Never underestimate the power of a decent coffee date. There is a reason why popular searches on google include, “Top 10 cafes you must visit in {insert any and every city in the world}”. On every street corner is an opportunity to enter the world of cappuccinos and lattes and discover a new local meeting place. Each cafe brings it’s own charm and uniqueness that makes you want to sit and sip all afternoon.
Cafes are the easiest place to get lost in a conversation or your own thoughts. They draw you in with the colorful flowers on the tables, finely detailed chairs, exposed brick, and vintage/country bumpkin/modern/homey decor. Whatever your fancy, coffee dates are {in my opinion} the best dates.
That being said, I am not a regular coffee drinker.
I drink tea. Green tea. Sometimes with Jasmine.
But nothing beats a vanilla latte in a hidden cafe in central London. Nothing.
Today was a bitter cold day {snow has been expected all weekend} and rain would come and go as it pleased. Sarah and I had originally planned to attend the Borough Market, but weather deterred us from this idea pretty quickly. Instead the agenda included cafe hopping and a matinee show. We started in Leicester Square {well I got lost and started in China Town, but eventually found my way} to see what was playing and if we could get cheap ‘day-of’ tickets. We immediately gravitated towards Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and observed that tickets sold at the theater were 1 pound cheaper than buying them at the Square.
As Sarah said, ‘That could be 1 pound towards a latte’. Justified.
We walked to the theater and purchased our 1 pound less tickets. Then made our way to Covent Garden and found a cafe to get cozy. Stop numero uno: Chez Antoinette.
Guys, this place was adorable. You felt as though you were underground. The doorway was nearly too low to comfortably enter. It was perfection. And they served the best vanilla latte I have had here in the UK thus far. All pluses.
Our coffee dates are never lacking laughter. Our topics of discussion included Antartica, marriage, awkward communication, last resorts, Sarah’s refusal of dessert, my shock and disgust to the spoken refusal, and the waiter inquiring that perhaps, Sarah was sick which in part lead to the refusal.
We are a celiac and a vegan just trying to make it in the world of croissants and cakes. #firstworldproblems
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory did not disappoint! We had seats up in the balcony, but you can’t beat tickets under 30 pounds. We decided we were kind of failing in life compared the the 11 year old star of the show with the voice of an angel. But we didn’t hate him for it. Two shows down so far, and more to come!
Tomorrow morning its {yet another} coffee date with a new friend, and then hitting the Columbia Flower Market with my P.I.C. ^^ {as pictured above, the cutest}.
Upcoming blog posts on the Columbia Flower Market, Big Ben/House of Parliament/Westminster Abbey, and much more. All accompanied with loads of photos.
Until then, sipping my cuppa and saying goodnight.