EL&N London in City of London, Westminster

A Disappointing Experience at Selfridges London food hall I recently visited Selfridges in London to purchase some French butter and English cheddar cheese. While picking up the butter was straightforward, my experience at the cheese counter left me deeply frustrated and disappointed. I approached the counter and asked if I could taste the cheddar cheese, as they offer two varieties, and I often like to switch based on flavor. To my surprise, the assistant informed me that tastings were not allowed because the counter had been cleaned and they were preparing to close. He added that they no longer offer tasting portions, as all cheeses are pre-cut and packaged. This response left me stunned. I’ve been a loyal Selfridges customer for nearly 40 years, and this was the first time I’ve ever been refused a tasting. The assistant claimed this has been the policy for a while but I find this hard to believe. Even if it is a new policy, it’s unreasonable to expect customers to spend £40-60 per kilo on cheese without sampling it first. This isn’t the level of service I associate with Selfridges—it feels more like a budget supermarket than a luxury department store. When I asked to speak with a manager, the assistant was reluctant but eventually called someone over. The manager explained that the policy of pre-portioning cheese was implemented to reduce waste and maintain margins. While I understand the need for efficiency, this approach compromises quality and customer experience. On a previous visit, I noticed that their pre-packaged Parmesan cheese was moldy, and I made sure to inform the staff as I was passing by. It’s clear that their new packaging methods are not preserving the cheese properly, which is unacceptable for a store of Selfridges’ caliber. The manager did offer me a tiny sliver of cheese to taste—no larger than a quarter of a matchstick—but this gesture felt more like an afterthought than genuine customer care. Unfortunately, this experience is emblematic of a broader decline in standards at Selfridges. Over the past 4-6 months, I’ve noticed subpar service, dirty counters, frequently out-of-order escalators, and disabled doors that never seem to work. The food hall, once a highlight, now feels understaffed and poorly managed. The staff often appear disheveled and disengaged, and the overall atmosphere is far from the luxury experience Selfridges is known for. It’s worth noting that the new owners need to put in a much stronger effort to halt this decline under their management As a long-time customer, it’s disheartening to see such a beloved institution lose its way.

After shopping, we were tired and wanted to avoid the rain so we went here to rest. When we sat down and tried to get the attention of the staff, they deliberately ignored us and kept us waiting for a while despite the cafe not being busy.

Love the place and the cake was delicious we had milk cake it was delish and our server Ayush he was very prompt and very kind! I highly recommend the place!

The atmosphere is really aesthetic and we tried dulche and saffron milk cake it was really good. And the server was really friendly as well. Definitely would recommend this place if you are visiting london.

Their coffee is delicious and their pastries are beautiful. I would like to thank the staff. I forgot my phone with them and they caught up with me after I left. Their treatment was more than wonderful.

We liked the cake and the coffee, excellent taste, nice staff

Salma was very good your the best thank you

Salma offered very good customer service! She was very polite and kind. Thank you!

The coffee and pasta were phenomenal. The manager, Freddy, was lovely and very attentive. Will deffo make this a regular spot.

Expensive cake, poorly sliced for £10. The photo is as it came, before I had started eating!

I come here all the time and absolutely love it usually. I’ve been eating here for years and always invite business partners here as well as family. They have changed my usual order of Caesar salad which was so good before and it now looks like a Tesco meal deal, the salad came and I was left with no choice but to complain as there was about 4 very thin pieces of chicken in it and the lettuce hadn’t even been cut. There was also broken crackers in it instead of the usual crouton sticks and no dressing. I asked the waitress to look at it and she agreed it didn’t look great and was very friendly and helpful and agreed to change to a chicken burger which is what my partner had ordered. I was happy with this. Then another member of staff came and started telling me he’s worked there for years (I’ve never seen him ) that the salad is always like that (not true) and proceeded to argue with me infront of other customers that I don’t go there all the time and that they will refuse to do the chicken burger already agreed and that I can just have the salad back. Unhappy customer.

Cute coffee shop with a great menu selection.

Lovely food and service by Ghaith. He made sure we had a lovely time

We had an amazing time ! Ive been there with my friend and freddy was a very nice and professional person!! Keep up the good work!

Everything was wonderful, I would especially like to mention the twins who were serving us, they did a phenomenal job, super friendly and helpful at all times. Thank you for this great service!

The staff at Elan are amazing! A special shoutout to the twins who work there – they are so friendly, professional, and always go out of their way to help. Thank you for the wonderful service!

Thanks to the twins😊 They are soo friendly and helpful😍 Very nice people and very nice cafe☕️🍰

Staff very welcoming and friendly

Visted today and the staff were lovely and gave amazing service even due to the busyness,Asal and Ahsan were consistently checking back with everyone making sure it was all perfect. A lovely experience would definitely come again

Freddy Such A Professional Man , He was So Welcoming and So Patient , We need This type of Service which gonna Encourage us to go out more and more Thanks Fresdy for making a great evening me and my son See you soon

Amazing place on Selfridge to relax and enjoy good food. The atmosphere is nice and the staff deliver a very good service

Very comfortable place, with good service and delicious cakes

Amazing place, the cakes are the so good Chris is the best

I had a great experience in this cafe in Selfridges Thanks :)

This cafe is pretty with floral decor all around and beautiful displays .The menu seems to have great food and patisserie options. The only thing I didn’t like at this place is the seating arrangement. Tables were too close leaving very little privacy to people . You could hear the conversations on the next table and it felt a little squashed . Price wise it’s typical of central London prices but not exactly cheap to be sitting like that ! . I have asked the waiter to move me to another table and he refused saying they haven’t open the other section , they had so many empty tables on the other side that we could use but instead they decided to squash every body on one side of the cafe . Still can’t make sense of this !!! I wouldn’t want to return to this particular store but maybe would want visit alternative locations

We had desserts, recommend for pastry and dessert.

I ordered a bad V60 coffee that tasted more like water than coffee Very beautiful milk cake Yes, I advise, but choose a better coffee than V60

£9 for a milk cake and yet you can’t sit and eat at 20:30 while the store closes at 21:00. They denying tables 30 mins earlier. Quite difficult to locate the cafe first of all. Then queue to be seated, expensive sugary oily desserts and no water being served after asking multiple times. Liked the Turkish delight drink though. The cake wasn’t anything extra ordinary for the price, in fact felt a little stale

I have to say one of my fav franchais cafe. Its got the pink girlie vibe you would love. Perfect for girlie events and family too. The menu is pretty extensive as well. We tried the salmon royale, square pastry with mushrooms and cheese- amazing taste. Completely recommend these ones. The cakes are aoft and moist and not too sweet. Had santa/christmas choc orange cake was a win. The fondant cover was soft and perfect. The Selfridges branch is a bit claustrophobic though.. i prefer one outside Harrods. A must go..

For a yum break while shopping, really good dishes and desserts, in a nice and “flowery” place

Ghaith was a really lovely waiter. He was very friendly, charming and attentive.

Served by Ghaith. Amazing friendly and helpful service. Fabulous food and drinks. Will come again soon.

This place is cute and cozy, and I really liked the vibe. The staff was pleasant and attentive. I recommend the rose matcha and iced coffee, but the cups were quite disappointing—small and ugly, especially considering they sell nicer glasses themselves. While the French toast and pancakes were tasty, we did find a hair in our pancake, but the staff handled it well and made us a new one. However, the food and drinks arrived later than others, which meant one of us had to watch everyone else eat—definitely not respectful. The desserts were good, but the savory dishes were lacking. We ordered the toast and shakshuka, and the portions were small for the price. Additionally, the staff was overly quick to clean our table and asked multiple times if they could take our cups away, which made us feel like they wanted us to leave. Overall, I’d recommend this place more for desserts than for food.

I have tried this cafe twice from two different locations still there sweetie looks great but tastes very very horrible. Services vary bad because of a lot of customers, they absolutely need more people to be able to improve their service.

Had a lovely brunch here today with mum. Food was excellent as was the service. Salma in particular went above and beyond and was extremely helpful. Thank you

A superb experience and a truly excellent brunch! It was very good and clean, and the service was great! Especially Salma who took great care of us! I will recommend the address to all my friends in Paris

Very disappointed. The place itself was so noisy. coffee was cold and the pastries was not fresh. We only sat for half an hour, then the waitress came asking us to pay the bill. Never again.

This chain cafe is located in the Selfridges on Bond Street, and this location is slightly larger than others, with a nice atmosphere. They offer a variety of cakes, desserts, and coffee for customers to choose from. However, the service was disappointing; it took a long time to find staff to take my order, and when I finally did, they seemed rushed and uninterested. Even checking out was a hassle, as there was no one at the register. The staff could benefit from being more attentive and friendly. The cakes were good, but the smoothies were disappointing. The coffee, on the other hand, was quite nice. Overall, it was an okay experience.

Moomin afternoon tea was flavourless and we were the first seated and the last served our food! Poor service, poor food. Rip off

E L & N Coffee Shop on Oxford Street in London is a delightful gem that offers an exceptional experience for coffee lovers and food enthusiasts alike. Here’s a detailed review of my visit: Atmosphere The ambiance at E L & N is nothing short of cozy and inviting. The interior is beautifully decorated, featuring a blend of modern aesthetics with charming touches that make it perfect for both casual meet-ups and romantic dates. The seating options are plentiful, with comfortable indoor seating as well as lovely outdoor spots that allow you to soak in the vibrant atmosphere of Oxford Street. Coffee and Food The coffee served here is top-notch, with a variety of specialty brews that cater to different tastes. I particularly enjoyed the rich flavor and smooth texture of my drink, which was expertly crafted by the baristas. As for the food, I indulged in a cheese and tomato croissant, which was fresh and delicious—perfectly flaky with a savory filling that left me wanting more. Additionally, I couldn't resist trying the saffron cake, which was simply amazing—moist, flavorful, and beautifully presented. The menu features an array of sandwiches and pastries, all made with high-quality ingredients. It's evident that great care goes into the preparation of each dish, making it a wonderful spot for brunch or a light lunch. Ideal for Conversations E L & N is an excellent place for two people who want to engage in meaningful conversation. The layout allows for some privacy despite being a popular spot, making it easy to enjoy quality time without feeling rushed or crowded. Overall, my experience at E L & N on Oxford Street was fantastic. With its amazing sandwiches, great coffee, and inviting atmosphere, it stands out as one of London's most enjoyable cafes. Whether you're looking for a cozy date spot or just a place to unwind with friends, E L & N is definitely worth a visit. Highly recommended!

I had a wonderful Moomin afternoon tea experience!!

Was served by Ghaith who was very lovely and friendly! He recommended the best times and was so professional! Great service will defo come back again

Thanks for SALMA, she was so great.

The staff is welcoming and friendly, even during busy times. The cakes are always flavorful and fresh, and the coffee and tea are excellent. The only downside is that the espresso could be better. Despite this, I always enjoy visiting whenever I’m in London.

A perfect place to spend an afternoon. If you love desserts and cafes, this is heaven for you. We tried the Chocolate Ganache and Pistachio Dulche de Leche with Greek Freddo Cappuccino and Matcha Rose Iced Latte. All of them were perfectly made and yum. EL&N becomes one of my favourite cafes in London. This branch is located inside the Selfridges and very popular among the shoppers. GO FOR IT ! ********UPDATED ********* We were mesmerized by the Classic Dulche de Leche, Pistachio Cake, Beetroot Latte, Red Velvet Latte and Chai. More photos added.

1- half of the menu was not available and the food took ages to be ready 2- the menu is based on avocado and they have no avocado 5 minutes later suddenly avocado appears 3- whatever was left to eat was very bad 4- desert was ok though Definitely i do not recommend specially if ur hungry or on a date Cheers

Great spot at the top of Selfridges. The service was excellent and the cakes are delicious. Be mindful they are rich and the portion sizes are large so ensure you don't order too much as it's expensive too!

Very busy. Quite tight. Food was great. Decent coffee. Tables are too close to each other. Reminds me of Pret style seating area.

Service is slow. No notice given to the table

Suxeyda and Salma was excellent

Salma and suweyda are so nice and really friendly

Suweyda and salma were great at Elan today! Very happy with the experience

Suweyda and salma were amazing, great service, yummy desserts!

Both Salam and Suweyda were super welcoming and friendly. They suggested some really good recommendations and took the time to check on us.

We had the hot chocolate experience here and it was lovely. Suweyda and salma couldn't have been more helpful... I asked for a takeout cup and they even topped it up with extra hot milk for me.

Great service ,very friendly server suweyda and salma were lovely

Great oreo frappes, and hot chocolates and amazing service from suweyda and salma

Food and drinks look amazing, we just stopped for a coffee was delicious - Suweyda and salma were super helpful

Beautiful place and staff especially salma and suadah

Suweyda and Salma were fantastic

Suweyda and salma were great. Lovely service!

Suwaida and Salma are the best!

suweyda was very good amazing service definitely come back for her

Suweyda was great and I enjoyed the experience :)

It was really good. We were treated really well and the service was impressively rapid. I wouldhighly recommend this place! Our amazing waitress was Suweydah

Suweyda was so kind and served us very quickly. Very warm and welcoming too. Thank you!

Food was delicious as usual, but the best thing is the service. Thank you so much for always being adorable

Salma & Suweyda was amazing I had a lovely time definitely coming back

Salma was very good thank you very much!! Excellent service

Had dessert here after lunch. Ordered a warm Nutella brownie and I got this

Excellent. Everything is very good! And the place is super beautiful. I'm taking one star off for the slightly high price.

Atmosphere is too good but desserts are 50/50. Liked the shake only.

Devil's Treats Amazing menu. There's so much interesting stuff we wanted to order. The savoury one was heated. Absolutely love the hot cheesy filling inside. Didn't eat the sweet one as it was served at room temperature. Personally I didn't like eating room temperature bread therefore packed it home to heat. It still held its shape after heated by the oven. Tasted as good as the savoury one. Full of filling like the savoury one too. Glad that EL&N cafe are not available outside London. Or will be close to type 2 diabetes.......

Salma is amazing great waitresss .would come back just for her 💕💕💕💕💕💕

I went to the el&n in Selfridges and l had the best experience with the waitress named Salma . She was quick and attentive and had nice smile made the place very welcoming . I was served quick and had nice lotus cake. Would definitely come again due to the nice hospitality by salma and also great cakes.

Love the place and love the service salma and suweyda were very nice I hope to see them again

Salma was perfecttttt thank you so much for your service

Salma served me she was really nice and sweet will be coming back again

Won’t be back After having the Jellycat Afternoon Tea Experience at EL&N in Selfridges, I am disappointed to say that it was unfortunately the worst afternoon tea experience I’ve ever had. After seeing various posts on social media, I hoped that this experience would be as good as it looked online but sadly it wasn’t. We were sat down pretty much straight away, but we were left with no drinks menus and it took 20 minutes for them to take our drinks orders. We had to ask for them to take our orders ourselves as the servers were being very inattentive even though it seemed like they weren’t doing anything. I saw them just standing around socialising with the baristas while we were sat literally opposite them waiting for a drink. It was very hard to get their attention which is why it took so long for us to order. When we finished these drinks we weren’t asked if we wanted more and had to ask ourselves. When I ordered another drink and very clearly said what I wanted and had it repeated back to me correctly, the wrong drink came out which usually wouldn’t bother me but combined with other issues it did irritate me quite a bit especially as they made it so slowly. The servers didn’t seem to care at all about our experience. It took half an hour after sitting down for us to be given our afternoon tea and drinks (the drinks came after the afternoon tea). The afternoon tea we both found to be of low quality. This is because the sandwiches had barely any filling and we found the cakes to be way too sickly with awful flavour. The scones were very small and we were initially given a dirty cream pot that had only a tiny bit of cream in it which I had to ask to be exchanged for a clean one. However, although I had issues with the afternoon tea itself, I did appreciate the decor and found the general atmosphere to be quite pleasing. It’s just a shame that the food and service did not meet expectations. I love Jellycats, but this experience definitely damaged my perception of the brand. The price certainly does not match the quality and I left feeling rather sick both physically from the overly-sickly pastries and mentally at the thought of the money I wasted on an awful experience.

I will thanks Freddy too much , he is very cooperation with me and very polite ,,, l love El& N , and l will come again and again ,,, thanks Freddy too much ,,,

Unusual cakes and a wide range of both food and desserts. Quite noisy with loud background noise, not very cozy. Ordinary, normal level of service, nothing special.

Dirty!! Attention the worst, 15 minutes for a coffee and a water, I had to ask twice for a glass and in the end go for it, which they forgot. More than 20 minutes for the cake, which they served me marked with a finger, and my coffee was already cold, the cutlery was dirty, I asked them to bring others and no matter, I had to take from another table, which two of the 3 forks that had been They were also dirty, one napkin for 3. Very nice atmosphere, but the service was pitiful. The soda fell on the table, the waitress passed by and acted as if she hadn't seen it. I don't recommend it.

Suweyda and salma were a delight and gave us some amazing recommendations .

Great food and ambience. Salma was a really pleasant host and the service was quick.

Suweyda and Salma were lovely and prompt!

Salma was very good thank youuuu

Suweyda and Salma and ahsannn were brilliant, lovely food and couldn’t have been more helpful, thank you ✨✨✨✨

Suweyda and salma really good service and handled us with care, 11/10 :D

Salma and suweyda was very good thann you for everything!!

This is the second time we went there. We tried the restaurant for the first time and loved the desserts and interior. They have lots of flowers on sofas and various of delicious desserts. Great place to have lunch and take pictures. So we went there again for my sister’s birthday and everything was brilliant. We had lunch and desserts. Special thanks to waitress and manager for their kind and excellent service. Beef burger is highly recommended, probably the most delicious and the softest burger I ever had in my life.

Best honey cake that you may have in London

Papaya thank you for today ! You have nice

Papiya gave us the best service she was so bubbly and gave us our food within 10 minutes the food was lovely we will definitely be coming back just for papiyas service.

Great service, great food. Papiya was just marvelous, made sure we had a great time😁

Service was good and my cake was good. I think there are better patisseries in the area. Can't comment on food as only had coffee and cake.

Papiya was amazing such incredible service! Efficient and friendly person. Delicious food too

Great food, thanks to our server papiya for the great recommendation! 💘

salma was perfectttt thank you so muchhh !!

Great Food. Staff were helpful and friendly.

Papaya did a fantastic job, made our experience even more enjoyable.