Moonstruck Cafe is one of the best coffee houses in London, holding a well-deserved place on the London Coffee Map.

Moonstruck is an oasis of calm on South Lambeth Road, midway between Vauxhall and Stockwell tube stations. It’s calming aesthetic and considered drinks menu make it a must-visit for locals and international coffee enthusiasts alike.

Owned and run by Liam, whose passion for coffee infuses both the menu and the meticulously crafted drinks, Moonstruck is a truly epicurean spot. Guests can choose from a wide range of guest espressos and brew methods, along with some of the most exceptional drinking chocolates we’ve tasted.

The interior design is thoughtful, enveloping the space in peace with its signature ‘Invisible Green,’ which adorns the walls, décor, and even the coffee machine (a custom La Marzocco Linea PB, a true work of art sat next to a sleek Weber Workshops EG-1 grinder). No accident, this thoughtfully considered aesthetic is the work of Liam’s partner Kashi and her interior design business, YAM Studios. The impact is striking and aligns perfectly with the meaning of ‘Moonstruck’ - ‘to fall madly in love with’ - with the passion and love for the coffee and cafe evident in every detail of this establishment.

As you enter the cafe, your eye is drawn to the back of the room to a small semi-enclosed seating area in the ‘sticker-room’. A colour drenched space with walls and ceilings covered in an impressive collection of stickers (spot the Islands stickers!). Then, you notice the signpost to the art gallery, a separate entity in the basement space named ‘Under the Spell’ curated by Jess, an art curator from Brazil and friend of Liam’s. Jess describes this as “a non-profit art space guided by a manifesto that understands ‘spell’ not only as something enchanting, but also as inertia of social behaviours, something that can be questioned and disrupted through critical cultural lenses. Each exhibition stands on its own, yet a curatorial thread connects them all, creating an ongoing dialogue across the programme. The artists come from all over the world and work across a wide range of media.”

“Moonstruck is very coffee focussed…so I thought we should have a comprehensive coffee and drinks offering to reflect this.”

But back to coffee…

‘Moonstruck is very coffee focused, with just a few pastries and no food, so I thought we should have a comprehensive coffee and drinks offering to reflect this,’ says Liam. So along with the expected espresso base drinks, Liam also offers specialty sips such as fredo espresso, espresso tonic, a signature coffee flight, loose leaf teas and top quality matcha. He selects coffee from Woolwich based roasters PLOT, and describes himself as a ‘long-time fan’, favouring their ‘sourcing, general approach to business and small friendly team.’

‘We also have a rotating line-up of guest roasters, it’s fun to feature exciting roasteries with delicious coffee, some from here in the UK and others based all over the world.’

“It’s amazing to recognised in a city with such an excellent coffee scene.”

It’s this menu which earned Moonstruck a place on the esteemed London Coffee Map, used as a go-to by coffee enthusiasts. ‘It was great to be included and seeing some of the other cafes on the list made us even more proud’ says Liam. ‘It gave us a boost of visitors who are real coffee enthusiasts which is always fun, they tend to order pourover coffees and our signature coffee flight. We’re seeing more and more guests who are visiting from overseas and saw us in a list of the best cafes in London, and it’s amazing to be recognised in a city with such an excellent coffee scene.’

Coffee enthusiasts aside, Moonstruck ‘have quite a few regulars who come just for the chocolate’ which is what we love to hear! ‘Most also buy the giant button tins we have on the shelf to enjoy at home.’

‘I knew about Islands as one of the top suppliers in the industry, and I had multiple coffee friends who mentioned you guys as a great option when I was setting up Moonstruck. I got the chance to meet some of the team at an industry event and taste the chocolate in person, it didn’t disappoint! I’m obsessed with coffee and chocolate, so I knew this was a key supplier decision for me when opening the cafe, my favourite chocolate is dark – I love the fruity flavour of the Islands 75% Dark. Another factor was that Islands is based in Battersea, super close to the cafe, it feels nice to have a local company represented here.’

“My personal favourite is the 75% Dark for hot chocolate, but for eating’”

Liam serves up exceptionally crafted 55% Milk and 75% Dark drinking chocolates as both hot and iced drinks, which are weighed, measured and served to perfection. ‘We often find customers will start with the familiar milk chocolate option, but then might try out the 75% and realise how, rather than being bitter, it’s fruity and delicious. By default we use the dark option with our mochas as it pairs so well with our rich, fruity espresso. My personal favourite is the 75% Dark for hot chocolate, but for eating (which I might do occasionally behind the bar) I love the 55% Milk as it’s so smooth and comforting.’

For coffee and hot chocolate fans in London, Moonstruck is a destination visit worth building your weekend around.