coffee on the road - paperback, ealing
one of my favourite independent coffee stops in london.
Another day, another cup of coffee.
The sun is shining and every table is full, both inside and out. Pastries and sandwiches are stocked high, the salty rich scent of coffee wafts appetisingly out of the open door into the street. There’s always a queue, there’s always a little dog patiently waiting on a long rope lead, there’s always a novel to draw your interest while you sip.
Occupying a narrow corner space in Ealing, London, is Paperback Coffee & Books. Combining my two primary passions, Paperback is always my first stop on my trips to London.
It’s minimally decorated and inviting with a focus on customers enjoying the space, the food and drinks, and the retail items available. There are only a few house rules, the chief among them being no laptops; this beautiful little spot isn’t your office. It’s a hideaway for anyone who loves a cosy wee nook to finish a few chapters and indulge in an affordable treat or two.
The undeniable bestseller at Paperback is their scrollsant, a pastry bun available either savoury or sweet. I’ve become a wee touch addicted to their delicious daily selection, and I would absolutely recommend the tahini & cinnamon scrollsant for something creamy, sweet and comforting. The Nutella & almond scrollsant is another favourite when I’m feeling like really treating myself.
Their coffee always hits just right whether it’s an early morning cup on the go or a slow mug to while away the hours on the outskirts of bustling Ealing Broadway. My go-to order is a flat white; the roast isn’t too sharp or acidic and pairs perfectly with the scrollsants.
Paperback feels like a step into a hidden pocket of peace in a city always in motion; it is the kind of place that feels like a steadying breath in the mania of perpetual activity.
If you feel like carrying over the relaxed and comforting essence of Paperback into the evening, you only need wander down the road a little ways to Pulp, its sister location, boasting a beautiful selection of natural and organic wines, small plates and even more scrollsants.
I’ve been so happy to get back to my little coffee haven for a stop-off on my journey across Europe and if I could bottle the feeling of Paperback to carry with me through the next few months, I would.
PAPERBACK COFFEE & BOOKS is located at 73 St Mary's Rd, London W5 5RG, and is open from 07.00 til 16.00, seven days a week.
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