Ten years after its first London Lifestyle Awards victory, My Place Soho has another reason to celebrate: Coffee Shop of the Year 2026. For Britain’s Albanian community, the achievement adds a fresh chapter to a business story that UKAN has followed since 2016.
The organiser’s official 2026 results name My Place as the winner of Coffee Shop of the Year, a category that attracted 131 nominations. The awards were announced at a gala dinner at the Royal Lancaster Hotel on 2 November 2026.
An Albanian success story in the heart of Soho
Founded by Sam Maqedonci and Dini Shahini, two Albanians from Kosovo, My Place became part of London’s hospitality scene with a simple appeal: a place to enjoy coffee, food and conversation in welcoming surroundings.
Its Albanian connection also runs through its design. In its 2017 account of the café’s success, KOHA reported that the founders entrusted the interior to architect Përparim Rama and 4M Group, with Albanian businesses involved in the fit-out. That history makes My Place a story of collaboration as well as entrepreneurship.
For a diaspora community that knows the value of gathering around a table, there is something especially familiar about a café built around making guests feel at home.
Winning recognition since 2016
The latest trophy follows earlier achievements recorded in UKAN’s archive:
- 2016 — London Lifestyle Awards: My Place won Coffee Shop of the Year. Read UKAN’s original report and video.
- 2016 — Time Out Love London Awards: readers voted My Place the winner in Soho’s Cafés & Coffee Shops category. Read our report.
- 2017 — London Lifestyle Awards: the café won Coffee Shop of the Year again. Revisit UKAN’s coverage.
- 2026 — London Lifestyle Awards: My Place is once again listed as Coffee Shop of the Year in the official results.
Seen together, those milestones show a business that has earned recognition across different years and awards. The 2026 win is a moment to celebrate the people behind the counter, in the kitchen and on the floor, as well as the founders who brought the idea to life.
More than a coffee stop
Today, My Place’s own website describes an all-day café and dining spot, serving breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner, alongside coffee and evening drinks. Its interior features recycled design details and work by local artists — a small Soho setting with plenty of character.
Whether you are meeting friends, taking a break from the West End or introducing visitors to a business with Albanian roots, the address is easy to add to your London plans.
- Address: 21 Berwick Street, Soho, London W1F 0PZ.
- Opening: the café says it opens daily at 8am and stays open into the evening; check directly for current closing times.
- Find out more: official website and @myplacesoho on Instagram.
Congratulations to everyone at My Place Soho — on the 2026 award, and on a story of Albanian enterprise that has given UKAN readers reasons to celebrate for a decade.
Sources
This article draws on the London Lifestyle Awards’ official 2026 results, My Place Soho’s official website, KOHA’s 2017 profile, and UKAN’s contemporary reports of the 2016 London Lifestyle Award, 2016 Time Out award and 2017 London Lifestyle Award. Sources checked on 9 November 2026.
Photo source: Justina Prancke’s Instagram post.