 60 66 53, Metro Place Guichard, Monday-Friday only). The other is more modern and is at 32 rue Tramassac, 00 33 4 78 42 24 62, Metro Vieux Lyon, open 7 days. While we paled at diners around us tucking into what can only be described as ‘necklaces of kidneys’ and somewhat tamer-looking ‘quenelles’ – oval, soufflesque ‘patties’ made with chicken or fish – we quietly opted for roast lamb for two which was sumptuous.

For accommodation we stayed at L’Ermitage Hotel in Mont Cindre, for one night. It’s north of Lyon quite high up, giving fantastic views of the city.L’Ermitage has a quirky design which is both retro and modern. An old leather-topped gym horse is the reception desk. The rooms are minimalist – bare white with flashes of plain concrete. There isn’t a frilled lampshade in sight and funky colourful fridges grace the corridors – we think L’Ermitage almost feels ‘Soho’.

We were very late arriving (TGV delays) and when we finally stumbled in exhausted we were given a really nice welcome. Dinner time long past, the kitchen knew about our plight and had saved us a beautiful meal.

Starters of gourmet pate and salad, followed by comforting lamb tangines and for pudding, a trio of chocolate desserts. The wine list’s impressive and by the looks of people leaving into the cold night, the locals come here to eat here too.

Breakfast at L’Ermitage is fantastic too – crepes, croissants, yoghurts, jams, ham, egg and cheeses.

After our night at L’Ermitage, we stayed in a brilliant B&B in Lyon called ‘Chambre d’Hugo‘ (21 rue Victor Hugo, Metro Bellecourt) which we would return to in an instant. It’s extremely central yet tranquil and it’s an immaculate, comfy room in a grand old Napoleonic apartment, run by a lovely couple. We definitely recommend it.

And oh, if you’re missing your flat whites, go to Cafe Mokxa (La Boîte à Café) in the arty part of the city, just north of centre at 3 rue de l’Abbe Rozier, 69001, 00 33 4 27 01 48 71, Metro Croix Paquet. It’s open till 7pm Monday to Saturday and 2pm-7pm on Sundays.

Moving away from Lyon now, and onto the snowy Alps. We stayed in a village called Manigod, in a stunning wooden chalet run by Josette Barbaud. Manigod is about twenty kilometres from Annecy and you can go skiing nearby too.

Josette prepares breakfast and she can also do you a gorgeous evening meal too using local produce such as Reblochon cheese and local blueberries. All you have to do then is amble up to bed or relax by the open fire. Other guests may be staying with Josette too, but this is part of the experience.

We also had a brilliant tour of artisan cheese affineur, Paccard, just next door to Josette’s. Eric the affineur (below) took us around the cheese cellars where we learned about the science and art of aging and purveying fine cheese.

Reblochon is one of the main cheeses that is matured here and all their cheeses are unpasteurized, making them really natural and high in healthy bacteria. Each cheese is examined (tapped, ‘listened to’, smelt) everyday and attended to – it’s a very tactile and sensory skill. They also sell cheese online, via ‘Les Fromages du Fermier’.

Tips:

• Book bouchons and restaurants well before you go
• If hiring a car in winter, request winter tyres – Geneva hire car companies appear more used to doing this
• Much of Lyon is closed on a Sunday, so plan to arrive or deport on this day, or really check your opening times before you travel

This article has been written by London Thru Cafes. The London Thru Cafes App is featured in the Sunday Times 500 Best Apps in the World list and features 120+ independent cafes and 380+ things to do. We issue regular updates, and for newcomers to London, there’s a handy survival guide and area guide and access details.

Available on iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. All images and content copyright of Tabtoo 2013.

With that last minute Christmas shopping to do, here is our second batch of fabulous independent cafes around the major shopping areas which we hope will soothe any frayed nerves.  All of them are in our iPhone and iPad App, which has well over 120 great cafes featured. The App has updates, works off-line, has off-line maps, and it also shows you which attractions, restaurants, museums, markets and galleries are nearby – in a nutshell it’s a complete city guide with cafes as the backbone!

You can see part 1 here.

Very close to Piccadilly Circus:

Rapha, Piccadilly Circus Tube. 85 Brewer St. Engineered coffee in this designer cycling gear shop. Mon-Fri 8.30am-9pm, Sat 8.30am-7pm, Sun and Bank Hol 10am-6pm. Christmas Hours: 24th, 10am-4pm, 25th, 26th closed, 27th-30th normal hours, 31st 10-6pm. Tel: 020 7494 9831.

Fernandez and Wells, Piccadilly Circus Tube. 73 Beak St. Our favourite branch of F&W. Superb cakes, pastries and sandwiches with a deli/bar around the corner too. Mon-Fri 7.30am-76 pm, Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 9am-5pm. Tel: 020 7287 8124.

LJ Coffee House,  Piccadilly Circus or Leicester Sq Tube. 3 Winnett St. A true independent cafe, built up on hard slog and love. Mon-Thu 7.30am-7pm, Wed & Fri 7.30am-9pm, Sat 10am-9pm, Sun 1pm-8pm. Tel: 020 7434 1174.

Around Covent Garden:

Salt, Covent Garden Tube. 34 Great Queen St. Amazing coffee and heavenly artisan pastries. Mon-Fri 7.30am-7pm, Sat 10am-7pm, closed Sun. Tel: 0207 430 0335.

La Gelatiera, Leicester Square Tube. 27 New Row. Beautiful homemade gelato. Closed Mon, Tue, Wed, Thur 10.30am-11pm. Fri-Sat 10.30am -11:30pm. Sun 11am-10:30pm. Tel: 020 7836 9559.

Notes Music Coffee has two branches, one near Leicester Sq tube next to the English National Opera, 31 St Martin’s Lane. Mon-Wed 7.30am-9pm, Thu-Fri 7.30am-10pm, Sat 9am-10pm, Sun 10am-6pm. Christmas Hours: 24th 7.30am-4pm, closed 25th, 26th 10am-8pm, then as normal. 31st, 7.30am-5pm. Closed 1st.  Tel: 020 7240 0424.

There’s another Notes Music Coffee at 36 Wellington St, Covent Garden Tube. Mon-Wed 8am-10pm, Thu-Fri 8am-11pm, Sat 9am-11pm, Sun 10am-6pm. Christmas Hours: Closed  24th,  25th, 26th and 1st. New Year’s Even 7.30am-5pm. Tel: 020 7240 7899.

Monmouth Coffee, Covent Garden or Leicester Sq Tube. One dear to our heart. Excellent. 27 Monmouth St. Mon-Sat 8am-6.30pm. Christmas Hours: 24th 8am-2pm, closed 25th, 26th, 27th, 30th, 31st, 1st. Roasts and sells beans too.

New Row Coffee, Leicester Square Tube. Tiny and sweet, with super coffee and cake. 24 New Row. Mon-Thu: 7.30am-7pm; Fri 7.30 am-8pm; Sat 9am-8pm; Sun 9am -6 pm. Tel: 020 3583 6949.

Kopapa, Covent Garden or Leicester Sq Tube. A brilliant fusion cafe-restaurant. 32-34 Monmouth St. Booking often necessary but why not try your luck. Mon-Fri 5pm-7pm, Sat 4.30 pm-7pm, Sun 4.30 pm-9.30pm. Tel: 020 7240 6076.

In Notting Hill:

Coffee Plant, Notting Hill Gate  or Ladbroke Grove Tube. 180 Portobello Rd. Very, very busy with lots of Notting Hill types to look at. Roasts and sells beans.

Near South Kensington:

Fernandez and Wells, South Kensington Tube. 8 Exhibition Rd. Great if you’ve worked your way along Knightsbridge and ended up at South Ken. Handy for the museums too. Mon-Fri 8am-10pm, Sat-Sun 9am-10pm.

Shopping Centres West and East:

Westfield Shopping Mall, Shepherd’s Bush Tube, West London. The mall for hardcore Christmas shoppers. Go to Sacred Coffee from 8am Mon-Fri. Tel: 07595 73 30 57. Sacred roasts and sells beans.

Westfield Shopping Mall, Stratford East Tube, East London. Be sure to go to the fabulous Grind in the Great Eastern Market. Mon-Fri 8am-9pm, Sat 9am-9pm, Sun 11am-6pm.

This article has been written by London Thru Cafes. The London Thru Cafes App is featured in the Sunday Times 500 Best Apps in the World list and features 120+ independent cafes and 380+ things to do. We issue regular updates, and for newcomers to London, there’s a handy survival guide and area guide and access details.

Available on iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. All images and content copyright of Tabtoo 2012.

Christmas is nearly here and we thought we’d give you a run-down of some of the best independent cafes to visit in some of the capital’s key shopping areas. All of them are in our iPhone App, which has well over 120 great cafes featured. The App has updates, works off-line, has off-line maps, and it also shows you which attractions, restaurants, museums, markets and galleries are nearby – in a nutshell it’s a complete city guide with cafes as the backbone!

You can see part 2 here.

Close to Oxford Street: this major shopping artery runs west to east, through the city centre. The street goes from Marble Arch Tube, through Bond Street, Oxford Circus and Tottenham Court Road Tubes – all on the Central line.

Borough Barista, Marble Arch Tube. 60a Seymour St. Cosy and bright with sensational coffee, pastries and snacks, just north of Oxford St. Mon-Fri 8am-5pm, Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 11am-5pm. Tel: 020 7563 7222.

Workshop Coffee, Bond St Tube. 75 Wigmore St. Pure coffee chemistry. Mon-Fri 7am-5pm, Sat-Sun 10am-5pm. Workshops roasts and sells beans too.

Kaffeine, Oxford Circus Tube. 66 Great Titchfield St. Coffee fanaticism at this brilliant, Aussie-run place (see picture above). Mon-Fri 7.30am-6pm, Sat 8.30am- 6pm, Sun 9.30am -5pm. Tel 0207 580 6755.

Speakeasy, Oxford Circus Tube. 3 Lowndes Crt, off Carnaby St. A really great coffee spot in shopping-land. Christmas Hours: Mon-Wed 7.30-7pm, Thu-Fri 7.30-8pm, Sat 10am-8pm, Sun 10am-6pm.

Sacred, Oxford Circus Tube. 13 Ganton St, off Carnaby Street. Relaxed NZ vibe. Tel 020 7734 1415. Roasts and sells beans too.

Lantana, Tottenham Crt Rd Tube. 13 Charlotte Pl. To us, it always feels like summer in this great little Aussie-run cafe which does super cooked food too. Mon-Fri 8am-6pm, Sat-Sun 9am-5pm. Tel: 020 7637 3347.

Around Soho:

Flat White, Tottenham Crt Rd Tube or Leicester Sq Tube. 17 Berwick St. Lively with a full-on coffee buzz. Mon-Fri 8am-7pm, Sat-Sun 9am-6pm.

Foxcroft and Ginger, Tottenham Crt Rd Tube or Leicester Sq Tube. 3 Berwick St. Quirky gym horse furniture and mismatched china – precision coffee and precision sandwich-making. Mon 8am-7pm, Tue-Fri 8am-9pm, Sat 9am-9pm, Sun 9am-7pm. Tel: 020 7287 5890.

Fernandez and Wells, Tottenham Crt Rd Tube. 16a St Anne’s Crt, off Wardour St. A cosy little espresso bar, down am alley where Trident Studios are based. Mon-Fri 8am-10pm, Sat Noon-10pm, closed Sun. Tel 020 7494 4242.

Ginger and White, Piccadilly Circus Tube. 1 Silver Pl near Beak St. Delightful and in a tiny Soho alley. Mon-Fri 8.30am-6pm, Sat 10.30am-6.30pm, closed Sunday. Tel: 020 7374 5374.

Milkbar, Tottenham Crt Rd Tube or Leicester Sq Tube. 3 Bateman St. Cool and understated. Mon-Fri 8am-7pm, Sat-Sun 9am-6pm.

Tap Coffee, Tottenham Court Road Tube. 193 Wardour St. Amazing hot chocolate and fabulous coffee (see picture above) at this smart expanding outfit with three London in London. Mon-Fri 8am-7pm, Sat 10am-6pm. Same hours and tube for the shop 26 Rathbone Pl, very nearby. The third shop is near Warren St Tube.

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This article has been written by London Thru Cafes. The London Thru Cafes App is featured in the Sunday Times 500 Best Apps in the World list and features 120+ independent cafes and 380+ things to do. We issue regular updates, and for newcomers to London, there’s a handy survival guide and area guide and access details.

Available on iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. All images and content copyright of Tabtoo 2012.

They say a good business pitch works best over a great cup of coffee. As plans to overhaul Silicon Roundabout above Old Street tube are firmed up with £50 million announced for a new business and technology hub, start-ups thinking of coming to Tech City should visit the Shoreditch Grind outside exit 8. It’s a great place to meet up fellow entrepreneurs, surf (there’s heaps of power points and great wifi) and they do some of the best coffee in London with cocktails, beer and wine in the evening.

Prime Minister David Cameron said Microsoft will be opening a new technology developer centre in the area. Also, University College London, networking giant Cisco and Beano publisher DC Thompson are creating a facility to help new companies grow.

Shoreditch Grind has long been one of our favourites and when we were delighted that it was our App’s hundredth cafe. Owners David Abrahamovitch and Kaz James knew it had to be friendly to those who work remotely right from the the start. We think this is one of the capital’s most visually striking cafes – circular, with a cinema-lettering – there’s also a recording studio upstairs too. This Friday, 14th December, ‘Silicondrinkabout‘,  a networking-night for start-ups, is meeting at Shoreditch Grind from six till 1am!

Part of the roundabout may be cut off to reclaim some space and David says plans for the make-over are really gathering pace. “There’s always been a link between coffee and technology, between coffee shop and developer. Here at Shoreditch Grind we’ve been catering for start-ups since we opened – and are ready for more. Shoreditch is so trendy and advanced in so many ways – but there’s always room for more.”

There are cakes and then there are cakes by Lanka. This stylish cafe, with a branch in Primrose Hill and also in Finchley Road, is run by Japanese chef Masayuki Hara. His French-styled cakes are wonderful to eat and stunning to look at.

On display are rum babas, (Masayuki says they’re his personal favourite), gorgeous gluten free macaroons which, we noticed, fly off the shelves as soon as they’re put out, a cream and strawberry sponge cake laced with green tea (Lanka’s best seller) and white chocolate cake with azuki beans. Also fantastic is the crème brulée laced with Earl Grey or jasmine, and stunning little Mont Blanc gâteaux. These mini towers (pictured below, top centre) are built with a swirl of marron cream piped high onto a sponge muffin and a marron on top.

Surprisingly, Lanka also does more traditional British things like bread and butter pudding and we get the impression they like to experiment and refine traditional recipes. When we were there, Masayuki was busy making croissants and pains au chocolat from scratch on site.

Savouries are unusual and off-beat too: pork rillettes and moules, and they have a range of Sri Lankan teas from Addawatte, Sri Lanka’s central mountains. Teas are by Euphorium in Sri Lanka.

Lanka is bright and welcoming with a modern crisp feel. Masayuki has worked at Michel Roux Jr’s restaurant Le Gavroche, the first restaurant in Britain to be awarded three Michelin-Stars.

We love the fact the chef and his small dedicated team (below) are present and involved in the everyday activity of this patisserie-salon. And congratulations that the second Lanka shop is another hit! Also take a look at Lanka’s dog-blog-spot – pooches evidently love Lanka too.

Primrose Hill Cake Shop 71 Regents Park Road, London NW1. Tube: Chalk Farm Tel: 00 44 20 7483 2544.

Opening Hours Tuesday-Saturday 9am-5:30pm, Sunday 9am-5pm, Closed Monday.

Coffee Monmouth Machine Stafco Access There is a small ridge type step into the cafe.

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Finchley Road Cake Shop 9 Goldhurst Terrace, London NW6 3HX. Tube Finchley Rd Tel 00 44 20 7625 3366.

Opening Hours: Monday-Saturday 10:30am-6:30pm, Sunday 11am-5pm.

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This article has been written by London Thru Cafes. The London thru Cafes App is featured in the Sunday Times 500 Best Apps in the World list and features 120+ independent cafes and 380+ things to do. We issue regular updates, and for newcomers to London, there’s a handy survival guide and area guide. We include access details and the App and the maps work offline.

Available on iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. All images and content copyright of Tabtoo 2012.

Soho’s full of cafes, pubs, bars, clubs and restaurants – now there’s a very stylish cafe and clothes store for cyclists – Rapha Cycle Club on Brewer Street, near Piccadilly Circus. While it’s more ‘designer’ than ‘bike repair workshop’, you don’t have to be Bradley Wiggins to come to Rapha (although we’re sure they’d welcome him with open arms if he did). Take a pew (stool) and relax (get caffeined-up) with a perfect espresso (and we mean perfect). A bit like Prufrock’s at Present in Shoreditch, the store blurs the division between shop and cafe in true postmodern style. They hold regular rides outside London too, as part of their cycle club.

Our coffee here was absolutely superb and we saw their spanking new made-in-Seattle Synesso Hydra when it was still in its packaging. We visited again when it had been properly installed and it was worth it. It’s sophisticated, with pre-infusers and programmable pressure pump engagers.

James and Paul at Rapha, London

If you’re after filter, they’ve a separate Bunn brewer for that as the Hydra’s particularly good for flavoursome espresso. Don’t forget to have a closer look at the old Renault H van. It was used as a sweeper in bygone Tours de France, but is now a changing room. Installing the van was a tight squeeze, even after removing the shop front window!

One of the very experienced baristas working here is Paul Bonna (below right), invited to work at Rapha from Kaffee Kommune in Germany.

Rapha is licensed and there should be room for your bike on the indoor bike hanger racks (over a dozen). During the Olympics and Paralympics we saw some thrilling screenings of the cycling events and similar screenings are set to continue.

Some other great London cycle cafes (and which do bike repairs) include Look Mum No Hands near Old Street, Cadence in Crystal Palace, Lock 7, just south of Broadway Market in Hackney (we love the soft, workshop feel at Lock), Cycle Lab in Pitfield St, Hoxton and although it doesn’t sell bikes or cycle gear or do repairs, the window displays in Prufrock, Leather Lane reveal a big love of bicycles…

In a nutshell, Rapha is stylish. If you’re like us, and cycle around London wearing one of those awful luminous vests with helmets that have seen better days, you may want to take those off before you come in…

Follow Rapha on Twitter @raphacycleclub, @rapharacing, @Rapha_Europe (for events in Europe). Barista Paul Bonna is at @kaffeekommune.

Rapha Address: 83 Brewer Street, London, W1F 9ZN. Tube: Piccadilly Circus. Tel: 00 44 20 7494 9831. Wifi.

Opening Times: Monday-Friday 7.30am-9pm, Saturday 8.30am-7pm, Sunday & Bank Hol 10am-6pm.

Access: One entrance has two steps down this cafe, the other entrance has three steps down.

Coffee: Square Mile and James Gourmet, plus guests. Machine: Synesso Hydra.

This article has been written by London Thru Cafes. The London thru Cafes App is featured in the Sunday Times 500 Best Apps in the World list and features 120+ independent cafes and 380+ things to do. We issue regular updates, and for newcomers to London, there’s a handy survival guide and area guide. We include access details and the App and the maps work offline.

Available on iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. All images and content copyright of Tabtoo 2012.

The above shows a delectable butterscotch-esque crème brûlée affair complete with salted shortbread and a dusting of icing sugar – fantastic! A perfect ending to our wonderful lunch of raclette with spinach French toast with bacon and watercress.

Recently added to our App, Caravan King’s Cross serves imaginative, fusion food from breakfast right through to dinner, with excellent home-roasted coffee to finish. The place opened just before the Paralympics in August 2012 and is already an oasis for those wanting somewhere really nice to eat or drink before travelling from St Pancras or King’s Cross. But don’t wait until you’re commuting –  Caravan deserves a visit in its own right.

You’ll find the place located in a former grain house behind King’s Cross station. It’s huge –  so huge it almost makes the roaster look petite. There’s a serious kitchen down one side and a large L-shaped bar for drinks and coffees – and the service we had was attentive and friendly. You won’t feel out of place coming here on your own and with great wifi, it’s also good for informal business meetings.

Just next door to Caravan is one of Central St Martin’s art campuses and outside in Granary Square, watch the fountains burst into action.

Not all street maps are up to date, so to find Granary Square, head for the sandy-coloured road called King’s Boulevard between St Pancras and King’s Cross stations. You’ll see that Caravan is clearly sign-posted.

There is another excellent branch of Caravan in Exmouth Market, also in our App and about a twenty-minute walk away from King’s Cross tube. Both restaurant-roasteries are masterminded by former Providores and Tapa Room chef New Zealander Miles Kirby and New Zealander Chris Ammermann.

Caravan King’s Cross Restaurant, Bar and Roastery: Granary Square, London N1C 4AA Tube: King’s Cross. Tel: 00 44 20 7101 7661 Bookings on restaurant@caravankingscross.co.uk. Wifi, gluten free.

Opening Times: Mon-Tue 8am-10.30pm, Wed-Thu 8am-11pm, Fri 8am-midnight, Sat 10am-midnight, Sun 10am-4pm. Access: Very good access for wheelchair users.

This article has been written by London Thru Cafes City Guide App. The App is featured in the Sunday Times 500 Best Apps in the World list and features 120+ independent cafes and 380+ things to do. We issue regular updates, and for newcomers to London, there’s a handy survival guide and area guide. We include access details and the App and the maps work offline.

Available on iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. All images and content copyright of London Thru Cafes 2012.

As third wave coffee houses continue to spring up around London like mushrooms at dawn, we thought we’d pay homage to some of the long-running family-run classic cafes around the capital. Flat white, Wifi places these are not – instead these cafes serve up traditional breakfasts, pastas, fish and chips, pies and puds at very reasonable prices – and they’re all in our city guide App. We’ve not forgotten to link to their websites – only the Star in Soho has one. Our only bit of advice is, come to these places hungry!

1) The Regency near Pimlico and Victoria is a fabulous classic cafe that dates back to 1946. If you need a hearty breakfast before going to nearby Tate Britain then this is the place to come. Apart from the black-trimmed, pale yellow walls, fixed brown plastic seats and lime-beige basket-weave Formica tables, you’ll notice a very long queue throughout this cafe, which often spills out onto the street. When we went for lunch, Marco (pictured below) was the main man on the till, and as well as taking orders and money, he called out the meals that were ready in an extremely loud voice! Be aware of the protocol here – you need to queue, order, pay and wait. The chips are homemade and there are different breakfast formulae: burgers, veggie burgers, pastas, pies and omelettes. Monday’s special is braised steak, Tuesdays it’s Shepherd’s Pie, Wednesdays it’s curry, on Thursdays it’s roast pork and on Fridays it’s fried fish. The Regency has starred in several BBC Dramas, and in films Layer Cake and Brighton Rock 2011.

From here, take a 10-15 min walk to Tate Britain on the Thames or you could head for Westminster Cathedral nearer Victoria.

Regency Opening Times Mon-Fri 7am-2.30pm, Sat 7am-noon. 17-19 Regency St, SW1P 4BY, Tel 00 44 20 7821 6596. Tube - Pimlico/Victoria. Access – There is a step into the cafe.

2) E Pellici in Bethnal Green (pictured below) is tiny and cosy and we love it. This Grade II-listed cafe in Bethnal Green is an East London jewel and it’s been run by the Italian Pellici family since 1900. As well as traditional British food – steak pie & chips, chops, chicken & mushroom pie and traditional puddings such as fruit crumbles and custard, there’s Italian fare too: mama’s homemade lasagne is always on the menu, then there’s cannelloni, pesto and spinach pasta too. Lunchtimes are particularly busy at this much-loved cafe where you’re crammed on board like sailors on a ship. Celebs love it too. When we were here, we took a photo for the cafe of them standing arm in arm with Rula Lenska. Busy or not, staff juggle orders with ease, shifting between Cockney English and Italian as they call across the cafe which has beautiful original wooden marquetry. Also spot the Ferrari badge they’ve put on the coffee machine.

From E Pellici, go to the Museum of Childhood on Cambridge Heath Rd, visit Victoria Park, or get buses 254, 106 or D6 from Bethnal Green station to Broadway Market (Saturdays only but on Sun 5 & 12 Aug 2012 too).

E Pellici Opening Times Mon-Sat 7am-4pm. 332 Bethnal Green Rd, E2 0AG, Tel 00 44 20 7739 4873. Tube – Bethnal Green, or take the number 8 bus from Tottenham Court Rd, St Paul’s or Liverpool St. Access – There is a step into this small cafe but staff are happy to help. In fine weather, there is outdoor seating.

3) Gambardella near Greenwich (pictured below). If big mugs of tea and food with ketchup is your thing, this is the place for you. Gambardella’s is a classic cafe named after its Italian owners and it opened in 1927. Everything about this place says classic – the swirling, peachy-coloured glass Vitrolite panels with chrome trim on black walls, and in the room at the back, there are fixed Formica tables and moulded chairs from the sixties. The cafe is frequently used for filming advertisements and it featured in Richard Curtis’s 2009 film about the North Sea pirate station Radio Caroline called ‘The Boat That Rocked‘. Gambardella’s does breakfasts, cups of tea with teabags left in and has instant coffee is labelled up as a drink in its own right. Food-wise there are omelettes, paninis, specials such fried squid and chips, milkshakes, homemade pasta dishes and traditional puddings served with custard. Flora, wife of late owner Nicky, has put her heart and soul into the place – we’ve pictured her with dedicated waitress Elma who’s worked at the cafe for nearly three decades. Today the cafe’s also run by James and Alex Petrillo; Alex has been the cook here since 1982.

From Gambardella’s why not visit the Cutty Sark, the Royal Observatory, (closed until 4 Aug) the Planetarium (closed until 4 Aug) or the National Maritime Museum. Check precise opening times of attractions which may be different during the Olympics.

Gambardella Opening Times Mon-Fri 8am-5pm, Sat 8am-2.30pm. 43 Vanbrugh Park, SE3 7JQ, Tel 00 44 20 8858 0327. Travel - take the 422 bus from Westcombe Park overground or the 108 or 286 from Greenwich. You could probably walk to Gambardella’s in around half an hour as the cafe is uphill through Greenwich Park to the east. Access - The cafe is accessible.

4) Alpino Cafe in Angel (pictured below) is a breath of fresh air after the trendier places of Upper Street and Camden Passage. It’s been run by Italians for over fifty years, and Gianpaulo the smiling elderly patriarch likes to welcome people as they enter. We enjoyed the food here far more than in some so-called gastropubs and for around half the price. When we’ve been for breakfast we’ve had American pancakes with maple syrup, poached egg and sausages. For lunch we’ve had more classically Italian fare: pasta, with a coiled Italian sausage in a garlic tomato sauce with garlic bread and herbs – it was practically gourmet and only around £6. Other classic dishes includes chicken escalope with sauteed potatoes, gnocchi and risotto. The back wall is plastered with photos of cars, the World Cup, boxing matches and motorcycling races. Pot plants are endearingly plastic and unpretentious.

Although Alpino is not open on Sundays, Chapel Market outside is (it opens Tue-Sun). Chapel Market sells a little bit of everything and that includes cheap but good fruit and veg. We bought some Jerusalem arthichokes and were given precise advice on how to roast them. Also have a peek at the pie shop called Manze. The old tiled decor is also slice of the past. You’ll see people tucking into pie and jellied eels – join them if you’re brave enough.

Alpino Opening Times Mon-Fri 6.30am-3pm Sat 7am-1.30pm. 97 Chapel Market, N1 9EY. Tel 00 44 20 7837 8330. Tube – Angel. Access - Alpino cafe is accessible.

5) The Star in Soho (pictured below) is in a little street off Oxford Street near Tottentham Court Road tube and is a piece of London cafe history that you really mustn’t miss. This unique place was opened in 1933 by the father of the current owner Mario. It’s unpretentious and frozen in time. During the day, the cafe sees Mario and his staff do fried breakfasts. At lunchtime, there’s Anglo-Italian styled-food such as lemon butter chicken escalope with chips, omelettes, wine and classic pasta dishes. Colourful enamel advertisements from the thirties and forties adorn the walls, and red and white chequered plastic table clothes cover the wooden tables. Such is its ambiance and decor, the Star is also used for filming. Mario’s the real star of course, and if you’re lucky, he might even grace your table for some conversation.

The Star Opening Times Mon-Fri 7am-4pm. 22 Great Chapel St, W1F 8FR, Tel 00 44 20 7437 8778. Tube – Tottenham Court Road. Access - There is a step into cafe.

6) We know we said five, but there’s a sixth too. We present the wonderful Moulin Grill in Wembley (pictured below), soon to be added to our App. There’s lots of Queen (as in Freddie Mercury) memorabilia here, along with fabulous breakfasts, fry-ups, puds and pastas and it’s very close to Wembley Stadium. The Moulin is run by the very friendly George Georgiades.

Moulin Grill Opening Times Mon-Fri 6.30am-6.45pm, Sat 6.30am-11.30am. 39 Wembley Park Drive  North Wembley, HA9 8HQ. Tel 00 44 20 8902 1799 Twitter – @georgemoulin63. Tube – Wembley Park. Access – There is level access into this cafe.

This article has been written by London Thru Cafes, the City Guide App featured in the Sunday Times 500 Best Apps in the World. The App has 120+ independent cafes, 380+ things to do and both the App and the maps work offline. We issue regular updates and for newcomers to London there’s a handy survival guide and area guide too.

Available now on iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. All images and content copyright of London Thru Cafes 2012.

Over the new few weeks, upwards of six million of people will be descending on the Olympic Park in Stratford East for the 2012 Games (us included).

Here’s our pick of the best independent cafes around the Olympic Park area, plus some fun things to do for when you’re Olympic-ed out. All these cafes and places are in our App, which has 120+ cafes, 380+ things to do, off-line maps, a survival guide, access, wifi and gluten free details, plus hundreds of photos and regular updates. Whenever you’re in an entry, (even if you’re looking at it from America or Europe), you’ll be able to see what’s nearby, so you can carve out an itinerary from wherever you are.

If you’re new to London, familiarise yourself with the Transport for London site and the Tube map and also, have a look at the London Overground line. It serves lots of the cafes below and also Stratford. A handy place to get this line is from Highbury and Islington station, a few stops away from King’s Cross on the Victoria line.

Cafes and eateries around the Olympic Park (closest listed first):

1) The Counter Cafe at the Stour Space Gallery, 7 Roach Road, Hackney Wick, London, London E3 2PA, @thecountercafe, 00 44 7834 275 920. This is a very cool London cafe by the canal with great views of the Stadium. Laid back yet buzzing and arty, it’ll have you going back. Mon-Fri 8am-5pm, Sat-Sun 9am-5pm. Tapas Thu-Sun 6.30pm-late. Wi-fi. Accessible. Travel: Hackney Wick overground.

2) Grind Coffee Bar (see photo below), 5c The Great Eastern Market, Westfield Shopping Centre, London E20 1EH, @GrindCoffeeBar, 00 44 20 8536 1825. Smart, confident, with superb coffee and fresh produce every time. Don’t be put off by it being in a shopping centre. Mon-Fri 8am-9pm, Sat 9am-9pm, Sun 11am-6pm. Wi-fi. Gluten free. Accessible. Travel: Stratford East.

3) Loafing, 79 Lauriston Rd London E9 7HJ, (not on Twitter), 00 44 20 8986 0777. Endearing shabby chic design at this cafe which has cakes like lemon drizzle languishing in the window. They bake on site and do great savoury snacks and soups as well. Mon-Fri 7.30am-6pm Sat 8am-6pm, Sun 9am-6pm. Gluten free. Access: There is one step into this cafe, and two down into the area at the back. Travel: 277 bus from Highbury and Islington or Mile End stations, or the 388 from Liverpool Street station.

4) Pavilion Cafe (see photo below), Crown Gate West, Victoria Park, E9 7DE, @pavilionvicpark, 00 44 20 8980 0030. Hard-to-beat English breakfasts and great veggie options at this cafe by a pond in Victoria Park that’ll be open daily from 8am till 9pm during the Games and with a beer garden too (otherwise it’s 8am-4.30pm). Gluten free. Accessible, all outdoor seating. Travel: Mile End tube (very near Stratford) then the 277 bus northbound.

5) Cakey Muto (see photo below left), 25 Chatsworth Road, London E5 0LH, @cakeymuto, 00 44 208 533 5788. A one-off, zany music-cafe whose owners have a love of shocking pink, cake, independent music and pies. Cakey Muto is a misheard interpretation of ‘Cut the Cake’ shouted at a wedding in Japan. Mon-Wed 10am-6pm, Thu-Sat 10am-8pm, Sun 11am-7pm. Gluten free. Wi-fi. Licensed. Accessible ground floor. Travel: Homerton overground, or take the 242 bus from Tottenham Court Road which stops outside the cafe. Routes 38, 48, 55 and 56 also come this way.

6) Railroad (see photo below), 120-122 Morning Lane, Hackney, London E9 6LH, United Kingdom, @railroadhackney, 00 44 20 8985 2858. A laid-back feel at this lovely cafe-restaurant, which has had a lot of thought and love poured in. Sun-Tue 10am-5pm, Wed-Sat 10am-11pm. Gluten free. Licensed. Access: There is a step into this cafe. Travel: Hackney Central overground and walk 15 minutes, or take a number 30 bus eastbound from the Hackney Central area.

7) Wilton Way Cafe, 63 Wilton Way, London E8 1BG, @WiltonWayCafe. A fabulous colourful cafe with its own radio station, local art on the walls and funky corrugated steel counters. Mon-Fri 8am-5pm, Sat 8-6pm and Sun 9-6pm. Wifi. Access: There is a step into this cafe. Travel: Hackney Central overground or the 38 bus from Victoria.

8) Violet Cakes, 47 Wilton Way  London E8 3ED, @violetcakes, 00 44 20 7275 8360. A gorgeous smell of sugar and vanilla emanates from this wonderful and homely cafe that uses organic produce. Tue-Fri 8am–6pm, Sat 9.30am-6pm, Sun 9.30am-5pm. Gluten free. Access: There is a step into this cafe, a step down into the garden at the back and stairs to first floor too. Travel: Hackney Central overground or the 38 bus from Victoria.

9) Mouse & de Lotz Cafe (see photo above right), 103 Shacklewell Lane, E8 2EB, @MouseanddeLotz, 00 44 20 3489 8082. Eccentric, kooky with a slight nostalgia feel and some very good cakes and funny pictures. Mon-Fri 8am-6pm, Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 10am-6pm. Wi-fi. Accessible. Travel: Dalston Kingsland overground plus a walk – or hop onto the 488 bus along Kingsland High St which takes you along Shacklewell Lane.

10) Tina We Salute You Cafe (see photo below), 47 King Henry’s Walk, London N1 4NH, @TinaWeSaluteYou, 00 44 20 3110 0047. This is a sweet and friendly cafe that’s partly named after sixties artist, JH Lynch’s painting ‘Tina’. The feel of this place depends on the art that’s on its walls as different artists paint and draw the interior every few months.Mon 8am-5pm, Tue-Fri 8am-7pm, Sat-Sun 10am-7pm. Accessible. Travel: Dalston Kingsland overground.

11) We know we said ten, but we couldn’t miss out Italian cafe E Pellici from our list – it’s at 332 Bethnal Green Road, London E2 0AG, 00 44 20 7739 4873. This fabulous East End classic is one of our all time favourites. Watch mama fling those homemade dishes out of the hatch at the back at this priceless classic gem (no website or Twitter handle). Accessible but rather tight, with some seating outside. Travel: Bethnal Green tube then a fifteen minute walk, or take the number 8 bus from Oxford Circus or Tottenham Court Road. Bethnal Green is on the Central Line, the same line as Stratford.

Stratford station is going to be very, very busy. Other stations (which will also probably be busy) include:

• Stratford High Street – DLR (8 min walk from the Olympic Park)
• Abbey Road – DLR (21 min walk)
• Leyton – Central line (28 min walk)
• West Ham – National Rail/DLR/District/Hammersmith & City lines (29 min walk)
• Bow Church – DLR (34 minutes walk)
• Bromley-by-Bow -District /Hammersmith & City lines (41 minutes walk)

Get Ahead of the Games is a useful site for planning travel, alongside Transport for London’s Journey Planner.

Last but not least – apart from cafes – there are some great things to do near the Olympic Park too.

Cafe Oto, 18-22 Ashwin Street, E8 3DL, @cafeoto. This is more a venue for experimental music than a cafe but they do serve drinks in the day. Events book up quickly so see the website and book. Accessible. Wi-fi. Travel: Dalston Kingsland overground.

Arcola Theatre, 12 Ashwin Street, London E8 3DL, @arcolatheatre, 00 44 20 7503 1646. This has a solid reputation for innovative theatre and also, for being carbon neutral in the way it operates. Accessible but ring before so ramps can be set up. Travel: Dalston Kingsland overground.

Vortex Jazz, 11 Gillett Square, London N16 8AZ, @vortexjazz, 00 44 20 7254 4097. A small and cosy jazz club for when you need a sporting break. Access: There is a lift to the performance area. Travel: Dalston Kingsland overground.

Hackney Empire, 291 Mare St, London E8 1EJ, @HackneyEmpire, 00 44 20 8985 2424. Grade II listed and a piece of London theatre history – the Hackney Empire shows all kinds of shows including circus, comedy, competitions, concerts and pantos. Accessible. Travel: Hackney Central overground.

London Fields Lido, West Side, London E8 3EU, @hackneyartsleis, 00 44 20 7254 9038. If you get the sporting bug, this is London’s only 50 metre open air heated pool and glorious it is too, in the middle of London Fields. It’s accessible, with pool hoists and disabled facilities. Mon-Fri 6.30am-8pm, Sat-Sun 8am-5pm, Tue 7pm-8pm women only. Travel: Hackney Central overground or the 38 bus from Victoria.

Broadway Market, Broadway Market, London E8 4PH, @broadway_mkt. This is a buzzing market open on Saturdays. Climpsons and Son’s coffee house is definitely worth a visit (it’s open all week, unlike the market). Merito Coffee stall does sensational coffee and Violet Cakes (mentioned above) also has a stall here. Come hungry is our advice: L’Eau a la Bouche is a great deli-cafe and the Market Cafe does good food too. Access Broadway Market gets busy but is accessible, with wide smooth pavements. Travel: Various, but we’d go to Hackney Central overground, then walk down through London Fields. Or get the 394 bus from Angel tube.

Netil Market, 13-23 Westgate Street, London Fields, E8 3RL, @netilmarket. This is just around the corner from Broadway Market but unlike Broadway Market, Netil Market is open Saturdays and Sundays. You’ll find Spanish-run Nomad Espresso coffee stall at Netil on Saturdays.

This article has been written by London Thru Cafes, the City Guide App featured in the Sunday Times 500 Best Apps in the World.

Available now on iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch.

This subtle coffee drink is named after two World Barista Champions James Hoffman (Tokyo, 2007) and Norway’s Tim Wendelboe (Trieste, 2004) – and you can try it at Prufrock Coffee on Leather Lane.

Prufrock director Jeremy Chandler says he first saw the drink being made at the 2011 UK Brewer’s Cup, which was hosted by Prufrock’s. It was made by James Hoffman of Square Mile Coffee and was also the winning drink.

When he makes the drink, Jeremy uses a brew ratio of 60-70g per litre, depending on preference. Then it’s a coarse grind, a four minute steep (using neutral filtered soft water, about two minutes off the boil). Break the crust (don’t be tempted to do this before the four minutes are up). Finally, put it through a woodneck (a cloth filter) – you’ll find the flavours change as the coffee cools.

If brewing coffee is your thing, Prufrock runs regular courses on making coffee. We’ve done one and they’re really good. They include espresso-making (this was the one we did), latte art, brew methods and coffee-tasting.

This wonderful cafe belongs to 2009 World Barista Champion Gwilym Davies who started out with coffee carts in Whitecross Market and Columbia Road Market. The place feels like a laboratory as befits a coffee champion and an enthusiastic team are never far from the coffee machines which include a beautiful classic manual machine by Dutch craftsman Kees van der Westen.

Coffee to one side, we should say that the cakes at Prufrock’s are outstanding. On a really hot, muggy London day, you could also try one of the iced coffees – it’s steeped for 18 hours before being bottled.

Prufrock Coffee is at 23-25 Leather Lane, London EC1N 7TE, Chancery Lane or Farringdon tube. Opening Times: Mon-Fri 8am-6pm, Sat-Sun 10am-5pm

When in Shoreditch, you might like to visit the Prufrock Coffee Counter in men’s gift shop Present at 140 Shoreditch High Street. Look out for Golden Horn Cigarettes shop signage, more or less across the road from St Leonard’s Church, and you’re there.

Prufrock Coffee is featured in our City Guide App, which features over a hundred and twenty independent cafes and over three hundred and eighty places to explore and visit. There are off-line maps, regular updates, an area guide, a survival great and hundreds of great photos.

Available now on iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch.