The recent proliferation of bike shops in London seems only to have been exceeded by the growing number of seriously good coffee shops. As luck would have it, one of the latter was located around the corner from where I was working this summer.
The only way to recognize the second outpost of Tapped and Packed, situated in Fitzrovia near Warren Street, is by the bike hanging above the doorway and the hand painted No. 114. The logo-free shop front was not intentional, but when owners Richard Lilley and former business partner Victor Frankowski opened their first store at No. 26 Rathborne Place, they put Richard’s old bike out front, hand painted the number on the exterior, and then could not decide where to put a logo. It proved to be a moot point, as their award-winning brews gained an immediate following.
Looking for more places to visit in London? Check out our London City Guide with more than a hundred favorite finds.
Above: A tree stump as table base adds a touch of rustic to the industrial look.
Above: Tapped and Packed offers coffee brewed in four different ways: by aeropress, filter, cafetiere, or siphon.
Above: Richard Lilley oversaw the interiors and used copper piping and vintage lighting to provide an industrial vibe.
Above: Cups bearing a bike stamp.
Above: Black treacle tins serve as sugar pots. Photograph via Flickr.
Above: Sugar is stirred with vintage souvenir spoons.
Above: We like the use of vintage farmhouse sinks, used for keeping food cold. A copper cauldron houses hot porridge in the mornings. Menus are handwritten on vintage mirrors.
Above: An aerial view of the space with wooden tables and benches. Large shop windows let in plenty of light.
Above: The bike above the doorway.
Above: The hand painted No. 114 on the exterior.
You need to login or register to view and manage your bookmarks.
Have a Question or Comment About This Post?
Join the conversation