Funny Weather Books and Coffee: Hampstead's New Bookshop Cafe

Funny Weather Books and Coffee in Hampstead

I recently shared a roundup of some of the best new bookshops to open in London and felt fairly confident I’d caught the key openings of the past year.

Happily, I was soon proved wrong.

There were several more I’d missed!

Yes, more new London bookshops!

There was one in particular that I was most excited to discover, which was Funny Weather Books and Coffee, located on Grove Terrace at the bottom corner of Hampstead Heath.

So I’m delighted (truly) to be sharing another new bookshop café opening in London with you.

And this one that feels particularly special if you, like me, have a soft spot for Hampstead, long walks, and ending up somewhere warm with a book and a good drink.

First Impressions of Funny Weather Books and Coffee

It’s hard to miss Funny Weather Books and Coffee as the storefront is painted a wonderfully bright yellow colour.

I got off the bus, and there it was, directly across the street from me, practically glowing.

The windows were steamed up, but through the glass I could see two friends sitting together, drawing.

I already knew this was going to be a new fave in North London!

When I pushed open the door, I was surprised to find that the café was already buzzing.

There was a small queue for coffee, couples chatting softly, young families sharing pastries. It felt warm and lived-in despite the fact that it was brand new and had literally only been open for a week.

I already loved it.

And then I spotted the sign.

Books this way.

I didn’t need to be told twice!

Funny Weather Bookshop

You enter Funny Weather Books through the café, but just beyond it lies the real heart of the space: a surprisingly expansive bookshop that opens out in a way you don’t expect from the outside.

There’s an array of fiction and non-fiction titles on offer. The fiction doesn’t appear to learn towards any genre in particular, with the only requirement for inclusion seemingly being that it’s a bloody good book.

Every shelf has a few books with the cover facing out, and I know I can trust the owners’ taste because the books facing out included some of my favourites like Sunburn, Small Things Like These, and Sunrise on the Reaping.

It’s always a reassuring sign when a bookshop seems to share your taste!

As for non-fiction, you’ll find shelves dedicated to cookbooks, history and politics, social issues, biography, art and fashion.

Further into the shop is a small alcove dedicated to very young children’s books, and it’s one of the nicest children’s reading spaces I’ve seen in a bookshop café.

There’s soft cushioned seating, curtains framing the space, and little stars hanging on bunting overhead.

While I was there, a father and son were sitting inside, reading aloud together, which is a testament to just how cosy it is.

Inside Funny Weather Bookshop in Hampstead

There are a few more children’s books elsewhere in the shop, up to around young teen level, but it doesn’t really stray that far into young adult.

Like the rest of Funny Weather Books, it feels intentional and considered rather than trying to be everything to everyone.

Funny Weather Cafe

By around 11:30am, it was clear to me that the opening had gone very well.

There were no seats left in the café, and most of the table space in the bookshop was taken too.

People were working quietly, reading, chatting softly, or enjoying a slow morning with their children.

It was busy, but not overly so, and I happily got on with a spot of work without issue.

The café area has the feel of an old cottage kitchen: warm, homely, and unfussy.

St Johns Bakery goods at Funny Weather Cafe in Hampstead

The baked goods come from St John Bakery, a London institution, which is another good sign.

I opted for the apple bun, which was perfect for breakfast – not too sweet, slightly tart, and finished with a light dusting of icing sugar.

I also ordered a chai latte, and was genuinely delighted when Celeste handed me a very large mug, generously covered in cinnamon.

11/10 for extra large mugs of coffee.

Girl working inside Funny Weather Books and Coffee in Hampstead

The Owners of Funny Weather

Funny Weather is owned by Celeste and Ed, and I was lucky enough to spend a few minutes chatting to Celeste about the space and how the opening had gone.

Celeste is exactly the sort of person you hope to own your local bookshop café – warm, welcoming, and clearly passionate about what they’ve created.

We chatted briefly about the renewed desire people seem to have for visiting real bookshops again, for being in physical spaces, and for slowing down.

I mentioned that I’d been considering buying a DVD player, and she told me that she and Ed have around 400 CDs stored under their bed!

It was one of those relatively short conversations that somehow told me everything I needed to know about the place.

Funny Weather Books doesn’t feel curated for Instagram first and readers second.

It feels lived-in, loved, and rooted in genuine enthusiasm for books, conversation, and community.

Seating area at Funny Weather Bookshop in Hampstead

Final Thoughts

Funny Weather Books feels like it has opened fully formed.

And that’s likely because it offers something the community had been waiting for: a beautifully curated bookshop, a warm and inviting café, and a space that you want to linger in all day (as I did!).

Part of what makes Funny Weather Books so special, for me, is its location. Sitting at the bottom of Hampstead Heath, it is perfectly placed for either a pre- or post-walk stop.

So, if you’re heading to Hampstead Heath, or simply looking for one of the best new bookshop cafés in London, Funny Weather Books is absolutely worth seeking out – and for me, a North London girlie, it’s already cemented itself as a firm favourite.