Cafe in the Crypt, St. Martin in the Fields, London

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Last visit July 2011

Located right in the heart of Trafalgar Square, Cafe in the Crypt in St. Martin in the Fields is a terrific place to start off the day with a full English breakfast or a la carte items. It's kind of funky eating in the crypt, in the middle of breakfast I looked down and realized we were eating right on top of a tombstone!!! Breakfast is served Monday-Saturday 8am-11am. They are also open for lunch, afternoon tea and dinner.

Favorite Dish: The full English breakfast consists of bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs, grilled tomato, baked beans, field mushroom, black pudding (ha, ha, ask someone what this is AFTER you try it), toast and a choice of tea or coffee or freshly squeezed orange juice for £6.25. It was way more food than I could eat and I wasn't even hungry for lunch either day that I ate it.

We stopped here for afternoon tea in January 2008, the bread and butter pudding with custard was very good but the tea plate pastries weren't so good, the scone was too heavy, the chocolate torte a little too rich and neither of us liked the cake with fruit.

In July 2011 we stopped for lunch, the menu changes daily and there are a couple of hot choices, salads and sandwiches.

To enter the Crypt, either walk down stairs or take the lift, and walk through to the restaurant. It is cool down there with memorials to the dead underfoot- some who died in the 1600s- and with the stone vaulted ceiling above
The menu offers salads, vegetarian or hot meals from 11am-3pm.
There is breakfast available from 8am and dinner in the evening. Afternoon tea is also served. Queue to get served, and then find a table.

Favorite Dish: Barbecued chicken with baked potatoes, courgettes and leeks with an optional tomato and coriander sauce. Very tasty indeed.

If you find yourself in need of some nourishment whilst in the vicinity of Trafalgar Square, head for St Martin-in-the-Fields church, where you will find an inviting café hidden away in the crypt.

Café in the Crypt is a self-service café, offering a good range of hot and cold meals, snacks and drinks. Pop in for a hearty lunch after a morning spent at the National Gallery, or perhaps try their traditional afternoon tea of scones with jam and clotted cream.

You enter the café via a doorway at the side of the church and descend the stone steps to the cavernous chamber. This 18th Century atmospheric crypt has brick-vaulted ceilings, pillars and even gravestones on the floor!

Favorite Dish: We just popped in for a coffee one day. The cafe was filled with people enjoying a late lunch or afternoon tea.

There is also a small gallery where you can have a browse pre or post meal.

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This beautiful gothic-style church has a large and ancient crypt beneath it, with brick-vaulted arched ceilings, pillars and gravestones beneath one's feet.

It really is a unique and delightful experience!

Favorite Dish: I have heard from fellow VTers that the full english breakfast is very good (and not badly priced either!).

I have been there for lunch myself, where I have had the yummy homemade soup and roll one day... and another time, their tasty full roast.

Veges were cooked well (but not overdone), the beef was tender and the potatoes oh so yummy.

It was good value for money, and albeit a bit busy (but then what do you expect from a Central London favourite cafe?? haha), is well worth a visit!

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This landmark church crypt with its brick-vaulted ceilings, pillars and gravestones on the floor is not a place one would put a cafe there. St Martins in the Field Cafe is the home for the Cafe at the Crypt, certainly strange and a bit disconcerting sitting at talbles and chairs placed over and amoung the gravesites of people long ago. We arrived early to have a traditional "English Breakfast" for very little money.

Typical Prices in BPS (British Pound Sterling):
Hot Main Course 5.95-7.50 includes three vegetables
Main Course Salads 6.75
House wine 2.95 per glass or 11.50 per bottle

No-smoking area. Children welcome. Major credit cards accepted.

Opening Times:
Monday - Wednesday 8.00am - 8.00pm
Thursday - Saturday 8.00am - 10.30pm
Sunday 12 noon - 8.00pm

Favorite Dish: The traditional English breakfast consisted of: beans, scrambled eggs, toast, bacon, black pudding, and mushrooms, the 2 latter items I graciously declined. Kristi (dabs) who is what I would classify as an "epicuriean" tried the black pudding prior to asking Stace (beach_dog) what is was. She did not finish it but I give her credit for a good "try" which is more than I would have done.

Cafe-in-the-Crypt is a great place to meet, right nextdoor to Trafalgar Square. And beneath St Martin-in-the-Fields church! It is very spacious, so good if you have children and pushchairs, or big bags. And the food is very good, tasty, imaginative and 'home' cooked.

The only drawback is that you have to climb down some steep steps to get there. I believe this stops some of the less adventurous visitors from finding the cafe. Generally there is always a spare table or two.

A perfect location close to Trafalgar Square, the National Gallery and (of course) the famous church itself (together with a brass-rubbing centre). #

Cafe open till 8pm Mon to Sat, till 6pm Sundays.

Favorite Dish: Excellent value meals for under 7 GBP. Afternoon teas available from 2 till 6pm for under 5 GBP. And the usual teas, coffees and cakes.

Cafe in the Crypt is a lovely place in the basement of the St Martin in the Fields church. We used to go there a lot with my dear Swedish friend Tina and Minashka - a VT member- back in the London days. Stone walls and dim light give this place a mystical atmosphere somewhat. Great to have breakfast, lunch or an early dinner -since they close as early as 8pm- or just for a cup of coffee or a glass of wine. It's always been a great girls-get-together kinda place for me.

Favorite Dish: Everything I have eaten there was delicious! Very impressiive semi-service buffet and very creative daily food. I remember a tasty salmon dish with cheese and grapes and other stuff, that I personally wouldn't think of putting together. Even for our veggie friends. So it's not just food, it's interesting food.

I do wish the portions had been bigger and oh, don't expect much from the wine, but oh, not so bad.

There're occasional jazz concerts too.

This is another restful place for some refreshments during a hard day's shopping or sightseeing in London.
There is a small art gallery downstairs too and also the opportunity to do some brass rubbings if you so desire!!

Favorite Dish: Hot drinks and wine are served with a variety of food.

St. Martin in the Fields' Café-in-the-Crypt
It was set up buffet-style when I was there, with various soups, breads, etc. The prices were reasonable. It's located in the crypt below the St. Martin in the Fields church, and you walk along actual tombstones, like the one pictured.

St. Martin-in-the fields Church has a fine cafe in the roomy crypt accessible via steps on the southern side.