BALHAM CAFÉS & COFFEE SHOPS
UPDATED FOR 2025
You won’t struggle to find a decent café in and around the Balham area, but with so many quality options, you can do better than decent.
Here are our favourite spots – some for meeting friends, others just to grab a quick brew…
And if hunger strikes, our Balham brunch spots should do the trick.
Enjoy,
Jump to: cafés / coffee shops
the apple blue
*PICK OF THE BUNCH*
I have so many fond memories here that, despite being a brunch x patisserie spot, it had to go on this list. I mean, you can do all the things you would in a café, so I guess it is a café.
The coffee:
The coffee is (at the mo) from Volcano Brixton. I’ve gotta be honest: I can’t keep up with the increasing number of London roasteries, but they do a damn good flat white. It has depth of flavour and doesn’t taste run-of-the-mill like so many other ‘speciality’ coffees. I’m no James Hoffmann (evidently), so that’s all you’re getting.
The food:
To put it plainly, you’ve got choice…
Sugar fiends, this is a patisserie, so you’re guaranteed a huge hit of the sweet stuff. Cookies, brownies, cakes – you know the drill.
Savoury mates, get yourself an English Muff (stop that) with spicy hash browns. Bloody delicious.
I won’t go on about their food as we’ve covered that in our top Balham brunch spots.
All in all, the apple blue is a great spot to enjoy a coffee and pastry with friends. And if hunger calls, you’ve got plenty of answers.
The London Butler note: The only downside is that they have a 60-minute window for busy periods – I find this a little rushed at times.
212 Balham High Rd, SW12 9BS; the apple blue
View on Google Maps | View on Apple Maps
All images by the apple blue (my photography is bang avg!)
Pandas Coffee House
JAPANESE TRANQUILITY
Panda’s offers something a little different from the rest of the Balham café scene…
A family-run business with Japanese blood running through its veins, Panda’s is a dose of oriental tranquillity. Featuring bamboo (it’s called Panda’s, after all) and neutral tones, it’s a space that genuinely disarms.
The coffee:
We’re talking Caravan – not my favourite but everyone and their aunt loves the stuff. That said, the latte art is a worthy shoutout.
The food:
I’ve got two recommendations:
The açaí bowl (a banana and berry blend with kiwi and granola toppings) is a healthy morning feel-good treat.
The barbecue pork bao buns – I’m a sucker for a bao; I’m always going to order them. You’ll probs want something else with them but they’re well worth ordering.
I’ve also heard great things about the ramen – I’ll update once I’ve given it a go.
Why we love it:
Panda’s is a friendly, family-friendly Balham café offering something a wee bit different. There might be plenty of cafés in the area, but Panda’s doing its own thing – and I’m all for it.
The London Butler tip: Vegetarians, this is a wonderful spot. It’s also ideal for work.
84 Balham High Rd, SW12 9AG; Panda’s Coffee House
View on Google Maps | View on Apple Maps
Natas Coffee Bar
A WHOLESOME VIBE
Cards on the table: I love Natas.
Its goal isn’t to feature all over Insta and TikTok…
Instead, it focuses on one aspect that most cafés forget: community. You feel like a regular, whoever you are.
Natas is a small space, and the tables are quite close together – some hate this, and I can at times; but Natas manages to make it feel wholesome. It’s hard to explain, but trust me, you won’t feel awkward.
Drinks-wise, expect all the usual suspects: organic coffee by Craft House, juices, teas, and smoothies (Passion ‘N’ Shoot is the winner – think Solero vibes).
As for grub… well, Natas is known for its Belgian waffles; the breakfast waffle has been our recent go-to.
I can wax lyrical about Nata’s. Tbf, I have already done so. But rather than repeat myself, all that’s left to say is: come visit. It’s a wonderful spot to catch up over a coffee, feel a community buzz, and munch on wonderful food.
19 Balham High Rd, SW12 9AL; Natas Coffee Bar
View on Google Maps | View on Apple Maps
Parish Coffee
COMMUNITY THROUGH & THROUGH
I’ll admit, I was ignorant in thinking Parish Coffee wouldn’t be for me. I knew it would be a nice space, but I was so naive in assuming I wouldn’t like it. It’s such a welcoming spot. I said Nata’s has community at its heart – whilst this is true, Parish Coffee takes it to another level.
It’s located in Ascension Church and all the better for it. Not many cafés in Balham or beyond can offer stained-glass windows whilst you drink a flat white. Truly wonderful.
The food:
I assumed the food would be… to put it nicely… meh; okay at best. I couldn’t have got it more wrong. They serve incredible toasties (caramelised onions and goat’s cheese ❤️), homemade cakes, pastries, and many other sweet treats. Oh, and plenty of vegan options too.
It’s a great place for kids:
One major draw is how kid-friendly it is. I’m not a parent, so I can’t comment on how good the facilities are for the wee ones, but they have a small play area, ample room for buggies, and everyone (kids and parents alike) seemed happy to be there. I hear they even put on bouncy castle events during the summer. So if you’re looking for a kid-friendly café in Balham, where parents can chill out knowing the munchkins will be alright, Parish Coffee has to be first pick.
Why we love it
Back to the original community point: everyone is so friendly and accommodating. Nothing is too much and they want you to enjoy their space… to feel part of the community.
I’m big enough to admit when I’m wrong, and wrong I was. Parish Coffee is undeniably one of the best cafés in the Balham area.
The London Butler tip: If you’re fed up with working from home, this is a top spot – they have free workspaces available.
23 Malwood Rd, SW12 8EN; Parish Coffee
View on Google Maps | View on Apple Maps
Balham Coffee Shops
Hopper Coffee
Hopper Coffee is becoming a staple of south London’s coffee scene. If you’ve ever been to Clapham, chances are you’ve seen a line for Hopper – we’re big fans, and it made it into our top Clapham coffee shops with ease.
Their Balham spot is no different. It’s already gained a loyal customer base, largely down to two things: (1) the staff and (2) the dark stuff.
Everyone is super friendly. It sounds silly but it makes a huge difference. Hopper is a family-run business and they clearly take immense pride and care in deciding who to hire. This isn’t a “hi, here’s your coffee, bye” kind of deal, they genuinely take interest in what you’ve got to say.
As for the coffee, it’s intricate, fragrant and packs a little punch. I always plump for a flat white and it’s genuinely up there as one of my favourites in the city.
So, if you’re after a hit of caffeine, head to the hatch. And don’t be put off by queues – it’s worth the wait.
The London Butler tip: You can also sit in – they’ve got plenty of pastries and light bites to go alongside the cuppa.
4 Balham Station Rd, SW12 9SG; Hopper Coffee
View on Google Maps | View on Apple Maps
175 Balham
OUR LITTLE SECRET
Under the ‘5000 cars’ sign on Balham High Road lies a hole-in-the-wall coffee haven, and it has fast become our group’s little secret.
As sister to the apple blue, I won’t write too much – I’ve already given heaps of praise, but suffice to say the quality service and penchant for coffee runs in the family.
Whilst they serve cracking milk drinks, I always grab a filter coffee here. They have them on rotation from many a roaster, and it’s always a tasty and rich batch brew to liven up the old soul.
They’ve got pastries, as well as soft-serve ice cream on the weekend. Enough said I think…
175 Balham High Rd, SW12 9AY; 175 Balham
View on Google Maps | View on Apple Maps
Let us know if you visit any of these or if we’ve missed a Balham café worth shouting about.
See our guide via: Google Maps | Apple Maps
And if you’re wanting more tips for the Balham area, be sure to check out our guides to Balham’s brunch spots, bars, pubs and restaurants.
Updated on: