The Nest SE9

Charming Retreat with Friendly Atmosphere

Nestled almost apologetically close to New Eltham station, this wonderfully modest establishment, run by the ever-ebullient Rachel, is as much a shelter from the world outside as it is a social nerve center. The Nest is the sort of place that leaves an indelible mark on your memory with its effervescent atmosphere and surprisingly ambitious offerings, given its scale. It’s a snug refuge for weary travellers as well as the local gentry, primarily due to the camaraderie emanating from the heart of its staff, who seem to exist just to make your day a tad brighter. Their smiles fit naturally within this pocket-sized corner of happiness, somewhere between fetching drinks and topping up espressos like caffeinated angels.

Seemingly compact yet charmingly cozy, The Nest embraces you in warmth whether you're there for one of their morning mochaccinos, complete with alternative milk options, or you're cutting through the daily grind with a late-afternoon tipple. Those obsessed with taste can solace in their selection of Proseccos and Pina Coladas, which are allegedly the stuff of local legend. There's an irony in how this little spot provides a sense of insulation from metropolitan chaos—a stark contrast to commuters hustling past for morning trains, not fully cognizant that they're skirting past a wholly enjoyable station-side oasis. If you fancy irony served with your jerk food or under the sonorous guise of a Friday night DJ set, The Nest is where banality is banished and warmth reigns supreme. — Penelope Savory