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Where to Drink Bubble Tea in London

Bubble tea has gone from obscure luxury to expected ubiquity in the last decade, and London now seemingly has a boba spot on every corner. Whereas once it was a game of even finding a spot that sold anything resembling bubble tea, now it is a game of separating the wheat from the chaff. Here are Culture Calling's major recommendations for boba:

Four cups of MooBoo bubble tea are lined up on a counter, each topped with colorful tapioca pearls and jellies. The flavors from left to right appear to be taro, mango, kiwi, and classic milk tea with black tapioca pearls. The background is softly blurred.
© Mooboo Bubble Tea

Gonuts

Five cups of colorful bubble tea, each with unique layers and toppings, are arranged in a row on a wooden surface. In front of the cups are small bowls of assorted boba pearls and fresh strawberries. A leafy plant is in the background, basking in sunlight.
Image via Deliveroo

228 Holloway Road, N7 8DA

This small but mighty local tea-stop offers tasty bobas in adventurous or trad flavours - both at reasonable prices - make this an obvious choice for bubble-lovers, but what pushes it into a higher tier is the super-friendly service and warm atmosphere. Check out their page here. 

Mooboo

Two bubble tea drinks in plastic cups with the mooboo logo. The left drink has black tapioca pearls and a white base, while the right drink has green tapioca pearls and a red base. Four small colored squares are at the bottom right.
Image via Deliveroo

Various locations

This well-known chain offers all the classic flavours and varieties, earning a reputation as one of the best and most consistent boba spots in any town. Like a McDonald's, you always know what you're gonna get, but unlike a Maccas, what you're getting is fine quality teas and, if you fancied, soft, warm tapioca. Check their website here.

Candy Cafe

Five colorful cups of bubble tea are arranged on a wooden table. Each cup is labeled candy cafe and features a variety of toppings, including tapioca pearls and fruit jelly. The flavors appear to include matcha, chocolate, green apple, orange, and classic tea.
Image via Candy Cafe

First Floor, 3 Macclesfield Street, W1D 6AU

A boba spot that doubles as an Internet cafe (how retro, I know, we love it too), Candy Cafe is Chinatown's premier spot for bubble tea. This is where to go if you really want to get into a buzzing tea shop vibe - it’s never empty and there’s always something going on. Check their website here.

Biju

A man in a black coat and yellow beanie holds a bubble tea on a busy city street, with people and buildings in the background. The word biju is repeated in large orange letters along the left and right edges of the image. The colors have an orange tint.
Design by Charlie Walker, assets from bijububbletea.com

Various locations

A personal favourite from many a Soho-dweller, Biju can also be found spotted across the trendier parts of West London, and is expanding further afield by the day. Since their inception, Biju has become notable for their kooky interiors, generous sizes, reasonable prices, and outrageously good tea. No bubble tea list would be complete without this stalwart. The Soho one especially, I'd challenge you to find a seating area this unwonted outside of a kids play area. Check their website here.

Yi Fang

A hand holding a clear cup of green tea topped with foam, with a white straw sticking out. The cup has yellow and black Chinese characters and the text “YI FANG TAIWAN FRUIT TEA.” The sign for Yi Fang is blurry in the background.
Image via Eater

Various locations

Yi Fang may be on the higher end, but if you feel like you've exhausted all of your favourites, and the flavours of bubble tea numbed to your well-muddied path of a palate, then it may be time for you to take a more authentic journey. This Taiwanese chain can be found all over the city, from Bond Street to Mile End, and is often touted as the real deal - and their specialty winter melon flavours aren’t to be missed. Check their website here.