Welcome to Brawn
At Brawn, located in London’s vibrant Columbia Road, the focus is on creating delightful sandwiches that celebrate fresh, quality ingredients. With a menu that boasts vegetarian options like Fasolakia with aged feta and asparagus dishes dressed in preserved lemon, Brawn caters to diverse taste preferences while maintaining a commitment to culinary excellence. The warm and welcoming atmosphere enhances the dining experience, making it an ideal spot for brunch or a casual catch-up. Patrons rave about the attention to detail in both food presentation and flavors, fostering a sense of community among regulars who appreciate sincerity amid today’s fast-paced culinary landscape. Indulge in Brawn's offerings—where every bite tells a story.
- 49 Columbia Rd, London E2 7RG, United Kingdom Hotline: +44 20 7729 5692
Welcome to Brawn, the delightful sandwich haven nestled within the historic confines of a sports club on Columbia Road, London. This charming spot has quickly risen to popularity as a go-to destination for those seeking a fulfilling bite paired with exceptional coffee.
At Brawn, the focus is on simplicity and freshness, where the menu sings with carefully curated offerings. With a variety of vegetarian options and artisanal ingredients, every dish aims to provide an unforgettable taste experience. Highlights include:
- Bread & Olive Oil - A humble yet exquisite starter at just £4.50, setting the stage for what’s to come.
- Green Asparagus with Preserved Lemon - A beautiful presentation at £16, this dish stands out for its zesty freshness.
- Parmesan Fritters - Golden and crunchy, these fritters at £9 are a must-try for cheese lovers.
- Amalfi Lemon & Almond Tart - A sweet note to finish your meal at £10 that transports you straight to the Amalfi Coast.
But it’s not just the menu that shines. The atmosphere at Brawn reflects a genuine warmth, thanks in part to an enthusiastic staff who greet every guest with a smile. As noted by frequent patrons, this friendly service greatly enhances the dining experience, making you feel right at home.
Many have raved about the exceptional coffee, highlighting the nuanced flavors found within each cup. Whether you prefer strong, viscous brews or smoother blends, Brawn’s offerings cater to all palates. As one visitor put it, "the attention to detail is immaculate"—perfectly encapsulating the commitment to quality that this cafe embodies.
While it might be described as a "little hole in the wall," the vibrant energy and crowd on weekends suggest that Brawn has become a beloved fixture within the local community. It serves as a quaint nook for catching up with friends or indulging in a well-deserved brunch.
In a city bustling with culinary options, Brawn stands out as a beacon of sincerity, craftsmanship, and flavor. If you find yourself wandering near Columbia Road, don’t miss the opportunity to step inside this delightful café, where every bite and sip is a testament to the passion of its creators.

According to Yelp directions, it took us walked around this gated sport club and residential living complex. It is actually located inside the sport club. Entrance can be outside or through the club main entrance. We ordered a granola with yogurt and fruits. Have not seen using grapes as one of the fruit. The butter chicken and sour cream pastry tasted like baked curry chicken pastry. Not bad at all. With 2 latte, total of about Singapore $40. Servers are friendly. Love the presentation on the beverage and food.

I have been in the service industry for almost 2 decades now, and they have the best service ever. Super welcoming and authentic, the entire team of staff are amazing. The positive energy is so refreshing in the local scene. Coffee... fantastic!, from the temperature, aroma the blend.... Ooo . Makan... the quality and attention to details is immaculate. For real foodies that appreciate fresh ingredients and culinary skills, it's awesome. Simple dishes like scrambled eggs. Just check it out, it's done so well. For OCD people ah, you will get it. When you feel sickened by society and silly workplace cultures, To experience their crafts and sincerity, it allowed me to feel hopeful again knowing that it isn't extinct.

Excellent little hole in the wall cafe, next to the old badminton hall, kind of out of the way. But it was packed to the brim on a sunday morning, so clearly its popular inspite of the location. Between the three of us, we got the Avocado toast, curry chicken wrap and baked eggs with salmon. The food was fresh, well presented and tasty. Coffee was great as well. Its a nice place for a brunch and chat with friends, tables may be sharing if it gets crowded, but that's ok!

Situated at the front of the old badminton complex, the cafe is easily located just 6 minutes away from Mountbatten MRT. Despite a decent seating capacity, the cafe was rather crowded when we visited on a weekday afternoon. Though spacious, the small square shaped metal chairs are not ideal for a long afternoon of chilling. What made the visit worth it was the coffee. I ordered the flat white ($5) and the cold brew ($7.80) as well as the raspberry coconut cake ($7.70) and the coffee walnut cake ($7.30). While the cold brew and cakes were average, what stood out for me was the flat white. Creamy with distinct fruity notes, it was the perfect combination one would demand from a cuppa. While not the best place for intense mugging, Brawn and brains is undoubtedly second to few when it comes to brewing the perfect cuppa and would make a great place for catching up with friends or that casual afternoon tea.

Very fresh beans and superbly great atmosphere, however if your looking for a hearty meal this is not where you should be going. Only serve breakfast menu here. Beans are seasonally changed and every roast has their distinct flavor. Whether your looking for a robust or a weak perk me up kind of coffee, this place will satisfy all your needs. Food is just regular cafe sandwiches and wraps, no surprising wow menu. Consistent flavored will be a big draw to those that love their food standards to be stable.

AMAZING brunch. We had about 20 minutes of waiting before we could get real food, so we got croissants and coffee. I had an iced, single-origin white and the Earl Grey scone. Both were phenomenal. The single-origin is an amazing coffee...the flavor is very complex and delicious. I liked it a lot more than the house blend coffee. The croissant was also great. It was moist and flaky and you could really taste the Earl Grey. Once we did sit down (pretty uncomfortable sitting unfortunately), we ordered the molten eggs. So good. Cheesy, crispy, very filling, and flavorful. The spinach on the side is crisp and all of the side veggies go really well with the eggs. It's a creative and eggcellent (ha) dish unlike anything I've ever had for brunch.

We visited on a Saturday afternoon for lunch. The variety is a little limited but I settled on what's essentially poached eggs with smoked salmon and additional avocado. It was thoroughly delightful, sufficiently filling and I would recommend it. The coffee was alright. Maybe I had hyped myself up too much but the beans just wasn't up my alley. In all, a nice place to hang out with friends though it gets crowded.

This is a good spot if you are into super-thick coffee. The coffees are all served with a double shot and it may be an acquired taste before you enjoy your cuppa. Two blends are usually available: one house blend, and the other single origin seasonal. There are fans for each blend and it is all a matter of personal preference. The coffees also tend to have a tannic aftertaste which some may not like, but I think it gives it a certain personality, not unlike a well-balanced bottle of red wine. Note: Coffees definitely taste better if it is the lady boss who pulled it for you!

This little cafe run by a husband and wife team & their friendly staff gives this place a very homely feel. You will see regulars dropping by for their usual fix. They have just expanded to a larger space which can accommodate more customers. But the place still gets filled up fairly quickly. Definitely a place to sit down, chill & enjoy the atmosphere.