PALM VAULTS

Written by Charlotte Cox.

On a dirty grey London day sometimes a little bit of paradise is just what’s needed. Stepping into Hackney’s Palm Vaults café is like walking into an oasis crossed with a beachside bar in Miami circa 1974.

Image: @jonokitchens

Away from the hustle and mayhem outside, the lush interiors of this tiny café is any plant lover's dream. A giant palm greets you at the front door bringing a tropical touch to the top of Mare Street. Delicate air plants in glass globes decorate the entranceway.

The ceiling drips with hanging plants – ferns, spider plants, donkey tail succulents and more. Tables are decorated with vases of succulents and tiny pink pineapples. The soft pink interiors and exposed brick walls complement the greenery perfectly.

Image: @hungryromantic

From the blush velvet seats to the marble topped tables to the pale pink wicker, it’s easy to see why Metro said it “may well be London’s most Instagramable café”.  

The plant-based menu features the ubiquitous avocado on sourdough toast (with optional extras of feta or sauerkraut), roasted root vegetable salad and autumnal butternut squash and lentil soup.  If you’re after something sweeter, you’ll find chia seed puddings, smoothies and an array of beautiful cakes.

Image: @hebe_konditori

But it’s the pastel-hued rainbow of lattes that the crowds flock here for. The velvet latte is coloured pink with beetroot; the golden version is made with turmeric, and the matcha, as expected, the softest pale green. All are caffeine free and can be made with the milk of your choice (almond, cashew, soya, cow). Perfect for vegans and dairy avoiders.

Image: @alisinworldland 

Even the loo is on-theme with suitably botanical banana leaf wallpaper and pastel pink tiles. It’s no surprise every table seems to be filled with pretty young Instagramers snapping overhead table shots and staring at their phones. 

Image: @mpegg0324

And did we mention they do a cracking coffee and it’s dog friendly too? Ace. Palm Vaults is clearly not just another East London coffee shop. We’ll be back tomorrow for another almond milk velvet latte please.  

Check out their Instagram for more plant inspo, or pop along to 411 Mare Street, Hackney, E8 1HY.