Chilli and Chives in Babergh

We came across this little tea room in the historic village of Lavenham. The staff were friendly and there is a wide selection of delicious cakes. Portion size is good and teapot contains more than enough tea for three cups each. For those with four legged friends the place is dog friendly. Would be a regular customer, if not living so far away

What a fabulous cafe we came across whilst exploring beautiful Lavenham. Very friendly staff and an excellent choice of drinks and cakes (including gluten free for myself). Nicely laid out inside. light and bright too. Would definitely recommend.

As always food, portion size and service excellent. Don’t understand other reviews that complain about food, cost, portion size or service. Never had an issue with any of it. Agree abt toilet area- does need smartening up. My only gripe is that despite doing amazing gluten free cheese scones they do not have gluten free bread to make a sandwich with. It is not difficult to purchase gluten free bread or rolls, freeze individual slices or rolls and toast to make a sandwich. Other than that no complaints and we visit at least once a month cos of amazing cakes.

The staff were welcoming and friendly from arrival. The menu Is quite small but has a good variety and the specials were offered too. The service throughout our visit was just as you would hope. I had a cheese ploughman’s which was really fresh and tasty and was a good portion size. The pine nuts on the salad added a lovely crunchy texture. My daughter had a tuna mayo sandwich was was really fresh and tasty too. The cakes look really good but we were too full to try them.

Nice stop on a cool May day, good latte and cappucino. Bacon Rolls, bacon could have been a bit crisper, but perhaps waitress didn't pass request on to kitchen.

Good that it allows dogs in. Dog was given water without asking which was a nice touch.Lavenham can be a bit high with prices but is a lovely place.Sat in the table near the window that had various things displayed. Looked unkempt as a couple of dead wasps there. Service okay, asked for 2 scones and then friend said he'd have one, no napkin brought with 3rd scone, but hubby and I shared. Toilet wall looked bit grim.

Absolutely ridiculous prices for very small portions. Nothing wrong with quality but wow!!! £3.50 for a can of pop. £14 for 4. Never known anything so obscene. Two sausage rolls half size of any normal sausage roll very very small. Do not visit absolute rip off merchants. Blatantly paying for where you are. Keep your money in your pocket. Knew prices of food but can’t see the portion sizes, also soft drinks not advertised on any visible board. Can tell it’s a magic based town as it made my money disappear very quickly!!!!

Had lunch here and the service was very good and the food also ok. My wife often eats here. We went back for a piece of cake and a coffee which is when the problem occurred. My brother in law has a learning disability and wanted to use the toilet to get there you have to go through the kitchen then into a small room filled with junk then into the toilet. I wasn’t sure of the set up and even though my brother in law is 60 he is frightened by locking the toilet door so I have to wait outside. I was standing in the kitchen and I explained, to I presume the owner, what the situation was she turned to me without any acknowledgment of what I had just said and exclaimed you can’t wait here go in and wait in that room you are in my way. Firstly I wasn’t in anyone’s way and secondly the total failure to recognise that people with a disability need help was disgusting. We didn’t stay nor will we ever be back. And if the owner comes back with some excuse it would never cover the way you made us feel you’re a shocking women how cares nothing about anyone other than herself.

We were recommended by a Lavenham resident to try this establishment for afternoon tea and cakes. We ordered coffee and cakes. The coffee was so weak - it resembled murky water. The staff seemed surprised that we politely asked for tea instead. The cake was tasty - but we were overall disappointed as we had been looking forward to it and had really fancied a coffee.

The cakes are scrumptious!! All handmade and made in-house.. portion sizes are really good!! Reasonably priced

Popped in for lunch and a wander around Lavenham& to be sneered at and condescended to by the little Englanders,Tarquins and Tabithas.You wouldn't believe people like that existed but they do here and they will take advantage money wise in a heartbeat. Popped in for lunch and remembered where I was.£8.00 for a ploughman's lunch caught my eye.However we had tea and cake. Cramped seating made me think of escape plan in a fire.Pleasant enough staff to your face anyway but the food was basic and overpriced and the customer service dropped off once they had your money. Have a picnic in the square in future

First time we went to this place we had nice coffee and cakes but noted the owner had a bit of an attitude - a bit high handed. We went there again - two of us at about 9.30am - only one other lot of customers sitting in - and were told rather sharply not to sit at a vacant table for four as it was the "only table for four" (it wasn't, there was another), and to sit at a table for two which we didn't want to do - either be blinded by the sun or sit in the corridor area. We did not stay and won't be going back.

A local coffee shop which is excellent with good cakes. We stop there most weeks while taking the dogs for a walk it must be good as the dogs always want to stop as well. Always friendly staffing the cakes are very good home made. Glad they made it through the pandemic

Very small cafe but perfect for lunch when visiting the area. Been here twice now and the food is fresh to order and presented nicely. Cakes and baked goods are fantastic!

Stopped here and was not disappointed nice small establishment. Friendly staff and pleasant service. We had freshly made fruit and cheese scones all very nice and tasty. Tea served in glass tea pot with brightly coloured cups all warm and refreshing on a cold day.

Pretty cafe with a huge selection of freshly home made cakes. Lovely barista coffee. Friendly service. Toilet available but you have to walk through the kitchen to get it to which I always think a bit strange. Would recommend this cafe for lunch or coffee and cake.

Popped in for lunch on a Saturday and was very impressed with my visit. The waiting staff were polite and efficient. The brie and bacon toastie i had was lovely. The cakes looked delicious but I was too full to have any!

Quite a full menu, all sandwiches made with granary bread. I had brie and bacon toastie, served with a salad garnish and coleslaw. I also had the dairy free carrot, walnut and Ginger cake. Crackers, chutney, jams teas and biscuits also on sale to buy...

Liked: generously filled Brie and grape sandwich for my husband. Quick service. Friendly staff. Amazing curried coleslaw (kind of a coronation chicken flavour but no chicken obviously.) Not so keen on: our cutlery wasn’t very clean (yes, I know I should have said at the...

Arrived just before 3 & had toasted sandwiches. Couple of GF items, one of which was a cheese scone, which apparently was one of nicest scones ever eaten. Friendly helpful staff, second time visited, last time July last year & food still as good.

We only had a coffee here but as we sat outside watching the world go buy it was a really pleasant experience. Good service and made to feel welcome. Would recommend it.

We had the most gorgeous homemade coffee and walnut cake with tea! Really friendly atmosphere, would highly recommend.

Just had a lovely lunch, the scones were fabulous and very friendly and attentive staff. Would highly recommend.

Don’t go there - awful place with rude, unfriendly staff. When asked the staff to give us an additional cup for my 5 old son so he can have a bit of tea in this freezing cold , the staff refused saying that I would...

There are numerous teashops to choose from in Lavenham. This one drew me in and I was not disappointed. I enjoyed a pot of tea and a slice of homemade cake. There was a good selection of cakes and bakes on offer. Service was efficient...

Dropped in late morning. Lovely waitress with a beaming smile. Vegetable soup was wonderful, hearty and full of flavour. So good I promised my self a cuppa and a piece of coffee and walnut cake (it was about 5inches thick) after touring the town. Sadly,...

Fantastic fresh cheese scone and tea. Excellent service in a lovely setting could not rate any higher.

Always check first a tearoom serves coffee cake, and this one did, and it was superb. Proper tea too. Lovely waitress too.

Stopped by for an early lunch, some soup and what turned out to be a particularly expensive sausage sandwich. We weren't informed about the menu items that weren't available until we asked to order , albeit after we were ignored for at least 20 minutes...

Very friendly and convenient to the main area in Lavenham, On street parking and not far from the main car park. Great selection, all dishes and cakes are made on the premises. It was packed when I was there the service and friendleness of the...

On holiday from Canada, stopped in for tea and scones while touristing in Lavenham. While a simple visit we were impressed with the food, the service and the charm. The smell of home baked goods from the kitchen was a particular treat. Highly recommend.

Warm welcome, great food at reasonable prices. Everything is freshly prepared to order. Give it a try you won't be disappointed.Highly recommended.

Friendly service and great choice of homemade cakes and scones.A great choice of teas and the best coffee in town.

Stopped off here for a takeaway lunch on lunch break - staff seemed friendly enough, and were told it was a 10 minute wait - no problem and what we expected... :)

I have used this wonderful cafe many times since I am a cyclist and always look forward to a well earned cuppa and a sweet treat. After riding 20 miles I arrived to be told they had closed. I was so disappointed that the lady, who I guess is maybe the owner took pity on me and served me a much needed cup of tea and a huge slab of the most heavenly coffee cake. She didn’t have to do that so thank you !!

Went in to this tearoom for lunch,it was quite busy but did not have to wait long for service.

The best cakes in my life. No messing. I could tell you about the Mad Hatter in Masham market place, Mount Pleasant in Goostrey (neither still running)... this was transformational. Lightness, texture, flavour - all superlative. I have to have more! The orange and almond cake was a Chateau D'Yquem experience: beyond reasonable expectations of what a slice of cake can do. A simple scone - a slight crunch on the outside, and no hint of doughy-ness inside. If I ruled the world, every day would burst with these things.

This little cafe was a Godsend. Staying in Lavenham for a long weekend, the coffee in our hotel left rather a lot to be desired. Chilli and Chives became part of the morning routine.

Popped in here for tea and cake with friends whilst visiting Lavenham. We all had different cake and scones and they were all delicious. Really nice pots of tea as well, my Earl Grey was excellent. The lady serving was friendly and chatty as well. Very nice.

We had a pot of tea and delicious tea cakes with butter and jam. Our pot of tea was excellent...made with loose tea. The staff were very attentive and the shop was full all the time we were there. Obviously a very popular place. Cakes looked delicious too. There were also some greetings cards and gifts for sale. Would certainly recommend this place.

Sat outside to have a cream tea the other day. Seating on the path with a lovely street view of the beautiful village of Lavenham. The scones were large and fresh and had blueberries and lemon which was a lovely change from dried fruit. People passing looked on enviously. Good cappuccino too.

We ended up here after a long walk with the dog and the table outside looked inviting on such a sunny day. I sat outside with the dog, though it seems they are allowed inside and my partner ordered water coffee and a hand made doggy treat. The service was cheerful and the coffee very good. They even bought out a bowl of water for the dog. As it was quite early in the day they were still baking the cake for the shop - we were very tempted to go back later and try them! Sitting outside we passed the time of day with locals and had a very pleasant interlude. So much so, we did the same again the next day!

A popular stop for tourists and a very popular meeting point for local Lavenham residents. The service is friendly and welcoming and all the food I have eaten there has been fresh and delicious. The gluten range of fresh cakes are superb and change frequently. Top end cafe/bistro food with boutique service.

Lunch for five people during the Lavenham Christmas Fair. Great location on the main high street. Lucky enough to find a table. Tasty lunch choices including Homemade Soup, Fishcake, Toasties, Panini and Frittata (although we really weren't that keen on the Coleslaw side which had a strange curry flavour and would have preferred a more traditional version). Fantastic cake selection and very friendly staff. Would recommend!

Popped into our fav cafe in Lavenham on the High Street, fantastic coffee - flat white - and my other half says the best peppermint tea she had anywhere ( just back from NZ where she tried loads). All the scones and cakes looked fantastic but we will be back to enjoy them another day! Speedy service despite a Cafe full as the Christmas Fayre was in mega swing.

A lovely small cafe with very friendly staff. I have been a couple of times for lunch, and more recently, coffee and cake. On all occasions the staff have been welcoming and attentive. I can recommend the fish cake for luncj, it's excellent and I love the slightly curried coleslaw it comes with too!

We love supporting independent cafe's. On the first occasion here a while ago we were told this cafe sadly do not accept dogs inside. So today we tried without the dog. It was a Sunday, half an hour to closing, we were the only ones in the cafe.

WOW. Had a great sunday with my wife here, great for a quick stop on your day out. I chose to be quite simple, latte and a cake. I must say the latte was perfect and the cake... OMG give me that recipe! Staff were more than accomadating, had bad experiences before with cafes with dirty dishes but i have to say that the dishes were sparkling... and thats a big factor for me!

Stopped for coffee and cake at this small modern café on the main road through Lavenham. From the wide selection we enjoyed a large slice of Victorian Sandwich cake and scone with jam and cream. With 2 coffees the bill came to just over 10 pounds.

On a glorious autumnal day found this quaint little café on High Street with outside tables, all taken. Needing a quick lunch was attracted by style and the menu. Inside was nicely laid out with choice of comfortable chairs and tables and a menu board with all types of snacks and meals - chose salmon and haddock fish cakes with lightly curried coleslaw and leaves - a lovely blend of taste. Café soon filled up and everyone (including several locals) seemed so pleased with the friendliness and service. With coffee afterwards could have been tempted by super array of homemade cakes but avoided temptation.

This is a favourite refuelling stop for me when I pass through Lavenham on my bicycle.

A lovely little tea room/sandwich shop. The staff are very friendly, and the cakes are very good. The sandwiches were just OK, and nothing too special, but for the price it was fine. For the location alone it is worth visiting.

We visited twice during our short stay in Lavenham and both times we were welcomed to the tea rooms by friendly staff. The lunch was excellent and so was the afternoon tea. Well worth a visit and the cakes are delicious and home made too.

A wonderful spot to sit, have a proper coffee and watch the world go past from the bow window. The cheese scones are extra light, served warm, plenty of real butter too. About our favourite of many offerings in beautiful Lavenham.

My mother and I stopped for tea and cakes yesterday and had a really lovely experience. The service was friendly and fast, and the assortment of cakes - well, all I can say was I wish I had room for more thank one. We had the coffee and walnut cake, and the lemon drizzle and both were excellent. The lemon drizzle was so moist and lemony, not just the top which so many are. To top it off there were some lovely cards, aprons, napkins and other kitchen items to buy. Very enjoyable visit.

We had lunch at Chile and Chives in Lavenham. The staff could not have been more welcoming and helpful. The food was very good and excellent value. Would definitely recommend.

Visited on a chilly afternoon, so a warm drink was welcome. We ordered teas and coffees and a range of cakes and savouries. The drinks were brought out soon after ordering followed by the food. The food was ok,, but the chocolate brownie a bit dry, as was the fruit scone. The cheese scones were fine. All ok but not the best I've had.

Found this gem after a wintery dog walk around the fields of lavenham. Delicious scones and hot chocolate and even special doggy biscuits for our miniature schnauzer- Trevor

We found Chilli and Chives on a damp December day. Coffee and cakes brought warmth to our hearts. Friendly service as soon as we sat down. A lovely place in a wonderful town.

As somebody who has been described as a coffee snob!! This is the best coffee in Lavenham made by someone that knows what they are doing. FANTASTIC :)

Popped in here for a much needed drink stop - had a delicious large slab of carrot cake, very yummy and the coffee was good! Staff were very friendly too, all in all a lovely visit.

We stopped by for tea around 3pm and the place was not too busy. Very nice room, although it's not as "quaint" as some tea rooms (like Munnings and Blue Vintage). But it's clean and comfy, and the tea was excellent. Some of the best cheese scones I've tasted, and very nice Victoria sponge. Service was very good too, happy to customise our tea for us. And it's a bit cheaper than most of the others in Lavenham. A good choice (and the window tables are great for people watching!)

This is in Lavenham not Ipswich - thankfully as we were looking for a good coffee shop in the town after spending time at the Great Hall in Lavenham.

Llamado en la tienda lavenham para café y bollos que eran tanto por encima de la media, sin embargo ellos mismos decepción por pagar 20p por cada crema para el café. Esta es una primera para nosotros y cuando se considera el "pasar" era de...

Metimos en té y pasteles y estaba encantado, y el personal es encantador y amable. Nos sentamos en el sol, y disfrutamos de la mejor tarta de zanahoria nunca! !

Llamé a tener una taza de té y una porción de tarta. Las grandes porciones de la torta de café casero era excelente. En el momento de mi visita, el lugar estaba lleno. El servicio fue rápido, eficiente y amable. Sobresaliente!

Primera vez que visitamos este salón de té en Lavenham - muchos para elegir - no nos decepcionó. Dos salchichas y bocadillos, fishcake frittata formó la primera habitación campo de salir de deliciosas tartas. No me gusta recomendar ningún particular tarta pero la variedad de zanahoria era favorito. Aunque pequeña, había mucho espacio en la mesa. Bits ofrecen pintorescas para comprar. El personal es encantador. No puedo quejarme de eso. Nos sentimos bastante extraña, aunque a través de la cocina al baño. Sin duda volveré y lo recomiendo una visita.

Uno de los muchos salones de té en Lavenham y utilizada por la gente local, lo que siempre es una buena señal. Las porciones son generosas, bien presentadas y a un precio razonable; además es muy amable.

There are many choices for a tea or coffee break in lavenham and Chilli & Chives is a favourite. The service is friendly and efficient and the two person cafetière we had provided enough for three or more. The atmosphere was quiet and refined and overall, very enjoyable

just called in for tea and a scone and toasted teacake but just have to say my husband said the cheeses scone was one of the best he has had and the tea cake IS the best i have ever had. Reasonably priced at just over £9Would have loved to have had lunch but we had had a hotel cooked breakfast!

We ate at the table outside in the wonderful lunchtime sun and had a lovely hour here. We ate cheddar and ham toasties (proper ham!) and then I had an orange polenta cake to follow. All home made and served by friendly staff. I'd thoroughly recommend it.

Popped to Lavenham for a quick wander and a coffee, thought this place had a lovely look to it. We were looking for somewhere to grab a bit of lunch and, as it looked quiet, we thought we could squeeze in the pram without causing too much of a problem. The waitress was charming and went out of her way to help us but the manager (I assume) was downright rude for no reason. I had wondered if she had rather we didn't bring our toddler in (fair enough, I appreciate small children aren't everyone's cup of tea) but actually she was just as gruff with everyone else she served as well unfortunately.Sadly there was an overall lack atmosphere, I didn't like the fact that anyone who needed to use the toilet had to walk through the kitchen and the food wasn't good enough for me to go back.

We had a very nice snack and drink in Chilli and Chives in Lavenham (not Ipswich as stated in address).

Admittedly it was a Monday in January when I visited but the café was uncomfortably quiet to the point that I could clearly hear the only other diner, on the other side of the room, eating his toastie! Some back ground music might have improved the atmosphere. That said the food was good. I had a generous bowl of homemade vegetable soup with a chunk of fresh bread, just the job for a cold winters day.

AfternoonJust been to visit lavenham with my sister to blow away the cobwebs.,..Had a small snack. Ham & cheese toasty with side salad the ham was gammon very tasty cut nice and thick.....Tea was very good. Scones are made on premises and are the best we have tasted both cheese and fruit. Even bought some to take home. We are scone testers having had them in all eating places in and around Essex an Suffolk these are awareAward winning.Merry Christmas to all staffMick & linda

Visited this cafe today for a light lunch. We ordered a cheese scone and a sausage roll (which was advertised on the board outside). The scone was nice however the sausage roll was a laughing stock. It was the tiniest thing I have ever seen and I'm actually surprised they had the guts to serve such a tiny serving. It was about 2/3 inches long which would t have even fed a child. Couldn't help but feel we had been ripped off by this as it was the same price as the scone, which was s lot bigger. Disappointing.

We were visiting Lavenham in October half term week and, being a teacher, I was trying to find somewhere that wasn't full of rather excitable children. (I need a half term break too!) Not easy, but we found Chilli and Chives which, although busy, had a table outside on the pavement. We ordered our coffees and scones, which were brought to us very quickly, and my husband declared the scone, which came with generous portions of jam and cream, to be the best one he had ever tasted. It was also incredibly cheap, a bonus as we hadn't asked the price when we ordered. He even went back inside to compliment the lady who had made them. The atmosphere inside was good and the little shop attached had some interesting gift ideas. The road outside wasn't too busy and in such a quaint place it's nice to sit calmly and watch the world potter by.

Lovely little find tucked in on the High Street in Lavenham. Warm welcome great pot of "proper tea". Home made veg soup was just perfect, the cakes looked delicious - maybe next time!

Tuna melt on ciabatta bread – plentiful portion, with a decent salad and gorgeous coleslaw. Nothing spectacular in elevated culinary terms, but they managed to really bring out the best in what was offered. A delicious and filling snack. Great cappuccino coffee as well.We departed armed with a cheese and walnut scone and a fruit scone for later, both of which were superb. Satisfied doesn't cover it!Service was very good, and all done in the best family run establishment tradition.

Very busy little tea room with a wide selection menu available. The plough mans was very tasty but would've liked a few crisps on the side to top it off. The fruit scone was warmed and thoroughly enjoyed. Quite a small little tea room but service was outstanding.

Ordered 2 Brie and bacon toasties. It looked really good when it arrived with plenty of melted cheese but there was hardly one rasher of bacon between the two sandwiches. At no time were we asked if everything was alright or we would have told them. Very brusque manner. Terribly disappointed will never go again.

Had a wonderful Brie and Bacon toastie, very quaint tea room, lovely staff.Superb position highly recommend the chocolate cake too....

While in West Suffolk for a music festival, my wife and I came upon C&C by chance and liked it so much we returned the next day. The soups, sandwiches and baked goods were outstanding, the staff lovely and attentive, the surroundings very pleasant.

Really enjoyed coffee and scone here on Friday last. Very clean premises and tempting cakes, jams and a menu which was extremely reasonable in price. Pleasant staff and it was nice to be in a cafe which had a calm and relaxing feel. All the cakes are homemade and you can purchase whole cakes to takeaway. Highly recommended.

The food here is always lovely and especially their coffee cake! Grabbed a takeaway sandwich after a trip to the dentist and enjoyed this back at work. Fresh bread, nice salad and egg. No complaints.

I ordered a Cheddar Ploughmans and a pot of tea at Chilli and Chives. The Ploughmans was very good and included a side salad, coleslaw flavoured with curry mayonnaise as well as the excellent Cheddar, Branaston Pickles, bread andf butter. The tea was only lukewarm, which was a disappointment.Also on display was a range of superb looking home-made cakes. Sadly I was too full to have one.

During our short break near Bury St Edmunds, we visited this eatery twice. Though small, it is very comfortable, with extremely polite and helpful Staff. We really enjoyed the homemade potato & leek soup. One of our party is unable to have dairy items in her diet, so she was delighted that soya milk was available. There were some delicious cakes for sale, on the counter near the till, including gluten free options.All in all, we would all be delighted to return.

We stopped here for lunch. I had the ploughmans and my mum has a sausage ciabatta sandwich. All homemade and very nice. The cakes looks delicious (and homemade) but we resisted!

Great service, lovely people and nice atmosphere. Food delicious, and reasonably priced. Really nice area and would come back again.

Very nice, light afternoon tea ☕. Had a cream tea, square tables would make more sense, and give a bit more space, everyone having to manoeuvre as customers entered & left.Food, drink and service very good and clean and tidy.

We had home-made soup and tea. Nice, pretty, small, also selling small selection of gifts and cards.

We just popped in for a light lunch - sandwiches, tea and coffee. All very tasty, fresh and served quickly.Pleasant enough room and efficient service.

We had a lovely turkey and cranberry toastie with latte, it was excellent value for money and the staff are very friendly and welcoming...

We've called for coffee on several occasions, and frequently given in to temptation, which though naughty, proved to be very nice! Today there was a superb looking lemon drizzle cake on offer, sadly not seen until paying at the end of our visit. Always very pleasant, papers to read, and a good atmosphere.

Lovely tearoom/cafe in Lavenham. Warm welcome, varied menu mix of sandwiches/toasties and soup with specials on a board. We all thoroughly enjoyed our food and would return.

Went in for a light lunch when walking round Dagenham. Delicious frittata with a lovely fresh salad. Clean and bright and delightful smiley service. A good contribution to a really good day

Had lunch here on a visit to Lavenham. Very good quick service. Good food, tea and coffee. Lovely cake!

We stopped here for a light lunch and were very impressed by the natural light, which helped create a nice atmosphere in which to eat. The service was good and prices fair. My bacon and brie toastie was very generously filled and tasty as was that of my accomplice.

We arrived in Lavenham a bit too early to visit the Guildhall so stopped in this charming tea-room to pass the time. The nick-naks and cards for sale looked really original for a change, and made the settings really interesting. The quality of the coffee and the cakes were also very good, and the lady working on the day was also extremely friendly. Can't comment on the other cafes in the village, but I'd thoroughly recommend this one,

We had lunch here in a day that they were down a staff member. While we did have to wait a little longer than expected for our food the service was friendly and the food was good quality. Very good hot chocolates and my wife tells me it was good coffee. Nice seeing in a very interesting town.