A couple of weeks ago while home finding, I stopped at the delightful The Wildflower Café in West London. This café/florist by day and bistro by night is beyond charming. Passionate about design, good food & drink and flowers & plants, it hit every spot for me.
Already seduced by the offerings of plants and flowers outside, you are further tempted with a sumptious display of cakes and brownies in the window. It’s really impossible not to want to enter, take a look and be engulfed in the womb of this rather special place.
While there I met Leila, founder of The Wildflower Café. As in true Colourliving style my curiosity got the better of me so I asked Leila some questions.
As a child, what did you dream of becoming when you grew up?
Glamorous international jewel thief or farmer.
The window display of cakes and flowers and plants.
Close-up of the cake offerings inside.
Did you fulfil that dream? How did your career pan out?
Not yet on either, though I still have high hopes for farming and eventually having a branch of the Wildflower attached to a farm.
This café is a new venture for you. How did it come about?
It was many years in the making and the driving force behind it was my family’s encouragement. The biggest challenge was finding a suitable space which in itself took a year and from then we moved very quickly.
The inside space is simple, stylish, yet eclectic and unique.
There are lovely touches and the bowler hat pendant lights work really well in that space.
I’m loving the simplicity and colour combination here and that mirror works a treat.
Is there a philosophy behind the Wild Flower Café?
Not really, I just tend to really trust my instincts and that has stood me in good stead so far. I see the venture as an extension of myself.
There are some wonderful design pieces and great styling in your space. Care to elaborate?
It was a collaboration with my sister. We call it “playful skandinavian” and it’s very much looks like an extension of my home.
The flowers, herbs and plants you have for sale are extraordinary. Was it a conscious decision to combine a café with a florist?
Yes, that was always the plan, the initial concept.
The food is very yummy and the cakes look scrumptious. Are you a foodie yourself?
I’m a trained chef and former food critic so I’m about as foodie as one can be.
Your strap line is: Café by Day and Bistro by night. Do you use the space for other purposes?
We do events, parties, flower arranging classes, wine tastings & book groups in the space from time to time but for the most part we stick with the strap line.
Thank you Leila.
Although very much a foodie, regular readers will know that I’m passionate about good nutrition. Eating out is not always easy for me and favouring a paleo meal can make this even harder. Not here. I absolutely LOVED the seasonal superfood salad. Freshly made on the premises it offered a most interesting cornucopia of flavours.
Seasonal superfood salad. Quinoa, seasonal vegetables (asparagus) topped with grilled chicken.
I really appreciated the mix of design products with some more eclectic and vintage pieces thrown in. This shelfie was particularly charming.
Love the little girl vase with that posie.
There are some interesting vases and pitchers.
I fell in love with this turquoise vase and parrot tulips. An adorable combination in colour and texture.
You’ll find many plants and some succulents.
Most plants are sold in lovely containers which make it easy to buy as presents.
All in all, I can see why The Wildflower Café was the winner of Time Out’s Love London award for best café in Notting Hill in 2014. Obsessed with coffee, cake and fresh food I was sold at ‘hello’ and look forward to my return.
Sadly the Wildflower Café has since closed down.