The Halcyonite

Leela Y (Halcyon Class of ‘23) weighs in on the best cafes around Halcyon London International School.

Starbucks, Edgware Road

The “Starbucks” on Edgware Road is my first culprit on this list. The impact it has had on Halcyon student culture has been and continues to be paramount. Without fail, every year, sixth and seventh graders flock to the two exclusive green coffee stained couches to hang out and occasionally clash with some Sylvia Young kids. This being said, I hate it. Albeit spacious and convenient, the vibes are bad and the music is irritating. I also find the food to be overpriced and not great. The bakery is …alright but the sandwiches cost too much and have a terrible bread-to-filling ratio (too much bread). Lines can be long and personally I don’t find Starbucks’ coffee to be that good. Useful if you don’t like to take chances or if you want a quiet place to finish an assignment you didn’t do before school. 

Final consensus: “Meh”

Pret a Manger, Edgware Road

A three second walk from Starbucks, and you are greeted with the beautiful red-and-glass doors to the iconic oasis that is “Pret”. It’s everywhere, and it’s good. It boasts a wide range of delectable sandwiches, salads, toasties, fruit bowls and soups amongst other things. Of use in almost any situation, it makes up for all of Starbucks losses. It is equally spacious and has more light and better decoration. The bakery is great and a way better value for money. The drinks menu may not be as expansive as Starbucks’ but it still covers many axes and personally I think the coffee is better. The basement is mysterious but in a chill way.

Final consensus: “Pret my beloved”

Pret a Manger, Marble Arch (Electric Boogaloo) 

Just around the corner from Pret Edgware Road is Pret Marble Arch. Same but with a cool indoor balcony type thing.

Final consensus: “Praise be upon Pret”

Gails, Seymour Place

My relationship with Gail’s is turbulent and toxic. It is overpriced (Negative financial behaviours), refuses to toast sandwiches (Lack of support, resentment) and always out of chicken parm burger (ignoring my needs, constant stress). Despite its flaws, I still find myself going back. The slight inconvenience I experience by going there only makes it more alluring. It’s not like the food is amazing, but for another café plentiful in the Central-London-chain-café-industrial-complex, it’s quite delicious. 

Final consensus: On and off meh.

Seymour Store, Seymour Place

A “third cousin” of whole foods, Seymour Store boasts a larger deli section than some of its contemporaries. Perhaps this was a risky business venture on the owners part, however, as prior to the addition of a coffee bar and lunch selection, dealings were barren and sparse. Even with its newfound life, Seymour Store still lacks a certain je ne sais quoi. There’s nothing wrong with it, I’ve just never been in a situation where I needed extremely overpriced vegan farm-to-table artichoke spread. Also, I’ve been there on 8 separate occasions over the span of five months attempting to order a matcha latte and not once have they had matcha in stock (it’s on the menu). However, I will not let that taint my overall opinion of Seymour Store, as not being able to find a matcha latte is not a real problem.

Overall consensus: Cute, I guess.

Fratelli Greci, Seymour Place

An innocent bambi trots idly next to the rancid carcass of his forebear.

Once, many moons ago, an understated oasis laid lush and bounteous, only fifteen seconds away from Halcyon: Toto’s. 

Words could not possibly abridge the speed at which my heart and hopes plummeted,that fateful day of it’s closure, leaving an incorrigible hole in my childhood til Doomsday. 

…

Fratelli Greci is a cutesy little Greco-italian deli with a wide range of cheeses, cured meats, biscuits and anything in between. The drinks cooler is unique, a refreshing change of pace. If you want standard corner-shop confectionery, look elsewhere. It is family run and very very useful (they have everything). Amazing vibes. Personally, I recommend their Cannoli. Also a great destination for saying you’re going to the bathroom but actually going out to get food. 

Final consensus: Yasssssou (Greek pun) 

So French, Seymour Place

Hot chocolate’s pretty good though. 

Final Consensus : Non merci 

Daisy Green, Seymour Street

“Australian inspired brunch” whatever that means. Daisy Green always smells like bacon and powdered sugar when I walk past it. They have a great bakery section with INSANE cookies (so gooey and the flavour is *chefs kiss*). They also have a very aesthetically pleasing selection of lamingtons which are perfectly light and moist. I also recommend the amazing charcoal sourdough. However, I do not recommend the pancakes (just slightly boring). Very hipstery but not great for an everyday lunch. Still scrumptious. Matcha is sooooooooooooooo good and the takeaway cups are so very artsy. Also a super cute outdoor sitting area. 

Final consensus: Yes, but not for a 45 minute off-campus lunch. 

Saint Aymes, Connaught Street

Instagram cafe (derogatory). Drowning in fake flowers and crude pretentiousness, Saint Aymes is but a hollow shell of a café. Nobody needs gold leaf on a latte that is mediocre at best. Go there for the entertainment value (if there even is any), not the food. It also isn’t that close to school. 

Final consensus: Impractical. 

Green Valley, Upper Berkeley Street

I love loving Green Valley. 

I frequently worry that at some point the honeymoon phase will end, that I’ll be let down or disheartened. Yet time after time, I am inspired. 

Green Valley has CHARACTER. Something rare in this concrete jungle.From the shackles of minimalism, it is free.

 Nowhere else in this area could you find a large, warm tub of amazing Majadarah for £4.50. Salads, meats, cheeses and shawarmas a-plenty, the hot food section is UNTOUCHED. If you require an alternative product, do not fret. Green Valley has sponges, lentils, whipped cream, artichoke, za’atar and a very ‘tumblr’ milk fridge. 

Recommend: Baklava, cheetos and Fattoush 

Final consensus: Green Valley 4 lyfe.