a greenhouse cafe - reading and matcha amongst plants

Harvest & Co is a very well-known cafe, nothing secretive about it. Though I do pride myself in searching and locating quaint lesser-known cafes. 

This cafe is located within one of the bigger plant shops in Dubai, off Sheikh Zayed Road. As you enter the shop, rows of plants greet you. Rubber plants. Fiddle Figs. Birds of Paradise. And as you try not to get distracted, you have to stop once in a while to admire a plant. Healthy, glossy. They look happy.

The cafe, at first glance, look ordinary. But as you finally step toward the back, you realize you are inside a glass house, surrounded by plants on all sides. In a city like Dubai, this is a privilege.

I sat in a corner, ordered a matcha and a cheese and leek toastie. I had my book. I had my sketch pad.

I read and drew, both. I´m still not able to not be distracted easily. But my attention span has improved so much over the months.

I lost track of time. I sat in the cafe for a good 2-3 hours. I would place my book down once in a while and just look around. Couples. Vloggers. Friends. Families.

The staff was very nice, service was good, food seemed fresh. When I walked in, I liked that there were others reading books.

A lovely place to spend a few good hours.

Have you been to Harvest & Co? Will you go back?

in and around london, cafes, matcha and some banana bread

Let me first clarify the banana bread. I bought a banana bread from Paris Baguette at the Canary Wharf station. I was in a rush, did not think much. That banana bread turned out to be a very good decision. It was freshly made, soft, moist, the perfect amount of sweetness, the perfect amount of choco-chips added.

I went back a few times; I never quite found the same one again. It was never fresh, always a day late. Or I had made such a big deal about it in my head, I was never satisfied again.

Matcha, on the other hand, I did find some great spots. Some photos to show my appreciation.

I also visited the London Coffee Festival with a friend. Suffices to say that I did not sleep that night. I must've tried coffee from around the world, at least 30 different types of beans.

I went back quite a few times to Kiss the Hippo. This photo was taken as it was pouring in London. I think I was at the Spitalfields store.

My first time at a coffee festival. I had way too much.

When in Cotswolds, you have to sit by the water like a local (tourist?) and have some matcha.

Never ate another banana bread that satiated me,

London is full of small cafes with quaint gardens and old buildings.

By the last few days in London, I realized I had had too much matcha.

Cafes in every corner.

Literally every corner.

I think this was my last matcha overlooking Hampstead Heath 

Some time ago, I had a moment. I came back home to Dubai and craved sitting in Kiss the Hippo, in the rain and drinking matcha. Only one of those 3 is easily possible in Dubai. I do miss it.