Cafedral Durham in County Durham

Good food Nice staff and service.. busy but ok Nice that there were signs saying no laptop type cafe...more having nice drinks food with friends family etc

The scones were a little bland, and service was alright. I probably would not go there a second time.

Cafédral Durham is a real gem in Durham! The ambience is cozy and welcoming, perfect for a relaxed brunch or coffee stop. The staff were incredibly friendly and attentive, and the service was impressively quick without feeling rushed. Everything we tried was absolutely delicious — from the fluffy blueberry scone served with cream and jam to the rich and velvety hot chocolate piled high with whipped cream and caramel pieces. The eggs florentine were perfectly poached and topped with creamy hollandaise, and the olives and hummus platter was a great light bite with warm flatbread.

Super friendly as always, one of our favourite places for lunch if we're in Durham. Busy but they run a tight ship so you're never waiting long for a table even on a weekend, and the no laptop policy is good. Recommend the orange cake!

So glad we stumbled on this charming cafe during our stay in Durham. Sat in beautifully curated surroundings with plants all over and we'll chosen light fittings and decor. The choice of food was wide ranging and delicious and enjoyed from traditional cups, saucers and dishes. Staff were friendly, helpful and prompt. All was enjoyed in a comfortable atmosphere with the reassuring noise of chatter around us. What a treat!

Relaxed atmosphere. Great service. Reasonably priced. Great scones!!

The prettiest venue, lovely staff, food was fantastic!! Place is full of plants is just the most cozy, pretty little place I’ve ever eaten in, and have fab GF options

Lovely quirky cafe, with friendly staff & super table service; even better, my fur-baby is welcome 🤩xx

Amazing, delicious chocolate, food.

Lovely café we come to often! Normally quite busy but lovely atmosphere and great food.

Beautiful cafeteria. Very friendly staff and great atmosphere to have a hot chocolate just a few steps from the cathedral and the castle.

Taste and warm atmosphere come together. Everything is very fresh and the atmosphere is beautiful.

Nice cafe near the cathedral and castle. Only had the scone but it was nice. They say they bake them on the day and they must do as mine tatsed fresh.

absolutely gorgeous! the food is so lovely and prepared quickly - the staff are just angels and I couldn't fault them!

Called in for the first time today. Very busy but greeted quickly and given a menu to browse whilst we waited. Service was quick and friendly. Delicious bacon, brie and cranberry panini with tasty side salad. Latte lovely and hot. Great atmosphere, quirky decor and will definitely be back 😁👍

Lovely little cafe, even if it is a bit of a squeeze to get in! We love its quirkiness. We returned recently, looking forward to their falafel wraps. Unfortunately, my wrap only contained one small, measly little falafel this time - which was split in half between the two wraps! I ended up eating a salad wrap instead. So disappointed as they are usually great. The coffee is delicious though! It would be nice if the staff asked customers if they would like their scones heated (warm scones are SO much nicer!). We sent ours back to be warmed, but the young girl only warmed the outside, so essentially, the scone was still stone cold inside! Not sure we'll be returning which is a shame. This was our third visit to this cafe

Great Scones, great coffee, great service.

The place was packed, the table and chairs we were sitting was old and uncomfortable. I ordered redbush tea with scone. Tea was rectangular bleached tea bag which seemed supermarket essential. Scone was nice but there was cream and jam aside, they charged extra £1 although I didn’t ask cream! I don’t think I will visit again.

Very nice atmosphere and kindness of the staff, excellent scones and tea.

Good food and very friendly service. Dog friendly.

Really good food and service, tasty food and arrived quickly considering it was so busy. Would defo go back .

best cafe in durham. cute vibes and atmosphere. chai and eggs ben were incredible (which is rare in durham) definitely recommend 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼 nothing special about the scones though unfortunately

Lovely food, staff and decor Thanks

You walk in passed a few outside tables up the internal stairs to a packed room that has a buzz about it. If you're into gardening there is a beautiful display of house plants in various containers. It was pa ked and we waited ten minutes for a table, but the turnover is quick and staff are efficient. We only had coffee and cake but will decorate go back for lunch having seen everyone else eating.

Amazingly accommodating staff, the team were lovely and the scones are worth going back for - especially the lemon and blueberry with lemon curd and clotted cream. The best!!

Always busy but the staff always give you their full attention. Good variety of food to choose from, always fresh. I had the walnut, apple and wensleydale quiche this time, beaut. The scones are amazing. The cafe is covered with a huge variety of plants, grown by the owner who is always happy to answer your questions, on plants, food or Durham City itself. Nothing matches here, from the cups and saucers to the tables and chairs but it adds to the lovely atmosphere. Well worth a visit.

Great coffee delicious food and very helpful and friendly staff

Lovely cafe! Friendly staff, excellent food, excellent vibe and decor ... definitely recommend!

Very cozy place with very nice atmosphere however usually very busy so queues and noise becomes an issue. Staff are very friendly but with a packed restaurant 24/7 waiting for orders becomes long

Great little cafe, entrance is found at the top of the stairs. Nice section of food and drinks. The plants fill this cafe and give it a cute vibe. We tried out the scones and there was quite a selection to chose from. Would go back again.

Just been at cafedral. Absolutely amazing.

Always amazing cakes and lunches. Worth the queue.

A good stop for a coffee during a conference.

Went in for a lite bite and a coffee. Lady that served us, I presume was a manager, needs to have a course on customer service !! Not rude, but very blunt and no please or thank you. Nice atmosphere, cheese scone would have been better if it was warmed up ( wasn't offered by this manager if I wanted it ) and the coffee was nice. Shame about the lady that served us, has put us off coming back.

Lovely café near the Cathedral (hence the name!) with a cosy atmosphere, great coffee, and really friendly staff! ☺️ The food was also delicious; I had an Eggs Royale for breakfast and it was yummy!! 😋 Will definitely come back often!

A lovely cafe. Friendly environment and lovely food. Always a treat

Popped in one Sunday off the cuff and wasn't disappointed. I can highly recommend the eggs riccardo. The staff were really friendly and the decor was the perfect setting for breakfast. I would recommend

Lovely to not miss out on a cream tea with my friend with there being a gluten-free coeliac friendly scone. Would have rather the scone was room temperature, as the clotted cream did melt, but it was still tasty.

Visited Durham at weekend,enjoyed lovely coffee and scones/teacakes.Cafe is very quirky in a good way,staff were very welcoming and friendly.

Popped in after a visit to the cathedral & having seen the sign for fresh scones on the way up. Excellent scones & lovely welcome from staff. Loved the old fashioned traditional china too. Would highly recommend.

First visit with quality food ingredients and presentation. Exceptional equal welcome to all customers that I overheard given by all staff.

Visited today with our rescue Labrador Gibbs, had soup and they made cheese and ham sammiches so we could share with the pooch Thankyou so much xxx

Popped in today for sandwiches and soup, Thankyou so much for making us cheese and ham “sammiches” so we could share with our rescue Labrador Gibbs x

Very good place to eat or have a snack. The service is more than pleasant, the cafe is nicely decorated with plants and flowers. The hot chocolate is delicious, as is the mint chocolate cake. I loved my salad. Very nice place. ☺️

Great food, a little bit pricey

The owners/staff make you feel so welcome the moment you step in. The thought and care that have gone into the space is just fantastic! We absolutely adored it and can't wait to be back! The food was delicious too! I could not recommend it more!

Just down from the cathedral, some seats on the ground level and the main cafe is upstairs. Dog friendly 😁. We were seen to straight away and water was brought for the dog. The cafe is lovely, the staff so helpful and friendly and the toasted teacake with jam and mature cheddar - a game changer! De- flippin-lish!! Will definitely come back.

What a hidden gem. Excellent choice of breakfast and brunch. I opted for the smoked salmon and avocado bagel. Absolutely delicious. The scones looked incredible but I was too full to try one. Will definitely be returning just to try the lemon scone with clotted cream. Gorgeous decor - a little quirky. But the icing on the cake (pun intended) was the staff, especially Mark - friendly, fun and welcoming. Thank you Mark for a lovely host. Really looking forward to my visit.

If we are visiting or indeed passing Durham, we endeavour to visit this wonderful cafe. The eccentric layout of the cafe creates areas within areas. The seating is an absolute joy. The plants which adorn the cafe are lovingly attended by the dedicated owner. So do not take cuttings without permission. Once visited, hopefully the efforts which go into making this place so special, will draw you back time and again. The food and service is worthy of it's unique environment. _________________________ Update Our most recent visit 22nd February 2023 was totally as expected. The service, the food and the unique ambience are still evident. Keep up the great work. Very pleasing to see the Cafedral overflowing at lunchtime. July 2024 A warm welcome as usual. The owner is a jovial chap. The service remains to a very high standard. The food is still equally as appetising and flavoursome. The atmosphere remains, which is such a delight in an ever changing world.

Nice Bagel and Pannini's . Pay extra for salad and crisps

Really disappointing. The customer service leaves a lot to be desired. No greeting upon arrival - we were actually a bit early so waiting outside. The workers then stood by the door collecting deliveries after opening time, ignoring us (2 adults and 2 young kids) and left the ‘closed’ sign on the door. Another worker arrived and just shouted up the stairs ‘can I open the door people are waiting?’ Then opened the door but never spoke to us. When we went upstairs again no greeting was given - just ‘how many?’ And then not even taken to a table just pointed to the back of the cafe and told ‘you can sit there’. Really lacking any kindness or warmth. The food was priced what I would expect for this style of cafe but typically a kind customer experience is expected to go along with this price (£30 for two drinks, a slice of cake, a scone and a panini). The menu was also significantly different to the menu on there website - huge price increase (I understand pricing has gone up everywhere but a bit shocking to have an idea in mind from the menu on their website and then see such a jump upon arrival). Also there weren’t as many gluten free options. I’d pay less for more food in Wetherspoons and have similar if not better customer service. I know where I’m going next time.

Tables and water cups were dirty. It was busy though, so I imagine difficult to keep up. Food was alright, but overpriced for a panini and salad, especially compared to offerings from other nearby cafes where you get more and better quality food for less.

Called by on my friend's recommendation for lunch whilst on a visit to Durham. We were greeted in a friendly manner and seated very quickly. The menu was full of tasty sounding options. I had a delicious falafel wrap which was very flavoursome, with a lovely fresh and crunchy salad and crisps. This is just the kind of vegetarian food I really enjoy. Also the coffee with oat milk was very good. I loved the quirky and cheerful decor.

The gluten free scones are out of this world. As a life-long coeliac, theirs were the best I've had. Lovely folks too, very warm and welcoming. Really couldn't recommend this place enough.

Fabulous cafe/bistro just down the hill from Durham Cathedral. You’ve got to try the homemade scones (especially the lemon and blueberry) with Devon clotted cream and lemon curd, DELICIOUS! Very warm welcome on arrival and well organised, as it can get busy, but well worth the wait.

Wonderful cafe! Great cakes and scones. Had a lovely time at a university reunion. Thank you for hosting and we will come back xx

Adore! Very sweet spot, unique items (tiramisu iced coffee, lemon curd scone) and the classics. Great quality and some wonderful service. Thank you ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Visited when they were very busy, really friendly staff, fresh food, nice atmosphere. We went back the next day for a cuppa and vegan cake, again really friendly and lovely place to visit. Highly recommend.

Having lived in the area for many years, we visited the Cafedral for the first time. The staff are very welcoming and helpful and the choice and taste of food is exceptional. I had the Tuna, Mayo and Red Onion sandwich with salad, and my wife had the Greek Salad sandwich with salad and coffee. From taking the order to serving was approximately five minutes, which was very good taking into consideration it was busy. There is a good choice of food on the menu. We will certainly return on a number of occasions.

What a wonderful cafe, located close to the cathedral and castle. Cafe was really busy but they found us 2 seats quite quickly, service was really good, nice atmosphere, loved the China cups and saucers. Food was excellent and nicely presented. Thank you

Mark and his team supplied a fantastic birthday party afternoon tea. All made and baked on the day. Sandwiches were entirely made to order and the cakes and scones were delicious. They also supplied everything so that all we had to do was to take off the wrapping. Excellent service!

Great food, good atmosphere, attentive service!

Gem of a place , the staff are genuinely interested in the customer and invest in your experience, makes you feel valued, foods great and well priced , well done thanks

The dishes are handmade. Healthy. Good atmosphere. There would be one more person missing from the service to avoid waiting. But the atmosphere of the establishment relaxes and allows reflection.

Brilliant service and to die for food. Served with a smile and very courteous staff.

What a lovely place to just relax and enjoy a nice cup of tea with a scone.. such lovely staff... will call again

Great cafe, good food and drinks, friendly staff.

The staff here go out of their way to make your visit as nice as possible. The little changes they make to the food places it above most cafes. Ansolutely worth a try and try again.

Lovely food and staff so popular you may need to Q

Short waiting before being greeted by a gentleman. First impression busy and buzzing with people from all walks of life. Ordered our meal and beverage and was amazed by what was presented. Salmon and avocado salad for my husband and the Apple, Wensleydale and Walnut Quiche. All we can say is....what a pleasantly beautiful meal. We will come back again.

Very pleasant place. Not bad food or service but there is room for improvement.

Lovely people, excellent food, reasonable prices considering the location 😀

Fantastic place full of atmosphere. Come for the scones (made fresh in the house and delicious), stay for the plants. The best thing about Cafedral is the people who take care of it and its customers :) Welcoming and generous. Thank you for everything!

A lovely little cafe hidden away on the Bailey. Excellent service as soon as you walk through the door making you feel very welcomed and a valued customer. The food and drinks are great with lots of selection. I would highly recommend visiting this cafe when in Durham!

This place with was full of plants just near the Cathedral I found the name very cool just for it I wanted to try. Actually they were kind they asked me if I want to move near the window. We were in rush so just ordered tea and it was fast served. Only thing that I felt a bit uncomfortable was a man that was walking near the tables with towel and a bit angry. I totally understand with the theft this is very hard situation. Other than that it was good. I hope you the best

Lovely place.Had a fantastic wrap and then a slice of cake which I wasn't going to have but our lovely waitress bought 2 plates so it would have been rude not to! Highly recommend.

lovely cafe within walking distance of the cathedral. Dog friendly. We came with our newborn son and baby changing facilities that are non-existent, and only one toilet - we didn't mind changing him in the restaurant and neither did anyone else. This isn't disabled friendly and the stairs were slippery (raining on the day). Food was very nice and came out quickly, within 5 minutes for four people. They did forget my order and this took another 5-6 minutes to prepare. This happened again later on when we asked for hot water for the tea too. The waiter was slightly loud, but it was quite busy at brunch so I could understand his loud voice. He did give our dog a nice water bowl without us needing to ask, which was a nice change. The avocado and salmon bagel was nice and they provided a generous amount of cheese with the scone too. Overall this is a good place for brunch, and would like to see some small changes to avoid slippages which may cause accidents on wetter days.

What a lovely find! Will definitely be returning! Delicious food and very friendly and efficient staff 😋

Came in right at open with a group of 12 hungry Floorball players. The team were incredibly welcoming and accommodating - moving the tables around so that we could all sit and eat together. Drinks: A variety of hot and cold drinks available - I opted for a large Cappuccino, which was very tasty. Food: We came in early, so had a choice of breakfast/brunch options alongside the rest of the food menu. - I ordered an Eggs Florentine, which was well cooked, rich, decadent and creamy. Staff: The staff, as mentioned above, were very warm and welcoming. They were attentive and saw that all of our café needs were met. If this is how they treat all of their customers, the crew should be very proud of themselves. Final thoughts: Thank you to the Cafédral team, I would highly recommend them to anyone looking for a nice breakfast out in Durham. If I'm ever back in the city, I know at least one establishment that I will be returning too.

Cosy atmosphere, great food, friendly staff, fabulous plants, 11/10

Eclectic little coffee shop great scones as well very busy but easy to see why

Busy little cafe serving hot drinks, cakes, sandwiches and soups. Not welcoming to people looking to work on laptops, and very much geared towards fast turnaround to tourists.

I went there for the hot chocolate, but to my surprise, the water there surpasses everything. The hot chocolate was good, but the flavor of the water overshadowed everything. I would recommend it just for the water; the hot chocolate was good too. On a serious note, the owner was pleasant to meet and the service was impecabble, their cakes and scones are a must try along with the hot chocolate.

Poor show, food very ordinary, very little filling in the panini and capucino cups very small. Poor value for money.

Lovely place with a good vibe and reasonable prices. Also incredible that it sponsors so many toilets through toilet twinning. Very friendly staff and would highly recommend if you’re visiting Durham.

Gem of a find...Great menu, food and friendly service 😋

If you're in Durham and want tea and a scone, you owe it to yourself to visit Cafédral. The house made pastries are delicious, the sandwiches are superb, the hot chocolate (my son's favourite) is amazing... Even the salad dressing is among the best I've ever had. Highly recommended. One thing worth mentioning: To serve as many customers as possible, Cafédral is a 'no-work zone', so if you take out your laptop while seated, you will be asked to put it away. I can understand this, and they handle it very politely, so I'm not complaining. But it is worth knowing before you go, just in case a work area is what you're looking for.

Excellent home made food. The scones were particularly good. Cozy atmosphere.

Phenomenal food and genuinely the best hot drinks my partner and I have had in our lifetimes, served with a smile - can't recommend enough!

Brilliant cafe. Incredible paninis and sweets.

Lovely place but very busy and inattentive service. Food is expensive but that is on par with Durham. Very good coffee

Really nice scones, hosts and atmosphere !

Lovely cosy cafe a stone's throw from the castle and cathedral. Great selection of hot and cold drinks, as well as hot and cold food with many marked gluten-free options. A gf panini was a very welcome (and tasty) change from jacket potatoes - thank you! Great service, nice atmosphere and local artwork for sale. Be mindful that both the cafe and its toilet are up several flights of stairs, so access is a little limited. Otherwise, cannot fault it, and had a very tasty and reasonably priced lunch here!

Had the Ploughman's Panini with salad and 'slaw - LOVED IT!! Will definitely ho back. Scones were also AMAZING!!

Nice fresh cheese scone with a piec e of cheese and chutney. Friendly staff, efficient table service. Very busy. Personally I don't think dogs should be allowed inside cafes

A really lovely place with good food and ambience . The owner and staff are really friendly and amazing service done by them. The hot chocolate (with cream and marshmallow) and the water is a must try. Highly recommend this place.

Busy, busy, busy and so enjoyable. A really good find.

quirky 1st floor cafe near Castle and cathedral in Durham, up three short flights of stairs lovely bright interior, mixing different chairs, tables and lighting with plants and loads of natural light from the massive period windows, great service and lovely food with many gluten free options. Got really busy when we were in but all added to to homely feel

Scones fit for Bede himself. This cafe is nice and quirky with fresh scones.

As a local this has become the Cafe I tend to come to if I want to eat in town. It has a nice relaxed atmosphere, friendly service, tasty food and vegan options. It can get busy but you can't fault the place for being popular. Prices are a bit high but it is right next to a world heritage site so that is to be expected I suppose. As for the mean reviews by people (students) wanting to sit on their laptop nursing a cup of tea, well I agree with the owner's policy on that one. People want to be able to get a seat and the owner needs to make money so the policy is fair enough if you ask me. I have never felt rushed.