One of my favourite places in London is Il Blandford’s. It wasn’t until 2013 and staying in Naples that my passion for drinking coffee began and I’ve never really looked back. Returning from Italy, where coffee is taken very seriously and should be classed as a past time, I struggled to find coffee in London that satisfied me. A few months later I moved into the heart of Marylebone and well the rest is history.
The family-run cafe is like visiting a dear relative in Italy. You know exactly what you are going to get. Good food, good coffee and good company. It really is that simple. Jessica and the team are very friendly and welcoming and it’s hard to stay away for too long. It’s the place I can go to for a quick coffee or stare at the ever-changing eclectic art work around the cafe for hours. Il Blandford’s endured (what seemed like years) construction in front of it while Chiltern Street and the area grew and grew. Surrounded by new multi-million apartments and a street lined with trendy stores and the famous Chiltern Firehouse, the Italian restaurant remains as always-a gem. Opening now in the evenings, Il Blandford’s turns its tables into a cosy candle-lit restaurant that serves delicious home-made food.
Jessica and her father Alfonso, started this business adventure back in 2011. Blandford’s cafe is a historical greasy spoon of the area and is one of the oldest cafes in Marylebone. Opened orginally in Blandford Street in 1972, it moved a few years later into Chiltern Street where it’s made its home.
For brunch I recommend the focaccia, with poached eggs, bacon and avocado and for dinner Napoli pizza. You will be pleasantly surprised! They even do an affogato with sponge fingers!
Expertly made coffee using the Illy brand, I prefer a skinny cappuccino first thing in the morning.
I might have moved out of Marylebone, but the coffee here keeps me coming back again and again. Coffee should be an experience and when you find a place like Il Blandford’s, it’s hard not to stay away.
Insta: @ilblandfords
Address: 65 Chiltern St, Marylebone, London W1U 6NH
