Here comes my first post of January.

Here comes my first post of January. I know how tough it feels to be back at work so early in the year, so I thought I’d share something comforting towards the end of the day.

Frank’s Sandwich Bar has been on my list for a while now. I first came across it through another account I follow and was immediately drawn to the interior. After looking it up properly, I realised the shopfront and its location were just as interesting as the space inside.

The caff sits in a place you really wouldn’t expect. It’s tucked right against the edge of a bridge where Hammersmith Road crosses over the railway line between West Brompton and Olympia, around a 10 minute walk from West Kensington station. Sitting inside with a sandwich or breakfast, you can hear the trains passing underneath, which gives the whole experience a strange but lovely feeling, almost like being in motion. From the outside, everything catches your eye. The signage, the colours, the typeface and the shape of the space itself. You can’t quite tell whether it’s a permanent building or something temporary. Once inside, though, it feels surprisingly intimate, like stepping into someone’s kitchen. The stalls instead of chairs add a slight bar-like atmosphere, and the colour palette is spot on. Warm yellow and beige tones, simple finishes, and surfaces that all work quietly together. Nothing feels forced or overdesigned.

I told the owner how much I loved the interior and that I’d definitely be back. He then told me the caff has been running for 75 years, passed down from his grandad to his dad and now to him. Sadly, it won’t continue into the next generation, which made me appreciate the place even more.

I ordered a mini English breakfast with tea. Super affordable, nothing fancy, just comforting and done right. While I was finishing up, we somehow got onto architecture, especially my love for modernist and Art Deco buildings. A few customers joined in too and started recommending similar caffs around London, all of which are now on my list. Continues in comments +