Oru Dulwich

Charming Retreat: Yoga, Cafe, Community Bliss

Oru Café and Yoga Studio in East Dulwich combines the delightful buoyancy of a modern bistro with the invigorating serenity of a wellness sanctuary. It’s perched, not inconspicuously, above H and M, serving as both a restful retreat and a bustling communal hive. Picture this: a delectable menu that flirts daringly with brunch tradition—masala baked beans, anyone?—paired with chai so good you’ll give up industrial caffeine fixes for a fortnight. The pastries alone may coerce you into weekly pledges of unscheduled indulgence. As one ambles through its space—a harmonious blend of wood, warmth, and occasional aromatic whiffs of apricot and rosemary cake—it’s all too easy to feel enjoyably lost in time.

The ethos of the place orbits around yoga, camaraderie, and chai-fueled procrastination. Liz’s Candlelit Yin Yoga often induces nirvana states; even staunch sceptics might find their inner om graciously liberated. Still, while the classes warrant a five-star badge and contain multitudes, best arrive on the dot—time-fuddling is non-negotiable, it seems. Yet, here lies its charm—a deeply introspective nature runs parallel with an unwavering Fibonacci sequence of hospitality, anchored superbly by the blissful bean dispensation and purported sound baths that are, by unanimous acclaim, unrivalled. A gentle nudge if you're late, though: perhaps venture elsewhere, as punctuality's toll outranks untimely pursuits. Unless, of course, you’re prepared to brave drenched entries with no recompense—which could be embraced as your life's newest kinesthetic teacher. In summary, bask in the offerings, savour the rich stories each cup spins, but always with a palpable joie de vivre, lest silence brandish its brassy axiom—time waits for no yogi. — Penelope Savory