Italian espresso bar in Bloomsbury, London
Coffee, made the slow way.
A genuine one-man Italian espresso bar, hidden in a churchyard garden off Bloomsbury Way, two minutes from the British Museum.
The person behind the machine
Gennaro pulls every shot himself
EspressoBase is one man, one La Marzocco, and a courtyard that still belongs to St George's churchyard, where Gennaro has been given a place to set up every morning. He trained as a barista in Italy, and he still makes coffee exactly the way he learned there: no syrups, no flavour shots, no rushing the shot. It's proper Italian espresso, made by someone who grew up drinking it that way.
Sugar costs 10p here. It isn't really about the money. It's a nudge to taste the coffee first.
"Possibly the best coffee in Europe."
EspressoBase is also featured in European Coffee Trip's London Coffee Guide, alongside 208 speciality cafés across the city. There's a copy sitting right there on the cart too.
What people say
Straight from the reviews
"A tranquil garden and wonderful espresso in the heart of Bloomsbury. You'll be well rewarded."
Dr_Mike_and_friends, TripAdvisor
"We're Aussie and we hate crap coffee. This was world class. A master of his craft."
lockwoods2018, TripAdvisor
"The actual best coffee in London. No competition. On a different level."
tomkR933LF, TripAdvisor
"I stumbled upon this hidden gem, a unique coffee garden with an incredibly relaxing atmosphere."
anneaxr, TripAdvisor
The garden
Somewhere you wouldn't expect to find it
Down a bamboo path at the edge of St George's churchyard sits the Vittorio Coffee Garden: wooden benches, plants everywhere, a small water feature, and usually some jazz playing quietly in the background.
Visit
Hours & location
| Monday – Thursday | 10:30 – 15:00 |
| Friday | Closed |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
St Georges Court, Bloomsbury Way
London WC1A 2SE
Behind St George's Bloomsbury, a short walk from the British Museum and Holborn station.
Good to know
Questions people ask
Where exactly is EspressoBase?
In the Vittorio Coffee Garden, a courtyard in St George's churchyard at St Georges Court, Bloomsbury Way, London WC1A 2SE. It sits behind St George's Bloomsbury church, about two minutes' walk from the British Museum. Holborn and Tottenham Court Road are the nearest Tube stations.
What are the opening hours?
Monday to Thursday, 10:30 to 15:00. Closed Friday, Saturday and Sunday. It's an outdoor bar run by one person, so Instagram is the best place to check for last-minute changes.
What kind of coffee is it?
Italian-style espresso, pulled to order on a two-group La Marzocco by Gennaro De Mattia, who trained as a barista in Italy and has run EspressoBase since 2012. Espresso, cappuccino, flat white and cioccolata calda, with amaretto biscuits and small cakes on the side. No syrups, no flavour shots.
Is there a good coffee shop near the British Museum?
EspressoBase is about two minutes' walk from the British Museum. It's rated 4.9 from 362 Google reviews and 5.0 on TripAdvisor, holds a Travellers' Choice award, and a spot in European Coffee Trip's London Coffee Guide.
Is there plant-based milk?
Yes. Plant-based milk is available on request for any milk drink.
Is it dog friendly and wheelchair accessible?
Yes to both. The garden is wheelchair accessible, and dogs and laptops are welcome.
Can I buy coffee beans?
Yes. Gennaro sells rotating single-origin beans from The Naughty Dog (Czech Republic), Notes Coffee (London) and Coffee Collective (Copenhagen), plus a rotating guest roaster and home brewing kit.
Say hello
Follow along
The best way to see what's brewing day to day is Instagram. For anything else, Gennaro's usually right there behind the machine.