Brickwood Coffee & Bread on Clapham Common South Side
Aussie-style brunch opposite Clapham Common station: banana bread, smashed avocado, no bookings, and the Common across the road for after.
By Clapham London Editorial
Brickwood Coffee & Bread is at 16 Clapham Common South Side, SW4 7AB, opposite Clapham Common tube station. It does not take bookings, so turn up, put your name down for a table and order the banana bread. Opening times vary between listings, so check current hours before you go. The most recent listings show 07:30 to 16:00 on weekdays and 08:00 to 16:00 at weekends.
What it is
The Infatuation describes it as a cosy coffee shop that is excellent for pitching up in for a few hours. It is an Aussie-inspired neighbourhood café with full table service and a brunch-ish menu, plus freshly baked bread and pastries. During the week it works as a (non-overwhelming) working space, according to The Infatuation. Upstairs is a little competitive for seats, so head downstairs as an alternative. Reviewers also mention a back garden with quite a few tables.
A bit of history
It opened in late August 2013. The Australian Times calls it the brainchild of restaurateur and consultant Jayke Mangion and local entrepreneur Stefan Boehm. Nub News describes it as the original Brickwood, and says Mangion is a Melbourne native. The group now has cafés in Clapham, Battersea, Balham and Streatham, and the Brickwood site calls it a staple for great brunch for over ten years, Aussie-influenced, with big portions.
The early fit-out, as described in 2013, was exposed brick, bare floorboards, a wooden counter and a ceiling patched with old coffee sacks.
What to order
- Banana bread. The one people mention most. One review praises it with espresso butter or cream. A third-party menu listing shows it at £7.00, and one Tripadvisor reviewer thought the bill for two almond coffees and a banana bread, almost £18, was expensive.
- Smashed avocado on sourdough. £11.25 on Deliveroo. Reviewers often add poached egg, halloumi or chorizo.
- Corn jalapeño fritters. Poached egg, pico de gallo, avocado, sour cream and chilli jam, £15.50 on Deliveroo.
- Hash nuggets. Crispy potato bites, £5.00 as a side on Deliveroo. The Ultimate version with sriracha, sour cream and bacon bits is £9.00.
- The Butcher. A full-English take on 48-hour fermented organic sourdough, per Breakfast London.
- Pastries. A counter display of pastries and sandwiches, and an almond croissant gets a review mention.
Coffee: espresso is £3.40 and an iced latte £4.70 on Deliveroo. One recent Tripadvisor reviewer paid £2.70 for an espresso in the café. Matcha, smoothies and a turmeric latte also feature. Delivery prices may differ from in-café prices, and one reviewer said there was no price list on the wall.
Vegetarian-friendly, with vegan and gluten-free options listed on Tripadvisor. For allergen questions, Deliveroo gives team@brickwoodlondon.com.
When to go
Weekday daytime is the relaxed time. Older review snippets say Saturday morning gets busy with a possible wait, and Tripadvisor reviewers say it can be busy in rush hour, with 10am on a Monday described as off-peak. Reviews are mixed on speed: some report slow food and service at peak times, others praise the staff.
Prices and booking
Expect roughly £10 to £20 a head for lunch, going by one reviewer. No bookings, according to The Nudge and Breakfast London. It is dog-friendly, has outdoor seating and Wi-Fi, and takes cards.
For after: Clapham Common
The Common is directly across the road. Lambeth Council describes avenues of mature trees, three ponds, two woodlands, wildflower meadows and a Victorian bandstand. Take a coffee and a slice of banana bread and wander over.
