TAB X TAB's London City Guide: Coffee, Culture, and Hidden Gems by Mathew Tabatabai 🇬🇧
Earlier this month, Filter published a city guide to London from Sharon Ip who is head barista at the stunning TAB X TAB in West London. Today, we publish the second in that series: London, from the point of view of Mathew Tabatabai. Mathew, who was born in the Middle East, created TAB X TAB with his wife, Charmaine. Inspired by their experience in luxury fashion, they set out to create their own spot for ‘Coffee, Brunch and other Small Pleasures.’
TAB X TAB's City Guide to London by Mathew Tabatabai
Inspired by their experience in luxury fashion, Mathew Tabatabai and his wife, Charmaine, set out to create their own spot for ‘Coffee, Brunch and other Small Pleasures.’ Photos courtesy of TAB X TAB
Filter: What do you like to do for fun around London?
Nothing better than a weekend walk on Hampstead Heath with our dog, Loui (pic attached), followed by traditional roast Sunday lunch at the Spaniard Pub, which was amazingly built around almost 500 years ago.
Filter: If a good friend came to visit, where would you be sure to take them?
We would definitely go to Borough Market on an empty stomach, to sample UK’s finest produce. The variety is really incredible and what’s great is you can eat there as well as buy gifts for loved ones and of course a bit of self-gifting too. Favourites are bread and baked goods at Bread Ahead (who also have a bakery school there) and delicious oysters at Richard Haward’s Oysters, who have been there for several generations. But there is everything from tea and coffee, cuisine from around the world to fresh fruit and veg.
Filter: What do you like to do to escape the city?
We are lucky to have some incredible green spaces so there’s really no need to leave to get a sense of space and calm. Richmond Park being the largest park is amazing with the deer that roam freely and its many lakes. Also a lovely cafe in the middle with a beautiful outdoor area. It really is picture book pretty.
Filter: What touristy things in London are worth the hype?
Tate Modern is amongst the must-visits for sure for all culture vultures.
Filter: Where are your favorite quiet corners, green spaces, charming walks, or hidden gems there?
The Wallace Collection is a real hidden gem. An old grand house that was residence to an aristocratic family who were avid collectors of art of objects in the 18th century, now it is a museum housing the family’s original art collections which are many thousands and include Rubens and Canalettos. For me it’s a far more interesting and insightful space than Hampton Court for example. And a beautiful bright covered courtyard in the middle for a bite to eat. It’s a little oasis from the madness of nearby Oxford Street.
Filter: What's another coffee shop around there that you really admire, and what about them stands out to you?
I love Kaffeine and everything about it. One of the OGs of specialty coffee in London and still owned and run by Peter who started it all about 15 years ago. He leads from the front and has been instrumental in creating the great coffee community that we have in London.
Filter: How did you end up in London’s coffee scene?
I was born in the Middle East. But I came to the UK when I was 6 to go to boarding school. I never left really, apart from a 7-year spell in Hong Kong where I met my wife. We came back to live in London with our daughter 10 years ago.
Filter: Can you share about your role at TAB x TAB?
We have been on Westbourne Grove for 7 years and it’s especially rewarding to still see the same customer faces who visited us from day one. I am especially proud of the hardworking team who do their thing day-in-day-out and continue to make TAB X TAB a great place to visit for coffee and brunch.
Filter: If you could move to any place in the world just for the coffee scene, where would you move, and what shop would be the biggest reason?
I love Tokyo for food and drinks scene generally. A favourite coffee shop is Onibus in Nakameguro, a really cute jewelbox right next to railway tracks. It’s like going back in time. They do great coffee and now have a couple other sites and a roastery.
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TAB X TAB is an independent cafe serving ‘coffee, brunch and other small pleasures’ in West London.
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