We've started a new feature in our monthly newsletter and we invite local residents to tell us more about some of their favourite places in Crystal Palace. This month, Kylie Cuff visits Colairo's.
If you have not yet had a chance to sample the wares from one of the Triangle’s newest additions, you are missing out.
Crystal Palace locals have fully embraced the tasty products from Colairo’s, a family-run cafe located on Westow Street in the old Dalhousie space.
Opening a new business in the tumultuous times of 2020 may have been tricky, but Streatham based owners Paul and Lucy spotted a gap in the market and decided to create a unique offering for the area, with produce comprised of savoury snacks, French patisserie cakes and tarts along with organic wine direct from vineyards in Spain, Italy and France.
Working closely with hand picked suppliers that the team deal with directly means every product has been chosen for quality and consistency - and won’t be found on a supermarket shelf.
Since being open for takeaway towards the end of last year, there’s been a buzz around Colairo’s doughnuts in particular. Throughout the week there are a variety of flavours available including jam, custard, Chantilly cream, Nutella and blueberry. Weekend specials might include some wild cards such as triple ring Oreo or jammy dodger flavours. But you’ll need to be quick - they often sell out by midday due to their instagrammable nature (a little known tip is that if you call ahead, staff will happily reserve them for you).
On the subject of Instagram, the upstairs area of the cafe has been decked out for events and will hold up to 50 people once restrictions have lifted, making it ideal for everything from baby showers to birthday parties. The business is a true family affair with son Martin responsible for the recognisable blue Colairo’s branding and daughter Chantelle in charge of the design of the events space, working with Caroline Russell from Vivid Design Works to curate the stunning floral arrangements.
What’s lovely about any visit to Colairo’s is the warm welcome you receive. It’s a cafe that cares deeply about the experience of their clientele, not surprising considering the family’s lengthy background in the food and service industry running railway cafes in Norbury, Caterham and Dorking. They have poured their passion into making their Crystal Palace base a successful addition to the Triangle, serving the tastes of the local community with care. Pop in and peruse everything from direct-from-the-farm passata and sundried tomatoes to homewares such as hand poured candles.
Future plans include wine and food pairing evenings and continuing to expand their product range. To keep an eye on what’s coming next - or which flavours of those elusive doughnuts you’d most like to sample - you can follow Colairo’s on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Thank you to Kylie for sharing extra behind the scenes info. If you'd like to share more about your favourite place in Crystal Palace, do get in touch with us by email (info@se19lates.com).
Go to our main homepage: www.ShopSE19.com
Sign-up for our ShopSE19 monthly newsletter.