Cafes are not just about coffee and good meals but a hub for having a good time and de-stress after a long week. Sit with your friends and crib about your day! That's what cafes are for; there is a whole show based on it if you know what I mean! Such is Canterbury, known for its luxe and next-door cafe shops. Other than being known for Cathedrals, there are beautiful cafes in Canterbury. You will find the perfect blend of comforting ambience and a range of delectable treats to accompany your coffee. Let the aroma of freshly brewed coffee wrap you in a warm embrace, creating a perfect haven to relax and recharge!
Best Cafes in Canterbury
We've done the legwork for you and compiled a fantastic lineup of the 15 best cafes in Canterbury, so when you visit the city, you can be sure to have an amazing time exploring these top-notch spots! Let’s dive in.
1. Cafe Des Amis
Tripadvisor Rating: 4.5/5
Location: 95 St. Dunstans St, Canterbury
Timings:
Sunday to Thursday: 12 pm - 9.30 pm
Friday and Saturday: 12 pm - 10 pm
Feel fancy in one of the best Canterbury coffee shops, with blue paint, mosaic tiles, and wooden tables interior. Bill and Emmanuelle, who met while working at a restaurant in Paris, opened the Cafe in 1988. Cafe Des Amis has a complete bar, serving a selection of Mexican wines, beers and cocktails. Besides its range of exotic beverages, The Canterbury cafe has a wide variety of Mexican cuisine; you must try its warm chocolate sauce-coated churros, and crispy calamari dipped in refreshing mango salsa. A vegan, are you? Favour a gluten-free diet? Specific menus are available for each, so you aren't left out of the fun. Having a budget of £20-25 per person while visiting the Cafe is advisable. After a hefty meal, walk around Westgate Towers Museum & Viewpoint beside the Cafe.
Guest Review:
"Nice little Mexican, very tasty food, Chicken and Pork belly Fajitas, very tasty, nice pleasant service and a good atmosphere, reasonable prices."
2. Cafe du Soleil
Tripadvisor Rating: 4.5/5
Location: 5 Pound Ln, Canterbury
Timings:
Sunday to Thursday: 12 pm - 9 pm
Friday and Saturday: 12 pm - 9.30 pm
With a menu that changes with the seasons, Cafe du Soleil has a bit of everything and is one of the best cafes in Canterbury! Look forward to their Christmas menu for this coffee shop in Canterbury. People rave about the Duck Four Ways starter and Wood Fired Pizzas at the Canterbury cafe. Check out their Instagram page to get updates about the upcoming menus. You should have a budget of £10-15 per person.
Guest Review:
"Great service for our dinner on Friday night. The food was excellent, we all ordered starters and main. We can't wait to come back."
3. Cafe Solo
Tripadvisor Rating: 4.5/5
Location: 302 Wincheap, Canterbury
Timings:
Monday to Saturday: 7 am - 5 pm
Sunday: 7 am - 4 pm
Cafe Solo is an excellent example of your next-door Cafe in Canterbury. The eating area's openness, along with the wall-mounted blackboards, perfectly captures the ambience of a neighbourhood café. The Canterbury cafe’s primary food menu is filling, delicious, affordable, and made with fresh ingredients. It would help if you tried the jacket potatoes, famous local burgers, munchies, and build-your-own-breakfast selections. We suggest you spend the morning outside in the secret garden during the spring and summer. A budget of £5 to $10 per person is recommended.
Guest Review:
"Haven't been here for a while so enjoyed yet another great meal today! Food is cooked to order and surprisingly quickly given that the restaurant was completely full and we had to wait for a table."
4. Saffron Cafe
Tripadvisor Rating: 4.5/5
Location: Town Centre, 9 Castle St, Canterbury
Timings:
Monday to Saturday: 8 am - 3 am
Sundays: Closed
Located just a mile from Canterbury Cathedral, Saffron Cafe is one of the best cafes in Canterbury for breakfast and coffee; sit in the little garden at the back and relish a full breakfast. You can check out the menus and real-time updates of this Canterbury coffee shop on their Instagram page. It is recommended to have a budget of £5-10 per person.
Guest Review:
"Excellent breakfast, we had the big breakfast. Four arrived at the same time with perfectly cooked eggs. Completely enjoyable and a great friendly waiter. Would highly recommend."
5. Beano Cafe
Tripadvisor Rating: 4.5/5
Location: 12 North Ln, Canterbury
Timings:
Monday to Saturday: 6.45 am - 5 pm
Sunday: 8.45 am - 5 pm
Locals in Canterbury frequent this Cafe because of its affordable but reasonable cuisine and welcoming staff. The Full English Breakfast costs only £4 and is a must-try. Only 5 minutes from the city centre, Beano café is one the best cafes in Canterbury, known for its warm and elegant flavour. It is advised to have a budget of £10-15.
Guest Review:
"Called into the Beano cafe around lunch time on a cold February and had a good warming lunch in a very clean establishment. Really well cooked basic food that hit the spot. No problems calling in next time in Canterbury especially for the money."
6. Kitch Cafe
Tripadvisor Rating: 4.5/5
Location: 4 St Peter's St, Canterbury
Timings:
Sunday to Saturday: 8 am - 5 pm
Kitch Cafe is located near the Canterbury Cathedral. The must-try dishes at the Cafe include Dirty Cacao and Turmeric Latte with Avocado and Bacon Sandwich. This coffee shop in Canterbury has curated Vegan, and Gluten-Free menus, which range from smoothies to amazing cakes. Head on over to their Instagram page for Kitch aesthetics. It is recommended to have a budget of £10-20 per person.
Guest Review:
"Excellent service and food - the restaurant was very busy and deserves to be doing so well. We will certainly put this restaurant on our "must visit again list". I particularly enjoyed my "all day Breakfast" - went down very well at lunch time!"
7. Garage Coffee Roasters
Tripadvisor Rating: 4.5/5
Location: 17 Sun St, Canterbury
Timings:
Monday to Saturday: 9 am - 5 pm
Sunday: 10 am - 4 pm
Garage Coffee Roasters are famous for their array of coffee and cakes. If you are vegan, try the almond latte and vegan carrot cake. Garage Coffee Roaster has award-winning baristas and roasters, making it one of the best cafes in Canterbury; head to their Instagram page to learn about their culture. It is advised to have a budget of £5-10 per person.
Guest Review:
"Nice cake! Absolutely delicious, freshly baked and a wide choice. The coffee is very good quality and freshly brewed. The service is lovely and the staff are very friendly."
8. Phoebes Canterbury
Tripadvisor Rating: 5/5
Location: 56, 57 Ivy Ln, Canterbury
Timings:
Monday to Saturday: 9 am–3 pm
Sunday: Closed
One of the many cafes in Canterbury near the Cathedral, Phoebes is a local's fave for breakfast and salads. Phoebes Canterbury is a homey little coffee shop in Canterbury that holds private parties and gatherings. This Cafe is dog-friendly and has courtyard garden seating. You are advised to have a budget of £10-15 per person.
Guest Review:
"Bought Afternoon Tea vouchers for my cousins for Christmas. Lesley (owner) couldn't have been more helpful posting out the vouchers to me. Cousins really impressed, food was delicious (sadly I had to make do with photos)."
9. Cafe St Pierre
Tripadvisor Rating: 4.5/5
Location: 41 St Peter's St, Canterbury
Timings:
Monday to Saturday: 8 am – 6 pm
Sunday: 9 am–5:30 pm
Get French feels at this coffee shop in Canterbury, Cafe St Pierre, in which baguettes and cakes are too good to resist. Experience a very quaint environment with hot chocolate and irresistible cakes. It would help if you tried the Toasted baguette with a basket of jams, a local favourite at Cafe St Pierre. This is one the best cafes in Canterbury as the locals speak highly about their friendly services. Keeping a budget of £5-10 per person is advised.
Guest Review:
"Spotted this place after a long and hot journey and were delighted to sit in the shade in the back garden for very good coffee and cake. Staff were welcoming, with a good sense of humour too."
10. Burgate Coffee House
Tripadvisor Rating: 4.5/5
Location: 43 Burgate, Canterbury
Timings:
Monday to Friday: 8:30 am - 5:30 pm
Saturday: 10 am - 5:30 pm
Sunday: 10 am - 4:30 pm
Burgate Coffee House is one of the many coffee shops in Canterbury, famous for its range of coffee mixes. The chefs here can curate a dish according to your liking. Whether you want low-carb, vegan or gluten-free, you have to ask! Their cappuccino and cortados are to die for! As appealing as their Instagram page is, you will not be disappointed by their menu, as the locals have nothing but good things to say about the best Cafe in Canterbury. You are advised to keep a budget of £10-12 per person.
Guest Review:
"Lovely place to stop, right in the centre of Canterbury. Coffee was delicious and the owners made us feel very welcome. There are also beautiful photographs adorning the walls, that were for sale Great little Cafe."
11. Lazix
Tripadvisor Rating: 4.5/5
Location: 10 Butchery Ln, Canterbury
Timings:
Monday to Friday: 10 am - 5 pm
Saturday: 10 am - 5:30 pm
Sunday: Closed
Lazix is a tiny, cosy space situated just off the main street. This coffee shop in Canterbury is known for its patisseries. You must try the Chocolate Orange Cake with Espresso Martini and unwind at Lazix's upstairs seating. The locals speak highly of the Cafe manager and the services, which makes it one of the best cafes in Canterbury. Keeping a budget of £10-15 per person is advised if you’re visiting the Canterbury cafe.
Guest Review:
"Great atmosphere. Milo is a wonderful welcoming owner. He's a very warm and polite man. The members of staff are so lovely too including the door men. Great music and drink too. Had time of my life. Highly recommended it to everyone."
12. Lost Sheep Coffee
Tripadvisor Rating: 4/5
Location: Bus, Station, St George's Ln, Canterbury
Timings:
Monday to Saturday: 7:30 am - 5:30 pm
Sunday: Closed
It is no surprise that cakes and coffee are a staple at cafes in Canterbury. Nevertheless, this independently-owned local coffee shop should be on your list. Their roastery is based in the seaside town and various shops in Canterbury. Get the taste of the local coffee shop in Canterbury at Lost Sheep Coffee, along with toasties or a lemon drizzle cake. Visitors visiting the Canterbury cafe are advised to have a budget of £7-12 per person.
Guest Review:
"Best Coffee in Canterbury, staff are so friendly and the decor is really nice and fresh. Love passing the cathedral drinking a lost sheep coffee in the mornings."
13. Cafe Turquoise
Tripadvisor Rating: 5/5
Location: 31 Palace St, Canterbury
Timings:
Monday to Friday: 9 am - 4 pm
Saturday: 9 am - 5 pm
Sunday: 11 am - 3 pm
Apart from the coffee and food, go here for an eye-pleasing experience. A beautifully arranged window displaying cakes and chocolates will make you want to enter this coffee shop in Canterbury. Cafe Turquoise is known for its excellent Coffee and Cannolis. Don't believe us? Check out their appealing Instagram page. It is recommended to have a budget of £8-15 per person when you visit the Canterbury Cafe.
Guest Review:
"Had couple of nights in Canterbury. Walked around hunting for coffee and found this place. Top coffee. Lovely compact and bijou Cafe. Wish we had something like this where we live."
14. Caffe Nero
Tripadvisor Rating: 4/5
Location: 31 St George St | 44 High St | Locke Building, University of Kent
Timings:
Monday to Friday: 7 am - 6:30 pm
Saturday and Sunday: 7:30 am - 6:30 pm
Caffe Nero is one of the best cafes in Canterbury, it is situated in 3 different locations, but locals head over to the one at St George St and unwind sip by sip. Locals here recommend trying the renowned Lattes, and Praline Latte tops the list, pair it with the Almond Croissant, and you've got a nice brunch-y meal. It is recommended to have a budget of £8-15 per person while visiting the cafe in Canterbury.
Guest Review:
"This is decently located in the bookshop which provides a pleasant ambience upstairs. However the downstairs room is much comfier and has nicer seating. Good quality coffee."
15. Longport Cafe
Tripadvisor Rating: 4.5/5
Location: Town Centre, 9 Longport, Canterbury
Timings:
Monday to Saturday: 7 am - 4 pm
Sunday: 8 am - 3 pm
Longport Cafe is a family-owned business and is one of the best cafes in Canterbury for families looking for breakfast and local coffee in Canterbury. Get your hearts and stomach complete with their famous Full English Breakfast with a coffee of your choice. It is recommended to have a budget of £5-12 per person when you visit the Canterbury Cafe.
Guest Review:
“Stayed in Canterbury night before masters hockey in Herne Bay. The morning after the night before and on the look out for the now few and far between "greasy spoon". Descended on longport café following recommendation from bar staff - it didn't disappoint: fantastic full English breakfasts with choice of tea/coffee for only a £fiver!”
Take a turn at one of the 14 best cafes in Canterbury; each coffee shop in Canterbury is unique, and we guarantee your taste buds will be satisfied. There are various tourist attractions near the cafes, so you will enjoy exploring Canterbury. And if you are looking for a student accommodation in Canterbury, amber has got your back! Whether you're going out for brunch with your friends, sick of sitting around in your student dorm or just tired of cooking at home, enjoy yourselves at one of these Canterbury coffee shops.