Cafe des Amis in Canterbury

They serve fusion food Mexican/French. The Antojitos for two - mixed starter was good but some combinations didn’t really work well. The ceviche was not great. The paella was good. The huevos rancheros were nice. It is good in general but pricey for what you get. We had left overs and they packed them in paper foil that broke easily. For the price paid, one would expect something better to take the food away. The waitress was very friendly and helpful. The place was a bit noisy. The toilets were dirty.

This place was a nice spot for a cosy family dinner. The menu was rich and the food served to us was delicious. The only thing I was not happy was the staff. It gave the impression that either they were very tired or they did not need many customers.

First visit to an independent Mexican restaurant. Celebration meal with colleagues. Visited on a Saturday afternoon. Absolutely delicious food, thoroughly enjoyed everything I tried and can't wait to return. Food tasted, smelled, and looked so much more authentic to the chain restaurant I have visited in the past. Very popular and busy yet attentive service. Booking recommended. Great location close to the city wall and with good nearby travel links. Wholeheartedly recommend.

Wow, packs a surprise, good food and friendly staff. Happened to meet some friends there and we all had a good time. Located right near the westgate towers.

This restaurant is wonderful for good food and service together with a typical Mexican cafe ambiance. First class evening.

Me and my partner ate here for Friday lunch. We were seated quickly, both members of staff who served us were warm, helpful and conversational. The food was fantastic - bigger portions than expected, and so tasty. We'd absolutely go back again.

Food was very nice and customer service was great as well. We was a table of 7 adults and one child.on 5 April 25

A cozy place with wonderful staff! 😊

It has gone down hill as years have gone by, I ordered from the lunch menu, had nachos for the starter but they were swimming in oil and for main lamb Stu, the rice that went with it tasted like Uncle Ben's from a microwave, it was a birthday lunch so was expecting more, very basic and very poor, the service was the best part of the lunch

I have been coming here for 25 years! That says it all. Hands down one of the best restaurants in the world. A true hidden gem. Make an excuse to have a day out in Canterbury and come here!

Great cocktails and half price 5 to 6 Food good but very limited on gluten free I thought which us a shame Food we did have was super Staff friendly and helpful

Fabulous food. Great quality. Tasty. And a wide variety. Staff were attentive and friendly. Reasonable prices. Nice range of beers. Couldn't fault it

10/10 service, food was absolutely stunning and came extremely quickly. Will continue to recommend to others!

Can never go wrong having dinner here. Always have the paella to share. The staff are so lovely as well, will always visit when back in Canterbury

Brilliant food and friendly staff. The music's a bit loud, but tolerable.

Great food, friendly staff and great atmosphere and interesting art at the wall

Went on the recommendation of a local, was not disappointed; the place is really quirky, the walls bedecked with art which is available to buy. Loved it. Starters were really tasty, great flavours and nicely presented. For my main I had a burrito which was delicious and not too massive (you know those overstuffed ones that become a bit soggy and grim after a while) this was good, fresh and a real treat. Staff were friendly and it did busy up, I’m not surprised!

Thank you for a great evening tonight for my daughter's surprise birthday meal x We enjoyed the whole experience and you all made it really special for us. This is why she and I love having our birthday meals with you! We'll be back ❤️

Great scones and cake, very fresh, light and delicious. Service quick and friendly.

Lovely restaurant with a really nice atmosphere and the food was delightful! Added bonus of being happy hour when we visited too. Would highly recommend

They found me and mum a table for 2 even though the time slot was short. The service was very good, the staff had a nice vibe, and the food got there very quickly. I had the pork belly burrito with the guacamole, it was delicious. They also served us Wantsum Lager and it was great beer. The loos are in good condition but take a while to get to, they had one of those blade hand dryers which are great. Very happy with tonight's experience.

Over expectations! Nice taco mix and perfectly cooked meat. Recommend the Lamb Shoulder to share

We go here every other week on Sundays . Easily the best mexican I have been to in the UK (including London!)! Spicy margarita (shaken) can't be beat .

Really disappointed with this Mexican. Been three times now (giving benefit of the doubt) and food is very average. Service is good and in a cute building however as far as Mexican food goes - not great.

We visited Café des Amis on a Saturday afternoon. The food was delicious, the atmosphere and general buzz of the place was great, as was the decor and Mexican music which helped to make the whole experience seem more authentic. The service was also very good, as the staff were all very friendly and helpful. Highly recommended.

Always a superb meal and service there

We came for lunch time at 2pm on a Saturday and it has such a buzz already, so a good start! Starter - shared nachos with spicey pork. Best nachos we’ve ever had! Main - shared duck fajitas. Was recommended these and we can see why. Also, thank you for the extra sour cream! Drinks - beer & a frozen pina colada which was strongggggg! I could only finish half 🙈 We came on a friend recommending and can see why. We’ll definitely now be recommending and can’t wait to come back.

Fun place for great Mexican food. Quite a lively place with fast service.

We hadn’t been back for 25 years as we both now live in other parts of the country but back in Canterbury for 2 nights we had to return and we were not disappointed. Fabulous food, great atmosphere and a fabulous waitress in Sophia.

Nice Mexican style restaurant and good service.

Just a very good meal, lovely service and reasonable price. All you need, no fancy stuff to justify high price that isn't good, just good honest food.

Authentic Mexican Dining in the Heart of Canterbury 🌮🇲🇽 Café des Amis was a very interesting visit in the heart of Canterbury. First of all, it was fully booked, which was a great sign—and the food definitely did not disappoint. We started with the sharing platter of appetizers, which had a fantastic selection: duck tacos, confit, ceviche, guacamole, meatballs, salsa, and more. Every bite was fresh and flavorful. For the main course, we went with the duck, which was served beautifully—slightly pink, paired with mole sauce. I had never tried mole before, only seen it in videos, and I must say, it had a very unique taste. This was a completely new experience—authentic Mexican cuisine, not just Taco Bell or random street food tacos. If you’re looking for real Mexican flavors, this is the place to go. Highly recommend booking in advance to secure a spot! 🌮🔥

Great food and cocktails staff friendly and helpful and good laugh

Gorgeous spot, delicious food, and amazing service!

Such a lovely meal! Staff were so efficient and friendly, special shoutout to Alfie who was such a lovely guy! Thank you so much, will definitely be back soon x

Came here for my birthday with 2 friends. We were served my Alfie who was so friendly and service was amazing! Food was great too!

Lovely place and as always great food. Thank you to Alfie great service :) Favourite place in Canterbury

Always a friendly welcome at this popular Mexican restaurant. Food and drink options are good and reasonably priced. Very tasty food in decent portions.

Just enjoyed a wonderful meal served by friendly, welcoming and efficient staff in a buzzy atmosphere. Reasonably priced, tasty food. Will be back.

Absolutely amazing food staff very attentive, and they are rushed off their feet as the restaurant is so busy.

We have been coming to the Cafe Des for about 25 years and have always been impressed in the past. I can only assume that it has now been taken over by different owners as, in January, was nothing like as good as it was. The service was friendly but 'scripted' and the waiting staff were not listening to the customers (not just us !) food used to be vibrantly fresh bit now seems re-heated and tired. Oh dear !

We have been coming to the Cafe Des for about 25 years and have always been impressed in the past. I can only assume that it has now been taken over by different owners as, in January, was nothing like as good as it was. The service was friendly but 'scripted' and the waiting staff were not listening to the customers (not just us !) food used to be vibrantly fresh but now seems re-heated and tired. Oh dear !

Had a really lovely meal here today. Would highly recommend it to anybody. Great food ,service and atmosphere.

Wow. The duck is just fantastic. The server asked me how I wanted to duck, which was the first time I’ve ever been asked that. He explained to me that the duck tastes better and has a nicer texture if it id a bit pink. And he was right. The duck was the highlight of my entire trip to Canterbury! There’s also a student discount, which is really nice. This place is very popular, so be sure to make a reservation. Luckily they were able to fit us in without needing to make one.

We ate here on Christmas Eve and couldn’t have had a lovelier experience. Staff are without exception friendly and efficient, and the atmosphere was welcoming and cosy. Margaritas to kick off were superb. Everything we ate was delicious, we especially loved the prawn starter. They were very clued up on GF food, and provided nice alternatives so no one felt deprived. Great value for money and can’t wait to return.

Food was excellent and for what you pay it's 100% worth every penny!

Brill food and drinks and lovely guy served us

The best Mexican restaurant I have ever aten in Europe for 30 years. True authentic flavour and exceptional service. Leave your London micro tacos in Borough Market and experience the true taste of Mexican cuisine.

Great food and atmosphere. Most popular place we found in Canterbury.

Has always been, and remains, a lovely meal out!

Lovely food and service can't wait to come back

We were shown to a cosy table within moments of arrival. We were served promptly despite the restaurant being very busy. The food came quickly and the fajitas were delicious. Our waitress Chyna was a delight. If only every restaurant was this perfect!

Took my adult son there for his birthday lunch. Great service, and fab food.

Amazing food and great service. Highly recommend.

Friendly staff, fun decor and delicious food. First time visiting and am new to Mexican foods so the staff helped me understand the menu items better to make my choice. Went for the spinach leek and cheese tacos and they were so good and paired wonderfully with the beans and guac. Excited to return and try more!

We came for lunch, the waitress told us to comeback at 3pm for a table. We waited for 2 hours and she told us that we didn't book and won't get a table now??? Why didn't you ask us to resever one but only to come back? Sorry but that's unacceptable

I and wife had a great time over at yours the other day. You were quite busy but the service was spot on and everything what we needed was always on hand . Oh and food , just fabulous. Thank you

Awful reception, rude staff. Said rang to confirm booking but did not as had signal the whole time with no missed call. Table booked for two hours but table given away

Really really enjoyed, lovely food, well cooked to required taste, attentive staff, will be returning , can't wait ! :)

Great restaurant, the food is really excellent, the welcome is friendly, the setting is really good, however it is very very noisy and it is therefore difficult to interact with the guests (hence the star in less). It's a real sound relief when you leave the restaurant and find the tranquility of the street. We will try to see if there is a quieter corner in the restaurant (the back room?) on our next visit.

Visited on a Saturday at 4.30 was already getting busy and can now see the hype! Both couples ordered lamb fajitas they were delicious, very welcoming staff would recommend

Consistently great food, friendly staff and energetic, if noisy atmosphere. Raspberry daiquiris are like crack.

Excellent service from Millie! We had such a lovely time for my two friends’ birthdays. Would definitely recommend! It was so special and the food was amazing.

Great food, quick and friendly service with a cosy ambience. The Lamb Stew that I had was delicious and the accompanying salsa was fresh with the right amount of spice. Left feeling full and Happy!

Non-pretencious. The food is great. Wine selection is great. Staff are great.. no more you could ask for.

Great atmosphere, wonderful food served piping hot and freshly cooked with just the right balance of chilli, citrus, garlic and with lots if surprises - eg the delicious duck pate..

May be the best ever Mexicain for me! And i have tested a lot in California and Texas ;-)

We regularly eat here for our work meal, the food and the service is outstanding! Everything is cooked to perfection and they have it just right! Thank you all and see you soon!

Had a lovely meal in a equally appealing atmosphere, really helpful and polite staff and as the father of a small child it was very refreshing to have a baby changer installed in the men's Toilets instead of just the women's, really bought them up in my estimations.

Great food, quite quick service, lovely atmosphere.

I'd seen that this place got good reviews but it really was outstanding. Food was amazing, service was great, just all round brilliant.

Food was good but they took too much time on our main course. I honestly think the server forgot to give the order on time. Service could be improved.

Fantastic place, never disappointed. Always nice and friendly! Food is amazing, super fresh and tasty. One of my favourite places in Canterbury.

Great value and super tasty food. My friend and I had the set meal and it was delicious. I've been wanting to try this place for years but it really is worth it.

Food is always amazing and staff friendly.

Excellent food and good atmosphere.

what an unreal place!!! Most guides I read suggested checking this place out and so glad I did...Such a lovely atmosphere inside, service was fab and menu is pretty big. Going for the lunchtime deal (2 courses for £21 or 3 for £26), I thought I'd get the standard small/average portion. Couldn't have been more wrong - got served an absolute feast of a meal, one that could've easily fed two if not three people. Insane value for money. Quality was incredible too, everything tasted super fresh, well cooked, flavourful. I didn't manage to finish everything but still gave myself a 10/10 food comma, one I'm not yet recovered from some 4 hours later. LOVED IT :)

This an old favourite of ours but we haven't been for a number of years. All was just as we remembered. Easy to make a reservation, friendly welcome, nice staffing who are very efficient. Great Mexican style food.

This place is an institution & I’ve been coming here for 25 years plus! The duck fajitas are to die for & the frozen pina colada hits the spot. However, I only book an early bird special & happy hour slot now as I think it’s getting expensive & the portions smaller.

Always a pleasure eating here xx

Although we are in our 60s, we were celebrating our 2nd civil partnership anniversary last night at CdA. The table server was quick and efficient, took our drinks and food order and the starter arrived very swiftly as did the mains and desserts with sufficient time lag in between each course. I’d recommend the roasted vegetables tostada as you get plenty of food for your money. My partners chicken burrito was packed. The sorbet was worldly. And try the virgin mojito too. Yum. And who could resist a big plate of sharing nachos as a starter? You get a two hour slot there which is fair enough as long as they get the food out which didn’t seem to be a problem. It was a smooth operation. We’ve been going here for years and it never disappoints.

Lovely meal with friends. Super atmosphere

Excellent meal, friendly staff even though very busy.

Wow! Fabulous ingredients, great service

We attended for a birthday meal and couldn't really understand the rave reviews. The starters were really nice but the mains were tasteless and dry to be honest. The atmosphere is nice and its very busy. I found the restaraunt quite untidy, a few spiders present and some dust. It was OK, but much nicer places were visited during our visit to Canterbury.

Perfect service with even more delicious food. Chicken fajitas were wonderful. Chicken wasn't overcooked. Presentation beautiful and service was brilliant! Thank you for a wonderful evening.

I think it's the only restaurant I visited and it has the same excellent quality on food, service and atmosphere like 20 years ago!

What a pleasure it was to eat here, the place was full and there was a real buzz. The food was delicious, we had the pork and lamb fajitas and the quality of the food was excellent and would happily go again. But do book, we went on a Monday night, rang at 6 pm and fortunately got a table at 7 pm.

Been here a few times over the last 30 years. It hasn't changed much at all. Great food and fab service. Decor lovely.

First time at a Mexican restaurant. I wasn't thrilled with it but it's still a matter of taste. Too spicy, too spicy. Both my son and I were sick to our stomachs once we got back to the hotel. Our stomachs definitely can't handle Mexican cuisine. Nice place suitable for those who love hot and spicy cuisine

Delicious food - particularly the roasted vegetable tostada; the mozerella, leek, spinach fried tacos; and the churros. Lovely staff too. Very eclectic artwork on the walls too. Good for distracting toddlers!

Had high hopes for this place as everyone speaks so highly of it, and we love Mexican food, but this was neither reasonably priced nor actually Mexican. Burritos were incredibly disappointing. Dry meat, nothing juicy at all in them. Tomato sauce which tasted only of raw onions and tomato puree. No hint of fresh herbs. Kids’ quesadillas served with no fresh salad/veg - basically cheese on toast with rice and a few refried beans. Kids (primary age) declared the churros to be “the worst they’d ever eaten”. Dry and oily, over sweet chocolate sauce. Quality of food was awful in comparison even to the chain Mexican places. Very expensive soft drinks. Service was friendly but very slow. Won’t be back, sad to say.

Food was lovely however the nacho order was wrong as we had asked to have individual plates but it arrived as a sharing plate. when we asked it to be changed to what we wanted the chefs refused we were told no one else had ordered it so we had to have what they had prepared!! Better customer service please.

Love the authentic atmosphere, amazing food, friendly and attentive service. We always book to be sure of a table but absolutely worth it. Although we don't get to visit too often, has been our favourite Mexican restaurant for over 30 years.

A great Mexican food restaurant and very great service! Try it!

We eat here all the time and have done since I was 16 years old, so for 28 years, and it has never disappointed. The food is great, the service is great, the cocktails are delicious. Cannot recommend this restaurant highly enough.

Great food, excellent service. Not the first time eating here and certainly won't be the last. Thanks!

Food is well presented and full of flavour, although the restaurant was packed the service was excellent with friendly attentive staff

Fantastic place. I will be going again

Amazing food and drinks with knowledgeable, friendly staff. Would highly recommend. Good for vegetarians, had fish burrito that changed my outlook on this, amazing!