Fitzbillies
This café and bakery has stood proudly on Trumpington Street for more than a century, selling an array of homemade cakes, as well as great brunches and lunches. The must-try is the Chelsea Bun – a foodie fixture in Cambridge since 1920! You’ll also find a branch of Fitzbillies on Bridge Street.
Espresso Library
Bike lovers, coffee aficionados and those in search of vibrant, organic food (with plenty of vegan options) will love Espresso Library. Breakfasts include fluffy pancakes with fresh fruit, while the lunch menu yields hearty soups, frittata, and nourishing rainbow bowls.
Foy
This Quayside café became an instant hit when it opened in 2018, and has gone from strength to strength ever since. Expect epic toasties, cheese boards, cocktails and fabulous views of the river.
Aromi
For a slice of Sicily in Cambridge, try Aromi, which has cafes on Bene’t Street, Fitzroy Street and Peas Hill. There are delicious treats aplenty to sample at all three branches, including handmade gelato, pizza, arancini and a range of pastries.
Relevant Record Café
Blending record shop and café, Mill Road hangout Relevant is a lively spot for a drink and a bite. Upstairs, there are cakes and cocktails, while downstairs, you’ll find a 1970s-styled vinyl emporium, home to several thousand records. Keep an eye out for the festivities on Record Store Day – Relevant goes all out with its celebrations!
Urban Larder
Staying in the area, Urban Larder is a cute-as-a-button coffee shop on Mill Road’s Broadway. It has a warm and friendly atmosphere and reliably great food and drink. The toasties are the stuff of legend, but the coffee (from local supplier Butterworth & Sons), is also not to be missed. Perfect for a lazy morning of people watching.
Hot Numbers
A frontrunner of Cambridge’s now thriving café culture, Hot Numbers opened its first branch on Gwydir Street in 2011, and has since expanded with a second coffee shop on Trumpington Street and a roastery in Shepreth. All three outposts serve speciality coffee, tasty cakes and brunches, and the Gwydir Street café often has live music performances.
Bould Brothers
The Bould brothers, aka Max and Alex, are obsessively committed to serving the best coffee they can. From the volume of calcium in the water to the very particular cup size, and of course the outstanding quality coffee beans which go into each brew, every tiny detail has been carefully considered. This attention to detail is clearly paying off – Bould Brothers café recommended everywhere from Vogue to Vanity Fair. Get your fix on either Round Church Street and Regent Street.
Garden Cafe
For a coffee shop with a view, check out the Garden Café, which you’ll find nestled within the city’s Botanic Gardens. There’s a gorgeous terrace outside, and the food is rustic and hearty, with delicious homemade pasta, frittata and soups.
Stir
A real social hub in its corner of the city, Stir’s the place to go for great coffee and homemade bakes in the Chesterton neighbourhood. With an onsite bakery, you can be guaranteed of the freshest bread and cakes, and the large space and relaxed atmosphere make it ideal for families and groups.
