Laura-Jane Adventures

The home of the Sloany Pony and Fulham FC.

I recently met the owner of Carbon Kopi, a coffee shop with locations in Hammersmith and Fulham. Natalie and her husband opened Carbon Kopi almost 6 years ago, and Natalie kindly gave me a first-hand insight into the business and the local area.

Fulham is located in West London along the River Thames next to Chelsea and is known for being quite an affluent area. It has a lot of lovely green spaces and does give off village vibes even though it is very close to central London.

I decided to do my next ‘The London Series’ blog post on Fulham because it is close to my current home in Hammersmith and somewhere I have been able to explore repeatedly while living in London. Stay tuned for anyone curious about what you can do in Fulham!

Carbon Kopi

This independent coffee shop calls Fulham and Hammersmith home. Natalie shared with me how she and her husband opened their first coffee shop after they moved to London from New Zealand. Natalie was inspired by a coffee shop in Auckland, New Zealand, called Coffee Pen. You can see the Kiwi inspiration in Carbon Kopi from the strong commitment to the coffee culture, and it is a “third space” where locals can seek refuge to enjoy not only the coffee but also baked goods and yummy toasties whilst working away, reading or simply people watching.

While visiting, I learned about the coffee Carbon Kopi stock and some of the local suppliers they have relationships with. The coffee shop uses Plot Roasting, a small London-based roaster specialising in responsible sourcing of flavoursome coffee. I got to try some of the filter coffee they were serving that week, and I can truly say the tones and flavour were unique. The team sell the coffee beans to take away and can grind them for your desired brewing method. However, they do recommend grinding at home so that you can grind the right amount for the method/quantity you need.

I also enjoyed the chance to try some of Carbon Kopi’s cookies, a recipe perfected by Natalie herself. I tried the original chocolate chip, the white chocolate matcha, and the triple chocolate. If you visit, I highly recommend treating yourself to one – my favourite was the triple chocolate.

I enjoyed getting the opportunity to chat with Natalie and discover the story behind Carbon Kopi. It opened my eyes to the connections offered by local businesses within London boroughs and how each owner fosters a sense of community. Natalie also shared a few other locations in Fulham that I should check out and some of those are linked below!

Next time you are in Fulham, or Hammersmith, head to Carbon Kopi for the coffee culture, local goodies, and produce from Australia and New Zealand!

Ta’Mini Lebanese Bakery

This was a spot I had been meaning to check out for quite some time, and wow, when I finally did, I was blown away by how delicious the food was.

Ta’Mini is an independent family-run business creating mouth-watering Lebanese food. Ta’Mini, meaning ‘feed me’ in Levantine Arabic, were the first bakery in London to introduce Ka’ak, Lebanese street bread, to London. They also offer an array of cold mezze platters, Manakish (flatbreads with different toppings), as well as wraps and salads.

On a busy Sunday, I tried the Manakish and the bestselling falafel wrap, and it was clear to see why Ta’Mini is a neighbourhood go-to.

The Hot Yoga Spot

Bikram Yoga is a form of yoga I love to practice when I get the chance. It is a series of 26 yoga postures and two breathing exercises taught in 40C (105F) heat. When I take a class, I always leave feeling calmer, cleansed and overall as though I have reset my body and my mindset. Sound like something you might want to try?

The Hot Yoga Spot is an oasis tucked away at the end of Heathman’s Road in Fulham. They offer different hot yoga sessions, some ‘slightly’ cooler classes (room temperature to 35c) for those who do not want to be in 40c heat, and there are also options for those who enjoy meditation, sound baths and pilates.

A trip to the pubs on Parson’s Green

As the Spring weather slowly graces us with its presence, one simple but enjoyable and typically British thing to do in London is meet up with friends and have a drink at the pub. Parson’s Green is a great spot for that! The Duke on the Green is where I have been with friends, but I know that two popular picks in Fulham are The White Horse (or known as the Sloany Pony) and Aragon House.

You can also enjoy a picnic on the green as the weather gets better. It is a lovely atmosphere when everyone is out appreciating the sunshine.

Other spots to check out in Fulham:

• Nomad Books – this independent bookstore has been open in Fulham since 1990. Head here for a new book to enjoy!
• Bayley & Sage – with stores around some of the most affluent parts of London, Bayley & Sage offers high-quality food and drink.
• Thaiphoon – recommended by Natalie for good Thai food.
• District Coffee – the OG spot in Fulham, and a place on my ‘to try’ list.
• Hungry Turtle – for Roman-style pizza.

I am really having fun with this new series! Meeting Natalie amplified that enjoyment as I saw first-hand how a local business owner nurtured community relationships.

Let me know which parts of London you would like to see next as well as the types of places and things I can feature. Thank you for reading!

Lots of love,

Laura-Jane