The Legal Café

We have our office next door to The Legal Café and have lunch there every now and then. Good food, friendly staff and a nice mix of local residents and people from local businesses having lunch or a coffe. I like this homely, relaxed, bright and open space with large windows to watch the villagey streets or the florist outside.

I accidentally happened to walk past this place. As I had heard about it, I was curious and had quite high expectations. It is a lovely place, really. The people are nice, the place is quite spacious and bright. They have free wifi (although for some reason it didn’t seem to work. they say there are problems connecting to Macs, but I wonder…). However, ultimately, the coffee was good, but not great. I only had an espresso, so I couldn’t judge the cappuccinos… but the overall impression was «imperfect», still nice. I’ll definitely come back. If anybody can figure out how to connect a Mac to their wifi, I might become a regular visitor.

Strangest thing is to be served an iced tea missing the ice! No real complaints though as they did serve it cold and it was tasty.
A cute little café with a legal theme, it’s a bit like Disney land for lawyers I suppose, the staff were definitely friendly enough. It’s just a shame that they charge you for internet…
When you go, check out downstairs… it’s like a board room not a café — very funny and strange!

ME: I’d like a tall skinny affidavit, (no foam, please) with an extra shot of justiciable controversy. And she’ll have an iced deposition. Oh, and I’ll take that last res ipsa loquitur you have in your display case, thanks. Is that homemade? Cause YUM!
LEGAL CAFE: That’ll be £120/​hour, please.
Seriously. Coffee + Lawyers = rock solid. Two things I love the most in my life, neatly combined in one establishment where I can get my caffeinated work on.
I love this place.
p. s. are you hiring?

I used to come here every day to get my carb-​fix and to take advantage of their Wifi (it’s a quid for the day since I was last there). The bagels and sandwiches are pretty good. However I think the Legal Café really stands out because of its service; the staff are friendly and professional as the name of the place suggests. They even let me stay a little later to use their Wifi during the Dark Ages when I just moved over and didn’t have internet in my flat.
Anyway on my way to the bathroom I discovered that the downstairs is outfitted with meeting rooms and offices making the café seem even more legit. I might even consider the services for a bagel and some legal advice someday.

I’m always, always running late. But the stars had aligned or something one day and I was quite early to my dental appointment, hoping he could fit me in. Of course he could not. So I wandered around that odd little stretch of shops that lie between Chalk Farm and Belsize Park, looking for a nice spot to park myself, and ended up at The Legal Café. The lawyer + coffee thing adds a interesting layer to what is otherwise just a perfectly normal little spot to pass a bit of time (particularly solo). The coffee is eh, but I liked the aquarium.

I went to The Legal Café a few years ago when it first opened and swore I would never go back. As beautifully decorated and as interesting as the concept is behind the café, I couldn’t help but be angered by my initial encounter. I arranged to meet my little sisters who were visiting for the weekend in the café and before they came in, I ordered a coffee and a bagel sandwich. The food took over half an hour to come and when my sisters arrived (they are very sweet and only 11) they were told that they couldn’t stay. Had there been a sign banning children or had they been hooded, aggressive looking teenagers then I could have understood the owner’s problem, but they were not!
Anyway, I recently went back to the café and the atmosphere had definitely changed– it was far more relaxed and the service was far more efficient. It is now a very good, and much needed spot to read the papers, check emails (or get legal advice) in Belsize Park.

Wandering around Haverstock Hill on a hot summer’s day, (Rare in London I know) I stumbled across The Legal café. Maybe it is the name but I couldn’t help feeling it was a little posh. Nevertheless their coffees are excellent and so are their smoothies. Food wise I made my way through two delightful muffins.
The attendants served with a smile and that is always a winner with me. The free Wi Fi is also a big plus.
After going there a few times the posh atmosphere I first encountered disappeared. It is a great little café that is frequented by patrons, blissfully unaware of the Camden crazies two hundred metres down the road.

Here’s the dilemma. I’m considering litigation. Yet I’m also considering a coffee and a snack. Well, today I discovered that you can kill those two birds with one stone — and it’s not such a novel concept as you’d think.
The Legal Café on Haverstock Hill is a warm and welcoming corner establishment which takes its direction from the 1600s. This was an era when it was seen common practice to do one’s legal bargaining with the judicial counsel in a coffee shop. And as luck would have it, a bargain it remains. You can book a flat fee for a legal consultation with a local lawyer for £120 for a full hour (apparently a great deal in this expensive city).
Of course, it also makes for quite a nice stop off if you just fancy a light breakfast or lunch, legalities aside. I spent quite a few hours there the other day with my computer (there’s free Wi-​Fi) and had myself some delicious scrambled egg on toast for £3.50. There’s also smoothies, frappés, a tasty selection of cakes and muffins and hearty sandwiches. The décor is rather pleasing too; a large fish tank and a flat screen delivering the latest news makes you feel very much at home.

I’m not entirely sure I understand the concept of this establishment — it’s a café, and a law office? Best to check the website if you’re interested in knowing about the legal stuff, but this is also just a lovely place to have a coffee or lunch, with really friendly staff and an interesting mix of sandwiches on different sorts of breads.