Kahaila

Kahaila at 135 Brick Lane, London E1 6SB, is highly praised as an excellent coffee shop and community space. It is known for its cozy and welcoming atmosphere with a warm and artsy interior that features natural daylight from skylights, wooden floors, and a mix of comfortable furniture. The cafe serves high-quality coffee, including options with almond, oat, or coconut milk, and offers delicious food such as sandwiches, vegan options, and a variety of sweet treats like cakes and brownies. Many reviewers highlight friendly and helpful staff, reasonable prices, and a relaxing environment ideal for work or casual visits. The cafe has a strong community focus as a charitable organization, making visits guilt-free and meaningful.Review highlights:Excellent food quality, including vegan and gluten-free options.Very good coffee, with attention to special dietary needs.Friendly, caring service and a relaxed, artsy vibe.Clean, comfortable, and spacious environment with free Wi-Fi.All profits go to charitable causes, boosting the cafe’s positive impact.Overall, Kahaila offers an outstanding experience combining great coffee and food with a warm community spirit, making it a top recommendation on Brick Lane for anyone visiting or living nearby

I’ve been to this café on Brick Lane several times, and I always love coming back. The food and coffee are excellent and made with care. The atmosphere is calm and cozy, making it the perfect place to take a break from the busy streets. The staff are very friendly and welcoming, which makes the experience even better. Definitely one of my favorite spots in the area. I’ll be coming back every time I’m nearby!

A lovely café with a warm and welcoming vibe. The staff were super friendly and made the experience even better. Great place to enjoy a peaceful coffee break or brunch. Definitely coming back!

While wandering down Brick Lane, I was drawn to this cafe by the beautiful cakes in the window. With the cold weather, I decided to go in for a coffee and some dessert. They offer a variety of pastries and coffee. I ordered a Mocha and a Chocolate Biscoff. The cafe operates on a self-service model where you pick up your food first, and they bring your drinks to your table once prepared. The mocha was delicious, rich in chocolate flavor, but unfortunately lacked any latte art and was served in a paper cup, which feels a bit environmentally unfriendly. However, the Chocolate Biscoff was quite disappointing. The Biscoff on top was soggy, and the cream felt overly sweet, almost like pure sugar. The cake itself was extremely sweet, and I could only manage a couple of bites before giving up. I regret choosing that dessert. If I return, I’ll definitely consider trying other options!

Good coffee. Cake was nice too, could have had less sugar and more punchy flavour. Nice place not crowded like everywhere else. I will never understand why places dont put covers on their produce though.

I don’t have it in my heart to give anything lower than this with the staff and atmosphere being great. I will, however, discourage anyone from ordering their iced matcha unless it changes. Pictured below so you can see the colour….it was basically just milk

If you're in Brick Lane and need a fresh tea of coffee, you have got to check out Kahaila. Kahaila is understated cool. Four of us used Kahaila for an afternoon drink. Plenty of choice and with its own roastary for the coffee drinkers out there. A beautiful mis-match of furniture and art. Delightfully eclectic and funky. An amazing selection of cakes made locally.

Took a break from our vintage shopping. Service is top cuz we really would love to have carrot cake but at the window it was all gone. The staff went in to check and brought out one. Carrot cake was moist and really good. Enjoyed our matcha latte too. The cafe interior is nicely decorated and the section where the roof is glass to allow sunlight to come in is really nice.

Lovely coffee and lovely cakes! Smoothies were a bit sweet but I guess it really depends on your personal taste. Particularly love it how it becomes a church on Wednesday night 7:30pm. Lovely joint with style!

Kahaila is a wonderful cafe tucked away in the heart of Brick Lane. Great coffee, delicious cakes, warm and welcoming atmosphere. The staff here really care about everyone who walks in and gives back to the community often. In fact, this place is a not-for-profit and registered charity as all the proceeds go towards it's community development efforts. It is also a church, which holds meetings on Wednesdays at 7:30 led by the owner, Paul. Shoreditch High Street Overground is the closest station and only a short walk, but Liverpool Street Station is probably the most convenient if you are coming from Central London if you don't mind walking about 15 minutes.

I've been here when I was on holiday in London! The outside of the shop looked cosy and the cakes in front of the windows attracted us inside. All the cakes looked very nice and I didn't know what to choose, in the end I went for the 'red velvet cake'! It was certainly a good choice, because this cake ended up in my top 3 of best cakes I've ever had! I think my mum chose a salted caramel cake and my partner chose a salmon sandwich. We all decided to go for coffee/cappuchinos that were also very good! We all loved everything! The inside of the cafe was also quite lovely and it's also bigger than it looks from outside. If you ever are around brick lane (a place which I very enjoyed!) I really recommend going here!

Really love the vibe of this place! Turns out it's actually a not-for-profit cafe which gives back to the local community - which explains the monthly activity schedule chalked up on a board on the wall that I found myself gazing at whilst waiting for my coffee. We were strolling through the market chaos on Brick Lane (enjoying some unseasonably gorgeous late autumn sunshine!) when I was distracted by the cakes in the window of this place. We joined the queue and after a bit of banter with the lovely guy who asked if I wanted food, I succumbed to ordering a slice of the red velvet cake. He boxed it up with care and put in two forks for us (not that I was planning on sharing ha!). I also ordered a latte to take away and the girl on the till was similarly smiley. We then got a little stuck in the flow of people leaving and coming in to sit in the cafe area at the back so my mate waited outside whilst I people-watched a little longer. There seemed to be a really nice homely feel to the seating area so I'd like to come back and eat in. I was a little disappointed that my coffee was quite small for the price, which makes it more of Sunday treat place than a daily caffeine fix. But it was nice to know my money was going to a good cause plus most importantly both the items I ordered were delicious!

Wonderful hip cafe with social purpose to help women build future for them. Good coffee and good feeling about paying for it!

I come here whenever I am in the need for cake, coffee, and a place to relax or study. I admire their cause; they are a registered charity and profits go towards community projects. I love that my cravings for dessert can actually help the community. This place is a ray of sunshine, I always have a great day when I stop by. The staff are so friendly and make me feel welcomed. The main thing that keeps me coming back though are the cakes. My favourite is the passion fruit mango cake. Absolutely delicious, sweet, and perfect in the frosting to cake ratio! I ordered a flat white to go with it which was smooth and creamy, paired well with the cake. I have also tried their Raspberry, Rose, & Pistachio cake - it was one of the prettiest desserts I've ever seen and one of the tastiest too.

Lovely little cafe. Staff are always friendly. Lots of nice cakes to choose from. The pick of the bunch for me would be the chocolate guinness, but you can't really go wrong with any of them. Coffee is also really good, regardless which one you go for. My favourite is the filter coffee, as it's strong without being too butter. The price is really reasonable, and portion sizes are very generous. It's a must visit if you're in the area and heck come to think of it, even if you're not, make a special trip anyway and you won't be disappointed.

There's no shortage of cafes along Brick Lane and the side streets leading off it but I find myself returning to Kahaila more often than not. The service is always friendly and the sandwiches and cakes delicious at reasonable prices. It's comfortable and spacious, and ethical - all profits are used for community projects. What's not to love!?

Very nice Coffee place. we enjoyed the coffee and the tea. The service was very friendly one day and then we came back the next morning not knowing it only opens at nine. The lady that worked at morning start yelling at us that we were to early and we never dared going back there again. It's unfortunate because I liked it but I see myself working by really fast next time because I'm afraid to be yelled at again. Traumatized

Yet another coffee place in Spitalfields; be it with a twist. Kahaila Cafe serves coffee, cakes and live entertainment in the evening (e.g. music bands). I popped in at their opening as my friends were seduced by their enormous and delicious cakes (and haven't seen these enormous cakes since though but we're only one week on). The staff struck me immediately for their friendliness, joy, and entertaining clumsiness; I now figured out that it is a charity run place with a religious signature that focuses on community projects - there you are! http://kahaila.com/church/ I like it. PS - It's not a small place and should be able to cater for quite some people.

Stumbled across this place as we were looking for a pit stop before continuing down Brick Lane. Kahalia has an enticing selection of cakes in the front window, and a huge selection of teas, which drew me in instantly. There are loads of seats, and the whole cafe has a great chilled vibe. I love that the chairs a mismatched, and the tables are all made of old wood. It wasn't until I sat down and looked around that I realised how great this place actually is. Kahalia is a charity and supports local projects, all the food is locally and ethically sourced. They also have free wifi. Which is a big win.

This cafe is tucked a few shops down from the Ghanian chocolate shop and 24-hour salt beef bagel joint, so we were already stuffed when we visited. Couldn't resist the red velvet cake though, and it wasn't disappointing. Moist, creamy and generously sliced, the cake was a perfect dessert. The quality of foods and bevs is high here: lots of gluten free treats, yummy teas, and even a froyo machine! Staff is friendly, music is soft and laidback. In the back they have lots of tables and benches. The best place to work is the large communal table under the skylight. Free wifi is fast and outlets abound. A great quieter café option on Brick Lane.

There are many places down Brick Lane where you can get a decent cup of coffee, heck! There's loads of places in London you can! The difference between the others and Kahaila Cafe is that this is a coffee shop that is out to support the community. As a registered charity, Kahaila help women who were in sex trafficking out and help by teaching them new skills. They also have a new scheme to teach homeless people to bake and sell what they make. You may think that all the charity aspects would mean that the attention on the coffee and food would take a hit. Nonsense! The coffee is top quality and the cakes you see displayed in the window, well I defy anyone to be able to walk past and not stop to drool over the tasty treats. The fact that you can support and help your community and a charity whilst drinking great coffee and eating delicious cake, makes this an easy choice for me. The place is a simply designed bright space, with revolving art work on the wall and there are always killer tunes playing in the background. I am happy to call myself a patron of Kahaila & hope it carries on the great work they are dong for years to come.

Good spot! Great for coworking. The wifi's not going to win any awards, but it's stable and reliable, and totally usable even when you're on a VPN. They've also got tasty treats and coffee. Nothing I'd go out of my way to get, but it's solid work fuel.

It's nice, very hype place! Quite expensive tough , 2 almond croissant 1 muffing banana, 2 cappuccinos and 1 hot chocolate, 15£.

We happened to wander into this café on a Saturday afternoon around 5:30 pm or so. There's actually quite a large seating space in the back, but it was totally packed. All rusty wood tables and chairs. Has a very earthy vibe, somewhat dimly lit, and very bustling. A couple of things I like about this place: 1. It's mission. First, it's a charity and any profit from the place goes into supporting local community projects and various charitable causes. Nice. 2. Their baked goods are pretty cool! I haven't tried it, so I can't yet comment on taste, but I love the concepts - at least of their cakes. I remember they had an oreo cake (chocolate inside with real oreo cookie frosting inside and on top, topped with additional oreos), a malteaser cake (same concept as oreo cake, but malteasers instead), millionaire shortbread (biscuit base, then a caramel layer, then a chocolate layer), not to mention tons of other brownies, tray bakes, cakes, etc... The oreo cake seemed to be super popular - I saw tons of people ordering it. What I didn't love about this place, oddly enough, was their coffee. The cappuccino I ordered was wayyy too milky and had zero froth/foam. That was sad and I do wish it had been better. Not really sure what to do about that - perhaps I'll just request it next time because I do want to go back again, but I also don't want to drink nothing if I go back. It's also nice that they have lots of water bottles you can grab and take back to your table, so you're not constantly having to ask around for tap water. Also, it's nice that you order at the counter and they bring the drinks to your table, but their system is somewhat inefficient. It's crowded and loud and they kind of just aimlessly walk around calling your name, hoping you'll hear it. A lot of times they walk around quite a bit before finding the right group. Overall, would definitely recommend giving this place a try. Nice vibe.

Kahaila is a wonderful cafe with a great social initiative, too. Their drinks and cakes are the best! I would suggest the red velvet cake and matcha latte.

Great lattes and unpretentious atmosphere. A bit on the pricey side, though for the small portions!

Living in Shoreditch means that I have access to an abundance of coffee shops, which also means that on hungover Saturday/Sunday mornings I can try a different one out! Having walked(staggered) past Kahaila Cafe the previous evening, I earmarked it for my Sunday morning Americano. As others have mentioned, Kahaila is a NfP cafe which makes me feel a little better about the £11.50 I paid for two coffees, a croissant and a sandwich but I did still find it a *little* steep :-$ The staff are lovely though and my black coffee was particularly packed with aromatic flavours (i got, spice, cinnamon and smoke). The cakes looked really good but I miraculously resisted temptation. Maybe next time.

Went there with a friend after being seduced by the sight of the enourmous and colorful cakes by the window. Ordered a raspberry one and it was indeed lovely; the sponge just right and the buttercream a leeeeeettle on the "too sweet" side but not too bad to compromise the flavour (and I like my desserts to be sweet anyway). My companion had the red velvet cupcake and declared it to be one of the best she's had in London so far (I know, big claim!). There's good wi-fi, the place has a big seating area at the back (lots of communal tables, not really my thing but it didn't matter) and was packed, but not on a noisy, distracting way. Everyone was just enjoying themselves, chatting away or using their laptops, and the average atmosphere was peaceful and relaxing. Plenty hipsters if you're interested in people watching. :) The staff is friendly and chatty without being intrusive; it's nice every now and again to be asked with a smile how is your day going while you're being served at the till. The café is actually a registered charity, so you know your money is going back to benefit the local community. It certainly makes the food taste better. :) Prices are reasonable for the area and they take cards. The only downside to me was the coffee. I ordered an americano and while I'm not one for leaving food behind this time I gave up on my cup after 3 sips as it was unbearably bitter. No amount of milk could save it. Maybe next time I'll order tea, as it's much more difficult to fvck up with a cuppa. Unlike many people like to think, London is usually not a great place for coffee (unlike France and Italy); but people here tend to equate cremated coffee beans with *strong* coffee (nothing further from the truth), so maybe you will like it. I didn't. Would definitely go back for more cakes and to try the smoothies, though. :)

Lovely staff, great sandwiches and foccacias. Really decent flat whites. Great place for your Saturday breakfast. Definitely recommended, I'll be back soon!

The salami, brie, and tomato sandwich on toasted baguette was perfect. The carrot cake was divine. The tea was heartwarming...overall, EXCELLENT SPOT with great food, great service, and an easy-going, cozy atmosphere. Make sure to stop in here to escape the London gloom by treating your tastebuds!

Great coffee and baked goods!!! Reminds me of cafes on Valencia in San Fran

Excellent coffee, good pasteries (some vegan!), free wifi, friendly staff, relaxed atmosphere. A+

Very cute cafe. The all wooden flooring and tables give it a really cool farmhouse vibe. Was a pretty cool place to work as the music was fairly low (but still audible), and there was minimal chatter from other patrons. There were a few points where it got a little louder than a small chatter, but it quickly returned to its normal quiet volume. The sandwiches I purchased for lunch were excellent, and the tea was nice. The only negative was that they closed at 7pm on a Monday. I guess thats pretty standard for a cafe, but I was hoping it would stay open late into the evening.

Nice, spacious café on Brick Lane, vegan cakes, decent soy cappuccino, just the right amount of hipsters. It's not a place for coffee fanatics, as in no obsessive coffee making procedures here but a place to work/study or hang out and relax.

After reading great reviews for this place I had to come try it out on my next trip to Shoreditch! I had a lot of work to get done that day so I brought along my laptop. The place was extremely crowded and we were able to find a seat at a smaller time and eventually move over to a large corner table. They have a large variety in table types which I really like: booths, standard 4 person, and a communal table. The selection of desserts is to die for and the coffee I found was very reasonably priced. Will definitely make it back if I am in the area.

Quaint cafe with ample working space with natural light in the back. I got a pot of floral French earl gray tea and a cupcake for less than £6. Great deal and good music for an afternoon work spot, but most tables do not have a plug near them and it can get pretty loud and chatty, & the air was a bit stuffy in the back.

Love this place. Friendly staff, tasty food, good coffee and tea, relaxed study atmosphere, free (and quick) wifi and loads of outlets for your computer. Over the last year Ive tried out a ton of different places to study around Shoreditch, and none measure up to this place.

Brick lane has an increasing number of cute cafes, and Kahalia has certainly joined the ranks. Great spot for lunch with friends, or a work space if you don't mind background chatter.

This place rules. Everything tastes like magic and it's all for charity, which will make you feel good about all that cake you just devoured.

I cannot fault the service, and the lunch I had was decent, but my soya latte was way too watery and not enough coffee-y or latte-y.

Friendly service, and had my first cold brew in here. Staff walked me through the options well and told me what it was exactly. Would defo go back and try one of their mochas.

Clean, stripped timber, French country design, really good coffee (cappuccino was my tipple), friendly service, right on Brick Lane, one if the few simple coffee and pastry places open at 9am!

I've had breakfast here a couple of times now on weekends, and this place has amazing blueberry muffins; goes down very well with a flat white. Definitely the place to start your Brick Lane visit.

This is my current favourite coffee spot on brick lane. Friendly staff. Many tables to sit at. Coffee is great. Free wifi and, the real reason that I am so enamoured with this place, the food is great.

Definitely one to revisit. I came with the aim to get a bit of work done on a late weekday afternoon. Ordered a banana smoothie (£3) and a gluten free Bakewell tart (£2.50). Pretty decent prices for the area, in my opinion. It was quite busy but I had no trouble finding a table to sit and study. I really enjoyed my smoothie and the Bakewell was lovely. The service was great despite the fact that they happened to be a little understaffed that day. I can't wait to return to try more of their smoothies and GF goodies!

Always impressed with this place. Wifi, nice coffee, amazing cakes (with a great selection). Above all, the staff are really friendly. So refreshing to see genuine smiles and a nice attitude. Daily soup is always good, as are the smoothies. Inside is mis-matched vintage furniture, lots of laptops and even a craft group (on one of my visits). Ace.

good coffee but rather small. The cake didn't do it for me. The topping was too buttery and too sweet, the sponge was just all right, I'd say quite an average cake, there are better ones out there. There is lots of space, good place to relax.

I love that this place is a charity and it feels great to go there! Bread is quite hard to eat but the cakes are so wonderful. How nice that it goes to good causes. Love it x

Great coffee coming from a coffee fanatic. Staff is friendly too; join the book club if you're interested in fiction!