Calico Coffee

Looking for the best coffee near to the London Eye? I've got a great option for you that's only a 10 minute walk away. Hi I'm Gordon and today I'm in the London Waterloo area, getting a coffee at Calico. Located on Lower Marsh just moments from London Waterloo Station and the Old Vic Theatre, Calico was opened in late 2024 so it was about a year old when I paid a visit. It's named after a type of cat with a tri-coloured coat, an open 8-4 30 week days and 9-5 30 weekends. The clean interior design is a cross between traditional Chinese and modern Scandinavian style with dark wood panelling, glass cabinets and a grid of overhead lighting. It's all very zen and fits the space comfortably. For somewhere with a minimalist vibe though, there's certainly plenty to look at with cabinets displaying ornamental ceramics and the shelves packed with coffee related reading materials. The seating in front and behind the U shaped preparation area, including a brew bar dedicated to pour overs, although you are welcome to enjoy your drink at any table if you prefer, or if there's no room. There's no shortage of drink options and brew types available, but the highlight for enthusiasts is the pour over menu consisting of no fewer than 9 roasted by Calico themselves, accompanied by a handful of guests with prices ranging from u00a38 to u00a318 when I visited. I asked the barista for something bold and bright and they recommended anaerobic natural from Ethiopia, roasted by Oma. But rather than have it as a pour over, they suggested an espresso based combination instead, with one shot served as a black espresso and the other as a mini cortado. It was absolutely delicious and I really enjoyed having two different takes on the same beans without overdoing it on the caffeine, definitely a recommended option and an approach that I'd love to see in some other cafes. If you're feeling peckish, there'some lovely pastries and other baked treats in the glass cabinets at the front and we enjoyed a rather nice cake. Meanwhile a wide variety of beans are available in the retail section from Calico along with some of those guests. Now I'd say definitely worth a visit if you're around the Waterloo area and arguably the closest decent coffee to the London Eye. Do let me know your favourite cafes around London, particularly in the Westminster or South Bank areas. And if you enjoyed this video please do check out some of my other cafe reviews here from across the UK and around the world. Cheers!