Fable & Falcon: New Bookshop Cafe in North London

First thoughts on London’s newest bookshop cafe in Chalk Farm.

London is no stranger to beautiful bookshops, but every now and then, one opens that immediately feels special.

The kind of place you want to linger in, return to, and quietly recommend to people who will appreciate it properly.

Fable & Falcon, which opened its doors in North London today, is very much that kind of place.

I visited within the first hour of opening and was surprised to find that the cafe was fairly busy.

A good sign!

The space was gently finding its rhythm, but it was already clear that this is a thoughtfully designed bookshop café with real attention paid to atmosphere, quality, and curation.

First impressions & vibe

Let’s start with the vibe, because it really is unmatched. The space is beautifully styled, leaning into a rich, cosy aesthetic rather than the ultra-minimal look so many cafés default to.

Think dark brown wooden tables and chairs, exposed brick, and marble countertops – basically the vibe I want in my own home.

The café’s storefront is entirely glass, and combined with the large arched mirrors inside, the space is flooded with natural light. It’s bright and airy but still cosy enough to want to settle down with a good book.

Along the cafe walls, shelves display a few small pieces of art alongside striking blue-and-white plates, which add a homely feel to the space.

Nothing feels accidental here; you can tell a lot of care has gone into shaping the atmosphere and overall aesthetic.

Even the bathroom is aesthetic, and I appreciated that feminine hygiene products are available in there, too.

You could easily while away a few hours in this place (as I did!). You’ll come for a coffee and a pastry and look up hours later, wondering where the afternoon went.

The food & drink: elevated café classics

The coffee and matcha menu deserves special mention. Alongside all the classic coffees you’d expect, there’s an interesting selection of more playful options.

Think banana cloud matcha, tiramisu matcha, hazelnut cold foam latte, and salted vanilla cold foam latte – indulgent drinks that match the aesthetic.

I went for an iced matcha latte, which was excellent. The matcha is made properly, whisked with real matcha powder in front of you rather than pre-mixed or overly sweetened.

Food-wise, I tried one of their sandwiches, The Favourite, priced at £10.50. It is on the pricier side, but it’s also very generous.

Filled with burrata, hot honey, pistachio, prosciutto, and chillis, it was genuinely delicious. The bread was super fluffy, the burrata perfectly creamy, and there was just enough heat from the chillies to give it a kick without overpowering the other flavours.

It felt indulgent and satisfying – very much a proper lunch rather than a light café bite.

If you’re just popping in for a quick coffee, there are plenty of sweet treats on offer too: pastel de nata, croissants, lemon cake, and the most tempting iced cinnamon buns, which I struggled to resist.

The bookshop itself

At the back of the café, through an arched cut-out in the wall, you’ll find the bookshop – and it’s a lovely reveal. Floor-to-ceiling shelves line the space, with an additional bookshelf in the centre overflowing with titles.

While it’s not a huge bookshop, the selection is clearly well curated.

There’s a strong focus on fiction, with classics (including Everyman Classics), recent releases, fantasy, young adult, and general fiction all represented.

There were also a few ‘blind date with a book’ options, which are perfect as gifts. I always test myself with these to see if I can guess what’s inside!

It’s a bookshop that invites browsing; no one’s bothering you or rushing you.

Service & final thoughts

The staff were friendly and welcoming, perhaps a little slower than usual as they get used to everything, which is completely to be expected given I visited within the first hour of opening.

Overall, Fable & Falcon already feels like it’s going to become a favourite of mine.

I have long lamented the lack of bookshop cafes in London compared to cities like New York, and whilst a few more have opened up in recent years, they seem to predominantly be in South or East London, rather than North London.

So, the North West London girlie in me is very happy to have a new bookshop cafe close by!

It’s a place for slow mornings, solo reading dates, catch-ups with friends, and those days when you just want to be somewhere beautiful with a good coffee and an even better book.

If you love bookshop cafés with character, warmth, and genuinely good food and drink, this one is well worth a visit – and I suspect it won’t stay a secret for long.

Address
70 Chalk Farm Rd
Chalk Farm
London NW1 8AN

Opening Hours

Socials
https://www.instagram.com/fableandfalcon/

Check out this post for more new London bookshops that opened in 2025!

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