The Best Coffee Shops in Kingston upon Thames: A Local’s Honest Guide

This post may contain affilliate links. It means that if you buy something through one of these links, we might get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Affiliate commission helps us keep this travel blog running.

If you’re new to this blog, hi — I’m Liza! I recently moved to Kingston upon Thames and have spent the last few months on a personal mission to try every single independent coffee shop in the area. This is my honest verdict.

If you’ve read my guide to the best coffee in North London, you’ll know that finding a great flat white is basically a hobby of mine — especially since becoming a mum and spending a lot of time walking around with a pram and desperately needing caffeine.

When I moved to Kingston upon Thames in December last year, I did what I always do: I started exploring. And Kingston, I have to say, has genuinely impressed me. It’s not just a pretty riverside town with a good John Lewis — it actually has a really solid independent coffee scene that I don’t think gets nearly enough attention.

So here is my completely honest, tried-multiple-times, lived-here guide to the best coffee shops in Kingston upon Thames — for locals, for day-trippers, and for anyone planning a summer visit along the Thames.

A quick disclaimer before we start: I drink exclusively flat whites and oat milk cappuccinos. That’s my measure of a great coffee shop. If you’re a black coffee drinker, a matcha person, or you take your coffee with regular milk, your experience at some of these places might differ slightly from mine — and I’ll flag that where it’s relevant.

The Best Independent Coffee Shops in Kingston upon Thames

1. Farm & Flynn — Best Overall ⭐

If I had to pick just one coffee shop in Kingston, it would be Farm & Flynn. It’s the most recent opening in the area and it has already become my go-to — which says a lot given how many options I’ve tried.

Farm & Flynn is located right near Norbiton Station, which makes it brilliantly convenient if you’re a commuter grabbing something on the way in. But don’t let the location fool you into thinking it’s just a grab-and-go spot — on weekends, it’s absolutely packed, with people settled in as early as 9am, which is impressive for a coffee shop on a Saturday.

What sets Farm & Flynn apart from a lot of Kingston’s options is the pastries. Independent, quality baked goods are genuinely rare here, and Farm & Flynn delivers. The coffee is excellent too — my oat cappuccino is consistently one of the best in Kingston. The space itself is small but flooded with natural light, and the interior is lovely: cosy without being cramped.

They have a second location in Tooting, so technically it’s a tiny chain — but it feels entirely independent and it shows in the quality.

📍 Near Norbiton Station | Best for: Commuters, weekend breakfast, pastry lovers

2. Marna — Best for Coffee Connoisseurs

Marna on Old London Road is my second favourite, and if you take your coffee seriously, it might actually be your first.

It’s a proper specialty coffee shop — the kind where they rotate guest beans, sell bags to take home, and serve a range of coffees sourced from around the world including some genuinely rare options. They do pour overs, they do different brewing techniques, and the baristas clearly know what they’re doing. But — and this is important — if you just want a classic oat cappuccino, they’ll make you a delicious one of those too. You don’t have to be a coffee nerd to enjoy it here.

The space is beautiful: massive panoramic windows, a nice seating area, and a really pleasant atmosphere. The food selection is a little limited — they used to do a cornbread muffin that I was obsessed with, which they sadly stopped, and the pastry offering is still a bit sparse. They do serve a good Basque cheesecake though. The location is also excellent — a very short walk from Kingston train station and right on the edge of the old town.

📍 Old London Road | Best for: Specialty coffee lovers, people who want to geek out about beans

3. Slrp — More Than Coffee — Best for Creative Drinks & Commuters

I originally listed Slrp as “one to watch” — but having now been, I’m moving it straight into the top three, which is not something I say lightly.

Let me be upfront about what Slrp is not: it’s not a cosy spot to linger. It’s tucked inside Kingston bus station on a busy road, and the location is about as unpicturesque as it gets. There’s technically a table inside but the place is tiny, there’s always a queue, and it’s really designed exclusively for takeaway. If you’re looking for somewhere to sit with a book, look elsewhere.

But as a takeaway coffee stop? It’s genuinely excellent — and almost absurdly convenient if you’re a commuter, since Kingston train station is literally two minutes away.

What makes Slrp special is the drinks menu. They specialise in creative, slightly unexpected options — Spanish lattes, unique matcha variations, smoothies, milkshakes — the kind of menu that makes you want to try something new every time. But they also do a completely solid oat milk cappuccino for those of us who just want the classic. I was honestly surprised by how good it was.

It’s the kind of place that has no right to be this good given the setting, which somehow makes it even better.

📍 Kingston bus station (2 mins from train station) | Best for: Commuters, creative drinks, quick takeaway

4. Argonaut Coffee — Best Riverside Takeaway

Argonaut Coffee started as a coffee cart — and it shows, in the best possible way. The vibe is relaxed, unpretentious, and very much tied to its location on the promenade along the Thames.

It’s about a 5-minute walk from the town centre, which means it’s slightly off the beaten track, but if you’re heading out for a walk along the river (especially in summer — this stretch of the Thames is genuinely beautiful), it’s an absolutely perfect pit stop. The coffee is really good. Solid, well-made, no complaints.

The seating area is small and not particularly cosy, and the pastries are very basic — I wouldn’t come here specifically for food. But as a takeaway coffee spot on a riverside walk? It’s hard to beat.

📍 The Promenade, Thames riverside | Best for: Riverside walks, takeaway coffee in summer

5. Beanberry Coffee — Best for Espresso Nerds

Beanberry is an institution in Kingston. Located right next to the entrance to the Bentalls Centre in the heart of town, it’s been here for years and has built up a loyal following — and for good reason.

You’ll know it by the permanently condensated windows: it’s always warm inside and always busy. On weekends it’s full from 8 or 9am. They’re the only place in Kingston that serves an espresso tonic, and they have an impressive range of different beans and brewing styles. Their sandwiches are genuinely excellent. Pastries are decent but nothing special.

My honest take: if you drink oat milk cappuccinos, this might not be your top choice — I’ve had better elsewhere in Kingston. But if you’re a black coffee drinker, an espresso purist, or you want to try something more interesting and experimental, Beanberry is probably the best option in Kingston for you. The staff really know their stuff.

📍 Next to Bentalls Centre | Best for: Espresso drinks, specialty coffee, lunch (sandwiches)

6. Zega — Best for an Experience

Zega is right on the main square of Kingston’s Old Town, directly in front of the ancient market, and it’s hard to miss — mainly because of the enormous, absolutely stunning cinnamon buns that seem to be on every table.

It specialises in these giant buns (think: you need at least two or three people to share one), but it’s also a proper café serving interesting coffees, matchas, and a range of drinks beyond the basics. Coffee is good — not the best in Kingston, but solid. The location is unbeatable, the space is huge, and it’s always buzzing.

📍 Old Town main square | Best for: First-time visitors, groups, the experience

7. Esquires Coffee (Next, Kingston) — Best Hidden Gem

This one genuinely surprised me. Esquires is tucked away on the first floor of the Next department store, overlooking the main square — and almost nobody knows it’s there, which is frankly criminal because it’s really good.

On weekdays especially, it’s quiet and calm, with a small but lovely seating area and panoramic views over the square below. You can sit and watch the whole of Kingston go by. Coffee is genuinely decent, served in beautiful cups, and while the pastries are nothing special, the whole experience is elevated by the setting.

It’s not a flashy or trendy spot, but if you’re after somewhere peaceful to sit and drink a good coffee without fighting for a table, this is your place.

📍 First floor, Next, Kingston town centre | Best for: A quiet coffee, people-watching, solo visits

8. Local Hero — Best for Breakfast

Local Hero started as a small independent and has grown into a tiny chain — but it still feels neighbourhood and warm rather than corporate, and the quality hasn’t dropped. There’s a reason it’s consistently one of the most popular spots in Kingston.

It’s located right next to the John Lewis entrance, which means it’s right in the thick of things. It does a full breakfast and brunch menu alongside coffee, and it’s almost always busy — there’s usually a queue, especially on weekends. The coffee is very good: their oat milk cappuccino hits the spot, and they do a special vanilla oat latte that is very sweet but also very, very good if you’re in the mood for something a little indulgent.

If you want coffee and a proper breakfast and don’t mind waiting, this is your spot.

📍 Near John Lewis, Kingston town centre | Best for: Breakfast, brunch, coffee with food

9. Park Brew & Kitchen — Best Near Richmond Park

Park Brew & Kitchen is probably my least favourite on this list in terms of coffee — the oat milk cappuccino isn’t the strongest — but it earns its place for two reasons: location and food.

It’s very close to the Kingston Gate entrance to Richmond Park, which makes it the perfect stop before or after a walk. The kitchen is genuinely good, the brunch menu is solid, and it’s also connected to a sister venue that functions as a small brewery — so you can grab a beer after your walk if the mood takes you. The non-oat coffee is actually quite good too, for what it’s worth.

Come here for the food and the vibe rather than the oat flat white, and you’ll be very happy.

📍 Near Kingston Gate, Richmond Park | Best for: Pre/post Richmond Park walks, food, craft beer

Ones I Tried and Didn’t Love (Honest Warnings)

I want to mention two places that get good ratings online but genuinely didn’t work for me — partly so you can decide for yourself, and partly because I think honesty is more useful than another generic top-10.

Cycle Exchange Coffee (Cycle Exchange, near Surrey Basin Sainsbury’s): The concept is very cool — a coffee shop inside a used bicycle shop, with a hipster aesthetic and a decent-sized seating area. It’s about a 10-minute walk from the town centre. But the coffee was very bitter and, for me, undrinkable — and not in a good, dark roast way. If oat milk cappuccinos are your thing, I’d skip this one.

Nino (Fairfield Recreation Ground): A park café with outdoor seating right in a green space, which sounds lovely. It had amazing ratings, so I went with high hopes. The coffee tasted like a petrol station coffee. I genuinely cannot explain the ratings gap. I won’t be going back.

What About the Chains?

Kingston has plenty of chain options too — there’s a Gail’s (which, full disclosure, I think does one of the better oat cappuccinos around, largely because of their Oatly Barista milk), an Ole & Steen, a Paul, a Huffkins, and at least two Caffè Neros. There’s also a Mason & Rye inside Fenwick.

If you’re a chain regular, you’re well catered for. But if you want to explore what makes Kingston’s coffee scene actually interesting, the independents above are where to start.

Quick Reference: Kingston Coffee Shops by Need

Have you tried any of these? Or do you have a Kingston coffee shop I’ve missed? Drop it in the comments — I’m always looking for a reason to try somewhere new.

Liked this post? You might also enjoy my guide to the best coffee in North London (Zone 3 and beyond).