You’d think you’d have an ample choice of where to go for lunch or coffee, when working in the city centre; but, alas, Aberdeen is a curious place, and after some time you realise there’s only a few venues you’re keen to frequent – at which point any new arrival is a welcome distraction.
I’ve been aware of The Kitchen Works for quite some time (probably soon after its arrival last year), but looking from the outside in, it seemed like a tiny place – and whenever I walked past it (which was hardly a handfull of times), it seemed too busy for a quiet cuppa.
This time, however, I was finished with a meeting and wandering up Union Street at this funny time of “late enough after breakfast, but too early for lunch” – or, in other words: “a coffee would do just nicely”.
Even though the biting winter cold did not encourage long walks, I still decided to venture to the Works, to give my escapade a bit more purpose (coffee research, no less) – and was very surprised to learn that the venue was actually huge, extending far from the narrowish entrance.
It was also very clean and minimalistic, seeming a bit incomplete, but still harnessing a good dose of charm. The sandwich and cake selection was matchingly scarce, but at least there was hot soup in the pot; more importantly too, mocha appeared on the drinks menu which is all I was after. I made my order and took a seat on the bench by the wall on the right; at this time of day, there were plenty of tables to choose from anyway.
Some time after, the coffee arrived, delivered by the barista’s somewhat uncertain hand; the sight of it didn’t fill me with confidence either, as it resembled more of a cup of cocoa… and tasted like one too.
A bit too hot on arrival, at first I thought the coffee was on the mellow sweet side; but as the brew cooled down a bit, I figured it actually tasted more milky than chocolatey. It had a bit of a caffeine punch to it, but lacked a balance of flavours or smoothness of texture.
Despite that, it was still quite a pleasant drink, even though not the best mocha I’ve had; but if you’re after a bit of peace and quiet in the city – either to do some work on the laptop or to catch up with a friend – you certainly wouldn’t feel out of place or sorts at the Works. Definitely worth a try – who knows, this might turn out to be your new lunch destination of choice!
Price
Mocha: £2.75
Verdict
Nice venue in the centre with good coffee – worth a visit
Learn more on The Kitchen Works website
A Black Spot 