Banksy Coffee House, 162 Essex Road

With Banksy books, T-shirts, tote bags and anything else that can be printed on, it was only a matter of time before someone opened a Banksy coffee shop.

The Banksy Coffee House on Essex Road in Angel, not far from a real Banksy, opened in January and is decorated with Banksy tributes in all forms, from the drink mats to canvas prints of his graffiti on the walls.  But it does not really live up to the high expectations one has of a place that names itself after the highest-paid man in street art.

It tries to pull off the mismatched furniture look, but ends up looking cluttered and the furniture is too samey to really master the style. The Banksy prints on the fake-looking brick walls don’t mix well with the old fliers, posters and pieces of sheet music that are hung alongside them. Banksy would have probably been more happy if they had someone spray directly on the walls. It also looks as if the people at Banksy Coffee House can’t decide whether they want it to be a pub or a café. The cosy couches and the selection of pastries and cakes are classic signifiers of a coffee place but the bar, which serves Italian and French wines from 12pm and opening hours until late, suggests it’s a pub.

Their café latte comes with a good amount of foam, but it burns your tongue even after you let it sit on the table for a good 10 minutes. It’s made with Illy espresso, which could be slightly more aromatic. The service is friendly and the atmosphere relaxed, with a good choice of music playing, but it’s almost empty during the afternoon when we were there.  However, if you’re not a fan of crowded cafés and looking for a quiet place to work (they have free Wi-Fi) or read newspapers or magazines from a wide selection you are in the right place.

OVERALL COFFEE CHASER SCORE

5/10