Caffe Nero

If you’ve been to one Caffe Nero, you’ve been to every Caffe Nero. Like any coffee shop chain, it’s not rocket science. But put against the likes of Costa & Starbucks, I lean towards Caffe Nero every time.
First and foremost, the little map placement for this is completely off. It’s actually around the corner from where the map says it is. I’ll call in the Unilocalmobile to sort this out, but until then: walk around the corner to St. Martin’s Lane and you can’t miss it.
The place is tiny, but it’s warm and there’s a surprising amount of space downstairs (even though the downstairs portion is a bit sad looking). I could definitely see myself rolling up here with a laptop in hand and plunking down at a window seat to work. The bathroom however, is dismal — one little bathroom that’s more or less falling apart — so I warn you there.
When I arrived, it wasn’t busy and the gals behind the counter took my rapid fire 6 coffee/​hot chocolate order in stride. I can’t speak for the coffee this time around, but the hot chocolate was decent and much better than the Starbucks variety. Like most chains: it serves its purpose and is an ok fix when time is of the essence.

This isn’t the biggest coffee shop around but they have managed to make it feel quite spacious and relaxing whilst still providing enough seats. The staff are generally friendly and welcoming. On hot days they open the front doors wide letting a very pleasant breeze in.

I don’t think I like Caffe Nero. There are things about it I like. I like the heart shape they put on the latte. I like the fact that there’s a lot of seating in this branch. I like oh, no that’s it.
Why do they think putting two shots in a medium latte is a good idea? This just leaves me with a very strong and bitter coffee — exactly what a latte shouldn’t be. I can understand in a large coffee, but this is just stupid.
They have this strange way of serving three people at once, so no one really knows what’s going on. When I asked if they had an blueberry muffins, they didn’t, and there was no labels on the muffins showing what they were, or the prices — I asked and the guy told me. But I never found out what one of them was because the guy just said it’s not very nice! I might have liked that one! I’ve written about strange service in Caffe Nero before. I think the guy was being friendly, but it pissed me off. And I really wanted a blue berry muffin.
I was only in this branch because for some reason I thought the Pret on the corner was a Starbucks and I just wanted a decent coffee. When I got there I had to change my plans. It’s not the worst place in the world, but come on, they have no mobile signal downstairs, they don’t accept debit cards, and the coffee is shit.
Is there a starbuck’s near here?

This place is small, but on sunny days i love to go there and sit outside and enjoy a cramelmacciato, my absolute favourite. The location is ideal, because it is close to places like Leicester Sq. and Trafalger Sq, but it is not crowded there and you can relax and read a book.