The next time you culture vultures are having a peruse around the V&A, may we suggest you making a swift beeline to the back of the museum where you’ll discover one of the sparkliest hidden gems in the city: their café. Now, I know what you’re thinking – what’s so special about a café that’s tucked away at the back of a museum? Well, folks – this is not just a museum café. This is the oldest museum café in the world. And it also happens to be one of the most gorgeous spots to neck a cappuccino in the capital.
Having been serving up cakes and cuppas for over 150 years now, the museum café at the V&A was the very first of its kind. Before the concept of having an in-house refreshment room was thought up by Henry Cole, there was nowhere for museum-visitors to rest their weary legs and scoff a slice of cake after they’d finished browsing the collections. Can you even imagine?
Henry Cole had learnt all about the needs of visitors when he was managing The Great Exhibition back in 1851. He’d discovered that visitors being fed and watered was high-priority (nothing’s changed there, then) and whilst many other museums didn’t introduce an in-house refreshment room until the 20th century, Cole had his up and running, well ahead of the game.
Much like the every other items inside the V&A, the refreshment room is pretty spectacular. We’re talking enormous lights hanging from the ceiling, huge stained-glass windows, grand arches, and a whole load of colourful ceramic tiles. The café is made up of three separate sections, each of which was designed by a highly-distinguished artist of the time. The Gamble Room was designed by James Gamble, the Poynter Room was designed by Edward J. Poynter, and The Morris Room was designed by – you guessed it – William Morris. Each section of the café is grand, opulent, and everything you’d expect from the V&A, to be honest.
Credit: @adambutlerphotography via Instagram
Not much has changed regarding the décor of the café over the past 150 years or so. It’s still located in the very same rooms that were built and designed back in 1868, boasting ornate details, quality craftmanship, and original Victorian features and architecture. There’s an abundance of artwork adorning the walls and plenty of gorgeous things to gawp at whilst you’re sipping and snacking.
The cafe serves up a selection of sandwiches, salads, coffees and cakes. And whilst the prices are as expected considering the location; the historic and breathtakingly beautiful V&A cafe is well-worth a visit in our humble opinion.
📍 You’ll find the V&A Museum Cafe inside the V&A South Kensington, Cromwell Road, SW7 2RL.