This place is wonderful - great food great vibes. I had the Gigantes dish and it is the tastiest thing I’ve had in a while. Staff is super nice too!

As an avid fan of 46b for many years...I was so excited to discover Hand Cafe this Sunday. Sadly of course the eating areas were closed because of Covid, but we found it fully functional for takeaways.Unfortunately staff were pretty unfriendly, but the coffee was super excellent. My double shot Cortado was well worth the £2.80 and my leek and feta pie was yummy indeed.I hope you dont mind me sharing this little warning to others...I was more than a little perplexed when I asked for a little sugar. Expecting a sachet of brown sugar as usual - Without no warning some transparent liquid was squirted into my cup. Of course I had to ask what it was...sugar I was told.Id never had liquid sugar...I was so worried that it would change the taste of the coffee, luckily it didnt...all was lovely....but could I have brown crystallised sugar next time please...😊Anyway... we found a nice spot by a water feature nearby and enjoyed our lucky find of a great cafe in Stratford Actually if you love your coffee...Id say it is the best. Thanks guys, a few more smiles and understand next time would be greatly appreciated.

Their butternut squash and feta pastry is so good!Cappuccino slightly too bitter

The tastiest food for lunch in E20! The Gigantes is so delicious. Shame it is shut on Tuesdays and early in the afternoon 😢 oh and the Greek desserts and pastries 🤤

We had lunch here over the weekend and were really impressed with the food and coffee! Very very good value for money. It is a short walk from Westfield Shopping mall so Id recommend that you come here for food rather than eat in the mall.We had a flat white and black coffee. They were on the small side but tasted very good.For food we had ouzo beans and the banana, yogurt cinnamon toast (see photo of menu for details). The flavours were really delicious. I wasnt expecting much but the food was executed well.There were plenty of tables and the atmosphere was very relaxed. A highly recommended place to visit if you are in the Stratford area.

Great cafe with only a small number of dishes on the menu but both that we tried were amazing. Excellent coffee. Decor is inviting. Staff were friendly and service was quick.

Hand Cafe offers the best coffee in e20. Delicious pastries too.Thanks for all of your hard work, team. ♥️

Only place to get Red Brick coffee. So good.

Lovely place with great coffee and toasties, very busy and outside only at the moment

Greatnright venue in a cool location. The dish to look out for is egg n tomato. Not much vegetarian options but staff are happy to swap ingredients.

“Hands” down one of the best places to get coffee in London. Friendly staff, I’ve been coming here for the last year through the pandemic.Their flat white is bliss.

Always love Hand Cafe! Its become a weekly ritual/walk - amazing coffee and array of sweet and savoury treats. I recommend to anyone to visit this place if its safe to do so. Staff are also wonderful!

Delicious Greek inspired brunch!! The staff is super friendly!(No laptop policy on weekends)

Best place for coffee in the East Village. Good breakfast menu and food too.

Great latte, the brunch is really good for salads, egg avocado toast and desserts!

Loved it and definitely coming back! Bee polen: very cool sugar substitute. Coffee was great and artistic ☕

Their coffee is good!

Not that great, bakery was not fresh, possibility due to low footfall during Covid. Ill give it another try in a few weeks time.

They do very yummy toasties!

Great brunch and coffee! Nice ambience too

Friendly staff, laid back atmosphere where you can sit and chill all day. On a nice day you can sit outside on the benches and enjoy the sun. I had a shakshuka which was not bad but I really envied the person having the ham & cheese croissant next to me!

I want to give it 0 stars just because its not open long enough to buy from here more often. 😞The coffee has more way more body and delicate flavour vs other competitors, where ive sometimes been unlucky to receive a shot of weak brown in what tastes like somehow old/unconditioned water.

I love hand, it has some of the best coffee in E20. But you really need to come for the brunches, especially the eggs and tomatoes which are delicious.

Great local cafe with friendly service. Their cheese toasty is a must try too! A guilty pleasure of mine!

Pretty good place,looks nice and unique, can’t wait till opens

Second visit for sit in coffee. First visit was for breakfast. Quick service and lovely tasting coffee, but knowing where to queue was a bit of an issue with patrons standing in the way. Its hard to know who was in the queue as they started having a full on conversation at the till (three of them). (Not the cafes fault, but super annoying.) Menu should also be printed, as not everyone has great eyesight and it would be nice to see it clearly. This would increase sales. The coffee taste is zingy and fruity, which I like, as I like my coffee very strong. Not sure of the type. Its not to everyones taste though. Ive only had the espresso before, so I am not sure how their other drinks are. Ive been twice so not sure about slow service. Both times it was really quick for me. Even despite my feedback Ive given five stars 🙂 as its good. No latops sign is very unwelcoming. I do understand why they do it though. Not that I want to go there with my laptop just its quite brash.

A friend of mine visited this shop today and was hassled by multiple staff members because of not wearing a face covering — despite him standing outside. Its outrageous behaviour to insist that a customer must wear an oxygen depriving instrument outside of a business. There is nowhere in the government guidelines that states this to be a legal requirement, and is therefore clear discrimination under the 2010 Equality Act.Ill be sure to take my money elsewhere the next time Im in the vicinity.

Top notch coffee, great food. Love it!

Best coffee in the village, they dont burn your coffee its smooth and strong, and if they split the non dairy milk theyll redo it for you. Plus they have the most amazing feta and pumpkin bougatsa that i have eaten too much of over lockdown.

I am glad to see a good cafe in Stratford!

Wonderful coffee, staff, and bacon sarnies!

Best coffee in E20, and the leek, feta and spinach parcels are superb

Hand is a modern and quaint coffee shop - fitting perfectly in East village. Fantastic coffee with a healthy and varient food menu. Recommend for a weekend midday chill!

The best coffee in East Village, cozy place and quality staff. I come here every Saturday morning.

Nice tasty sausage and guac sandwich served safely and with friendliness out of a window 👍 some tables under cover even when its raining

Nice atmosphere, though the staff could use a smile to soften the tension. Other than that a nice cozy coffee shop to be around the neighbourhood.

Disgusted with the staff ! Was outside behind their screen and they told me I was supposed to wear a mask! Im exempt and was OUTSIDE!!!! They called the owner over who stated the same and said its government rules ! No it is not I was outside and EXEMPT!!!! This is discrimination under the Disability equality act ! Never going back again!!!!

Good place to see

As a coffee shop, Hand is pretty good. A range of Square Mile coffees (as well as beans - though they cannot grind for you). They also do some tasty food, the Shakshuka is a favourite of mine, there is also pastries and some fantastic home cooked cakes and pies.Would be good to get some alternatives for the coffees and the preparation process like aeropress or V60 but if you are looking for a decent cup you cant go far wrong at Hand.

Their coffee is absolutely amazing! Especially if you like flat white.The food for me is a hit and miss. Sometimes its amazing others less than average (for the same dish).If I can be honest, I dont believe the prices reflect nor the (inconstant) quality or the amount/volume of food. Due to this discrepancy, I overall think its an average store.

Amazing coffee! Amazing food!Eva is militant about how her staff make the coffee here, requiring them to both weigh the coffee and the amount of water used for the espresso, and it shows. Probably this is the thing I miss most about moving out of East Village. Evas coffee. Congratulations to everybody here. This is a long term favourite. Go, even if just for the coffee, and if you are lucky enough to be hungry everything on the food menu is also delicious, as are the cakes and pastries which are not too sweet for a pleasant change!

Delicious food & coffee and very lovely people who run it

Lovely coffee, simple tasty brunch.

The food and coffee were great, the decor and ambiance were cozy, the staff were nice enough. This would have been a 5 star review if the staff were a bit warmer. I have a compliment on how great everything looked and was simply asked what I wanted to order. I tried making another compliment and was just looked at with a straight face before my order was read back to me. Hipster does not equal unfriendly.

The best coffee in the east village, and brilliant brunches too.The coffee is a beautiful, characterful, medium roast full of flavour and body. The flat white is made with delightfully velvety, smooth milk. To give them their fair dues, their kit is excellent (handbuilt in Seattle, off I recall a conversation with the manager correctly), and they know how to use it.There are also very well composed options for brunch available, which are well executed, too.

Great cheese and chorizo toasties

I really love the coffee here. The cappuccinos and flat whites are top notch. The bacon, avo and egg is tasty :)

Great coffee and food

Lovelly staff, and a great cup of tea. Thanks.

Dont know as I did not go in

Cute Pottery place with nice food, good (not overly amazing, just good) service. Had a delicious spanikopita here, refused to pay the £1 for relish because it should have been offered. The waitress was apologetic and very sweet, and the spanikopita really was delicious.

Its great! 🔝

Coffee is great! BUT - The speed of service especially if you are grabbing a coffee to go, is not good - and getting worse.Either need to employ more staff, or take more notice of those waiting for a long time. 15 minutes wait for a coffee to go should be given free (especially when there is no que!) I think it will put more people off and theyll end up going to others.

I was really quite shocked at my treatment by the owner of Hand today. I found a hair in my food, asked the staff to rectify this, all I was offered was a replacement breakfast, which I wasnt inclined to argue with as I was hungry and other than that the food was fine. Then - to my surprise - I only received half a breakfast. When I queried this the owner became extremely rude to me and said didnt I know that food was made by people and that I was making him uncomfortable. I had said at the outset that I didnt want more food but I would now like a partial refund since I had still not been served a whole breakfast. Despite this he repeatedly offered me more food and a cake. He then said that I had eaten most of it and said in a very sarcastic tone so you seriously want to pay nothing for 1 and a half breakfasts? he then tried to offer me a £3 refund. When I said that I no longer wanted to engage in the conversation as I didnt think it was productive he *literally* stormed off and came back a minute later with my refund, slammed it down on the table and said I hope youre happy. I was very upset and embarrassed by the interaction and still cannot quite believed the owner was happy to stand and viciously argue with a customer in the middle of service. I hadnt even finished my food and felt so uncomfortable I had to leave it. I would seriously avoid if you expect any kind of customer service.

Excellent coffee and cakes including vegan options. Could do with more polite service however! Lady says “I’ve only got 2 hands” when I mentioned I had ordered 2 pieces of cake and not one. The place could also use a better air ventilation system as it was oily residue from the kitchen or panini makers there.Otherwise I would give it 5 stars.

Original, fresh, and delicious food. Very good coffee too. The place is quiet (car free!), making it a good to watch people go by or listen to the wind in the nearby trees. But again - the food is fantastic and are the best reason to visit!

Really good coffee and a nice relaxing atmosphere. The food is worth trying too.

Local in the area and really enjoying the coffee at Hand Cafe compared to other shops. However, every time that Ive gone (7+) Ive had to wait approximately 10 minutes or more for a takeaway coffee.. even during slow times with no que. There was no apology, or comment letting me know why it was taking so long, nothing. And after waiting had even gotten my order wrong and I received luke-warm coffee (after they tried to make it quickly). I really do love their coffee, but the time that it takes and the overall service makes me want to go elsewhere

Good place for brunch, not many veggie/vegan options. There are no menus and we were left standing by the door for 5mins. But the food is good and the olive oil on the toast is amazing!

The people are great and the food is amazing. By far the the hand is best place to eat in east village.The owners are super lovely and the place is simple and nice.Cant recommend enough !

Quality coffee and food prepared by people who are the correct level of obsessive

Lovely

Excellent cheese toasties!!

Nice cafe with decent coffee and nice food. Very good vegetarian brunch options and excellent toasties. Cakes etc look good too.

Very nice coffee 👍🏻 would recommend making the trip even if youre at the velodrome as its a nice environment and top notch coffee. U can even sit on a bench by the Portlands ponds outside and take in the scenery

Absolutely love this little place. Great people and great service. They make much better drinks than any of the other cafes nearby especially the mocha! Highly recommend!

Delicious food

Sorry but the vast majority of reviews for this place have to be fake! I went in with a friend who bought me a coffee (which was fine), he ordered food. He received a plate with some lettuce leaves, a few bits of orange and a few nuts. £6. He couldnt speak. Eventually he took the plate to the counter and was told that the ingredients were expensive. He paid £6 for no food. He did not eat it- he was hungry. If Beadle was still alive he would surely have appeared. How rude to serve up such an insult. Check the pictures and avoid at all cost.

Excellent food, acceptable coffee, and staff morally opposed to the concept of service.

Hand is about the best cup of coffee you will find in the East Village. Staff are friendly and remember your face and preferences, quickly making you a usual. Good espresso and some interesting food options including Shakshuka.

The best toasties in town, would also include the coffee in my top 5 favourites in the city (also the world). The atmosphere is cozy and this is a great place to stop for working lunch or to eat with company in the summer - the outdoor seating next to the Portlands is very pleasant.

YES YES YES!! Highly recommend this place. The barista Eva is one of the best around town. The food is exciting and always way beyond expectation, I love this place. A firm favourite for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Go seek out this place and eat everything from the menu, its impossible to order badly.

They serve really nice espresso. Consistency is nice and thick. Taste wise it had a fruity acidicity with only a little bit off bitterness. Really liked it.

A fantastic addition to the area by the team behind renowned 46b in Hackney. Excellent food & top notch coffee. Highly recommended!

Great toasties and coffee.

Best coffee I have ever had. So good I cycle 20 miles every weekend to get it.

One star, simply because there is no lower option. Not because of the food (it might actually be good). Me & a few mates googled what is the best place for breakfast in Stratford and this came up. Turns out they dont do English Breakfast. I asked if I can bild my own breakfast, but that is not possible as they have set meals for breakfast. And the bloke behind the counter went out of his way to make sure he was being exceptionally rude and as customer unfriendly as possible. I explained, I am a vegan and that is the reason i dont want a set meal. He looked at me as if I had the plague. Will not return there, would not recommend as poor customer service should not be tolerated.

This cafe serves excellent food, pasties and coffee. Always fresh and tasty, great atmosphere inside, and outdoors seating outside in a great location, staff always helpful and great service overall. Dont miss it!

Best brunch around with bags of flavour. Also has great coffee and a nice atmosphere!

The owner of the cafe came over and told me I should not be eating a cereal bar, which is fair enough. Except when I disclosed a medical issue that meant I had to eat bland food to line my stomach, he responded I should disclose in advance of entering the cafe. When I tried to explain that was unreasonable another member of staff also jumped in to tell me I should just not eat in the cafe.I think the manner the staff conducted themselves was aggressive and unwelcoming. I advice people to stay clear of this place.

Very fresh and tasty food. Lovely decor and staff. A favourite in the area.

Nice chilled cafe. Great coffee and love the eggs, avocado and bacon.

Best brownie Ive ever hadI can only comment on one coffee and one brownie but it was excellent - just what I was looking for. Very friendly service, brilliant vibe, and light and spacious.

Best coffee I’ve had in the Stratford area. Much more pleasant location than alternatives in the shopping centre.

Wonderfully friendly staff matched by delicious food and coffee. Love this place!

Lively place with healthy yet delicious food options.Good coffeeNice musicPerfect place to start weekend

Nice place, nice food but below average coffee and awful customer service especially on saturday with their aggressive behaviour towards people who charge their belongings with a laptop - bizzare. In response to the below comment, I did ask to charge my phone behind the counter to a half hearted ill have a look to which no charger was offered. I found it very antisocial too so dont worry, its two ways. I also speak two languages so I dont see how thats of any relevance. I have had impolite experiences here before with no relevance to the laptop, as have had many people if you read the reviews. Charging your phone with a laptop has absolutely no influence on anyone else and it was even on the chair out of sight so there was 0 reason to be approached as hostile I was. Good job I had a better experience at another cafe I went to round the corner who actually has respect for the east village residents.

GREAT Coffee! Amazing service! Really good food! Totally recommend!

Lovely space with lovely organic wine and exceptional brunch.

Brilliant brunch - perfectly cooked eggs, not your standard brunch menu. Beautifully simple decor and great art. Will return

Good coffee, poor service. Expect to wait at least 10 minutes for a take-away coffee.

Love this place. Relaxed vibe, family friendly, and ace coffee. Will be back.

Lovely place, lovely staff, especially the barista girl 👧

I’m not a coffee drinker, but I enjoy the Mocha at this place. The chorizo toastie is an absolute gem, I have it every time I visit. The place is bright and spacious and always seems to find the Goldilocks level of busyness. Not too quiet, not too packed.

Best coffee in London, food is beautifully crafted with attention to detail, try the toasties and soups for lunch. Nice atmosphere and great staff.

Really friendly staff and a great pot of Earl Grey for £2.50. The only reason I didnt give this place 5 stars is there arent alot of plug sockets so if you are going to work there make sure you have a full charge!

The food and the coffee was really excellent and its in a convenient location. Only four stars as the service was very slow. Thats fine for a lazy brunch but waiting 45 minutes for eggs when its not that busy is not the best.

Dog friendly, great coffee, lovely food and baked goods.

Great coffee, staff, food and outdoor seating.

A relaxed and cosy café with a warehouse-like atmosphere but the greatest of service. The owner is the sweetest!