Where to get tacos in central London (& more) 🇬🇧

Ranked the 5th most popular independent cafe in the world, Ozone Coffee is a staple both in its native New Zealand and in London, where it has 4 locations. I first came across Ozone’s Shoreditch location on an afternoon cafe-hopping across London, and what stood out to me was the level of excellence combined with the scale of operation.

As store manager for Ozone, John Nguyen has a first-hand look at London’s hospitality scene. His Filter guide below explores his favorite things to do in London…which is mainly things to eat…which, turns out, involves a lot of tacos.

*Originally from Cambridge, England, John Nguyen is store manager for Ozone Coffee in London. Photos courtesy of Ozone Coffee*

Filter: What’s your favorite thing to do around London?

What I really like to do is go around and eat...from weekend markets to finding the little gem in the corner, nothing makes a day than a good plate of food.

Filter: What are your go-to restaurants in London?

TACOS! Here are some of my favourites, El Camion, Sonora Taqueria, Homies on Donkeys, Cafe Pacifico just to name a few, and the bar scene in London is one of the best with my favourite being Happiness Forgets and Satan's Whiskers that pumps the 90s hip hop.

Filter: Where do you go to get a break from London?

Going back to Cambridge is always a relief not only to see mum and dad but to just unwind in the local market and taking that long stroll through the city and fields. Just hop on the train and have a gander, it's impossible to get lost with today's tech.

Filter: What touristy things in London are worth the hype?

I honestly think all tourist attractions are a rip off. I think the best place to learn about a city, culture, people is to look at where the locals go to eat and drink and be there. Nothing better than getting involved in a bustling market finding your footing testing out a cornucopia of foods across the world—it's fun for me, the best kind of sensory overload.

Filter: Where are your favorite green spaces there?

I don't have many green spaces I like in London but one of them would have to be Victoria Park on a Sunday—do a couple laps, get some dumplings from Chubby Dumpling, do a couple more laps and some more dumplings. If I have to be outside it had better involve food.

Filter: What's another London coffee shop that you really admire, and why?

Allpress in Dalston. Everything they do there is with purpose down to the design and I really resonate with a place where that's abundantly clear from the get go.

Filter: What makes London feel like home to you?

My partner. I wouldn't have met her had I not been here, she is probably the biggest reason why I'm still here—that and the housing market is rubbish... and our 2 cats (Tali and Eevie), can't forget the cats.

Filter: How did you end up in the London coffee scene?

I was born in Cambridge but I'm Vietnamese so phô is in my veins. I moved to Australia, it was here where I found myself in coffee and during that time gained a wealth of knowledge that spurred me to go further when I inevitably had to move back to the UK. At the time of my leave there was no other place where I thought would be better for me to learn more than London so here I am.

Filter: What’s your role at Ozone Coffee?

My role at Ozone is store manager for our two cafe sites in Central London overseeing the usual day-to-day running of the cafes. Other than engaging with our customer base and the everyday banter what I really like to see is the growth of my colleagues whether they learn new skills within the spaces or find their calling elsewhere.

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?

Maybe it's nostalgia but I'd move back to Melbourne for the coffee. It's exceptional and the place that would bring me back would be Proud Mary—the custom Synesso Hydra (if they still have it) coffee machine is the cherry on top.

–

Ozone Coffee roasts and operates 4 locations in London.

Ozone - Shoreditch

Ozone - London Fields

Ozone - Ludgate Hill

Ozone - Creechurch Lane

Food & Beverage