After taking Turkey by storm, trendy Istanbul coffee chain Cup of Joy is coming to London this summer. The Turkish institution’s first ever UK location will arrive in Marylebone next month.
Cup of Joy’s London debut will land on Blandford Street opposite award-winning restaurant Jikoni – a prime spot for busy commuters, shoppers and anyone in need of a quick pick-me-up.
Istanbul’s coffee culture is legendary, blending the centuries-old ritual of Turkish coffee with a buzzing specialty scene, so it’s no surprise the brew takes centre stage at Cup of Joy. Made with sustainably sourced Arabica beans from El Salvador, Brazil and Colombia, the signature blend has tasting notes of ‘dark chocolate, orange and hazelnut.’
And forget your run-of-the-mill coffee cup. Cup of Joy lives up to its name by serving beverages in handmade ‘one of a kind’ ceramics created by the cafe’s co-founder Gökçe Kalyoncu, who counts being a self-taught ceramist among her impressive credentials.
The food menu ranges from signature bagels stuffed with feta and heirloom tomatoes to Turkish eggs, pistachio porridge and hearty toasties. In classic Istanbul style, there’ll also be a delectable selection of sweet treats, including the signature Baba Au Tea, which features a poppy seed sponge infused with orange rooibos syrup and whipped cream.
Since being founded in the stylish neighbourhood Bebek in 2013, Cup of Joy has gone on to open eight locations across Turkey. The Marylebone location will feature welcoming interiors which have been thoughtfully designed by Benni Allen from Ebba Architects, who took inspiration from his visits to Istanbul to bring the city’s thriving café culture to London’s coffee scene.
Cup of Joy will open its doors in July 2026, so there’s not long to wait until you can sip your coffee while soaking up the atmosphere of Istanbul. Well, minus the wall-to-wall sunshine, that is.
Cup of Joy, 28 Blandford Street, W1U 4BZ.
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