Il Buffone is a fantastically friendly place, just on the outskirts of Covent Garden, lovely cup of tea and a lot of Italian chat and gusto.
It's all wood with great wooden seats/booths which I seem not to have photographed.
cafe miscellania
- from Kieran
i used to work as a dispatch rider in london and went to hundreds of cafes and i've seen some of my old faves on your website. i wonder if you can help me find a real gem.... it was a small cafe run by an ex-boxer in his late 50's and had old b&w photos of boxers/fights/promo posters all over the place and i mean from skirting boards to ceilings. the food was good but the character of the place and the people there was awesome. all i can remember is that it was in it's own small building in the greenwich area on a desolate industrial estate. it'd be great to re-visit or see a review cheers and thanks for all that dedicated eating
- from Clare
It may be too far out of the west end for you, but I have a haven of greasy spooned-ness at the end of my road. YORK CAFE on Woolwich Road is clean, friendly and with proper chips. It is even licensed I think. Give it a go!
- from Lambros
TJ's Cafe in mortlake sw14 open seven days a weeks, big portions!! cheap. you should definatley visit this place won the "best greasy spoon" in london award 2003
- from The Shropshire Cafe
Russell how come we have not seen you at our cafe you are missing a treat. We serve the best all day breakfast in the North West We cater for everyone also we are in the process of taking on the title of the Ace Cafe of the Midlands Regards Lynn & Pete.
- from Dave
May I heartily recommend Sues Cafe in Gillingham Road, Gillingham, Kent (almost opposite the Arriva Bus Depot). Great food, great tea............very good prices for such good quality breakfasts and dinners.
- from Abby
The mess in Hackney is much nicer (and admittedly middle classer) than it's local counterparts (nice sausage rather than pig's bum). Some say it's better than Mario's... Alt for a good proper greasy spoon Dilari's on the corner of Mare Street is pretty good. Packed out every lunchtime and they have a non-smoking side of the room. Finally, if you live near Ealing and you've never been to Starvin' Marvins you're missing out. I was cautiously eating my breakfast with the pancake and maple syrup on one side and the bacon and eggs and hash brown on the other. Then absentmindedly I stabbed a bit of bacon onto the end of my syrupy pancaked-up fork… It's manna from lardarse heaven.
- from Emma
I love yr book and website. I have never commented on one or a blog before as I dont know how to. My son got this space for me. I am trying to get info on my favourite old cafe, The Blue Sky, by corner of Westbourne Grove and Chepstow Rd,London W2, between PAddington and Portobello Rd, which was my home from home from 1974-80.I lived in various squats and flats nearby and hung out with various groovy people in those days.... It closed down a few years ago. I wld love to get photos and the name/address of the lovely Irish waitress and Italian boss.... I have tried the Archives at Westminster City Library but no luck. I am doing a Ceramics degree as a v mature student and want to do an installation recreating a table at it, the light coming thru steamy bright plateglass windows, the smells, food, china,plastic menus, etc etc. I have assembled a load of stuff (tables, chairs etc),but they are not perfect. I wonder if you have any ideas on where I cld borrow/hire perfect stuff in one fell swoop, for a few days in early Jan 07? Most of all I want to get hold of a tape/CD of cafe background noises. Any ideas? Many thanks, Emma
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ebcb archive
- Beach Cafe, West Street, Aberporth, SA43 2DB
- George’s, 83 Green Lanes, Palmers Green, N13 4TD
- The Cafe, 10A Vauxhall Bridge Road, London, SW1V 2SD
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- Acton Town Cafe, Central Parade, Gunnersbury Lane, Acton
- Jones Dairy, 24 Tudor Street, EC4
- Bridge The Gap, 171F Battersea Park Road, SW8
- Cafe Crescent, 40 Camden High Street
- Full Monty Cafe, 207 Brighton Road (A23), Coulsdon
- Jack's, 252 Lavender Hill, SW11
- South Stack Kitchen, Holyhead, Anglesey
- My Tea Shop, 23 Duke Street Hill, SE1
- The Cosy Teapot, 101 Carrington Street, Nottingham
- Rhos Transport Cafenear J49 of the M4, Carmarthenshire
- Workers Cafe, Upper Street, Islington, N1
- Denis Cafe, Castle Sands, The Harbour, Tenby, Pembrokeshire
- Antonio's Cafe, 14-17 Piccadilly South, Manchester, M1
- Double Six Cafe, Eversholt Street, NW1
- Woodhead's Cafe, Simpson Street, Blackpool
- Mermaid Cafe, North Prom, Mablethorpe
- Abergeldie Cafe, Shudehill, Manchester, M4
- Raffles, Craven Road, W2
- Cafe In The Garden, Russell Square, WC1
- Embankment Cafe, 25 Victoria Embankment, WC2
- Colindale Cafe, Colindale Road, NW9
- Becks Sandwich Bar, Red Lion Street, WC1
- Valtaro Snack Bar, Marchmont Street, WC1
- Grange Cafe, Grange Road, Bermondsey SE1
- Windy Ridge, Ashbourne Road, Winkhill, nr Leek
- River Cafe, Putney Bridge, SW6
- Tony's Snack Bar, Chapter Street, SW1
- Tiffany's, North Road, Brighton
- Buscot Dairy Cafe, 44A Harrowby Street, W1
- Times Cafe, 155 Malden Road, NW5
- Amigo's, 37 Eagle Street, WC1R
- Perugino, Tottenham Street, W1
- DeNiro's, 34 Maple Street, W1
- Parma Cafe, 412 Kennington Road, SE 11
- La Forchetta, 92 Cowcross Street, EC1
- The Warsaw Diner, Derby Road, Nottingham
- Wilton Snack Bar, Wilton Road, Victoria
- Rosa's Cafe, Hanbury Street, E1
- Tony's, Northcote Road, SW11
- Maries Cafe, Lower Marsh, Waterloo
- Sarah's Tuck-In, Grainger Market, Newcastle
- Cherrytop Cafe, Paddington Street, London, W1
- Cherrytop Cafe, Paddington Street, London, W1
- The Old Smithy, B5055, Monyash, Derbyshire
- Rossi Restaurant, Hanbury Street, E1
- Sarah's Cafe, Kentish Town Road, NW1
- Cafe D'Jaconelli, 570 Maryhill Road, Glasgow
- Stracathro Services, A90, North of Brechin
- Fortes Restaurant, 15 Hide Hill, Berwick Upon Tweed
- Tower Restaurant, 107 Lumley Road, Skegness
- Mr Egg, 22 Hurst Road, Birmingham
- Gambardella, 48 Vanburgh Park, SE3
- Gino's Coffee Bar, Marylebone Place, NW1
- York Cafe, York Place, Clifton, Bristol
- Bar Bruno, Wardour Street, W1
- Euston Sandwich Bar, Euston Road, NW1
- Bar Remo, Princes Street, W1
- Dino's Grill, Commercial Street, EC1
- Muratori, Margaret Street, EC1
- Salt Box Cafe, Hatton, A511, Derbyshire
- PJs Transport Cafe, Draycott-In-The-Clay, Staffs
- Dolphin Restaurant, Great Dark Street, Aberystwyth
- Grindleford Station Cafe, Grindleford, Derbyshire
- Astral Cafe, Horseferry Road, SW1
- Obertelli's Eating House, Leadenhall Market, EC3
- Metropolitan, Edgware Road, W2
- E Pellicci, Bethnall Green Road, E2
- the shepherdess, shepherdess walk, n1
- lino's, alfred place, wc1
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- sky 2, hanson street, w1
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cup of tea archive
- Macari's Icecream Parlour, 246 Terminus Road, Eastbourne
- The Islander, 5 The Maltings, Uttoxeter
- Zippy, 42 Goldhawk Road, W12
- The Scandinavian Kitchen, Great Titchfield Street, W1
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- Paul Rothe & Son, Marylebone Lane, W1
- Wish Tower Cafe, King Edwards Parade, Western Lawns, Eastbourne
- Light Railway Restaurant, Scanlon Bridge Road, Hythe, Kent
- Arbutt's Cafe, Haggersgate, Whitby
- The Honest Sausage, Regent's Park
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- Grandad's, A5, between Oswestry and Shrewsbury
- Llanfaethlu Coffee House
- Maison Bertaux, Greek Street, W1
- Farina's, leather lane, EC1
- Sky Cafe, Hanson Street, W1
- Cafe, Redchurch Street, E2
- D's brew stop, Cressbrook
- Scrambled, Cleveland Street, W1
- The Breakfast Club Soho - D'Arblay Street, W1
- Aroma Coffee Bar, Lumley Road, Skegness
- Maria's Cafe, Burdett Road, E14
- H's Cafe, Neptune Street, SE16
- Scottis, Clerkenwell Green, EC1
- Vecchio Snack Bar, Madoc Street, Llandudno
- Cafe Romano, Grenville Street, WC1
- Lorelei, Bateman Street, W1
- Il Buffone Cafe, Macklin Street
- Marylebone Cafe, Marylebone Lane
- Nardini's, Esplanade, Largs
- National Milk Bars, Penrallt Street, Machynlleth
- JT's snack bar, North Beach, Tenby
- Harbour Bar, Sandside, Scarborough
- Rendezvous Cafe, The Promenade, Whitley Bay
- Cafe Riviera, Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, Northumberland
- Journey's End Cafe, Small Hope Beach, Shanklin
- Castle Snack Bar, Tabernacle Street, EC2
- Wilkins, Marsham Street, SW1
- Regency Cafe, 17-19 Recency Street, SW1
- Bon Appetit, Cleveland Street, W1
- Panino D'Oro, Brunswick Centre, WC1N
- tors cafe, derby road (a52), cromford
- da Andrea, Great Sutton Street, EC1
- picasso's, king's road, sw3
- inn the park, st james's park, w1
- ellie's cafe, edgeware road, nw2
- hungry hippo, matlock park, matlock, derbyshire
- citysnacks, theobalds road, wc1
- new piccadilly, denman street, w1
- friendly cafe, old field lane, greenford
- vg snack bar, great portland street tube, w1
- lido, great castle street, w1
- cafe roma, berwick street, w1
- little portland cafe, little portland street, w1
- centrale, soho
- 101 snack bar, charing cross road, wc2
- bar italia, frith street
- sandwich bar, brooks mews, w1
- shepherdess, shepherdess walk, n1
- matteos sandwich bar, tottenham street, w1
- star cafe, great chapel street, w1
- rendezvous, maddox street, w1
- market place cafe, market place, w1
- franks, great titchfield street, w1
- bar bruno, wardour street, wc1
- franx, neal street / shatesbury avenue, wc2
Russell,
More great shots. You should set up your own direct link/website rather than be available through "I Like Old Cafes".
I've only been here about four times, most recently about 3 weeks ago, when I was in the area on a weekday ( it's closed weekends). The cafe might be a remnant of the days of Covent Garden's fruit & veg past.
According to local estate agents, this part of Drury Lane is "improving".I'd anticipate this place and some of the other small businesses in the vicinity being "Long Acre-d" out of existence.
Keep up the good work !!!
Posted by: Patrick | December 04, 2004 at 07:58 PM
Great site! Although I *would* say that as I work around the corner from Il Buffone so it's a regular haunt. You also might like to try Silva's, on Shaftesbury Ave. behind the Bat Boy musical, and Giovanni's on Museum Street, (the continuation of Drury Lane towards the British Museum). Giovanni's does great salads and Silva's has great daily specials. Good chips too!
Posted by: Savana | January 17, 2005 at 01:14 PM
Another good place is Zita's, also on Shaftsbury Avenue, just up the road from Silva's. It was featured in "Classic Cafes" and "London Caffs".
It still had it's great, original 1950's sign last time in was there, in December.
Posted by: Patrick | January 17, 2005 at 07:16 PM
I think they have refurbished the interior of Zita's, it no longer resembles the description on the Classic Cafes website, and the chrome chairs look very contemporary. The service is still good, though.
Posted by: Jin | March 28, 2005 at 08:38 AM
Yes, Zita has been wrecked. I know we shouldn't be too trainspotterish about interiors but the old orange booths were truly beautiful and made for a cheery bacon sarnie after a trip to the Oasis swimming pool. What were they thinking?? I even spoke to the new manager 2 weeks before destruction and said "please keep the booths, we love them" and he nodded, probably just to shut me up...
Posted by: James | April 04, 2005 at 12:38 PM
Zita's Sandwich Bar is now closed, though the sign in the window says that a new espresso and bagel bar is opening soon.
The original sign, as featured in London Caff's, is still there.
Silva's is just down the road, and looks more than worthy of gracing your site !
Posted by: Patrick | April 18, 2006 at 05:48 PM
Il Buffone is one of the best place in town to get a sandwich and a cuppa! Very friendly too. Nice & traditional environment. Ideal place to go and relax at lunch time or to grab a take-away before wandering round Covent Garden!
Good site BTW!!! Keep it up!!
Posted by: Nat | May 26, 2006 at 05:52 PM
This was a regular haunt of mine when I worked in Parker Street, so I was alarmed to learn that it has recently been taken over. Word is that the new owners had a few teething problems.
I had to see what they've done to MY cafe!
Good news, it's not a starbucks! It's still called Il Buffone, and aside from brightly colored menus in the windows, and less shouting :) not much seems to have changed.
The prices do seem to have taken a tumble though. IIRC the wonderful chorizo pasta was about £5, now it's only £3.50.
To be honest, I was reluctant to even try it at that price, I thought it must come out of a tin (yuck!).
But they assured me that it is still made to the previous owners recipe - so what the heck, and they were right! Every bit as good as I remember it, though the portions seem to have gotten bigger if anything.
Next day I tried the Chilli Con Carne. It was delicious! A huge portion, really well presented with golden rice and tortilla chips, and it was dirt cheap to boot! I'll be back for more!
A friend tells me their Scotch Pies are delicious - I haven't had one of those in years!
He also recommended something called Lorne Sausage and Tattie Scones, but I draw the line at the deep fried mars bars!
Posted by: Dominic | February 10, 2007 at 04:06 PM
Unfortunately Il Buffone is no more. Thankfully the site is still a cafe with a suitably italian soubriquet, though the wonderful wooden interior and booths have now gone. Will they never learn?
Posted by: Roger | April 01, 2008 at 09:09 PM