The Hornbeam Cafe, E17 9AH

Soya hot chocolate

I love the Hornbeam Cafe for being different. I have lived in Walthamstow for nearly five years but only set foot inside the Hornbeam (458 Hoe Street) six months ago. It was always slightly out of the way, but my partner knew I had a hit list of coffee shops and took me for a surprise lunch on my birthday. We were very late and there was no food left, but the lovely ladies in the kitchen said they’d cobble together a lunch and it was delicious – a bit of everything. Though the most evocative memory of that meal is the world’s best soya hot chocolate. I have yet to try Cafe Bonito’s hot choc but it has competition!

Since then, I’ve purposefully made time to go for a coffee or a meal. Even when it’s full of customers, it’s a respectfully quiet place with no blaring radio. Last weekend I sat and read a good 100 pages of my book (Room by Emma Donoghue) without being disturbed. It has 6-8 mixed sized tables and I love the window table with wicker chairs for watching the relatively busy street – it’s near the Hoe Street/Bakers Avenue junction.

The Hornbeam is a vegetarian, mostly organic, cafe which offers home-cooked hearty meals, making use of whatever seasonal food they can acquire. Though a mainstay on the menu is the vegan brunch (£5.80) which is an incredibly satisfying and spicy breakfast.

Brunch: vegan sausages, tofu scramble, beans, potato cake,
mushrooms, salad and toast (homemade bread).

They also have an extensive drinks menu (including alcoholic) and when you order they automatically ask ‘dairy or soya milk’ – brilliant! Their coffee has a rich flavour, not too strong or too bitter (a latte was £1.90). Their hot chocolate is deliciously creamy. Water is freely available, on a side table. It feels very homely.

Soya latte £1.90

As a Community Cafe and Environment Centre, they have all sorts of information about local projects and green schemes, so there is reading material available if you didn’t bring your own. They sell locally created wood crafts and have regular events such as open mic nights and supper club. Open 11am – 4pm Monday to Friday, 10.30am – 5pm Saturday. Sadly not open Sundays - I wish they would, but volunteers make the Hornbeam special, so it's probably difficult to open all weekend. 

I have yet to try any other cafes in this part of Walthamstow/Leyton, so if anyone has any suggestions, let me know in the comments below. 

Accessibility... Ramp at the door and good space once you’re inside. Accessible toilet. Two high chairs available for little ones. If you’re parking in the area, you can get a visitors parking voucher from the shop next door.

Popular with... vegetarians (quelle surprise) and eco-lifestyle-advocates, tends to attract a slightly older crowd rather than hipsters or parents.