Cafes

AFTERNOON TEA

BOSTON TEA PARTY 75 Park Street, Bristol/Kingsmead Square, Bath:
Proper china teapots, proper China (and a huge range of other) tea, alongside splendiferously sturdy sweet stuff.

CAFE DELIGHT 189 Gloucester Road, Bristol: Cosy and cheerful, superb range of afternoon, um, delights.

CAFE RENE/LE PARISIEN Shires Yard, Bath: Cosy inside, heated courtyard outside, glamorous French patisserie selection.

CAKE 1b Pitville Place, Cotham Hill: Surely the name says it all?

SAME, SAME BUT DIFFERENT 7a Princes Buildings, Bath: Fantastic home made cakes in cool but trendy surroundings.

BRILLIANT BREAKFASTS

BRUNEL BUTTERY Wapping Wharf, Bristol: The bacon butties are legendary, but the sausage option is something to celebrate, too

CAFE RETRO York Street, Bath: Spectacular all-day fry ups for veggies and carnivores alike

FRIARY 9 Cotham Hill, Bristol: Classic breakfasts, classic caff

JAZZ CAFE
Kingsmead Square, Bath: doorstep breakfast butties alongside full-on fry ups.

ST MICHAEL'S CAFE
145 St Michaels Hill, Cotham: Bodacious brekks in groovy, eclectic surroundings.

Bath

ADVENTURE CAFE 5 Princes Buildings, George Street. Tel: (01225) 462038 Subtle soundtracks, comfy canvas chairs, and a menu that covers all eventualities - it's licensed, too. Serves sturdy contempo-trad and Euro-themed food throughout the day, lighter bites from 5-9pm.

BONGHY-BO'S 2-3 Barton Court, Upper Borough Walls. Tel: (01225) 462276 This laid-back cafe-bar boasts a lovely calm courtyard and specialises in Oriental flavours against a consistently impressive, eclectic menu.

BOSTON TEA PARTY Kingsmead Square. Tel: (01225) 313901 With an atmosphere similar to its Bristol sister, discover real food (healthy, hearty, largely wholemeal) at very reasonable prices: gourmet sarnies, salads, homemade cakes and brownies, alongside weekly and daily specials and excellent breakfasts.

CAFFE NERO 11 Old Bond Street. Tel: (01225) 470390 Excellent coffee plus ciabattas, paninis, salads, fresh soups, pastries and a wide range of drinks served with continental panache. Convenient early opening sorts out the dawn treaders, and the fresh croissants are delicious.

CAFE RENE/LE PARISIEN Shires Yard. Tel: (01225) 447147 Plenty of alfresco seating in what must be one of the prettiest courtyards in town draws summer punters, while the French-themed menus - including superb baguettes, croque monsieur, moules-frite and excellent daily specials - lend an authentic Gallic touch all year round. Good breakfasts, too.

CAFE RETRO York Street. Tel: (01225) 339347 Individual and bohemian, their extensive daytime menu includes ever-popular faves (pasta, homemade burgers) plus pani ·nis and a near-perfect fry-up. Retro Modern lives upstairs, while Retro 2 Go, on the corner next door, does fine fare to take away.

CHANDOS DELI St George Street. Tel: (01225) 314418, Web www.chandosdeli.com Stylish deli-cafe-restaurant, for eclectic foodie inspirations from around the world, all featuring fresh, seasonal ingredients. Their sandwiches are legendary.

DA VINCI ITALIAN DELI 33 Wellsway. Tel: (01225) 471850 Small but beautiful neighbourhood deli and cafe for authentic coffees, homecooked pasta and savouries plus a yummy ciabatta and baguette lunchtime selection. Courtyard garden seating for summer days.

GARDEN CAFE 9 Terrace Walk. Tel: (01225) 446001 Airy, continental-style cafe - the fabulous menu selection includes gazpacho, paninis, deli sandwiches and bagels. Breakfast platters of healthy stuff based around organic yoghurt and frui Ït, and plenty of treats, too. Great views over the Abbey and the weir from the upstairs tables.

JAZZ CAFE Kingsmead Square. Tel: (01225) 329002 Bright, friendly bistro-cafe with homemade food on the menu and jazz sounds on tap. Renowned for excellent breakfasts, huge portions, an imaginative specials board and good veggie options.

MANGIA BENE 5-6 St James Street. Tel: (01225) 336106 Delightful Mediterranean deli with a small cafe attached and pavement tables, too. Great coffee, superb sandwiches and fabulous

sweet treats.

MEDIA CAFE @ INVENTION ARTS
Lower Borough Walls. Tel: (01225) 421700, web: www.inventionarts.org Illy coffee, sturdy lunchtime snacks, cakes, homemade biscuits and more in this cool, cosmopolitan hangout in the basement of a busy arts centre. Funky furniture and chillout grooves all add to the chic but friendly appeal.

METROPOLITAN CAFE 15 New Bond Street. Tel: (01225) 482680 Bustling espresso/food bar with a contemporary interior and a wide-ranging menu: popular for lunch-deal soup/sandwich combos, tortilla wraps, sorbet smoothies and organic ice cream milkshakes. The downstairs shop is always good for a browse, too.

RIVERSIDE CAFE 17 Argyle Street (below Pulteney Bridge). Tel: (01225) 480532 Barrel-vaulted cave with outside seating for summer, open early for breakfast and moving on to an amazing array of pan-global cuisine alongside scrumptious homemade desserts and cakes and a licensed bar. All this, and a weir view too.

SAME, SAME BUT DIFFERENT 7a Princes Buildings. Tel: (01225) 466856 Lovely double-fronted cafe-bar on a lane just off the George Street well-beaten track. Hearty Mediterranean-themed snacks, platters, salads, cakes and pastries abound, complemented by excellent tapas from Thur-Sun evenings. Fully licensed.

SHOON 14 Old Bond Street. Tel: (01225) 445309 Lively cosmopolitan cafe with a bright and breezy feel and a laidback atmosphere. Excellent paninis, baguettes, salads, filled bagels, etc.

Bristol cafes

BIG BANANA JUICE BAR Units 21-22, The Glass Arcade, St Nicholas Market. Tel: (0117) 927 3274 An irresistible range of fresh homemade juices, smoothies and organic ice-cream shakes. Healthy yum.

BLUE JUICE 39 Cotham Hill. Tel: (0117) 973 4800 A vast range of juices and smoothies and imaginative culinary options, too, with a heated alfresco deck with canopy outside.

BOCACINA 184c Wells Road, Lower Knowle. Tel: (0117) 971 3377, www.bocacina.co.uk A terrific selection of antipasto, Brazilian/Mediterranean/Portuguese hot dishes plus farmhouse breakfasts on Suns.
Transforms into a bustling pizzeria in the evenings, with takeaway and home delivery available.

BOSTON TEA PARTY 75 Park Street. Tel: (0117) 929 8601 Huge selection of juices, teas and Fair Trade coffee alongside excellent hearty food and an innovative sarnie and panini range. Seating on two floors; heated terrace outside. Bath branch too.

BRUNEL BUTTERY Wapping Wharf. Tel: (0117) 929 1696 The bacon butties here are legendary - and the homemade cakes are good, too. Eat on tables outdoors or take away.

CAFE DELIGHT 189 Gloucester Road. Tel: (0117) 944 1133 web: www.cafedelight.co.uk Laidback and cheerful, offering Medi-themed home cooking. The specials board is indeed a delight, and the breakfasts are legendary.

CAFE UNLIMITED 209 Gloucester Road, Bishopston. Tel: (0117) 904 8523/0778 656 4860, email: info@cafeunlimited.co.uk, web: www.cafeunlimited.co.uk An exclusively Fair Trade cafe attached to a funky gallery. All food is GM-free: gourmet sarnies, paninis, soup, sandwiches, gateaux and cakes, alongside beers, wines, teas and a good range of coffees.

CAKE 1b Pitville Place, Cotham Hill. Tel: (0117) 973 2007, email: hi@cakecake.co.uk, web: www.cakecake.co.uk Everyone from mums with kids to students and builders working nearby sit down to tea and cake here (irrespective of the time.) Serves sandwiches and juices too, and boasts a big window that's perfect for Cotham-watching.

FOLK HOUSE CAFE-BAR 40a Park Street. Tel: (0117) 907 7948 A tranquil haven amid the bustling retail metropolis that is Park Street. Fantastic value abounds, from starters to homemade cakes, plus an eclectic range of teas and coffees. Gives great garden, too.

FRIARY 9 Cotham Hill. Tel: (0117) 973 3664 Offers a timeless formula of good food at bargain prices in casual, friendly surroundings. ÆCurries, chillies, casseroles, good vegetarian options and delicious soup are all made on the premises, but the biggest hits are the classic breakfasts.

HAVANA CAFE-BAR 3 Welsh Back. Tel: (0117) 930 4034, web: www.havanacoffee.net A bigger version of the already popular Cotham incarnation (see below), featuring comfy furniture and a waterside terrace. Serves breakfast, lunch and tapas, plus freshly-squeezed juices and Italian and Fair Trade coffees.

HAVANA COFFEE 37a Cotham Hill. Tel: (0117) 973 3020, web: www.havanacoffee.net An extensive selection of light bites and an excellent range of Fair Trade coffees, traditional and herbal teas and juices in a relaxed atmosphere, with a menu that incorporates pan-global favourites, 14 varieties of English breakfast (seven vegetarian) and organic produce wherever possible. Look out for the third Havana Coffee branch opening on North Street in Bedminster soon ...

LA RUCA 89 Gloucester Road. Tel: (0117) 944 6810 Laidback, arty and wholesome, La Ruca maintains a strong commitment to Fair Trade and organic farming. Homecooked food with cosmopolitan flavours make for the dishes of the day, while the Mexican wraps are delicious.

LUNA ROSSA 202 Cheltenham Road. Tel: (0117) 924 3701 Italian-owned BYO cafe offering a range of ciabattas, baguettes, focaccia, omelettes and fantastic English breakfasts alongside mouthwatering Neapolitan specials.

MUD DOCK 40 The Grove. Tel: (0117) 934 9734, web: www.mud-dock.com Uber-cool combination of bike emporium and chilled gastro hangout with a fab balcony overlooking the river. Mediterranean-influenced dishes are the order of the day, with a popular brunch menu supplementing the selection at weekends and night-time bringing out the DJs and candles.

PAPADELI 84 Alma Road, Clifton. Tel/fax: (0117) 973 6569, email: info@papdeli.co.uk, web: www.papadeli.co.uk Superb deli serving up ciabattas, tapas, antipasto, soups and imaginative bruschetta and hot sturdies such as casseroles, stews and fishcakes alongside great cakes, teas and coffees.

PIEMINISTER 24 Stokes Croft. Tel: (0117) 942 9500, web: www.pieminister.co.uk Pie paradise! The signature range includes seven savoury (and one sweet) recipe while the specials change with the seasons and the mash and gravy options make for the full-on Pieminister experience, eat in or to-go. Or you could just stop by for tea, coffee and sweet treats in the funky cafe itself.

SHAKEKING 106 Horsefair, Broadmead, Bristol Choose from over 150 unique milkshakes created by blending your favourite sweets, cakes and biscuits with a milk or ice cream base. Vegan and non-dairy alternatives available; Fair trade coffee and fresh sandwiches too.

SOUP ETC Ginger Gallery, 84-86 Hotwell Road. Tel: (0117) 927 2583 High-quality homemade food and top coffee in a busy little cafe with great views, ambient jazz and inspiring artwork. The eponymous soup, made daily, is low-fat and mainly vegetarian; the homemade cakes are gorgeous.

ST MICHAEL'S CAFE 145 St Michaels Hill, Cotham. Tel: (0117) 907 7804 Groovy booths, an eclectic jukebox and wall murals featuring musical legends - no wonder this fine caff is locall y folkloric. Bodacious breakfasts jostle for top position on the menu, and veggies are well catered for too.

SPICE ROUTE 61 Gloucester Road. Tel: (0117) 904 0040 Bright and friendly cafe/takeaway mixing Mediterranean and Middle Eastern flavours, offering Greek salads, Iranian bread, baklava, and good range of coffees and exotic juices. Fantastic-value baguettes and paninis; deli service, too.

YUM YUMS 286 Gloucester Road, Bishopston. Tel: (0117) 908 0711, web: www.yumyums-cafe.co.uk Bustling, bubbly Mediterranean cafe with lively murals on the walls and internet facilities. The Moussaka comes highly recommended and veggies are well provided for, too.

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