Maison Bertaux reviews
I have read a lot about Maison Bertaux and couldn't wait to find out what it was like for myself. I finally made it there today and wow, what a place! I went by myself and, horror of horrors,did not take a book; fear not, the place was so quirky and wonderful that I spent an hour just people watching, drinking tea and eating my truffle bombe. The staff are lovely and the old man who served me said that I had made his day purely because I had an extra 20p to even out the change. I can't wait to go back - I'm taking my friend for her birthday!
by LoveLea, 15 Mar 2008This is one of the best cafes in the UK. It has an atmosphere that you couldn't hope to find in any Starbucks or Pret a Manager (but that was never going to be hard!) It oozes Continental artistic intelligence, whilst its small size means that you're part of the experience. Once sampled, never forgotten!
by ejane, 19 Feb 2008I have been coming to this wonderful cafe for 20 years and would continue to do so if they charged treble the prices. It's genuine and it's quality - something that is hard to find in London today. Those that don't appreciate it should keep to Starbucks et al. Here's to the next 20 years!
by Steve Morris, 02 Feb 2008Walking in to Maison Bertaux on a busy Sunday afternoon on a quest to find a nice place to enjoy a cuppa, my friends and I were put off by the unfriendliness of the man behind the counter who mumbled a few rude comments, especially about the fact that we 'did not even speak English'. (I have lived in London for over 5 years and am perfectly capable of speaking English, but was then communicating with my sister and our friend in our native language, which is... French.) Needless to say, although the cakes may be the yummiest on earth (we did not stick around to find out), nothing beats service with a smile.
by Alex J, 27 Jan 2008This is by far the best cafe I have been to in England! It's funky, the staff were lovely and cakes scrummy. Yep, you did have to order when you walk in but you order before you sit down in other mainstream cafes so what's the problem with that? We paid £12-ish for two cakes and a huge pot of tea for two, and had the added bonus of Noel Fielding's paintings around us! Bargain as far as I'm concerned - you can pay nearly as much for a couple of Starbucks and not have the lovely homely and individual atmosphere.
by LouiseMaddox, 17 Jan 2008Yes, it's expensive, and they can be rude. You can't sit down unless you order cakes with your tea (and it must be tea, which is delicious - don't bother with the coffee, this is England not Italy). It's still a wonderful place, which hosts small theatre plays upstairs occasionally, has atmosphere by the ton-load and the tea and cakes are awesome! Don't be a selfish capitalist - they have to pay the astronomical Soho rent you know!
by constantine, 03 Jan 2008It's true that Maison Bertaux is pricey. It's also true that those prices aren't on display. And no, they don't give you a VAT receipt. However, in my opinion, the premium is worth every penny. The place drips with homely, old-fashioned, thoroughly idiosyncratic charm. Both tea and coffee are delicious and the patisserie is amongst the best you'll find anywhere in London. This is the perfect place in which to set the world to rights with a friend, for a romantic tete a tete, or just on your own with a book as Soho swirls by. A cafe set apart from the the alternative, trendy atmosphere of the quarter, but also right in the thick of it. If you want your prices cheap, on display, and on a VAT receipt, just go to Starbucks. Or Costa. Or Cafe Nero. Or...
by broxashe, 01 Nov 2007This place is a rip off. No price list displayed and no menu, which is illegal according to the trading standards. On top of this, no VAT receipt given. The old geezer is pocketing £2.40 for a horrible plain cup of coffee with milk. He is not paying VAT, which means that the whole £2.40 goes in his pocket.
What's more, the chairs and tablecloths were disgustingly dirty and so were the cups and teaspoons. I am 100% sure it would fail a health inspection. I will be reporting this place to trading standards.
Good cafe with nice cakes. However, don't be surprised if your bill is astronomical. I paid £13 for two teas and two pieces of cake. Prices are not displayed, which is in contravention of trading standards.
by ward12, 02 Sep 2007Thoroughly quirky French cafe staffed by people who've been there since time began. Great cakes, coffee and big quantities of tea. Space can be an issue but everyone always seems to rub along.
by fishermorg, 17 Aug 2007I loved Madame Bertaux. You can go to places that cost a lot more money than £3 an almond croissant.
by bubblefreak, 07 Aug 2007It is perverse to charge £3 for an almond croissant. Prices should be marked. Making up fairy tale prices for tourists is not an honest way of earning money.
by john travolta, 18 Jul 2007Authentic French-style patisserie/pavement cafe. Feels exclusive. Clientele is of the book-reading, upper-middle-class-Bohemian variety. One of my favourites.
by Johninlondon, 27 Jun 2007I love this place! Best time to go is when they are about to close; they sell everything at discounted prices to clear out their window! The strawberry cakes are my favorite.
by Anonymous, 14 Feb 2007Love coming here. Great atmosphere - feels genuine. They serve good tea, yummy cakes (I have yet to be disappointed by anything they serve and it's certainly no more expensive than any other London cafe), the man who runs it is lovely and the place itself delightfully quirky.
by frangie_pangie, 11 Jan 2007Well known and well loved. Authentic in every way. Timeless and comforting.
by Anonymous, 05 Dec 2006Just been there with a couple of girlfriends. Love the cake (you just want to have a bite at all of them), family-feel decor... the seats are narrow though, so maybe don't go there if you have more than 2 shopping bags.
by Anonymous, 03 Nov 2006Thank God for Maison Bertaux. Few places have managed to preserve this sense of timeless Soho. The cakes are invariably superb, the company interesting and the atmosphere absolutely unique. Why else do people flock there to pay the (not so timeless) prices - because we crave a space where we are uninterrupted by mass production, electronic bleeps: a unique and quirky place.
by Anonymous, 17 Oct 2006Have we missed a great cafe in London? Let us know.
Stuart PhillipsCovent Garden »
Paul EdmondsKnightsbridge »
JLTFitzrovia »
