Attendant, Fitzrovia

27A Foley St, London W1W 6DY

As lunch is served, I am reminded of the crude adage, “Don’t sh*t where you eat” and yet the irony of being in a public toilet and having nowhere to relieve myself is not lost on me.
Pass by the rows upon rows of upper crust restaurants that line the streets of Fitzrovia and you’ll wander by many a wealthy patron of eateries that will make you wince just by looking at the price list. The sort of places that still insist dining al fresco, mid-March in London is classy. I, on the other hand, am heading to a literal sh*t hole.
I’ve not particularly sold Attendant well there but in a world where the traditional high-street is dying and only those that stand out and offer a different experience will survive and thrive, Attendant has taken it upon itself to protect and resurrect a particular piece of everyday history that would otherwise be lost to the sands of time, especially in a city like London where public toilets are seemingly becoming rarer and rarer.


That’s right, descend the steps to what was a subterranean loo for Victorian Londoners and you’ll actually emerge into a strangely stylish cafe, adapted for its new purpose whilst still keeping key elements from its original construction. For example, gone are the cubicles to make space for further seating to line the walls of the relatively small space, but the original urinals remain. Scrubbed clean, each pissoir now acts as a booth for dining, the modesty barrier offering privacy for scarfing down food rather than taking a whizz and I’m vaguely reminded of the famous philosophical story where going to the toilet becomes a social activity and eating is a private taboo.


I order avocado toast with beetroot humous alongside an iced oat latte, not exactly sure what to expect from the food but pleasantly surprised at the size and quality of what arrives. In fact, the surroundings bely what is exceptional coffee, their own roast of ethically sourced beans, and a hearty and tasty meal all served with a side of exceptional friendliness and good character. In fact, Id thoroughly recommend the spot for anyone who wants a slightly quirky experience when out for their next caffeine fix,  just don’t think about the plumbing too much.