Daku & Kensington High Street

Leaving Holland Park behind, I wandered onto bustling Kensington High Street.

What a contrast.

After the peaceful park, I was suddenly surrounded by shoppers, buses, cafés and constant city life. Even here, though, London kept surprising me with little pockets of beauty—a gorgeous flower shop outside one of the churches immediately caught my eye.

Eventually I reached Daku Coffee.

This café was already familiar to me, even before my trip. My friend Bradley once brought me a bag of their coffee back to Vancouver, so it felt a little like finally visiting an old acquaintance.

The afternoon heat called for something refreshing, so instead of another coffee, I ordered a mango green iced tea. It still provided the caffeine boost I needed, while being wonderfully cooling after several hours of walking.

Naturally, I couldn't leave without taking another bag of coffee home.

The café itself is beautifully designed. At the back sits a show roastery—quiet during my visit, but impressive nonetheless—and there's even a small art gallery integrated into the space.

Coffee, art and great design.

That's a combination that's hard to beat.Read more