Image taken by webponce on flickr

A relatively new fixture on the cycling circuit in London Look mum no hands! is an ultra-cool little café tucked between two post-war office blocks on Old Street (the Farringdon end). This spot is ideal for a pit stop on a long Sunday ride or as a meeting point for catching up with fellow cycling enthusiasts. The venue is quite open and reminiscent of a Swedish ski lodge with blonde pine tables and cosy benches running the length of the establishment. It’s quite easy to get settled in a let time slip away from you with a cup of coffee and a few newspapers.

The food is quite expensive but much better fodder than a corner café or greasy stop off. Whilst I was there I took a gamble on a sausage and mash pie with salad which was pretty tasty, the light pastry was especially good. They also have a good selection of lesser spotted beers and ales for the more discerning drinker. The coffee is also pretty good, and up to Monmouth standards (which seems to be the universal coffee barometer).

Look mum no hands offers off street parking and lock stands which should be exploited as the local area is rife with bike thieves, as is most of London! There are also a few video screens in the venue which show bike related events and are also used for the popular film nights. Look mum no hands is a more than just a little café but feels like a hub for the London cycling community with several organized events such as bike marking to deter thieves, a communal tyre pump and a hectic social calendar of happenings.

www.lookmumnohands.com
49 Old Street
London EC1V 9HX
020 7253 1025