Cafeography
London · Mayfair & St James's

Cafés in Mayfair & St James's

H.R. Higgins' royal warrant and basement coffee room on Duke Street, Nicolas Rouzaud's brioche in Burlington Arcade and Sumatran coffee at Bija.

Photo: Chengxin Zhao, Pexels License

Burlington Arcade opened on 20 March 1819, 179 meters of shops built on the side garden of Burlington House, with beadles in top hats and frock coats who still patrol it.1 Its 72 original units have since been combined into around 40 shops.1 A coffee merchant reached the neighborhood in 1942.2

Between the arcades and the department stores, the area's daily coffee comes from small counters. Shepherd Street has a short row of them, including Caffe In and Piccolo Bar, while Duke Street and Hanover Square sit closer to Oxford Street.

Local tip: At H.R. Higgins, buy beans at the street-level shop and take the stairs on the right to the basement Coffee Room for a seat.3

At a glance

66Cafés listed
7With opening hours
07:00Earliest opening
18:00Latest closing
  • Opens earliest: Le Cafe Robuchon, from 07:00 (Mon–Fri 07:00–17:00 · Sat–Sun 09:00–16:00).
  • Closes latest: H.R. Higgins, until 18:00 (Mon–Fri 08:00–17:30 · Sat 10:00–18:00 · Sun 11:00–17:00).
  • Most listed streets: Piccadilly (4), The Mall (3), Maddox Street (3).
  • Most common features: wheelchair access (8%), partial wheelchair access (6%), outdoor seating (6%).

The Cut

  • 6 Piccadilly Arcade
  • Mon–Fri 08:00–16:30 · Sat 10:00–17:00
  • +44 7752 747515
  • Wi-Fi
  • Partial wheelchair access
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Coffee chains in Mayfair & St James's

Duke Street and Hanover Square

Harold Rees Higgins and his 16-year-old daughter Audrey began H.R. Higgins on 1 April 1942, supplying wholesale coffee from a top-floor room at 43 South Molton Street.2 A shop with a 28lb Whitmee roaster followed next door in 1946, Harold's Creole Blend in 1950, and in 1960 Harold's meeting with growers from the Kibo Chagga farm on Kilimanjaro made the firm, by its own account, the first British roaster to buy directly from farmers.2

Tony Higgins joined his father full time at 15, in 1953, and the third generation, David, succeeded him as managing director in 2004.2 The Royal Warrant came in 1979, the move to 79 Duke Street in 1986, and the King's warrant in 2025; roasting has been done in North Yorkshire since 2020.2

A 2019 profile counted 23 origins and eight blends, roasted from medium to very dark, plus more than 40 loose-leaf teas.3 Espresso and V60s are poured at the counter, and stairs on the right lead down to the basement Coffee Room.3

For a sandwich instead of a bag of beans, Mardy's is in Medici Courtyard, off Hanover Square. It bills itself as a new sandwich shop with an old spirit, and its short offer is sandwiches, coffee and bone broth.6 It starts at 07:30 on weekdays.

Le Café in Burlington Arcade

Le Café by Nicolas Rouzaud took the Pastry & Bakery Opening of the Year title at the 2026 La Liste awards during its first season in the arcade.4 Rouzaud, a pâtissier with more than 20 years in the trade, started his house in London and also appears at The Connaught.4

Brunch runs daily from 09:00 to 16:00, with French toast, chia pudding, avocado toast with poached egg and a brioche he calls My Father's.4 The pastry case holds a raspberry tart, Paris-Brest, St-Honoré and a Trio au Chocolat, and the drinks are built like desserts.4

Indonesian coffee in St James's Market

Bija Coffee London, two minutes from Piccadilly Circus, is the area's Indonesian specialist.5 It serves Sumatra Lintong, Sumatra Mandheling and a house blend, sourced and roasted with its partner Kindred Forest, and lists kopi tubruk (coffee brewed with the grounds left in the cup) next to the arenga latte.5 Aceh Gayo and Bali Kintamani are listed as coming next.5

Sources

  1. Burlington Arcade, Wikipedia, accessed November 2026
  2. A story that began in 1942, H.R. Higgins, accessed November 2026
  3. Meet the Roaster: HR Higgins Coffee Man (November 30, 2019), Brian's Coffee Spot, accessed November 2026
  4. Nicolas Rouzaud, Nicolas Rouzaud, accessed November 2026
  5. Bija Coffee, Bija Coffee, accessed November 2026
  6. Mardy's, Mardy's, accessed November 2026
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In Mayfair & St James's, also browse: Specialty coffee Outdoor seating Wi-Fi Bakery cafés Brunch

FAQ

Mayfair & St James's cafés: questions

How old is H.R. Higgins coffee in Mayfair, London?

H.R. Higgins dates from 1 April 1942, when Harold Rees Higgins and his daughter Audrey began supplying wholesale coffee from South Molton Street. It received the Royal Warrant in 1979, moved to 79 Duke Street in 1986 and was granted the King's warrant in 2025. Roasting moved to North Yorkshire in 2020.

Where can you get Indonesian coffee in St James's, London?

Bija Coffee London at 2a St James's Market serves Sumatra Lintong, Sumatra Mandheling and a house blend, sourced and roasted with its partner Kindred Forest. Its menu lists kopi tubruk, coffee brewed with the grounds left in the cup, and an arenga latte. It is two minutes from Piccadilly Circus.

What is served at Le Café in Burlington Arcade, Mayfair, London?

Le Café by Nicolas Rouzaud serves brunch daily from 09:00 to 16:00, with French toast, chia pudding and a house brioche, plus a raspberry tart, Paris-Brest and St-Honoré. It won the Pastry & Bakery Opening of the Year title at the 2026 La Liste awards in its first season in the arcade.

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