I honestly don't know how it's taken me so long to write this post really, considering you can usually find me drinking overpriced pink hot chocolates and snapping hundreds of photos at one of London's many Instagrammable cafes.
And there are so, so many, with new ones popping up all the time featuring fancy flower displays and artfully decorated avocado on toast, for those of us who like to take photos of our food before we eat it.
From the influx of saccharine Elan cafes taking over London one floral wall at a time, to Instagram legend Peggy Porschen opening its second King's Road venue, it's clear that the Instagram cafe is here to stay.
I've put together a list of 11 (10 would be neater, but I couldn't cut any of them!) of my favourite spots to snap pictures if you're looking to drink your morning latte in style - let me know which ones are your faves!
Peggy Porschen
Starting things off strong with the legendary Peggy Porschen, whose pink-hued Victoria facade has become an Instagram stalwart thanks to their seasonal floral displays. It's the original Instagram cafe, and draws massive crowds of tourists and Instagrammers alike (I once even saw Ant of Ant and Dec picking up sweet treats!). Go for the gram, stay for the decorative cupcakes and cute latte art. If the Victoria branch is too crowded (get there early if you want to take pictures), head to their new King's Road spot which is quieter, and just as pretty.
Peggy Porschen
116 Ebury St
SW1W 9QQ
Saint Aymes
Possibly my favourite of the Instagram cafes, Saint Aymes in Marble Arch is known for it's beautiful exterior, surrounded with delicate flowers for the perfect alfresco dining snap. They do the usual range of cakes and other sweet treats, plus 24k gold hot chocolates if you're feeling really extravagant. Inside there's a flower wall and velvet sofas, but for the best snaps sit outside against the florals. It's not cheap, but honestly, none of these are.
Saint Aymes
59 Connaught St
W2 2BB
El&n Cafe
The El&n cafe chain has become a real powerhouse, going from two venues to half a dozen in the course of about a year. The Park Lane and Brompton Road branches in Kensington are the originals, however they have since opened in Oxford Circus, Knightsbridge, and Selfridges. The best photo opps? Brompton Road for the floor to ceiling flower wall, Knightsbridge (Hans Crescent) for the downstairs love heart booths, and Oxford Circus Market Place for their colourful take on the floor wall, complete with neon sign. It's on the pricey side - expect to pay more to add avocado or salmon to your eggs - but tasty enough. If you're not looking to take pictures I wouldn't really recommend it... But if you are, it's perfect.
El&N Cafe
Various Venues
Feya Cafe
Of all the cafes on list, Feya Cafe in Marylebone, just off Oxford Street, probably has the more Insta-friendly food offering. With a menu designed by Finnish food blogger Viripi Mikkonen, everything is decorated with edible flowers and a mix of colours, and looks almost too pretty to eat. The interiors are decked out in blush pink, and white blossoms adorn the ceilings and exterior. Try the Rose Avo Toast with pink beetroot hummus, and the picturesque Happiness Pancakes.
Feya Cafe
23 James St
W1U 1DT
Biscuiteers
Slightly different from the rest of the spots on this list, Biscuiteers in Notting Hill (they also have a branch in Clapham) is a cafe by the biscuit company, offering afternoon teas and opportunities to try icing. You can just pop in for tea and cake, or to browse their selection of biscuits - a lovely gift to take home if you're visiting London. For the gram, take a seat outside their distinctive black and white illustrated exterior, and pretend you're candidly watching the Notting Hill crowds go by.
Biscuiteers Cafe
194 Kensington Park Rd
W11 2ES
Aubaine Selfridges
The French dining chain has several London locations but by far the most Instagrammable is the Aubaine branch on the 2nd floor of luxury department store Selfridges. Whilst some of the spots on this list are arguably more style than substance, at Aubaine you can get a proper meal any time of day. With wisteria adorned ceilings and flooded with natural light, it's a beautiful place for a spot of brunch, or to relax with a coffee after battling the crowds on Oxford Street. Added bonus is that the staff are lovely and seem very happy to let you snap away.
Aubaine Selfridges
400 Oxford St
W1A 1AB
Farm Girl
There was a while when every Insta-girl worth their salt would be found at Notting Hill hotspot Farm Girl, snapping their outfit of the day with grammable rose lattes. Though it's faded somewhat as a must-snap, the Aussie brunch spot is still a lovely place for a healthy meal in aesthetically pleasing surrounds, and makes for a great food flatlay thanks to their pink tables and natural daylight in the open air courtyard. My favourite order is the pancakes, which are thick and fluffy smothered in maple syrup berries.
Farm Girl Cafe
59A Portobello Rd
W11 3DB
Fait Maison
Another good spot if you're looking for a proper meal is Fait Maison in Gloucester Road, the exterior of which is dramatically decked out in colourful blooms. They have an extensive brunch menu, and being of Middle Eastern origins there's lots of exotic options - they do a great shakshuka, or keep it simple and stick to eggs and avocado. They also offer an afternoon tea, which I haven't tried, but which looks delicious!
Fait Maison
144 Gloucester Rd
SW7 4SZ
Maitre Choux
My current go-to West London spot is Maitre Choux on Chelsea's King's Road, a cosy cafe serving up teas, coffees, and decadent eclairs. If you don't have a sweet tooth, this is not the place for you. But if you do it's heaven, with a wide range of flavours served up against a pretty pink flower wall. It also tends to be fairly quiet, and the staff don't seem to mind you staging impromptu photoshoots!
Maitre Choux
59 King's Rd
SW3 4ND
Grind Cafes
If you're looking for some a bit cooler and less feminine (basically, without a flower wall...), I'd recommend the Grind cafes dotted around London. With velvet booths and neon wall signs they're super picturesque, but without any of the twee. Oh, and they do a great brunch. My favourites for photos are the Clerkenwell and Greenwich branches.
Grind
Various Venues
Dominique Ansel Bakery
Known for the cronut (part croissant, part doughnut), acclaimed NYC bakery Dominique Ansel came to London's Victoria with much fanfare. And it's not just the food that's Instagrammable - they serve up pastries and cakes in a beautiful courtyard with regularly changing floral displays (which also match the outside installations for #ootd snaps). It's pretty pricey, but the cakes are tasty and they have a selection of savoury options too.
Dominique Ansel Bakery
17-21 Elizabeth St
SW1W 9RP
