Bridges Espresso Bar in Bedford

Had salmon and avocado on toast was extremely tasty, service was quick and efficient and they do a large range of winter coffees which we really enjoyed

This café bar has a good location overlooking a pedestrianised square in the direction of the river. It was a warm day so we sat outside and enjoyed two flat whites and shared a good quality cake.

We came for breakfast for my parents anniversary and our expectations were exceeded. I had been for a meal previously with work colleagues and had wanted to go again for a while. Our waitress (Claire) was really friendly, attentive and accommodating and the food was wonderful. I would say that my garden breakfast (non vegan version) was the best breakfast I have had! Would definitely recommend and visit again 👍

Well and conveniently located coffee shop, amazing english breakfast, capuccinos and cakes next level 😋

On the positive side you can get a decent enough pastry and coffee, which is unusual for Bedford. It’s trendy and feels upmarket, and the location is great. It’s a little pricey for what you get and a bit overdone on the ‘designed for Instagram’ look and feel though. It’s trying a little too hard. I’ll park the claims to be an espresso bar, but it’ll be the first I’ve seen where the staff have iPads to order bunch on.

We headed to Bridges to grab brunch/ lunch having not been for quite a while. We had forgotten how lovely it is in there. A really nice atmosphere and great feeling. After grabbing a smoothie and iced coffee, we went for a Turkish Eggs, a delicious set poached eggs with chorizo and halloumi, and a cheese burger. Both were tasty and plenty big enough. Bridges isn't the cheapest spot in Bedford, but you certainly get what you pay for! Won't leave it as long to visit again this time!

Had a amazing family brunch celebrating my aunt's 40th birthday. Staff were lovely, especially the lady with brown/blonde hair and glasses who welcomed us. Excellent food and killer milkshakes!

Came for brunch/ breakfast. Great seats outside for people watching. Food was delicious and the smoothie was excellent.

We came down from Nottingham for the day, decided to try this place. Friendly staff our server was Emma B, she was lovely. The food was so nice and the drinks, would definitely recommend. If we cone back to Bedfordshire, we will definitely come back.

Lovely Saturday breakfast for my wife's birthday. Couldn't fault a thing, service was so good. Food was amazing, attention to detail 1st class. A beautiful location to watch the world go by. Thank you guys for making our day.

Popped in at around 1130 on the 7th August before going to the cinema. Had myself a large latte, and it was gorgeous. Probably one of the best lattes I have had.

Firstly the staff were absolutely amazing, friendly professional and helpful, the food was first class, the best breakfast in Bedford.. thankyou

Had a fantastic lunch at Bridges. My son & partner had the Philly Cheese steak which was really good and I had the divine Turkish eggs. The dish was perfectly seasoned and the eggs cooked lovely and runny. My son washed his down with a biscoff milkshake which he loved. Gorgeous food, wonderful staff and lovely atmosphere. It was really busy when we arrived yet the wait time was short. We hadn't booked so we're lucky to get a table!

Me and my wife absolutely love it. Rosie is the kindest and we thoroughly enjoy visiting for coffees and food!

Delicious food and lovely latte. I enjoyed a quick lunch meeting here with colleagues. We ordered the Turkish Eggs and Jewelled Couscous both of which were fabulous. Service was really friendly but a little slow. Maybe it was because we were on a limited timescale but the food seemed to take a while.

Had French toast with pistachios and a iced mocha, service was great and lovely atmosphere my husband had the waffles and bacon loved it as well We will be back!

Food took 45 minutes to come out, came out cold and tasteless. Would never go again

Awesome place , great service , delicious patisseries , photo attached for reference. Highly recommend. Very lovely.

Excellent food and service great staff everything you need for a great experience

My first time here and it won’t be my last! Clean, modern cafe area which is a bit echoey. A varied menu offering more than just a sausage or bacon bap. I’d recommend the French toast but will be trying the hash next time. The Biscoff one has a caramel sauce, Biscoff biscuit, strawberry and banana kebab stick and a dollop of cream. It was sweetish but funnily not as sweet as the pistachio toast. The waitress was friendly. I’m hoping the chef does a bacon, maple and toasted pecan nut version….

Slow service, low quality cocktail, disorganised staff. Nice venue and good location though

I just wanted to shout out the great team at Bridges. This past Saturday, i visited for brunch with 3 friends who had never been before. It was a sunny day so it was very busy. We sat at our table and a lovely lady said that due to staffing issues (people calling in sick) service may be a little slower. All I can say is you couldn't tell - the staff were as lovely as they always are, and we were given regular updates r.e when our food would be with us. These updates, when you know a venue is short staffed, are always appreciated. And no surprise, the food and drinks were top notch!!!

Called in for coffee and cake on a busy Saturday morning. Place in good location and was clearly popular. The noise level inside was very high largely due to the acoustics (all hard surfaces including the ceiling) plus an under current of base music. This made it difficult to hold a conversation. We had a nutty flapjack and a blackcurrant shortcake. Both were excellent and probably as good as any we have ever had. Service was good, prices fair for the quality cakes. Unfortunately the whole experience was let down by the coffee. Both had regular black americanos and they were weak and had little flavour. Will not return simply because of the coffee.

Decent coffee, food nice but portion sizes disappointing for the price. Staff generally good, one member seemed to be having issues with others.

We were looking for somewhere for Sunday morning brunch during a walk along the river and found Bridges. Perfect pancakes hit the spot, along with a pot of English Breakfast and a smoothie.

Best Bottomless Brunch spot in Bedford, and best bottomless brunch I’ve had in Bedford and London. The food was delicious, it was small plates rather than brunch food which was very welcomed by our group. The service was the best I’ve had in a long time, our glasses were never empty and the staff were kind, attentive and really good fun. I would highly recommend, and will definitely be back!

At a time when dining out is often over-priced and under-whelming, Bridges stands out as bucking that trend. The food is excellent and good value. But what you really notice is the service. It’s outstanding; cheerful, personable and attentive. There’s no slouches here. Excellent.

Just had drinks but was really nice. I had a 7 was lovely. The toilets are nice and clean but a bit dark. Sat outside in the sun, which was really nice.

Excellent afternoon tea. Food was delicious and staff were so helpful and friendly. 100% recommend 😁

Getting served was OK but it then took ages for coffees to arrive. Limited selection of cakes.

Very slow service. Wasn't worth the wait either.

Impeccable friendly service, food, facilities and hygiene. An absolute pleasure!

Emma was fantastic, very helpful and made an excellent coffee! The place was very comfortable and clean with some great (subtle) music playing too! If I'm ever in the area again, I'll definitely be back.

The atmosphere is great, with the warm lighting combines with more concentrated ceiling lights, the music is punchy and bassy but by no means annoying, soothing if anything, the coffee grinder and espresso machine are both quite quiet too. The espresso here is great: acidic and fruity, slightly floral, decent amount of sweetness with very little bitterness. A nice layer of crema on top and the asymmetrical serving setup make it a treat to the eyes. The double espresso is ordered arrived with a stroopwaffle which i loved, the price of the double eapresso is a bit higher than the competition (£2.75, usually it is around £2.50 for the same coffee) but with everything you get I believe it is more than worth it. Definitely recommend.

Afternoon tea so delicious. Lemon tart amazing! Staff very helpful. Great place!

Had the most delicious afternoon tea, thoroughly recommended! Felt really special. It was presented beautifully, and the service was fabulous 😀

£45 per person for bottomless brunch such a rip off. Would be better off at a Tesco restaurant ahahaha.

Bridges Espresso is my favorite place in Bedford , Lovely atmosphere, professional and friendly staff member , great service, Delicious food.. 5 starts.. Thank you Raff

Doesn't matter if you are going for a works meeting, cocktails and food with friends or using it as a pit stop while out for a walk. As a guest (customer is not the right term) you receive the best service and atmosphere in Bedford. This place is on another level and will accommodate for anyone and everyone that walks through the doors!

Love everything about Bridges! Great vibe, cocktails food and service. And nothing better than their chocolate toothpaste sundae!

Great food especially breakfast wrap with halloumi cheese it's Delicious 🤤 coffee ☕ great as always and The Pistachio Croissant oh my lord everyone need to try this!!! Highly recommend 👌5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ from me❤️

One of my favourite places in Bedford, whether I need a quick pick me up or looking for evening vibes that’s not too noisy! Food is always 10/10 and deffo worth the wait on busy days. 100% recommend. Staff are always willing to help with allergies and offer plenty of alternatives.

Food used to be really nice but I feel the last few times I have been the food has been pretty average. Its almost like it is too busy for the chef so the food standard drops and is not always hot. I also feel they over book and dont have enough staff to cater for the amount of people. My coffee has also never been right, everytime I order a oat caramel latte, either the caramel is missing or regular milk has been used. I used to be a regular, but I dont think I will be dining here anymore. However I will still be there for quiz nights!

One of our favourites places in Bedford. There really isn’t much that Bridges doesn’t & can’t do. The most amazing menu with delicious food & drinks. Quiz nights, themed workshops, private parties with the gorgeous decor was a vibe. Staff are so friendly & helpful. All round huge 5 stars from us.

Love this place!!! Food is incredible!!!

Sharing board was great. Best pint in town as well.

Really lovely food and good service. Very good coffee. Thank-you all.

The service we received was lovely and I cannot fault it. It is because of this service that I am thankful to not be unwell right now. As someone with coeliac disease and having to be very careful with sticking to a gluten free diet (not even a may contain) I emailed ahead to be greeted with a lovely response explaining how they have separate areas for preparing the food etc and everything suitable was labeled on the menue as either GF (gluten free) or GFA (Gluten Free Available. There weren't many choices but that's not a problem. I ordered the Hash as it was labels GF. Informed the staff of Coeliac and she informed the kitchen. She came back to say that unfortunately the dish was a May Contain, unsafe for coeliacs. The May contain being in the salsa and the pepper. Not a problem, I'll order something else. Jacket potato, can't go wrong right? Wrong, the potatoes are coated in pepper which is unsuitable. Okay fair enough, I also salt and pepper my potatoes when making jacket potatoes, let's try the salmon and avocado benedict (labeled GFA) I can't have this either as there is pepper in the avocado. Confused as to why they can't just not put pepper on my avocado I'm now very deflated and nearly gone though all options labeled on the menue to be told it's unsuitable. The waitress was so lovely and she could see I was getting defeated so was able to tell me what I could have that didn't contain pepper or could be made without. In the end I opted for the bacon benedict without the crispy onions. Don't get me wrong the food was okay, but after having gone through nearly all of the GF or GFA options on the menue, to be told they aren't suitable I was very very disappointed and at this point just wanted to go home. Especially as I had emailed beforehand. Unfortunately I will not be returning to eat here. Drinks maybe. Please please of you are Coeliac, or are allergic to gluten where you cannot have May contains, your only options seem to be bacon benedict without the crispy onions or one of the wraps (GFA for both). Such a shame.

First time visiting here after reading other peoples reviews. Had a really great breakfast, with good quality ingredients. Would definitely go again.

Amazing sharing platter and entertainment. 😊

We've just enjoyed a superb Mother's day afternoon tea at Bridges. The food was amazing with a lovely variety, even with the vegetarian options. The staff were very attentive, our lovely waitress even offered my mum (who has mobility issues) a comfier chair to sit on. Would definitely recommend, always a fabulous time had at Bridges.

bridges has the most delicious coffee in bedford. the food is also good and tasty, menu has different options and definitely it's a good place for having food. However the service its awful recently, I still coming and see if the people are better now but they don't care about customers, they barely look at you and they are rude. feel really sorry about the owner. If you want to have good food but bad service , this is your place

Rachel and her team are awesome. A great restaurant, food was really good and nothing was too hard for the team. Honestly one of the best places I have been to for a long time! Would recommend in a heart beat!

We went for afternoon tea which was delicious followed by bubbles and cocktails, service was great and all good and drink amazing.. a great spot for catching up with friends x

I went with some colleagues for an impromptu lunch. We all had a different version of the burgers available, they were really nice, with accompanying onion rings, coleslaw and rosemary chips. Staff were very attentive, checking in that everything was OK. Good menu, not too bad, but plenty of variety. I will come back and try the Yorkshire pudding burito which sounded fascinating!

We had a lovely early lunch here. The food and drinks were absolutely lovely (we would particularly recommend the Nutella hot chocolate!), there was a very nice atmosphere, and the service was exceptional. We would definitely recommend!

Our fave place to visit. Amazing service from Rosie. She was wonderful in looking after us. It was our 1st date in over a year and this beautiful place never disappoints. Thank you.

I wasn’t expecting such a great breakfast, presentation, quality and flavour all served by a friendly staff, the pancake was delicious and the coffee was great too

We booked a table for cocktails after a meal out with friends. We were welcomed and seated quickly and given the drinks menu. Not much to say accept service was good, the manageress was funny and made us feel very welcome and of course the cocktails and shots were great! thanks for a lovely evening 😊

Ordered and paid for drink but they lost my ticket , i was sitting there 20mins until i asked where it was !@ shocking service

Great place for catch up with friends over breakfast, brunch or an espresso martini. Beautiful setting, overlooking the River Ouse.

This is one of the best places Bedford has to offer. Its very enjoyable relaxed atmosphere, gaining from the location and landscape, is the strongest point, with very stylish decor, comfortable room and cleanliness everywhere. The food is very decent too, and the background music could be toned down just a bit. Well done!

Have been here many times, we love the waffle and pancakes. But this time we encountered the most unwelcoming greeter. They were two small tables available and we are two adults and two toddler, she firstly said no table available, then offered us high table when I pointed out we have toddler who needs high chair and those high table won’t work. She said they prioritize reserved customer, so they get the normal height table even though they might be two adults. Then I said they are two tables of customer are about to leave maybe we can have one of them, which should have been offered by her but she didn’t. She then turned around checked the booking record and told us those table are reserved in two hours time. Not ‘ I need it back in two hours time is that ok’, but they are reserved so you can’t have them. She clearly didn’t want us to be there and didn’t want to try to find a seat for us at all. Just want to leave the review so the manager knows maybe some staff needs more training. At the end I insisted because I promised my kid waffle for lunch, she didn’t come close to our table for anything the whole time and we were served by other friendly staffs which was lovely.

Had a lovely experience here yesterday. Waitress was very helpful. The food was flavoured and seasoned so so so well! I’d love to come back when I’m back in Bedford in a few months. Selected items on the menu were halal!

Drinks were nice, the menu is a lie. We paid for real duck and horrible vegetarian equivalent lumps of rubbish appear for £30. False advertisement and poor quality. Rip off.

We like having coffee and cakes here, the cakes are good, as is the coffee and the service is friendly

Great place, amazing food, staff are wonderful

Disappointing visit yesterday. Overcooked eggs, lukewarm hot drinks and pale sausages. We are regulars and this was for a birthday so a huge let down.

Food taste was underwhelming. Service wasn't great . Very expensive!! Avocado was straight out of the fridge! Presentation was great on the other hand...

Quick cheeky cake and Chia latte. Great food and lovely relaxing atmosphere.

Lovely welcoming place. Service with a smile! I had English tea. And breakfast. It was very tasty! Wasn't overly busy. Have toilets here. Didn't take long to get serviced!

Very busy. Had booked so ok. Met by a very harassed waitress who hadn't got to the chapter on smile and greet your guests! Food was plentiful. We chose Christmas platters which tbh we could have shared. The turkey and ham were v dry, but the prawn cocktail, pate and sourdough and the pigs in blankets were nice.

Great food, great staff, top notch customer service.

My first time in this place and it didn’t disappoint friendly smiling staff great atmosphere really delicious fresh cakes and great hot chocolate looking forward going back to try more things off the menu xx

My friends and I had been so well accommodated when we wanted to arrange a last minute brunch (after being let down by another venue), the team were so friendly. We decided to return for a bottomless brunch this weekend, and again the service was incredible, food was super tasty, including the dairy free and veggie options, music was so good (we even all had a little sing along at one point, which the rest of the bar seemed to find entertaining). Must be one of the best, if not THE best bar venue in Bedford.

Lovely service, great atmosphere and friendly staff. Can recommend the toothpaste sundae. A good selection of yummy drinks.

They were fantastic. Even changed the lighting to fit the atmosphere.

We booked a table for five knowing how busy Bridges can be at lunchtime. We were seated quickly and the drinks service soon followed. During a really busy period, we ordered five decent sized meals and received five really well presented main courses. Everybody enjoyed their food choice and the atmosphere is always vibrant & positive. One of the nicest things about Bridges is the staff. They are always friendly, engaging and keen to please. Great location with really decent food and service. Highly recommended.

Bridges is the only place to be in Bedford, the food is always served piping hot, beautifully presented and delicious. We love the cocktails and often go for a wine down Wednesday to grab a great deal! Keep up the great work, it’s a great place to be with your family and friends. Thanks for always having a warm welcome waiting for us!

We had the pleasure of attending Bridges Restaurant for their Halloween afternoon tea during the half-term week, and it was an absolute delight. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, making it a great choice for both adults and children. The adults ordered the Croque Monsieur and Reuben sandwiches, and they were simply top-notch. The flavours were outstanding, and the presentation was impeccable. The kids' plates were equally impressive and offered a variety that even the pickiest eaters would enjoy. Lots of thought appeared to be put into the kid's meal and offer for both presentation and variety. What truly stood out for us was the excellent value for money. Bridges Restaurant provided us with a fantastic dining experience without breaking the bank. We left feeling completely satisfied and eager to return for more. Highly recommend Bridges Restaurant to anyone looking for a memorable dining experience in a great atmosphere. This is the place to be for a wonderful meal with your loved ones.

Popped in for a birthday brunch with friends and as normal was not disappointed! Every table was full but food arrived quickly and our server was really friendly. Great food and great atmosphere. See you again soon Bridges!

I had black americano just hot water and very little coffee when I was look atmosphere look amazing but latte and black coffee very bad never go again

Went Sunday for brunch very nice. Had English breakfast, eggs perfectly. Very nice staff

Went to bridges on Sunday for brunch. There was a bit of a wait but not too bad, the food was lovely, perfectly eggs. Staff very nice

Great place....went for dinner last night food was superb....and excellent value. Will 💯 go again

Really lovely food.. waiting time was crazy 🤪 though. Cocktails seemed a little high for what you got.. but lovely atmosphere 👌 great location 👍

First time visit. Excellent service, the food was fantastic and great selection of drinks. Highly recommend.

Fantastic service, lovely food and great selection of drinks. Highly recommend. I will certainly return.

Good range of quality food and drinks with friendly service

Sadly, I was rather underwhelmed by our experience here. It was our 1st visit, midweek for brunch and coffee. Only 1 member of staff serving the floor, with 2 making coffee. She was working flat out yet was unable to keep up as every table was full. Coffee/tea took about 8-10 mins to arrive, which was tolerable if a little slow. My husbands pastry was brought quickly, but my poached eggs on toast took just over 30 minutes. It arrived on the wrong bread (which I chose to ignore because the wait had been so long). What was most disappointing was I had to send it back anyway because the eggs were overwhelmed by the vinegar taste they were poached in. I appreciate vinegar is often used to help form the eggs, but it was unbelievably strong (to the point I couldn't taste anything but vinegar). I asked for simple toast to replace this order but was further frustrated that it took 20 more mins to arrive. All in all, it was disappointing, and I certainly wouldn't rush back when there are so many other nearby establishments to choose from.

Busy bank holiday monday! I hadnt booked but i know for next time, but they managed to get me in! Great place to visit. First time here and I will be back. Service was promt very friendly drinks and food were lovely and great presentation.

I need to share a bad experience I had on Sunday between 3-4 pm. I bought coffee and sat down, but the table wasn't comfy. So, I wanted to change to a better spot where some tables were pushed together.The issue started when a waitress kept staring at me for no reason, which was annoying. Then, a big group came in and I thought they might want my table. Before I could react, the same waitress rudely started moving my table, with my stuff still on it.I asked her to wait just 2 seconds, but she ignored me and kept being rude. I quickly gathered my things and left the café, deciding not to go back. My point is, moving my table so rudely wasn't necessary. Waiting a bit would've been nicer, so I could change tables without feeling rushed. Even if the table was reserved, a simple and polite approach would have been better. Other staff were okay, but this waitress's behavior was so rude.

Great location, great atmosphere, hot food just warm with poor service

Love going to Bridges, whether it’s for an afternoon coffee and mocktail with my children or for a few grown up cocktails with my friends. The place is very family friendly oriented which is wonderful when you have to entertain the children in the holidays. Bridges do a wonderful job coming up with different ideas and ways to spend an evening. I’ve been to a few different events from flower arrangements to quiz nights. Quiz nights is one of my favourites, we have a team of 6, made up of myself, husband and friends. Great way to spend a mid week evening, having a laugh and a guess to some questions. It’s better than sitting in front of the telly. Highly recommend.

I was told this was a great place but when we arrived the service was very slow The food was not cheap most lunch dishes even sandwiches were £15 or more Shocked when we ordered 2 Ploughman lunches, good spread of cheese, ham and pate but 1 small slice of bread - never seen that before We-asked for a couple of slices of extra bread and got charged over £3 for them The other food was Luke warm and we waited over 35 minutes to get the food served I won’t be using this place again based on poor service, rip off prices for what you get

Very poor service, overpriced bland food, I had high hopes going by the reviews but would not recommend, won’t be going back, there’s plenty of other places doing a much better job in bedford.

Nice cocktails and good selection of different drinks. Came when had 2 for 1 and had a good few. Just wished it stayed opened later

Nice food . 3 friends with different tastes and it suited us all. Service and staff was good . Very relaxed atmosphere with great views.

Good ambience, and food was nice although it was a little pricey! Team and service was ok, just felt a little rushed at times.

I rarely write reviews but for a small town like Bedford this is an absolute gem on your doorstep. I went with 2 friends and we had the bottomless option, 90 minutes of either prosecco, gin or beer with a fabulous selection of food including 2 courses. The staff are super friendly too. It was a lovely way to spend a Saturday but don't take my word for it, try it for yourself. We will be back! :-)