Barnes, on the south bank of the Thames, feels distinct from much of London. The pace is slower, the Georgian streets are more residential, and the High Street has the rhythm of a village. Independent shops, riverside walks and green spaces define the area, and its cafes and restaurants play a central role in its community life.
Mornings in Barnes often centre on independent cafés that are run with clear personalities and strong connections to their surroundings. Whether through the resilience of a bakery born in lockdown or the tradition of a tearoom, these establishments have their own interpretation of the first meal of the day.
The Nest
Sitting right in the centre of Barnes High Street, The Nest Café & Bar has, in just a few years, established itself as one of the neighbourhood’s independent eateries. Opened in 2021 by hospitality professional Kathryn Hounsome, the café was designed to be more than a place to eat. The Nest is a community gathering spot, and the interior reflects that philosophy with enough warmth to encourage guests to linger over coffee or conversation.
Breakfast is where The Nest truly shines. The menu is curated to appeal to both traditionalists and those seeking something more adventurous. The full Traditional Breakfast is generous, with bacon, sausage, beans, mushrooms, tomato, hash browns, egg and bloomer toast, whilst more modern signatures, such as flatbread with nduja-fried eggs, whipped feta and gremolata, add a sophisticated edge. The Nest balances quality ingredients, consistently well-prepared dishes, and a community-minded ethos in a High Street location.
Alma Café
Alma Café is one of several in the Alma group, but its Barnes branch on Rocks Lane feels firmly embedded in the community. Housed in a Victorian property overlooking Barn Elms Playing Fields, the café is welcoming with hanging greenery and shelves lined with artisan products, a colourful juice bar, and a deli counter displaying fresh salads and cakes.
The café’s ethos is clear and consistent. Alma is proud to exclusively serve locally produced, seasonal fruit and vegetables, organic and additive-free, and with an emphasis on balance and wellbeing. For breakfast, the Alma Full One delivers a classic start to the day with sausage, bacon, beans, mushrooms, tomato, hash browns and eggs on sourdough, whilst the Veggie Full One features halloumi, smashed avocado and poached eggs. Lighter options such as the acai bowl with homemade granola, or avocado toast with feta sit alongside breakfast burritos and Turkish eggs with garlicky yoghurt and chickpeas. Guests return to Alma Café not simply for the cuisine, but for the thoughtful commitment they extend to the community and the environment.
Lockdown Bakehouse
Lockdown Bakehouse on Church Road began as a response to adversity. When the UK entered lockdown in 2020, founders Chris, Dawn and the team found themselves with kitchen space and expertise, but nowhere to channel it. They first supplied flour, eggs, and other essentials to the NHS and local neighbours, before bread, pastries and other baked goods became the core. Out of necessity, Lockdown Bakehouse built something that is now a full-time bakery, café and community focal point. Walking into the establishment, there’s an aroma of sourdough and pastries in the air, the counters are piled with freshly baked loaves, and visitors sit together on the communal tables in a space filled with natural light.
The menu confirms their generous, honest, and creative ethos. For breakfast and brunch, there is house-roasted granola with yoghurt and fresh fruit, toast with Tiptree strawberry jam or a simple bacon sandwich on sourdough. Lockdown Shakshuka is also a favourite, with lightly spiced tomato, peppers, aubergine, two eggs, feta and toast, and add-ons such as halloumi, smoked salmon or hash browns give further flexibility. What draws people back to Lockdown Bakehouse is the warmth of a family project born in hard times, and food that feels meaningful.
Café 66
Having opened in 2018, Café 66 describes itself as an artisan bakery and specialty café, with its guiding principles being whole food, mindful eating, and vibrant living. Founder, Dorota Pawlos, has been guided by the mottos ‘a place where every bite feels like home’ and ‘a circle of friends,’ and has subsequently created a setting where quality food and genuine connection come together. Natural light streams in the café on White Hart Lane, with communal tables and smaller seating intermingling, and optional outdoor seating set out on the lane.
From early birds to late brunchers, has everyone covered as breakfast runs from 7am until a relaxed 2:30pm. The menu offers a wide variety to suit every preference, with cereals, toasts, French omelettes, and their Open-Faced Breakfasts served on toasted Café 66 rustic bread. For those who can’t get enough of avocado, the Avo Love menu gives three variations with toppings including homemade harissa sauce, chilli flakes, lemon, scrambled eggs and sundried tomatoes. The venue has built a warm and inviting bakery-café, committed to delivering homemade food and fresh bakes, with everything prepared in-house and in good service.
Orange Pekoe
Founded in 2006 by Marianna Hadjigeorgiou, Orange Pekoe has spent nearly two decades cultivating a reputation for excellent loose-leaf teas and beautifully prepared food. The tearoom and café offer a view of Barnes’s riverside village charm from its location on White Hart Line. Upon entering, there is a calm attentiveness with the air scented with tea, and trained tea sommeliers on hand to guide guests through the selection.
Orange Pekoe starts service from 8:30am on weekdays and 9am on weekends. With fruit and vegetable produce selected carefully from the New Covent Garden Market, offerings include homemade granola served with Greek yoghurt and seasonal blueberry compote, porridge made with almond milk, and the classic sourdough toast with butter and homemade jam. Sweet options are not forgotten. Fluffy American pancakes with blueberry compôte and crème fraîche, or toasted banana bread with yoghurt and pistachios, feature alongside savoury specialities. With fresh ingredients, personal service, and a tea list unmatched locally, Orange Pekoe is less of a stop-off and more of a destination for those who want breakfast in Barnes done properly.
Each establishment reflects something of Barnes's character: independent, thoughtful, and quietly proud of quality done well. The Nest, right in the middle of the High Street, captures the energy of a community meeting point. Set against the backdrop of Barn Elms, Alma Café pairs a strong ethos of sustainability with a health-driven atmosphere. Lockdown Bakehouse tells a different story. Born in adversity and abundant in resilience, it is now embedded as part of local life through sourdough and shakshuka. Café 66 has artisan bakery roots and an emphasis on mindful eating, and Orange Pekoe, a veteran amongst them, combines Barnes’s riverside calm with the elegance of tea culture.
Each café has its own identity, but all share an approach that favours quality ingredients, thoughtful service, and a setting that invites you to stay for longer than planned.
