There are so many options! But fear not – we are here to help you sift through the best cafes in Cambridge. Choose your favourite, but remember that these options aren’t mutually exclusive! Fill your city break with a plethora of cafe stops. One for lunch, one for a snack, one for a dose of caffeine to see you on through your city explorations. Today, we are starting the series with three of the best cafes in Cambridge city centre (all independent – like us – of course!)
The Locker
After hearing that The Locker is well-loved (with good reason), we decided to pop in on a weekday afternoon. We recommend weekday lunches for any cafe in central Cambridge; the Saturday buzz isn’t ideal for finding tables for lunch. Because The Locker is in the city centre, but down a road that most tourists don’t stumble upon, it seems that the majority of attendees are enthusiastic locals.
The lovely team were perfectly courteous. They gave us the choice of any of the three seating areas: upstairs, downstairs, or outdoors. Dotted around the walls sit numerous paintings from local artists. This illustrates how integrated they are into the local community. When it comes to the best local businesses in Cambridge, The Locker is making its mark!
The hot-honey avocado on toast was a wonderful and welcomed twist on a modern cafe staple. It was very possibly the best I’ve ever had! And as a cafe lover, you can imagine I’ve sampled quite a few. The pancakes, another brunch go-to, are deliciously refreshing. Whereas elsewhere, the pancake option can be a heavy and sickly choice, The Locker has aced their take on it. Another huge plus for the locker, making it a great contender for the best cafe in Cambridge, is that they welcome furry friends! If you are looking for dog-friendly cafes in Cambridge, The Locker is a must!
For a more thorough review of The Locker, there is a lovely read here from Cambridgeshire Live. You can also catch up on their Instagram here!
Cafe Foy
Owned by two siblings, Cafe Foy is sat smack-bang in the middle of Quayside. Quayside is mostly dotted with restaurants – making Cafe Foy a great option for a lighter bite in contrast. On a Cambridge visit with so much to do, a quick cafe pop-in is often preferable to a full sit-down meal. You would rather be eating lunch at Cafe Foy than having a three-course meal eating up the majority of your afternoon. This makes it ideal for a pre-punting tour to pick me up – our location is only two minutes away! P.S. The cheese toastie is to die for.
Cafe Foy – cheese toastie
Post-cafe punting
Once you are filled to the brim with good coffee and good grub, let it digest whilst you take a relaxing tour of the River Cam. Drinking in the sights on the river is the only better drink after a coffee in Cambridge. Your tour, either shared or private, will cover the most iconic Cambridge sights. We can only give suggestions of what are the best cafes in Cambridge, but we know for a fact who does the best punting tours!
Why are we the best? Our Google reviews speak for themselves. The sights on the amazing River Cam are one thing, but not all companies have the wonderful team that we do. We love showcasing our staff and the company community. Read up on our little world of punting here!
Bridges Cafe
Yet another quaint family-run local cafe, Bridges is a wonderful option. This cafe has been well-established for almost thirty years! Having long played a part in the local Cambridge community, their expertise is evident in every bite. With an emphasis on organic food made from scratch, their nutritional edge and wonderful owners make them a contender for the best cafe in Cambridge. Located on the charming corner of Bridge Street, this café offers the perfect balance of central convenience without the overwhelming city rush. One window frames a view of a church, while the other looks out onto the bustling yet serene street near St John’s College. This makes it an ideal spot to enjoy a quiet moment in the heart of Cambridge.
Taken from Bridges Instagram https://www.instagram.com/p/C3xMY8co_T6/?img_index=1
Whether you are popping into Bridges to take refuge from your city explorations or need a caterer for a large event, Bridges is a wonderful choice. In fact, we personally have worked with Bridges many a time over the years to provide our customers with punting picnics! For private tours, picnics are absolutely an option for our guests. From corporations to family reunions, all types of get-togethers are made better with the services of Bridges… and our punting tours.
Taken from Bridges Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DAsgFbooMax/?img_index=5
So there you have it…
These are our first three recommendations for the best cafes in Cambridge. We are very eager to hear your thoughts on which cafes should be featured in our next blog – there is no shortage of options! We hope you love these independent local businesses as much as we do. Establishments such as these really give the city of Cambridge its flavour (pun intended!) Feel free to email us at info@letsgopunting.co.uk to ask for any recommendations. Until next time!
