There’s nothing quite like a fresh cup of coffee. And it’s even better when sipping it from within a cosy coffee shop, relaxing and watching people pass by. Despite perhaps investing in a coffee machine, beans, an Aeropress or other coffee equipment and speciality brews during lockdown, you can’t quite beat local coffee shops. Check out our pick of the best coffee shops worth sitting down for a brew for in Bristol, or even for a takeaway one, because there’s something about coffee being made by someone else that just tastes better.
1. Tradewind
This Clifton coffee shop is a must visit. Located on Whiteladies Road with a stained glass window front, Tradewind is hard to miss. Their house espresso, known as ‘Highground’ (possibly named after the hills up to Clifton), is a versatile blend to have, whether you’re ordering a latte, flat white, cappuccino or black coffee, as it still packs a punch in milky coffees too. The coffee shop also has a selection of rotating custom blends and single origins to choose from. You’ll also find a tasty brunch and lunch menu, with their latest addition being a halloumi ciabatta with green basil and smoked paprika housemade mayonnaise, red gem, fire roasted red pepper and rocket salad. If that’s not enough, Tradewind has a range of delicous bakes to choose from like raspberry friands and cheese and spinach scones.
118 Whiteladies Road, Clifton, BS8 2RP
2. Fed 303
Coffee is great, but what makes it even better? Cake. You can’t go wrong with a great slice of cake alongside a freshly brewed coffee and Fed 303 serves just that. Their current bakes available for delivery include blackberry and elderflower polenta cake, cardamom knots, tahini caramel brownies, chocolate Guinness cake, rhubarb and custard doughnuts, plus chocolate and hazelnut babka buns. No, you’re drooling! And if you fancy trying a banana bread not made by yours truly then try Fed 303’s version served with chocolate butter alongside a cup of their Yallah coffee, for a heavenly breakfast option.
303 Gloucester Road, BS7 8PE
3. Sweven
This Bedminster coffee shop serves a vast array of speciality blends by talented coffee roasters, all in aesthetically-pleasing packaging and with unique notes like mango puree, bergamot and lemongrass, to name a few. Sweven said: “We are on the pursuit of delivering a selection of the finest, most dynamic and complex coffees we can. We do this by supporting and progressing relationships throughout the coffee supply chain.” Based on North Street, the coffee shop has a clean, white and minimalist décor plus they have three modular coffee “taps” installed on their coffee counter so Sweven sure understand the saying, “but coffee, first.”
12 North Street, BS3 1HT
4. The Orchard Coffee & Co.
Located in St George, The Orchard Coffee & Co is one of the biggest coffee shops in Bristol, and all decked out with wooden flooring, counters and tables. And to give the coffee shop that extra glow, it’s decorated with numerous plants and fairy lights draped from wall to wall. The Orchard Coffee & Co serve their own unique, in-house made blend which is created with five different coffee beans and can be enjoyed at home too. Sweet treat wise, their malt malteser hot chocolate looks quite the tease, as well as their Jammy Dodger blondies. They also serve breakfast baguettes including one with veggie sausages, spinach and sriracha, as well as cheesy bloomer toasties and Sunday roasts suitable for veggies and meat-eaters. Plus, all the ingredients in their main dishes are free-range, organic and local sourced.
Clouds Hill, St George, BS5 7LA
5. Albatross Café
Another coffee shop staple on North Street is Albatross Café. This pastel-hued, plant paradise is quite the haven when you need an escape from all the hustle and bustle in Bristol city centre. Not only is the coffee here incredible, but the mugs they’re served in are gorgeous. Made by Jericho Studio Pottery, and only stocked in Albatross Café, these beautifully hand-crafted mugs and bowls sell just as quick as their cakes and coffee do so be quick. Some of their featured cakes include chai-spiced caramel and white chocolate blondies and clementine and almond cake with chocolate ganache. Plus, as a breakfast treat to go with that cup of fresh coffee, Albatross Café serves some damn good crumpets, which are topped with figs from the local greengrocer, mascarpone, pistachios, honey and rose. You can thank us later.
60 North Street, Southville, BS3 1HJ
6. Playground Coffee House
Fancy a game whilst you sip your coffee? Well, Playground is a speciality coffee shop, craft beer and cocktail bar in Bristol offering just that. However, if coffee isn’t your tipple of choice, then this place has a delicious rotation of craft beers, tasty ciders (it’s Bristol after all) and a lovely range of coffee-based (and not) cocktails. Choose from a vast selection of drinks and board games suitable for all group sizes. And if you’re fortunate (and quick) enough you may even be able to nap a spot at their window seat which is a swing!
45 St. Nicholas Street, BS1 1TP
7. Tincan Coffee Co.
Tincan has two coffee shops in Bristol for you to choose from, including one on North Street in Bedminster and the other on Gloucester Road in Bishopston, so wherever you may be in the city you’re never far from coffee. The coffee shops have an industrial diner vibe about them with their light hangings, corrugated iron around the counters, brick feature walls, leather booths and a diner-style menu above the counter. Tincan always have a guest espresso on offer, along with a rotating line-up of the season’s best single origin filter options. All their coffee is roasted to order by local roaster, Clifton Coffee. If you’re here for brunch be sure to order the Tincan Baked Beans, which includes sourdough toast topped with a poached egg and baked white kidney and butter beans in their own spiced house tomato sauce. You can also enjoy a selection of pastries too.
234 North Street, Bedminster, BS3 1JD
157 Gloucester Road, Bishopston, BS7 8BA
8. 25a Old Market
25a Old Market is one of those coffee shops in Bristol that has everything you could possibly need- good coffee, a decadent deli, delicious baked goods and a plentiful pantry. Like Fed303, this independent coffee shop also serves speciality coffee by Yallah and they get their amazing pastries and doughnuts from the infamous Bristol bakery, Pinkmans. Located near Cabot Circus and surrounded by many listed Georgian buildings, 25a Old Market also offers a a meeting space. The coffee shop is also a perfect place if you’re wanting to get some shopping done and fancy resting your weary legs for a bit before lugging your bags home.
25a Old Market Street, BS2 0HB