If you are looking for a Greek cafe in Crystal Palace, there is a place on Westow Street that does something a little different. Kamari | The Authentic Greek is a kafeneio and a bakaliko in one room: a coffee house where you can sit, and a small Greek grocery where you can stock up. As the evenings get darker and the weather turns, that combination is exactly what many Greeks in London go looking for.
Kamari is a Greek List member, so everything below comes from their own listing and their own words. Their tagline says it well: Taste & Reminisce.
Kamari describes itself as a blend of a traditional kafeneio and a bakaliko, based in Crystal Palace in South East London. The idea is simple. You come in for a coffee, you smell something baking, you hear Greek spoken at the next table, and for a little while you are somewhere else.
The kafeneio is the heart of Greek village life, the place where people meet, argue about football and stay longer than they planned. The bakaliko is the corner shop where the family bought olive oil, olives and something to nibble. Kamari brings both together, and says it wants to be a community space where customers can speak Greek and feel at home. For anyone who has lived abroad for a few years, that is worth more than any menu.
Start with the coffee. Kamari serves Freddo Espresso and Freddo Cappuccino, the iced Greek coffees that many of us still order in the middle of winter, and traditional briki coffee, made slowly in the small pot and served the way your yiayia would approve of.
A freddo on a cold London morning might sound odd to your English friends. To a Greek it is completely normal, and a good reason to try the place with someone who has never understood the habit. If you want to know more about the freddo craze, have a look at our guide to where to get a freddo espresso or cappuccino in London.
The bakery counter is where Kamari really shows its roots. The listing mentions three classics: spanakopita, tiropita and custard filled bougatsa. Spinach pie, cheese pie and the warm, creamy bougatsa that is traditionally eaten with a dusting of sugar and cinnamon.
These are the things people miss most when they leave Greece. They are simple, they are filling, and they taste best fresh. A pie and a coffee at this Greek cafe in Crystal Palace is a very good way to start a Saturday on Westow Street, and it is a very Greek way to meet a friend without planning a whole lunch.
At the back is the bakaliko part of the story, a delicatessen with imported products. Kamari lists barrel aged feta, Greek olive oils and Greek snacks. That makes this Greek cafe in Crystal Palace a handy stop if you are cooking for the family and want the real thing instead of the supermarket version.
With the winter season coming, many households start planning the big family meals, the name day tables and the Christmas gatherings. A block of proper feta and a bottle of good olive oil can make a plain salad taste like home. You can also read our wider list of Greek supermarkets and delis in London to compare.
Kamari also takes requests for catering, events and parties, orders and table bookings, according to the options on their listing. If you are thinking about a small Greek gathering this winter near Crystal Palace, a birthday, a baptism celebration or an office lunch with a Greek flavour, it is worth sending them a message early. The Christmas season gets busy quickly.
You can send a request directly through their Greek List page, which is the easiest way to reach them.
Address: 25 Westow Street, Crystal Palace, London SE19 3RY
Opening hours: Monday to Thursday 6:30am to 5:00pm, Friday to Sunday 6:30am to 6:00pm
Website: kamari.london
Instagram: @kamaritheauthenticgreek
Finding a Greek cafe in Crystal Palace is easy, because the area is a lively corner of South East London with independent shops, cafes and plenty of green space nearby. If you want some background on the area, Wikipedia has a good overview of Crystal Palace. Check the opening hours on the listing before you travel, because they can change around holidays.
Greek stop nearby: Kamari | The Authentic Greek on Westow Street, Crystal Palace. Freddo coffee, briki, spanakopita, tiropita, custard bougatsa and a deli with feta and olive oil, all in one Greek kafeneio and bakaliko.
Go to the Greek cafe in Crystal Palace on a weekday morning if you want a quiet coffee and a chat in Greek, and at the weekend if you want to see the place full of life. Take a friend who has never tried bougatsa. Ask about the catering options if you are organising something for the family. And if you enjoy the visit, tell them you found them on Greek List. It means a lot to a small independent business.
Looking for something Greek to do this winter? Our events page is the most complete list of Greek events in the UK, from concerts and theatre to parties and community nights. If you organise an event, you can list it for free.
The businesses we feature are Greek List members. More than 100,000 Greeks and Cypriots in the UK read us every month, through the website, the newsletter and the Ellines sto Londino group, and member listings rank first on Google. Add your business and let your community find you.
Have you been to Kamari? Tell us in the Facebook group Ellines sto Londino what you ordered.
