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Profile - Cafe Below, London,

Cafe Below

4.7
4.7
434 Reviews
£25 and under
British

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
  • Charming
  • Neighbourhood gem
  • Good for groups
In the atmospheric, mediaeval crypt of St Mary le Bow Church, the Cafe Below is a City institution. A quiet oasis from the hectic world above, serving a short menu of British and European dishes, with the occasional curry, the cafe has an ever changing seasonal menu. Being beneath the Bow Bells, naturally we are dedicated to all things London, so we source as locally as possible; our coffee is roasted in Hackney and our beer brewed in the East End. For breakfast, we are the perfect place for a moment of quiet before the day begins or a small or large business meeting, all with Homemade rye toast, River Farm smoked salmon, Brioche French toast and our own granola.

Jay Rayner hailed the cafe as being the "kind of restaurant any hectic city needs"; a quality driven, friendly place where you can meet mates, clients or colleagues, all in the unique setting of a Christopher Wren crypt!

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    £25 and under
  • Cuisines
    British, Mediterranean, European
  • Hours of Operation
    Breakfast Tue–Thu 07:30–10:00 Lunch Mon–Fri 11:30–14:30
  • Phone number
    020 7329 0789
  • Website
    http://www.cafebelow.co.uk/
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Private party facilities
    Café Below is a hidden gem that can host prestigious events and dinners for private or business clients. Our menus and wine list are contemporary and when added to the unique 1000-year-old crypt dining room, they make the perfect recipe for an event to remember. Crypt capacity seated 50, standing 62

Menu

View menu on restaurant's website

What 434 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7
4.7 based on recent ratings
  • 4.7Food
  • 4.8Service
  • 4.5Ambience
  • 4.7Value

Noise • Energetic

Loved For

  • City of London

    Best Service

  • City of London

    Best Value

  • City of London

    Gluten-free-friendly

  • City of London

    Neighbourhood gem

  • City of London

    British

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Cafe Below offers a "great find" beneath St Mary le Bow Church, providing "delicious food" and "excellent service" in a "quiet setting" amidst bustling London. With a varied, well-priced menu catering to all diets, it's perfect for a "wonderful light dining experience" or a single-course lunch under £20.

434 Reviews

  1. Nigel

    London

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Charming idiosyncratic crypt venue, on the noisy side (albeit xmas party time); decent food and wine and good value

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  2. Hanna

    London

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Very good place for lunch. Very cosy, especially in winter.

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  3. randel

    Houston

    14 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    14 reviews

    Dined on 6 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Lovely setting, outstanding low-key service, wonderful largely-vegetarian/pescatarian fare. One of our new London favorites for lunch in the City.

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  4. Felicity

    London

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on 4 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    A delightful venue for lunch. Fresh prepared food. Lovely staff and great setting

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  5. Janice

    London

    15 reviews

    5.0

    15 reviews

    Dined on 28 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    My favourite lunchtime restaurant. Food always amazing. Thank you

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  6. Neil

    London

    3 reviews

    4.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on 27 November 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    This is a lovery venue and the food and menu are good for vegaterian and vegan options as well as regular dinners. Service is attentive and quick. The acoustics of the main dinning room in the crypt are the only drawback, but if that is a problem (as it is for me) you could ask for a table in the bar which has much less background noise.

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  7. Cory

    San Diego

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 6 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great service and menu choices for breakfast were satisfying. This is a great location with interesting and quiet ambiance.

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  8. Orsolya

    London

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on 21 October 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    A lovely, atmospheric place with great food and very fast service.

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  9. Lanna

    London

    12 reviews

    5.0

    12 reviews

    Dined on 17 October 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Delicious food, good value and excellent service. We will return.

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  10. Richard

    London

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 14 October 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    It’s taken me way too long to eat here, a wonderful light dining experience beneath St Mary le Bow Church. Excellent fare served efficiently from a varied and well priced menu. Perfect for a single course lunch at under £20, keen to return for more next time. Cafe Below is a great antidote to the usual City eateries. Recommended.

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FAQs

Cafe Below offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at 020 7329 0789.

Cafe Below is rated 4.7 stars by 434 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

2 people
19:00

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for Cafe Below

St Mary-le-Bow Church, Cheapside, London, EC2V 6AU

Additional information

  • Area
    Bank
  • Hours of Operation
    Breakfast Tue–Thu 07:30–10:00 Lunch Mon–Fri 11:30–14:30
  • Price
    £25 and under
  • Cuisines
    British, Mediterranean, European
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    None
  • Public transit
    BankCannon StMansion HouseSt Pauls
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Additional
    Banquet, Beer, Cafe, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeaway, Vegan, Wine
  • Website
    http://www.cafebelow.co.uk/
  • Phone number
    020 7329 0789
  • Private party facilities
    Café Below is a hidden gem that can host prestigious events and dinners for private or business clients. Our menus and wine list are contemporary and when added to the unique 1000-year-old crypt dining room, they make the perfect recipe for an event to remember. Crypt capacity seated 50, standing 62
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