Cafe St Germain

I have been visiting here for years. I take friends and family here for catch up chats. It feels like I’m on holiday. Staff are keen. Food is good. In fact don’t go. I need to know that there will be a table when I want it.

Just had a lovely Sunday breakfast. Scrambled egg on brown toast, delicious coffee, fresh orange juice, boyfriend had a bacon baguette. Fab French feel, nice setting, warm service, great prices compared to most cafés in the area. Local and would defiantly go back :)

This place is ideally situated opposite the bus station if you happen to be waiting for a bus and you need a hot drink or you feel a little peckish they have something which could fill the gap for you. There is an all day breakfast menu, which covers the basics, croque monsieur’s and the like to full blown meals.
The menus French feel is reflected in the look and feel of the restaurant/​café. The staff are welcoming and not over bearing allowing you to seat yourself where you please. They have some interesting pictures on the walls which help to pass the time whilst you are waiting for your order.
It very much has the feel of a place where all are welcome whether it is just for a quick sandwich or drink to those who are catching up with others or sheltering from the rain outside and even those who have taken up residency to do some work and exploit the free wifi they have available 9just remember to ask for the pass word).
All in all without being spectacular this café has a good feel to it even if the food isn’t the greatest but it is welcoming and staff don’t harass you and let you of things at your own pace, so if you are every waiting for that bus which is not coming anytime soon perhaps a visit here might break up the waiting time.

Meh indeed. The smoking ban seems not to apply here!
I had high hopes for this place after reading the last review. It is a sort of a French greasy spoon, if you can imagine such a thing. The staff were brilliant, so they get points for that, but the food was just ok, and the other customers were a bit scummy actually. A large group of builders sat next to us on the terrace outside, which is covered and only open on on side. They immediately started smoking literally underneath the non smoking sign! I went in to clarify with the waitress whether it was enforced or not, and she immediately asked them to move to the other side of the terrace (the table behind us!) So we still had smoke wafting around our heads as we were trying to eat.
So, if you like smoke flavoured food covered in more second hand smoke, do try it!

Tres bien, recommend the parisian crepes.

The décor is brilliantly French — its like a mini trip to Paris, especially with the view of Crystal Palace’s very own Eiffel Tower. Great for an omlette or a cheeky weekend fryup.

Brilliant French café. You can buy fresh baggettes in the morning and a great breakfast. Nice atmosphere.

When France is all that you can think about, but a Eurostar ticket is slightly out of reach, there is always café St Germain.
I am guessing that the café has not changed in the past twenty years but rather than hiding this, it relishes it in true French style. Big, warm and welcoming, relaxing and most importantly the drinks and snacks are delicious.
Yes you may walk out the door onto a major road complete with a station of red double decker buses, but while inside the café pondering over coffee and pastries, you would not believe that you were anywhere this side of the channel.