The Electric Elephant Cafe in Southwark

This is such a fabulous cafe- I grabbed an early morning coffee and cake before a workshop round the corner. the service and atmosphere is electric! The cafe is in such a historical part of town too. It got my morning off to a great start.

This place is amazing and definitely worth a visit if you like to try something a bit different and quirky! Aside the delicious, fresh homemade food and warm welcome from the staff, this little gem of a cafe is curious, captivating and delightful. The Electric Elephant Café is tucked away from the hustle and bustle of London life just off the Walworth Road in one of the rare, historic Pullen’s Yards. The beautiful collection of Victorian tenements and craft studios enjoy conservation status and the local community has planned regular open studio events to showcase local artists and musicians, with the café at the heart of the celebrations. Reflecting the crafts’ heritage of the yard, the cosy café is crammed with artwork and knickknacks; it has a homely and relaxed vibe with a stunning outside seating area in the cobbled, leafy Pullen’s Yard. The café owner, Louisa, is great - she has boundless energy and a passion for her café - which shows in the wholesome food she prepares. From friendly conversations during my visit, it’s evident that the regular customers cherish this lovely little café at the heart of their community. Love it!

The most amazing bread pudding, sadly sells out quickly so as a consolation try the melt in the mouth chocolate brownie or zingy polenta cake.

Nice enough coffee but way too expensive! Wanted to try to support a local business but ended up paying more for coffee than I have in my entire life.....no exaggeration.

Mi hijo menor, su compañero y yo, visitamos aquí el jueves pasado, en nuestro camino hacia el Plan de escape en el Illife Yard adyacente y fue tan bueno que volvimos después. Este es un café ultra acogedor, encantador, con su ambiente cálido y acogedor, dirigido por una dama simplemente encantadora para quien nada es demasiado problema. Casualmente, un amigo de mi hijo una vez vivió a la vuelta de la esquina y solía frecuentar el café, su nombre es "Mark", aunque olvido su apellido y es el doble del difunto gran Rick Mayall. Se ofreció mucha comida deliciosa, ¡tuve una excelente dona!

Went in for a drink and had a fantastic cup of tea. Quaint - yes, slightly odd - yes, a bit old and tied - yes. We had good friendly service and other customers could be heard saying they also enjoyed what they had.

Having read the reviews and cycled past this cafe several times, I was eager to try it. I was sorely disappointed and only give it 2 stars because the guy serving was doing his very best with poor supplies. We arrived for Saturday lunch and ordered a smoked salmon salad and humus/falafel salad. The guy did tell us there were no falafels, so I decided just to have the humus. The salad sounded delicious, so I thought there would plenty there to make it reasonable for the price. When it arrived, he mumbled an apology that most of the ingredients were not available. What arrived amounted to one tbsp humus, limp lettuce, a few julienned bits of cucumber, a very few cubes of beetroot and, nothing else. My husband's smoked salmon was a bit better, but nowhere near what was on the menu. Additionally the tables were dirty and the service was really slow. Another staff member arrived later with a big bag of what I hope was additional supplies and we could hear her arguing with the guy about offering us a reduction for our poor meal. She didn't even see what he served us, so how could she comment and certainly not within our hearing. We paid and left, but will struggle to recommend this cafe to anyone. Your images here and on FB look great, but a distance to travel to the reality we experienced. A real shame

Dirty old cafe I wouldn't eat there, coffee is cold. Bread tastes like cardboard and to expensive , you can go to any cafe along the walworth road and get a healthy breakfast for half the price and your clothes dont smell like grease.

This was a great find that my friend and I stumbled on when we were wedding dress shopping. We enjoyed our coffees so much, we went back after the wedding dress appointment for a vegetarian full english. My only slight niggle is that it was a bit slow but we weren’t in a rush and I was very happy to be supporting a local business.

I went to the Electric Elephant looking for somewhere to work that would be quiet but not formal. I was intrigued because the interior is fascinating and quirky and, at first, the owner was a perfect mix of extremely friendly and knowing when to leave me in peace. I had assumed it would be peaceful because of the focus on vegan and healthy food and the place's apparent ethos. The problems developed over the course of the day. The owner struggled to communicate with staff and berated them publicly. This went from tense words to her swearing loudly, becoming visibly upset and storming out on several occasions. This took place in the small, main cafe rather than in a back room. The diners were all looking at each other in surprise. The first meal I had was okay and was prettily presented (not that that is a priority for me). I was put off my second one because someone else in the cafe returned something they had ordered. I couldn't hear why, but the owner apologised profusely, said she hadn't been able to see the food properly and blamed the presentation. She offered to replace the meal but the person left instead. I left most of my meal after that as I was unnerved. I'd partly bought it because I wanted to help, but then things got worse as I ate. This has the potential to be a lovely cafe. That said, while I appreciate the difficulties that may be experienced, these really need to be handled differently - I'm partly writing for the benefit of other potential clients as it finished up a very stressful experience. I haven't emailed directly because this is apparently an ongoing issue and needs to be resolved. If your staff aren't competent, find someone else to do the job. I wish them luck for the future and hope things improve for them.

Location was fantastic and the cafe itself was full of character - unfortunately the food let it down as did the clinging smell of fat on my clothes! It’s a real shame.

We went there to get a true English breakfast and boy, we weren’t disappointed! Two sweet ladies cooked our orders just right there, and everything was absolutely delicious. We had a 5 yo kid with us, he said it smelled like at his grandma’s kitchen in the morninf. I couldn’t agree more. It not quick but if you’ve got time it is definitely worth your wait.

My family of 4 chose an unfortunate day to go to The Electric Elephant Cafe and had a terrible breakfast. We walked into a smoke-filled room with a frazzled manager obviously struggling with inexperienced and not enough staff. We all ordered an Eggs Benedict plate. The food took FOREVER and during the wait we noticed a staff member running to the store to purchase more ingredients! Half of our order arrived and my son and I had the displeasure of trying to eat a watery & sour hollandaise sauce. It took another 10 minutes before my husband and other son were served their orders. The smoke in the room was so thick they were opening windows and doors. The restaurant was overcrowded with furniture and very dirty. Other guests were walking out or angrily asking for their bill. The only positive was the coffee.

A traditional English breakfast Set me up nicely for the day. Cosy, local and quaint cafe with retro music.

From the email request to book a table (advised for a group as this place is busy) the service was great. Quick response and when we arrived super friendly staff and amazing menu with great choice for vegetarians as well. All food was freshly cooked and was delicious.

Stop by here for a quick breakfast a few days ago. Got here early - which was good, because they filled up fast. The service was so sweet, the food delicious and the atmosphere perfect. If I am ever in the area again, I will...

A group of us stopped for lunch and sat outside which was nice and the courtyard area has flowers etc. We ordered fairly quickly however after 30 minutes none of us had our drinks. It took a whopping hour and 20 minutes to get our...

Lovely location on a cobbled mews, good English breakfast (both meat and veggie options), and friendly service.

This cafe truly is a hidden gem in a bad part of London (in my opinion). Me and my colleague had some lovely freshly squeezed home made juice and freshly prepared sandwiches. Extremely friendly staff and a lovely quirky cafe.

You've got to love shabby chic but do not let the first impression deter you. Breakfast is delicious and on the weekend you can sit outside. We loved it and went there 3 times in 5 days.

The atmosphere of this little cafe reminds me of a garage sale, in the best way possible! Mismatched furniture and wall decorations give the space a very unique feel. I had the vegetarian English breakfast and it was fantastic. The staff was very friendly as...

went off to london for the day and whilst we were in elephant and castle we stumbled upon a lovely cafe, which was a lovely change to the usual chain cafes. lovely staff, good food and it was competitively priced - had 2 big full...

After doing the Escape room upstairs we called in for a late lunch . 7 of us but we were made to feel welcome and the tables rearringed to fit us all in. A range of hot food was on offer and welcome on the...

A character-filled local cafe. No two mugs are the same and the furniture is charmingly mismatched but the food is professional and reliable. Good service good coffee. The antithesis of the soulless chain cafes. What’s not to like?

Very good choice of fresh juices and both sweet and salt breakfasts. Amazing poached eggs and brownees. The waitresses are very nice and you can modify the menù and combine food in evry possible way.

The cafe is located across the road from my apartment which makes it a regular spot for the last 2 years! Noticed some of the older post on here talking about staff slowness. However, recently there have been a lot of new hires in the...

At the beginning it went ok. Got a nice place, menu and could order quickly. Then it started. 2 out of 5 people got their breakfast after 20 min (simple omlette and toast with jam). The rest of us got foo after 45 min and...

A perfect spot for a relaxed breakfast or place to grab a coffee and do some work. They have a great full English breakfast (both a meat and veggie option - which includes a great veggie sausage). The owner was there and we had a...

The cafe is tucked away behind Walworth Road near the Elephant and Castle. Good coffee, breakfasts and other food are available all day. There is a lovely ambience with a relaxed atmosphere and friendly service.

I called in for a healthy juice and bite to eat. Nestled into an old cobbled street full of art and design studios, it couldn't be better located. It wasn't busy, yet took 20mins before my order was taken. Whilst waiting I listened to the...

We nipped in here for a quick coffee and quite liked it. It's got a nice, homey atmosphere and their menu looked lovely - I definitely think we'll go back to try the food sometime. The staff were friendly and service quick. The hot chocolate...

We were 2 friends and me by chance because we were staying near to the cafe. All the staff were very friendly to us, peacefull and kind. The food, AMAZING !, I could say they make the best Eggs Benedic I have ever tasted. All...

I've put the type of visit as business but it wasn't really. It was a meet up before we visited Escape Plan above this shop as the first part of a team away-day. It's always nice when you get a friendly greeting and that's exactly...

From the outside seems a lovely local place. I'm living in the area and wanted to check it out for a long time. After my frist visit today I'm probably never be back again. I've been there around 11 am for a breakfast, the place...

Start with the pros: This cafe has a really nice suburban location and the courtyard on a sunny day is a beautiful and relaxing place to sit. Good range of pastries and a varied menu Cons: Until the price point is corrected I simply can't...

The cafe is small, served rather mediocre coffee and slight not very good pastry(it feels like it was in a bad not the fresh one that you might expect) at a rather high price for the quality. A thing that bothers me is the decor,...

Had lunch here after going to the "Escape game" above the cafe. It was a special occasion, my sons 18th birthday, so I emailed Louisa to ask if she could reserve us a table. She was so obliging and helpful and offered to make a...

We loved this place. Coffee is very good, the food is good and the people are nice, which is rare in London.

I went in here to get a takeaway sandwich having visited previously and had an excellent lunch. The food is very nice though it a little cramped. Also the opening time are every day and not as advertised here. The menu is extensive but not...

The service was not particularly attentive however by no means unfriendly. The meals were average quality and the cafe was slightly unclean. The ambience was very cool and the price was reasonable.

My first time but not my last. Went here for a meeting as I had found this place online. great service from the lovely Manager/Owner. Good fresh food on the menu and a nice homely feel. I got so carried away chatting that I left...

We stumbled across this café as we were booked into the escape plan & arrived early, we're so glad we did! Delicious hot chocolate, tea, coffee, donuts, chocolate brownie & apple cake enjoyed. Thank you x

We found this quirky cafe to have a quick bite pre escape plan experience and loved it! Hate these big chain cafes so this was right up our street. Great choice of freshly prepared food ( shame there were no sausage rolls available!) and the...

Was staying locally and decided to try here for breakfast, poached eggs and rye toast, lovely. The most amazing smells when you walk in, a great mix of spices. Seems to be popular with locals, which is always a good sign.

Found this quirky cute cafe by accident and so glad I did! I hate the big coffee shop chains, so this is perfect. Very eclectic, like sitting in someones parlour in the 70's, very tired and tatty but that's kind of the point! The paninis,...

A great place, right inside an artists mews, locally owned and well known in the community, this is a little gem hidden away approx 10 mins walk from E&C station (5 mins if you are a fast walker! :-)) Absolutely amazing, especially the cakes &...

Ate here with two vegans and one meat-eater. Food was great (we had the full breakfast), was able to replace the halloumi and omelet for an extra sausage and extra tomato. Juices and coffee were good too. Service is slow, but the food is worth...

Nice laid back independent cafe with personality. The staff were very friendly and helpful and the food was so good! The menu offers some interesting dishes (try something new), some nice vegetarian options as well as your usual breakfast/lunch things. It is also very good...

Great local cafe, hip & close to the Interactive Urban Game Hall. This cafe is friendly with freshly cooked food & a real community atmosphere. It's a trad cafe serving yummy food with friendly staff. The customers are chatty too. I liked the bubble &...

This quirky cafe was just around the corner from where we were staying. We went in for Sunday brunch, and had a lovely experience! The owner was very friendly and helpful, and the food was great (fantastic coffee and fresh juices too)! I had the...

we visited for a drink on our way to the Escape Plan. We didn't have much time which was a shame as the food looked good so we had the home made lemonade which was lovely. The decor was cute and individual, way more interesting...

The view from my patio overlooks the cafe, I have been in there a few times, they do a good selection of pastries and cakes and their coffee is good. Their meals are quite expensive so I only go there occasionally as a treat.

An incredible visit no matter what time of the year, with friends or on your own mulling the (many) papers. Food is consistently enjoyable, staff so friendly.

I was too happy that finally I had found a nice, cozy café in my new area... I had planned to go for breakfast today, but this experience really let me down and I do not think I will come back. The online menu is...

We went here today for lunch. 4 people behind the counter, not sure what they were doing, as we sat down at a really dirty table which I had to clear and wipe down myself. Coffee was good at least. We had falafel and hummus...

The owner welcomed us with a nice warming smile. The waitresses were not attentive and we waited 20 minutes for some water and extra 50 for 2 poached eggs. The quality of the food was ok. The foaming hollandaise was basically egg yolk.

This cafe is tucked away in a spot that requires a search. The atmosphere is eclectic. A small little cafe but plenty of seating outside in good weather. Food made with fresh ingredients. The lemonade is tasty. Try the Brie and tomato panini. The watercress...

The food was OK. We liked the range having visited with a vegan and 2 vegetarians. The cafe setting was a little bit too rustic for my taste and the outside seating was a bit of a hazard on the cobbles.

quiet, low key, welcoming, delicious home made juices, scrambled egg on toast, would like to keep this place secret as its just great

It's like a tiny slice of Hoxton has been transported to Walworth. Perhaps it doesn't know just how hip it comes across. Friendly staff, interesting menu with good, proper ingredients (the bacon and egg sandwich was brilliant, likewise the chilli jam) served with no fuss...

We moved very close to the Electric Elephant Cafe and decided to grab a coffee there. I was very pleased by the person taking care of the venue. A lovely lady, incredibly polite and nice. I will definitely return because of the service. Coffee was...

Food was okay and service was efficient and friendly. Changed my order with no problem. I feel relaxed and able sip my coffee as the table emptied. It's a tiny place and I could hear senior staff reprimanding someone. Wasn't very enticed by the veggie...

Had breakfast here. Relaxed and idiosyncratic atmosphere. Very good and fresh juices. Nice breakfast and coffee. Cash only. Recommended!

Just had breakfast. The place has no fan and no ventilation meaning it is smoke filled requiring a shower and clothes clean. One walks out smelling like a fry pan. When I mentioned this the owner was dismissive and down right rude.

We stopped here for a coffee and some breakfast before playing Escape Plan. Food was freshly cooked to order and whilst not cheap was thoroughly enjoyable. Had a quirky ambience and the staff were friendly. It made a nice change from a Costa or a...

Me and my family popped into this cafe for a quick coffee and breakfast before going into Escape Plan. The juices were made fresh and the food and coffee were excellent. Really loved my bubble and squeak on toast with egg. We are planning to...

A group of us went to this cafe for lunch ... the food was fabulous, with something for everyone including the Vegans and the Gluten frees among us! Great service too.

This small but very friendly cafe serves delicious food and drinks, mostly freshly made from tasty ingredients.

great cafe down by the victorian workshops of Iliffe Yard and the Escape Plan. awesome spiced apple cake.

Friendly service,lots of atmosphere,good gup of coffee. We sat outside in the cobbled yard watching the world go by. Very relaxing. Made welcome. Will certainly try the breakfast next time we are in the area. Cakes looked good to.

The best in the neighbourhood, nothing else compares! Wonderful coffee and cakes, soups and welcoming atmosphere guarantees a great result.

Me and my daughter went because she wanted to try a real English breakfast once string or stay. It was lovely, the place, the staff, the menu. I had scramble eggs with salmon and a pot of tea. Would love to come back.

Great menu. Delicious food Cosy, welcoming and highly recommended. We all had paninis and they were the best we had tasted. Very friendly and attentive staff.

Really good food, but very slow service. Pretty cool little cafe in Kennington. Stopped in for a coffee & some brunch on a Saturday morning, but took about 25 mins to arrive. Food was excellent when it arrived.

The Electric Elephant isn't always the quickest service, neither do any of the chairs, tables, plates etc match. So, it's a bit rough round the edge in some places, which I quite like. However, I've eaten three evening meals here and the cooking is absolutely...

Suggested the cafe for brunch to my friend after not being for a couple of years or so Seemed as before on surface as a 'local folks' cafe, Nice coffee mugs etc but then saw price of full English breakfast. Wow it had doubled so...

I work near the Electric Elephant and have been a couple of times for my morning coffee. I decided to stop getting my coffee from there since I was charged more than £4 for a large and informed that 'no, actually, it is not' when...

Shabby chic taken to it's extreme, potentially great cafe but on my afternoon visit the 'cake' choice amounted to a chocolate brownie or a limited range of pastries - the impressive online cake menu was nowhere to be seen. Latte was so ridiculously hot (as...

Superb find and a great place to relax, nothing else quite like it. No Pret but all the better for it.

I wish lived or worked nearer to this cafe because I'd be in it all the time (but maybe not so good for my figure...). I often pop in here on a Sunday on my way back from East Street Market. Excellent coffee, delicious breakfast...

I'd walked by so many times on my way to the post office, but never noticed it. But this morning saw a lady preparing it for opening and curious as I am, went back to see what it was. To my surprise, I found this...

I was in the area for a course and we went here for lunch every day (4 days). It is quite a small place with a very cosy and eclectic feel. Staff were very friendly and helpful and the menu had a good selection of...

Went here as it was a nice sunny day in 2014. Wanted to try this out as it was recommended (and also not recommended...) by my fellow building residents. The appearance of the cafe is very quaint and retro. Looks like a homely cafe. You...

The electric elephant is a very cosy and nice cafe and the english breakfast is one of the best i have tried in london - pity they only do it on sundays. The outside area is great as well.

I was visiting the Elephant & Castle area for the day on a Saturday with my family and was looking for a cafe to sit down and have a drink. Not knowing the area and not seeing anything appropriate within eyesight I found this place...

I live just a short hop skip and a jump away, off the busy, bustling Walworth Road, and have been looking for a new local cafe off the beaten path. In terms of location and aesthetics, this place fits the bill perfectly. It's just a...

We stopped by this café while cycling back from central London. Just a stone's throw from the loud, busy Elephant & Castle, it shelters in a quiet, cobbled yard over the years has probably seen more coaches and horses than our town bikes. The vegetable...

I have been here twice. I thought after the 1st time I would try it again. The service is slow and near on non existent. The food was dry and warmed up rather than cooked freshly. I wouldn't ever visit again. Terrible terrible!!!!

We have been to Pullen's yard a couple of times and not been into this cafe although it always has a good trade. It's a relaxed pace, so don't expect overly speedy service, it can get quite cramped inside although on warmer days there is...

Despite living in the area for over a year I have only just made it to this café. Off the beaten track from Walworth Road, you need to know where it is. Compared to what is in the local area it is a very nice...

We came here for a fry up after reading the reviews on an Internet search engine. This place is set back a bit from the main streets, but is quirky and has an interesting interior. I'd seen the prices online and thought it was a...

So much potential but terrible customer service. The location next to the artist studio is great, the food is good and well priced. But the customer service is just awful. Sometimes staff out number the customers and the struggle to take orders or take payment....

We went to the Electric Elephant on the day we got back from honeymoon as we didn't feel like cooking and had always wanted to try it. It did not disappoint! I had the falafel salad and he had the a pannini. Both were yummy...