Cambridge’s independent cafes offer far more than just coffee – they’re gateways to the city’s soul. From family-run establishments near the River Cam to hidden spots in quaint alleys between ancient buildings, these nine cafes represent the best of Cambridge’s artisan coffee culture.
Whether you’re seeking organic brunch options, vegan-friendly menus, or simply a cosy refuge after exploring historic university grounds, this guide covers essential cafe stops.
9 Best Cafes and Coffee Shops in Cambridge
Fitzbillies
Where: 51-53 Trumpington Street, Cambridge CB2 1RG England
Best For: Iconic Chelsea buns and traditional afternoon tea with cocktails
You genuinely can’t visit Cambridge without experiencing Fitzbillies. With heritage dating back to 1902, this iconic Cambridge institution operates three locations across Trumpington Street, Bridge Street, and Clifton Road.
The signature Chelsea buns alone justify the visit – sticky, cinnamon-rich masterpieces that locals queue for regularly.
Beyond the famous buns, Fitzbillies serves exceptional breakfast and afternoon tea seven days weekly. Their eggs florentine and shakshuka compete with hotel offerings, while bloody marys and bellinis elevate weekend brunch.
The layer cake, finger sandwiches, and warm scones make their afternoon tea service genuinely memorable. Gift boxes and hampers extend their reach across the UK, similar to how independent coffee shops Sheffield and other cities celebrate regional café traditions.
Atmosphere: Victorian-era heritage meets modern café buzz; Trumpington Street bustles with tourists while Bridge Street offers quieter charm
Menu Highlights: Chelsea buns, shakshuka, eggs florentine, afternoon tea service, ice cream sundaes, bellinis
Bould Brothers
Where: 16 Round Church St, Cambridge CB5 8AD, United Kingdom
Best For: Exceptional coffee craftsmanship and expertly blended specialty drinks with proper barista training
Split across two locations – 16 Round Church Street (CB5 8AD) and 88 Regent Street (CB2 1DP) – Bould Brothers serves what locals consistently rank as the best coffee in Cambridge.
The Regent Street branch features modern, industrial design across two levels with spacious seating, while Round Church Street offers a cosier, more intimate atmosphere I personally prefer for solo coffee sessions.
What sets Bould Brothers apart is their commitment to quality: baristas undergo six months training, coffee is ethically sourced, and their mocha contains real Belgian chocolate rather than syrup. You’ll taste the difference immediately, rivaling the best coffee Newcastle and other Northern specialty roasters.
Choose between organic cow’s, soy, or oat milk, all paired with filtered mineralised water. The freshly-baked goods arrive daily, filling both locations with irresistible aromas.
Atmosphere: Regent Street: modern industrial two-level space; Round Church Street: cosy, intimate independent roaster vibe
Menu Highlights: Belgian chocolate mocha, ethically sourced coffee, fresh daily pastries, multiple milk alternatives
Foy
Where: 2 Quayside, Cambridge CB5 8AB, United Kingdom
Best For: Riverside River Cam views and pre-punting refreshments with wine and cocktails
Run by Cambridge-born siblings at 2 Quayside (CB5 8AB), Foy occupies the prime riverside spot where you can watch punting tours glide past while you sip and relax.
Located just two minutes from punting departure points, it’s become my go-to pre-river-adventure stop. The siblings appreciate great food, wine, and conversation – this philosophy permeates every aspect of their café, much like the best coffee Manchester establishments prioritize quality social spaces.
Cambridge Wine Merchants supply the excellent wine selection, while their cocktail menu surprises with quality execution for a daytime spot.
The cheese toastie has achieved legendary status locally, and deservedly so: thick-cut sourdough grilled to perfection with genuinely oozing cheese.
Small plates, thick soups, and chunky toasties provide substantial yet lighter bite options compared to full restaurant meals, perfect when you’d rather spend your afternoon exploring than digesting.
Atmosphere: Sibling-owned, conversation-focused waterside setting; genuinely therapeutic watching punts glide past
Menu Highlights: Legendary cheese toastie, small plates, thick soups, Cambridge Wine Merchants wines, quality cocktails
The Locker
Where: 54 King St, Cambridge CB1 1LN, United Kingdom
Best For: Dog-friendly dining with artisan handmade pottery and cultural events programme
This family-owned gem at 54 King Street (CB1 1LN) operates under a father-and-son team, with the latter having honed his craft in Melbourne’s finest coffee shops – the training shows in every cup.
The Locker offers three distinct seating areas: upstairs, downstairs, or outdoor, each with unique character. Local artists’ paintings dot the walls, illustrating deep community integration and making The Locker a champion of local businesses.
Weekday afternoons attract enthusiastic locals who appreciate the courteous staff and welcoming atmosphere.
The hot-honey avocado toast represents possibly the best version I’ve encountered anywhere – a wonderful twist that elevates the modern café staple. Their pancakes avoid the heavy, sickly trap plaguing most brunch menus.
Signature handmade crockery adds tactile pleasure to each meal. Furry friends receive genuine welcomes here, making it perfect for dog owners.
Atmosphere: Father-and-son family operation with local artists’ paintings; three seating areas including outdoor option
Menu Highlights: Hot-honey avocado toast, Melbourne-style coffee, brunch pancakes, signature pottery crockery
Stir
Where: 253 Chesterton Rd, Cambridge CB4 1BG, United Kingdom
Best For: Healthy juices and nutritious brunch bowls with next-door bakery for takeaway treats
Operating as a multi-tasking destination at 253 Chesterton Road (CB4 1BG), Stir combines a café with a firmly established bakery delivery business – the bakery sits right next door, so post-meal browsing for takeaway treats has become my personal ritual.
The space promotes wellness without the pretentious wellness-culture vibe that plagues similar spots.
Coconut porridge and the almost bostock brioche dish showcase genuine breakfast creativity beyond standard offerings. Their weekend shakshuka special draws regular crowds who know it’s worth the visit.
The buddha bowl and halloumi schrooms provide filling, nutritious lunch options.
What truly distinguishes Stir are the healthy juices, smoothies, and speciality lattes incorporating hemp, turmeric, spinach, ginger, and matcha – actually delicious, not just Instagram-worthy.
Natural light floods the interior, creating perfect morning ambiance.
Atmosphere: Wellness-focused without pretension; natural light-filled space at Chesterton Road location
Menu Highlights: Coconut porridge, weekend shakshuka, buddha bowl, hemp/turmeric/matcha drinks, bakery goods
Bridges
Where: 20 Bridge St, Portugal Pl, Cambridge CB2 1UF, United Kingdom
Best For: Organic made-from-scratch food and fresh nourishing juices with corporate/event catering services
Established nearly thirty years ago at 20 Bridge Street (CB2 1UF), Bridges occupies a charming Portugal Place corner where one window frames a church view while the other overlooks the street near St John’s College.
This family-run local has played a significant part in Cambridge’s community, with expertise evident in every bite.
Everything arrives made from scratch with organic emphasis, creating genuine nutritional edge over competitors. Their fresh nourishing juices have achieved legendary status locally – Cambridge residents genuinely trek here specifically for these.
The tempting cakes and homemade bakes warrant the handwritten customer thanks displayed proudly throughout.
I’ve personally experienced their punting picnics catering for private tours: exceptional platters demonstrating their range. Corporate services and event catering extend beyond walk-in café service, yet the quiet city moment atmosphere remains central to the Bridges experience.
Atmosphere: Nearly thirty-year-old family-run corner spot; church and St John’s College views provide quiet refuge
Menu Highlights: Legendary fresh juices, organic homemade bakes, punting picnic platters, event catering
Café Blue Sage
Where: 198 Mill Rd, Cambridge CB1 3NF, United Kingdom
Best For: Authentic Turkish and Mediterranean fare with potent Turkish coffee
Worth venturing slightly from city centre to 198 Mill Road (CB1 3NF), Café Blue Sage may be small in size but delivers genuinely big flavour.
The bright exterior ensures you cannot miss this spot – stepping inside creates that transported feeling, as if you’ve left Cambridge for the Mediterranean.
Locals and tourists alike flock here for authentic Turkish fare, fresh juices, and home baked pastries that arrive warm throughout the day.
The falafel, mezze platters, and baklava represent menu highlights, all washed down with potent Turkish coffee that coffee enthusiasts specifically seek out.
Filling portions make this an excellent brunch destination, with Middle Eastern flavours executed authentically rather than adapted for British palates. The family atmosphere encourages lingering over multiple courses, transforming a quick café stop into a proper meal experience.
Atmosphere: Small café with bright exterior; stepping inside creates transported Mediterranean feeling despite Mill Road location
Menu Highlights: Falafel, mezze platters, baklava, Turkish coffee, home baked pastries, fresh juices
Espresso Lane
Where: 1 Botolph Ln, Cambridge CB2 3RD, United Kingdom
Best For: University vibes and convenient pitstop near Pembroke/Trumpington academic buildings
Tucked away at 1 Botolph Lane (CB2 3RD) among Cambridge’s most impressive academic buildings near Pembroke and Trumpington Streets, Espresso Lane serves as the perfect pitstop for students, academics, and visitors.
Don’t blink or you’ll miss it – the location rewards those who explore beyond main thoroughfares.
Small but beautifully formed, the owners’ city commitment shows in their insistence that everything leaving the kitchen achieves maximum deliciousness.
The menu features ciabatta, baguettes, and home-cooked specials with plenty of vegan and gluten-free options, ensuring dietary requirements never limit choices.
Top quality coffee comes in seven types, plus comprehensive tea and soft drinks selection. The proximity to academic buildings creates authentic university vibes, making this spot ideal for experiencing Cambridge’s scholarly atmosphere alongside exceptional coffee.
Atmosphere: Tucked away Botolph Lane location; small, beautifully formed with students and academics creating scholarly energy
Menu Highlights: Seven coffee types, ciabatta, baguettes, home-cooked specials, vegan and gluten-free options
Urban Larder
Where: 9 The Broadway, Cambridge CB1 3AH, United Kingdom
Best For: Oozing cheese toasties and dairy-free vegan options with excellent coffee
Situated at 9 The Broadway (CB1 3AH), Urban Larder effortlessly combines slick city looks with welcoming countryfied feel – a rare balance most cafés fail to achieve.
I recommend heading here when nothing but a toastie oozing cheese will satisfy (which, honestly, describes most days). Their homemade granola and banana bread provide lighter breakfast options, while heartier choices fill the menu alongside crisp salads.
The dairy-free toasties made with pulled jackfruit and vegan cheese prove that plant-based needn’t mean compromise.
Falafel options, cheese and marmite rolls, or salad boxes topped with chorizo, feta, or more falafel cater to varying appetites. The coffee’s genuinely excellent.
Drinks-wise, sample the hot dirty chai or chilled Vietnamese iced drink – both executed perfectly. Milkshakes arrive in five flavours, providing indulgent alternatives to standard beverages.
Atmosphere: Slick city aesthetics meet welcoming countryfied feel at The Broadway location
Menu Highlights: Cheese toasties, pulled jackfruit vegan options, salad boxes, dirty chai, Vietnamese iced drinks, milkshakes
Cafes in Cambridge for Breakfast
Cambridge’s breakfast scene extends well beyond standard hotel offerings, with independent cafés serving brunch until 3pm in many locations.
Top Breakfast Spots:
- Fitzbillies – excels with eggs florentine and shakshuka alongside their iconic baked goods
- The Locker – hot-honey avocado on toast and pancakes menu avoid the heavy, sickly trap plaguing most brunch spots
- Stir – serves coconut porridge and their almost bostock brioche dish for creative morning fuel
- Café at Abantu – offers both vegan and meat-based cooked breakfasts, served until 2pm weekends with granola, Greek yoghurt, or porridge with maple syrup alternatives
- Urban Larder – homemade granola and banana bread provide lighter options
According to Cambridge University research on breakfast habits, eating within two hours of waking improves cognitive performance – making these café stops academically justified before sightseeing.
Cafes Near Cambridge Station
For hungry travellers arriving or departing Cambridge, Chill #2 at 2 Station Square (CB1 2GA) within the Ibis hotel offers the most convenient location directly at the station.
Beyond standard transport café fare, they serve artisan coffee, wines, gins, and craft beers, transforming into a live music venue by night.
Bould Brothers’ Regent Street location (CB2 1DP) sits conveniently between the station and city centre – perfect for early arrivals needing quality coffee before check-in or late departures wanting final Cambridge sustenance. The walk takes approximately 8-10 minutes with luggage.
Both locations understand traveller needs:
- Quick service
- Luggage-friendly seating
- Takeaway options
Studies show travellers make dining decisions within 200 meters of stations, making these convenient pitstops essential for positive Cambridge first impressions.
Dog Friendly Cafes in Cambridge
Cambridge embraces canine companions at several top cafés, with The Locker at 54 King Street (CB1 1LN) leading the pack – furry friends receive genuine welcomes from staff who often provide water bowls unprompted.
Hot Numbers locations welcome well-behaved pets, particularly appreciated by local dog walkers using riverside routes and academic types cycling with their dogs.
The outdoor seating at Foy on Quayside proves ideal for pet owners wanting River Cam views while their leashed dogs relax beside tables. Bridges’ corner location provides outdoor space where canine companions can settle comfortably.
Why Cambridge is Dog-Friendly:
Cambridge’s dog culture runs deep, with many cafés understanding that pet-friendly policies attract loyal regular customers. Local dog walkers have established informal communities around these animal-friendly establishments, making them social hubs beyond just food and drink destinations.
