A Greenwich dog-friendly eating spot hailed by reviewers has said its secret ingredient "is always love".
The River Gardens Café, owned by Havva Hasan and her partner, first opened its doors in August 2019, located on the Thames Path between The Cutty Sark and the O2 Arena.
The café occupies the historic site of Lovell’s Wharf, a working riverside wharf in the 1840s that imported lime, coal, copper, and granite.
Havva told News Shopper that the location choice was due to the pair's feeling that the area – a new development - needed a “true hub” and they wanted to make their new venture the “heart of the community".
Havva said: “We had a dream of becoming the heart of the River Gardens community. That vision ultimately inspired our name.”
This dog-friendly café serves up a menu of breakfast, lunch, and dinner options inspired by European, British, American, Mediterranean, Indian, and Asian cuisines.
Guests can enjoy hearty breakfasts and brunches, including the traditional English, 'Garden' and Mediterranean options, alongside indulgent pancakes and freshly baked pastries.
Other dishes include the pincho chicken skewer and classic afternoon tea are firm favourites, while café staples like fish and chips, burgers, salads, and fish finger sandwiches are consistently praised by reviewers on Tripadvisor.
The café has received wide recognition for its quality and service, including a five-star food hygiene rating from the Food Standards Agency for six consecutive years, a Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Award for 2024, and runner-up at the Best of Greenwich Business Awards 2023.
It holds a 4.7 out of 5 rating on Tripadvisor, based on 170 reviews from diners who have visited.
Reviewers often highlight the café’s riverside location and views over the Thames towards Canary Wharf, the O2, and the city, while others praise its family-friendly atmosphere and note it as a welcoming place to bring their dogs.
Behind the menu is a team led by Havva, alongside a head chef and sous chef with experience at the Crowne Plaza Hotel and working with celebrity chef Tom Kerridge.
Havva said: “The secret ingredient is always love. We want every guest to feel comfortable, relaxed, and truly welcome.”
Being a family business, the couple are keen to involve their children in the café and often have family members working alongside them during busy times.
Havva said: “Our son and daughter both work at the café on weekends, alongside their great uncle. They’ve literally grown up in the café.”
Despite a challenging few years opening on the cusp of the Covid-19 pandemic and dealing with recent building works that resulted in scaffolding and cladding, impacting visibility and trade, Havva told News Shopper that the team has remained united.
She explained: “We made a conscious decision not to let any of our team go. We firmly believe we rise together and fall together.”
Havva stressed the importance of highlighting that the café is “still open”, despite the scaffolding affecting its visibility to customers.
