Wondering where to find the best cafes in Exeter? This charming Devon city is packed with indie cafés serving seriously good coffee, from Queen Street and Fore Street to the buzzing Exeter Quay and leafy Cathedral Green.
Whether you’re after a flat white, a cream tea, brunch, or cake, these 12 spots deliver Exeter’s best caffeine fix.
The Exploding Bakery
Best For: Commuter coffee near Central Station
Right beside Exeter Central station on Queen Street, The Exploding Bakery is the perfect commuting coffee stop.
Opened in 2011 by two old school friends, Oliver Coysh and Tom Oxford, it’s famed for seriously good flat whites and incredible tray bake cakes and brownies.
The décor (full of shelves and plants) feels cosy, and there’s outdoor seating too.
Opening: Open daily, check website
Atmosphere: Cosy, plant-filled, indie café vibe perfect for a pre-train pick-me-up
Menu Highlights:
- Flat whites and beautifully crafted lattes
- Tray bake cakes and brownies
- Fresh bakery items
- Vegan and gluten-free options
Location: 1 & 2 The Crescent, Queen Street, EX4 3SB
March Coffee
Best For: Fresh doughnuts and creative latte art
Tucked down South Street, March Coffee is the place to go for coffee and doughnuts.
The baristas are clearly passionate, finishing every latte with creative latte art. But the real draw? The fresh, homemade doughnuts made every single morning in a rotation of delicious flavours.
They’ve become a popular hit across Exeter.
Opening: Brunch served Friday to Sunday
Atmosphere: Laid-back indie café with passionate, friendly baristas who take coffee seriously
Menu Highlights:
- Homemade doughnuts (fresh daily)
- Lattes with creative latte art
- Weekend brunch menu
- Vegan options
Location: 87 South Street, EX1 1EQ
The Ridge Coffee Shop
Best For: Refuelling after an active day out
Down at Exeter Quayside on Haven Road, right beside clip n climb and AS Watersports, The Ridge Coffee Shop is the ideal refuel spot after paddleboarding or a climb.
The cinnamon buns are genuinely out of this world, and the counter display is a work of art.
Dog-friendly, with indoor and outdoor seating, plus takeaway if you’d rather eat by the water.
Opening: Open daily
Atmosphere: Bright, fun and dog-friendly with indoor and outdoor seating beside the Quay
Menu Highlights:
- Cinnamon buns and donuts
- Lemon Meringue Donuts
- Pistachio Pan au Suisse
- Chorizo Croissants and sourdough toasties
- Fresh sandwiches and bagels
Location: Haven Road, Exeter Quayside
Mango’s Café & Bar
Best For: Coffee with a riverside view
For coffee with a view, head to Mango’s Café & Bar tucked into the historic arches of Exeter Quay.
Sit outside with an iced latte overlooking the river, or slip into the cosy cellar. The mouth-watering farmer’s breakfast comes loaded with grilled chorizo, and there are solid vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options.
Dog-friendly and great for a boozy brunch thanks to their impressive alcohol menu.
Opening: Open daily for breakfast and lunch
Atmosphere: Cosy quayside cellar with outdoor seating overlooking the river, dog-friendly
Menu Highlights:
- Farmer’s breakfast with grilled chorizo
- Full English breakfast
- Hot chocolate and cake
- Boozy brunch options
- Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free alternatives
Location: Exeter Quay
Glorious Art House
Best For: The most Instagrammable café in Exeter
Widely called the most Instagrammable café in Exeter, Glorious Art House sprawls over three levels on 120 Fore Street.
It’s filled with arty bits, authentic Mexican tiles, and a cute little reading nook.
There’s an outdoor patio, an art gallery on the third floor, and a menu built around waffles, cakes, and healthier options like greek yoghurt and granola.
Opening: Open daily, free wifi
Atmosphere: Colourful, artsy and creative three-level café with outdoor patio and reading nook
Menu Highlights:
- Waffles
- Cakes on display
- Greek yoghurt, berries and granola
- Hot chocolate with marshmallows
Location: 120 Fore Street, EX4 3JQ
The Plant Cafe
Best For: Vegetarian dining with a cathedral view
Sitting on Cathedral Yard with views straight to Exeter Cathedral, The Plant Cafe is a fully vegetarian spot that also caters brilliantly to other dietary restrictions.
Everything is homemade on-site using local ingredients wherever possible, and they run a zero-waste policy. Both the food and the coffee pull in rave reviews.
Grab a seat at their outdoor tables opposite Tea on the Green and soak up the cathedral view.
Opening: Open daily
Atmosphere: Relaxed, ethical and plant-forward with outdoor tables overlooking the Cathedral
Menu Highlights:
- Colourful salads and handmade cakes
- Homemade plant-based menu
- Great coffee
- Gluten-free options available
Location: 1 Cathedral Yard, EX1 1HJ
Pink Moon Café
Best For: Instagram-worthy coffee and cocktails
On Queen Street, just a stone’s throw from Exeter Central station, Pink Moon Café brings trendy London vibes (think EL&N and GRIND) to Exeter with neon lights and a photo-worthy pink theme.
There’s a grab-and-go side, a restaurant side, and downstairs, a cocktail bar with a dancefloor for Friday and Saturday club nights (hello 2-4-1 cocktails).
Lattes are a reasonable £2.80.
Opening: Open daily, club nights Friday & Saturday
Atmosphere: Trendy, pink-themed and Instagrammable with neon lights and a buzzing vibe
Menu Highlights:
- Lattes at £2.80
- Crankhouse Coffee (roasted in Exeter)
- Grab-and-go menu
- Restaurant dining
- 2-4-1 cocktails on club nights
Location: Queen Street
South Street Standard
Best For: A caffeine fix whilst shopping
Bang in the middle of town, just off the crossroads on Cathedral Green, South Street Standard is the go-to for a caffeine fix whilst shopping.
The trendy industrial feel, buzzing atmosphere, and plenty of seating make it perfect for a pit stop between shops.
The lattes are consistently good, and locals rave about the brunch menu. The Mac n Cheese especially has a cult following.
Opening: Open daily for coffee and brunch
Atmosphere: Trendy industrial feel with a buzzing crowd and plenty of seating in central Exeter
Menu Highlights:
- Consistently good lattes
- Brunch menu
- Mac n Cheese (cult favourite)
- Casual lunch plates
Location: South Street, Cathedral Green
Artigiano
Best For: Working remotely and evening wine
On the Exeter high street since 2014, Artigiano Espresso and Wine Bar defies the usual rule that high street equals bad coffee.
It’s a big but cosy spot, ideal for remote work, with coffee so good their baristas compete at a national level.
After 5pm it turns into a wine bar. Free wifi and gluten-free options available.
Opening: Coffee until 5pm, then wine bar
Atmosphere: Spacious yet cosy high-street café that transforms into a wine bar at 5pm
Menu Highlights:
- Award-worthy espresso and coffee
- Eggs Benedict and Eggs Royale
- Crumpets with smashed avocado
- American-style pancakes
- Cakes and sweet treats
- Local sausages
Location: 248 High Street, EX4 3PZ
Tea On the Green
Best For: Traditional Exeter Cream Tea
Tea On the Green wins hands-down for best location. It’s diagonally opposite Exeter Cathedral on the pedestrianised Cathedral Close.
Grab an outdoor table on the square for prime people-watching, or in cooler weather head upstairs and snag a seat by the window for that cathedral view.
The food is locally sourced and you can taste the difference.
Opening: Cream teas served daily from 2:30pm
Atmosphere: Traditional tea room with prime cathedral views and buzzing outdoor seating
Menu Highlights:
- Exeter Cream Tea (from 2:30pm daily)
- Locally sourced food
- Open sandwiches
- Vegan and gluten-free options
Location: 2 Cathedral Close, EX1 1EZ
Sacred Grounds
Best For: Award-winning vegan brunch
In the heart of Exeter’s Independent West Quarter, tucked inside McCoy’s Arcade on Fore Street, Sacred Grounds is an all-vegetarian, plant-based brunch café.
It’s been praised for serving fresh, innovative food at reasonable prices.
The glass ceiling floods the plant-filled space with natural light. It genuinely feels closer to nature.
Opening: Open daily, supper clubs regularly
Atmosphere: Bright, plant-filled arcade café with a glass ceiling and welcoming community feel
Menu Highlights:
- Seasonal plant-based brunch menu
- Fresh, innovative vegan dishes
- Great coffee
- Supper club events
Location: McCoy’s Arcade, Fore Street
The Boatyard Bakery
Best For: Artisan sourdough and pastries by the water
Down on Exeter Quay beside the water, right on the Exeter canal basin, The Boatyard Bakery is a unique little sourdough bakehouse.
The bread and pastries are honestly incredible. The coffee is also really good, with the aroma of fresh espresso mingling with just-baked sourdough from the open kitchen.
A handful of indoor and outdoor tables means you can sit beside the water.
Opening: Open for breakfast and brunch
Atmosphere: Small independent bakehouse on the canal basin with an open kitchen and waterside tables
Menu Highlights:
- Artisan sourdough bread
- Classic croissant
- Fresh pastries
- Brunch menu
- Good coffee
Location: Exeter Quay
