Fernandez & Wells

Love the layout, and the food was very good I had a ham and cheese tomato toastie. However, I was really looking forward to trying the coffee here but the machine was broken and the staff were pretty rude.

Cute little place appearing hidden from the London midweek hustle, but since so many people keep passing by I guess it’s case more of a cosy atmosphere. The superb beer we had came from some little British (apparently Camden) brewery called «Gentlemen’s Wit» and was delicious. Considering the amount of people coming in for take out snack/​sandwiches and coffee, I guess they were also tasty. That means next time round the fresh looking ham hanging in the window will be in my sandwich!

Great place. Tucked away in a little alley, across from wafts of thai food for the cheap and with great service.
I had the most amazing beer… made with lemon and bergamont called Gentlemans Wit camden beer. I didn’t try the food or coffee but i saw many people coming for both and chatting up the ladies behind the counter who were so personable.
You’ll be seeing more of me!

Usually I’m more or less a regular at the beak st. one, but decided to give this one a try. The barista did my coffee twice (cause he wasn’t happy with the first one) and I must say it was well worth the wait. Only con is the so uncomfortable seats by the barcouldn’t finish my cup at my leisure.

I was looking forward to try F&W coffee, after reading so many good reviews about this and the other 2 places they have in Soho, and I was a bit disappointed when I finally did. Well, the main reason is that they didn’t have soya milk, so for lactose intolerant people like me, the choice of coffee is limited to black coffee or espresso. I had then one espresso, that was very good but at £2.20, which I think it’s a bit too expensive, even if it was the best espresso ever known to mankind. Then, the place didn’t seem confortable at all to me. I sat there for 5 minutes, drank my coffee and went. This means that although the food looked very tasty and I’m sure the sandwiches are worth every penny, I wouldn’t come here to eat. And if I were to buy some sandwich to take away, I would probably try to spend a bit less.
Staff were very nice, and if you’re not lactose intolerant or don’t mind paying a bit more than usual, I’m sure you’d enjoy this place.

This is one of my favourite lunchtime treats. It is a treat given that it is on the pricey side. That said, I always feel that I’m getting fresh well made food that is fairly healthy.
Currently I’m obsessed with their seasonal orecchiette pasta salad of roasted butternut squash, ricotta cheese, diced chilis, and cinnamon. £4 for a box. If you have a big appetite, you might need more food than that though.

I love this place and I don’t know why there aren’t more patrons every time I walk past this place (and I worked just on Wardour St so I walked past it every day!).
Great coffee, slick décor, sandwiches/​cookies/​croissants on the bar and in the evening they changed into pintxos/​tapas with wine. Great place!

This review is for the two glasses of red wine and the delectable brownie that followed Dehesa’s dinner. Only? What isn’t to love about a long butcher-​block counter table, a short and sweet menu on a chalkboard with two choices of wine (red or white), coffee, a charcuterie selection, a tiny menu? Nothing. I’m only sorry I wasn’t in the mood for some iced coffee (sourced from Monmouth nearby). Alas, it was late. And, you know, wine. And the brownie.
(My man also requires me to mention that this bite of sweetness was hard-​won as he carefully followed directions to this little alley in Soho despite my lack of direction.) Clearly he realizes the value of sustaining my hours of food bliss… F & W, I shall return.

Hands down, the best iced coffee I’ve ever had.
…and I’m a picky Brooklynite with a vendetta against London. That is all.

I walked past here one morning and decided to duck in and order an americano to go.
I was a bit taken aback by the price — £2.30 for a smallish cup of coffee. But I must say, it was one of the best coffees I’d had in a while — I prefer mine black with no sugar and am usually served a rather lifeless, bitter brew that is way too hot, and end up regretting that I decided to treat myself. Or I play it safe and order a latte as the milk disguises the awfulness of the coffee in most cases.
Here I was treated to a very tasty and smooth coffee that was not too weak and without a trace of bitterness; it actually tasted of coffee beans, scrummy! It was really a coffee to savour and the takeaway cup did not add an unpleasant plastic taste to the coffee, as is often the case. They also had a selection of lovely-​looking pastry and sandwiches which I might go back to sample. And I will certainly return for some more coffee.

Their basic skill of coffee making is very good. Unfortunately, they managed to spoil a perfectly nice cappucino with 8 Italian size shots of espresso. Although, I am a bit of a caffeine addict, this is ridiculously strong. Great little place though. Not much space to sit inside the café though.

Mmmm, had a truly fantastic pulled-​pork and wild rocket ciabatta here — they really do know how to make a sumptuously good sandwich here. The selection of cakes and pastries looked devilishly tempting as well. It’s pricey, but you do get the quality you’re paying for.
It’s a tiny place, with space only for a breakfast-​bar style seating arrangement. But for some reason they’ve put the bar really high up. I’m quite a tall guy and it still felt that my meal was bizarrely close to my face on the table!
So — they have set the bar high in terms of food, coffee, and well, the height of the bar :-)

Is it embarrassing when someone takes you somewhere and then afterwards they gave it a higher rating on Unilocal than you did? I AM ABOUT TO FIND OUT.
So, the fabulous miss Laura, or Laura N. as some of you may know her, and I hit up Fernandez & Wells Espresso Bar in Soho on one f&%$ing cold London afternoon, and it was pretty nifty.
They have a super slick menu written above the bar, and delicious looking sandwiches and baked goods tempting you at every turn. The place feels and looks hip in a minimalist yet sophisticated sort of way.
It’s pretty impressive.
What did not impress me was that, as it is a bar, there are just bar stools in front of a BAR that faces the back wall for you to sit at. Maybe it’s because I have bad posture and an unnatural worry about my butt crack showing — but I do not like bar stools. Especially when I’m trying to hang out with a friend.
I also don’t like having to stare at a wall when I eat/​drink. I also don’t like having to sit close to people. At Fernandez & Wells Espresso Bar, you will do both of these things.
I had a peanut butter cookie, which was pretty nomtastic, and I also had a mint tea that had, like, actual mint in it. My tea was grand, but WHY DO PEOPLE SERVE TEA IN GLASSES WITH NO HANDLES?!
Tea is made of hot water, and having to drink a cup of hot-​ass tea the same way I would a glass of ice-​cold Coca-​Cola is not OK with me. Or my tender skin.
ANYWAY. If you’re cool with sitting at a bar stool to eat/​drink your pastry/​cake/​sandwich/​coffee/​tea than you will probably really like this place.
If you’re worried about burning your hand and flashing the people of London your butt crack, you will probably not.

Trust me, this is going to be a very *cool* review…
Recently my friend Cate from
educated me on the glory that is a «Neapolitan» shake at In-​N-​Out, and I knew I had to take her somewhere fabulous to return the favour. I mean somewhere cool. Very cool. Cool, cool, cool.
Fernandez & Wells’ newest outpost did the trick — a slick coffee shop with standard bar seating along the opposite wall, this little café tempted us with both the sweet options of cakes and cookies, as well as the more savory ham and cheese croissant-​ish options. I obnoxiously chomped my way through a ciabatta roll with aubergine, goat cheese, rocket, and tomato… and I loved every minute of it. Just mind the high in-​teeth-​rocket potential. It’s dangerous. Cool and dangerous. Like tattoos. And sharks. And white lightning.
I admittedly did not sample the caffeinated candy of the Gods, however I did power through a fresh mint tea that was lovely. And very cool.
Have I mentioned that this secret alley find, tucked away among its fellow Fernandez & Wells siblings is cool? Cause it is. Just sayin’.

I think I met Mr. Fernandez the other day. He suggested I had one of their muffins. I haven’t looked back. It’s a breakfast-​based, but all day delight. I have to say that black pudding, fried eggs and rustic, thick muffins make me slather at the mouth like an excited boxer dog. lunchtime wouldn’t necessarily be the time to have said combination, but i have to admit to bending to this porky /​eggy /​bready combo. Blend with a coffee called a ‘stumpy’ (short, sharp coffee between latte and macchiato in lamens terms) and you’re set for the afternoon. don’t have it for breakfast, you’ll only have to have it again for lunch. Oh, they do it with pancetta as well. which isn’t as good. but if you’re going for variety, this fallback works ok. Only ok, mind.
By muffins, i clarify that i refer to the one oft used in the USA, but infrequently — other than in throwback /​benedict terms — English Muffin. Double Skinny soy muffins need not apply. thanks.

If my life was a handbag then inside you would find some coffee in a Thermos and cake in a Tupperware. It would be a beautiful leather bag that you’re proud to be seen out with… well that’s what I think anyway. So in my head I have this chic lifestyle and actually this place makes me feel like I’m partly living it!
Hidden away down St Annes Court this little coffee shop is locely. It’s pretty new and has a huge counter weighed down with sweet and savory treats, but what this place concentrates on is coffee. I was a little disappointed that they didn’t do filter but saying that my Americano was very very good. A great life at leisure coffee experience indeed!

So Fernandez & Wells is sort of a big deal in Soho. I mean, it has three locations all within a very short distance of one another. Some people might like its deli. Some people might like its drinks. Some people might like its coffee. The three locations, you see, cater to each type of person.
This location caters to espressophiles. Addicts of that delicious, adrenal-​stimulating brown stuff can rejoice, for Fernandez & Wells puts out an oh-​so-​sweet triple ristretto. I’m usually a soya americano type of girl, and when the barista told me that she only did whole dairy milk I was a little put-​off. I begrudgingly ordered it black. This is the first time I’ve EVER drank a straight black coffee in London — no milk, no sugar — and was honestly more than satisfied with it.
Amazing, wonderfully mollifying espresso.
Seating is comprised of barstools along a wall table and a bench outside, much like the Fernandez & Wells café on Beak Street. Don’t expect to linger. Expect to get a damn good coffee.

The newest in the F&W chain, located, just off Wardour Street on St Annes Court, opposite (the rather good) Papaya.
This seems to be more a clone of the Coffee Bar on Beak Street, than the Wine Bar around the corner, and I have no problem with that, it’s another welcome addition to the growing stable of small, good quality coffee shops that are peppered around Soho.
You have the same great range of cakes, deli style food and awesome coffee.
Pros
— good quality coffee
— good quality food
— not as busy as the other
— locations (just yet)
— nicely designed shop
— good location
Cons
— as per usual a bit pricier than your regular coffee place