Our Pick Of The Best Cafés & Coffee Shops In The City

From cute cafés to cool coffee shops, Bristol has a thriving café culture and coffee scene.

In fact, the city is home to many of the best cafés and coffee shops in the region, including an exciting range of small, independent coffee houses.

So, whether the day calls for a place to sit and sample the best of the Bristol roasts, or somewhere to meet for fun and food, here is our pick of 10 of the best independent in the city.

1. Mokoko Coffee & Bakery, Various Bristol Locations

Best know for: It's iconic almond croissants. 

Image courtesy of Ivana Slavcheva.

Known and loved for its freshly roasted, single-estate coffee beans, Viennese pastries and ‘real’ breads, Mokoko is a firm favourite on the Bristol coffee scene.  

This Bristol staple has established locations at Wapping Wharf and Box Makers Yard in Bristol - both offering contemporary decor and a warm and inviting atmosphere – and a new location planned for 2025, too. 

Make a date to meet up at Mokoko to try its selection of breads and cakes and find your new favourite pick-me-up. 

2. Full Court Press, Central Bristol

Best known for: It's huge range of speciality coffee.

Image courtesy of @fcpcoffee on Instagram.

You will find Full Court Press in the heart of the city. Here, they roast, blend and serve their own specialty coffees, so there is a cup for every taste.

If you think of yourself as a coffee connoisseur, then Full Court Press is bound to hit the spot. Enjoy your drink with a cinnamon bun or an egg tart supplied by a local institution: Hart's Bakery.

3. Beehive Coffee House in Downend

Best known for: It's HUGE, seasonal freakshakes.

Image courtesy of @thebeehivebristol on Instagram.

Undoubtedly one of the coolest cafés in Bristol, The Beehive Coffee House is a great place to take the kids and indulge in one of their famous milkshakes.

Try the Salted Caramel Shake with popcorn, cookies and caramel sauce or The Custard Queen, including Custard Creams and white chocolate buttons.

4. Playground Coffee, Bristol City Centre

Best known for: It's selection of board games.

Image courtesy of @playgroundbristol on Instagram.

Playground Coffee is another contender for Bristol’s best coffee shop. Located in the heart of the city centre, Playground Coffee is a dream for board-game enthusiasts and coffee lovers alike.

Take a seat in one of their swinging chairs and try your chance at a board game with friends. Their coffee comes from Bristol-based independent roasters, Cloud Fruit Coffee.

We also love popping in after dark for one of their craft beers and a game of Dobble.

5. Warmley Waiting Room, Warmley

Best known for: It's unique location.

Image courtesy on @warmley_waiting_room on Instagram.

Situated at the halfway point on the Bristol to Bath Railway Path, this quirky café is one of the cutest in Bristol.

Located trackside in a disused train station, the Warmley Waiting Room is a great place for dog walkers, cyclists and families to stop for coffee and a bite to eat among the beautiful gardens.

Doctor Who lovers should be sure to check out their ‘Tardis Toilet’ during their visit!

6. Tincan Coffee Co on Gloucester Road

Best known for: It's vintage coffee trucks.

Image courtesy of @tincancoffeeco on Instagram.

With two cafés in Bristol city centre, Tincan Coffee Co is a great place to work, meet or relax.

This coffee house serves their own specialty coffee blend from local roasters Clifton Coffee, along with loose leaf teas, hot chocolate and smoothies. The team is well-known for appearing at Bristol festivals, film sets and more with their vintage coffee trucks.

6. Windmill Hill City Farm Café

Best known for: Being an essence of nature in the city.

Based in Bedminster, this is one of the best farm shop cafés in Bristol, with free entry and plenty of adorable animals to see.

Sit outside and indulge in homemade brownies or a slice of carrot cake while you get an amazing view of the surrounding paddocks and animals. The café serves locally roasted coffee, along with a delicious range of hot and cold drinks, and seasonal meals using produce from the farm.

7. The Crepe and Coffee Cabin at Bristol Harbourside

Best known for: Their beautiful Harborside views.

The Crepe and Coffee Cabin is one of the only places in Bristol where you can grab yourself a sweet or savoury crepe and a coffee with a famous Bansky print on it. And all while watching the locals try to stay on their paddleboards!

Sit here and enjoy the lively atmosphere of Bristol Harbourside. We think this is the best café with outdoor seating.

8. Small Street Espresso, Central Bristol

Best known for: It's beautiful baby blue La Marzocco coffee machine.

Image courtesy of @smallstespresso on Instagram.

Having been open for more than 10 years, Small Street Espresso may be one of Bristol's smallest coffee shops, but it serves some of the best coffee in the city.

These guys take their beans seriously, and from day one have been supplied by Bristol's own Clifton Coffee Roasters, along with many other independent local vendors. Be sure to spend some time here and soak up the rustic and friendly atmosphere, conveniently placed in the centre of Bristol.

9. Spicer and Cole, Various Bristol Locations

Best known for: It's fresh and flavourful food and drinks.

Image courtesy of @spicerandcole on Instagram.

Now serving coffee, specialty teas and delicious food in four locations, independent Spicer and Cole is famous in the city for having some of the best coffee in Bristol.

Their house blend is provided by Bristol-based Extract Coffee, with a personalised blend of beans that produces the ultimate espresso. With tea coming from nearby Cheltenham, the coffee shop really understands the importance of locally-sourced produce.

The same goes for the food they serve; make sure you don't miss out on their homemade pastries and salads.

10. Coming Soon: Café 16U at Hangar 16U, Brabazon

A new café and coffee shop for Bristol, with a target opening in 2025.

Café 16U at Brabazon.

Once complete, Café 16U will be among the best independent cafés and coffee shops in Bristol.

Here, you will be able to enjoy a freshly brewed coffee with brunch, or a locally sourced cake under the historic Belfast trusses of the Grade II listed aircraft hangar, 16U.

This open-plan café is just one part of the Hangar 16U restoration project at Brabazon, which will see the disused hangar transformed into a new, local social hub for North Bristol with a modern library, meeting nooks and study spaces, community hall, activity rooms, and a wellness centre for fitness.