Photo: Urban Social-Islington
With remote working in London continuing its upward trend, coffee shops present a cheaper, more intimate option than coworking spaces – with several dotted around the district of Islington and its lively suburb of Angel.
But finding the right coffee shop in which to hunker down and work isn’t just about reliable WiFi. You’ll also want to be sure that you’ve got decent coffee on demand, plenty of power points and enough space to gesticulate during a particularly animated zoom meeting. In London’s northern reaches, Islington is coffee shop central, and at the beating heart of its remote working scene is Angel, an upscale entertainment and shopping hub. We’ve picked out 5 of the best coffee shops that Angel, and Islington as a whole, has to offer.
Urban Social-Islington
Just a little further along Angel’s busy stretch, Urban Social is a neighbourhood café with an easy, everyday vibe. The space is bright, with indoor seating and an airy conservatory-style section at the back, plus a handful of pavement tables for when the albeit unreliable London weather comes good. Free WiFi is available, though the atmosphere veers more toward relaxed social catch-ups than full-day laptop sessions. The menu features breakfast items through to lunch staples, with reliable classics including eggs, pancakes, French toast, sandwiches, salads and fresh pastries available alongside barista-made coffee. It’s dog-friendly, card-friendly and generally a safe bet when you want somewhere casual to meet, eat and settle in without feeling rushed.
236 Upper Street
Redemption Roasters
The Islington branch of this London coffee shop chain operates under the same laudable social mission as its counterparts: to train people leaving prison, or at risk of offending, to become baristas. But its ethical endeavours don’t stop there, with all of their produce sourced only from disadvantaged or disenfranchised producers. As for the space itself, it’s notably large, with plenty of surface area for oversized laptops and room to spare for a cup of speciality coffee (including both single-origin and house blends) and a snack. Speaking of which, the pastries, cakes, sandwiches and light breakfasts/brunches offer the perfect remedy to those middle-of-the-day lulls.
96-98 Islington High Street
Gibson’s
One of the more recent additions to Islington’s coffee shop landscape, Gibson’s has received rave reviews since opening its doors near bustling Chapel Market in mid-2024. Small and easy to miss, the speciality coffee shop quicky gained reputation as a hiddem gem thanks to its modest size and tucked-way setting. The owner-operated café is open every day of the week, serving a steady stream of patrons Melbourne-inspired coffee with high-quality espresso roast. while the laptop space is limited, if you’re looking for an intimate and community minded space where you can get a spot of work done with great coffee at the ready, then Gibson’s is hard to beat.
24 Penton Street
Frequency Coffee
Set along Camden Passage, a quaint, pedestrianised alley tucked just off of Upper Street in Angel, this multi-concept coffee shop is also part of a London chain that attracts digital nomads and those simply seeking a quiet place to work. Designed to function as both a café and workspace, its interior is brightly lit, with a mix of small tables and shared desks, as well as a dedicated meeting room upstairs – bookable in advance. Speciality coffee is served using the shop’s own beans and customers can also purchase beans and brewing equipment to take away and rekindle those distinctive coffee shops flavours and aromas back home.
13 Camden Passage
Profile Highbury
Set in the heart of Highbury Barn, a popular shopping spot, Profile offers the ideal antidote to the retail grind. Another relatively new entrant to Islington’s coffee shop scene, it features a pared-back Scandinavian look and a view over the neighbourhood’s steady flow of people. The space is compact and comfy, with a table set aside for laptop users that naturally mixes workers with those dropping in for a coffee and a quick bite. With brews from top UK and European roasters and a menu of seasonal bakes and light plates, it’s little wonder that so many choose to deviate from the well-trodden path to frequent this cosy corner of Islington.
1B Highbury Park