Deben Cafe in Suffolk Coastal

Didn’t know this place existed but came across it on the riverside walk from Melton to Woodbridge. The (paper) cup of tea and tea cake I had were fine but what made it on a warm morning was being able to sit at the open windows and watch the bird life on the estuary using binoculars which were available for use by customers. What a lovely thing to do, I kept my eyes on a pair of noisy oystercatchers.

We are avid coffee and scone seekers, always looking for a new experience. We live locally and had yet to visit this venue, which is in a great location on the river. We walked along the river from Woodbridge and were really looking forward to a pleasant experience. However, after 5 minutes we left. Our order was simple: Fruit scones - requested they be warmed up. This was met with a scowl from the lady serving, and a comment that it was a most unusual request. An Italian hot chocolate - this was met with an abrupt response "Which one? The luxury?" I explained it was the one at the top of the hot chocolate menu, called Italian. She barked back "You mean luxury!" I again explained the one called Italian hot chocolate. She clearly wasn't happy with this and presented me with a menu. I showed her the one called Italian and she reinforced that "that is the luxury hot chocolate!". I then asked for a latte for my wife. I asked if it could be made extra hot. The lady exclaimed "That will burn the milk!" At this stage I said to forget it and we left. We enjoyed exactly what we wanted in a pleasant cafe in Woodbridge High Street. The disdain with which I as a paying customer felt she held me in was evident. It appears that, unless you have exactly what they want you to have, it's too difficult for this particular server. Spend your money elsewhere where you will be made to feel more welcome.

We had a half hour wait for a tiny portion of Nachos, a cold Cornish pasty, and a cheese toastie. Absolutely shocking. The restaurant was neatly empty I don’t know how they would cope On a busy day.

Stopped here on a walk from Melton to Woodbridge, it's a great little place, perfect for drinks on a summers afternoon, didn't eat here so can't comment on the food but definitely a pleasant place to stop off for a drink, a unique little find.

Ate at HMS Vale in Woodbridge today. Will not be returning. We waited 45 minutes for our food. When it arrived they had another part order that wasn’t ours. I had asked for a plain hotdog for my son and it came out with all the trimming so I had to send it back ( a replacement came out quite quick?!). I had asked for no onions on my burger but it came out with onions so I scraped them off intermingled with cheese. The prices are expensive as nothing comes with side salad or chips. So £14 for a cheeseburger on its own. Over 3 quid for a can of coke. The flap jack had a funny taste so no one wanted to finish it and my burger tasted minty. Lovely walk from town down the lane (1mile) to the boat with some quirky houses to look at. Shame because it’s a lovely setting and quirky but will not return.

What a great find. We had lunch at the nearby pub and discovered the cafe on a family walk afterwards. Stopped for tea and cakes with our dog who was very welcome. So friendly and welcoming and lovely selection of home baked cakes. Will definitely be back.

It’s a fab setting, no doubt about it. It has great binoculars to use and masses of wildlife to spot. It’s the best venue on the water in Woodbridge. But it’s not geared up for babies and toddlers. No high chairs and no children’s menu. Which makes it all a bit difficult and uncomfortable trying to seat a wriggling toddler and feed them and children who don’t eat adult portions. ( we needed to ask for extra boxes to share food). Not to mention the cost and it seems that dogs are better catered for with their own menu. HMS Vale could be so much better than it is. Be more child friendly, serve food quicker ( not an hour after arriving) and use good old fashioned plates to eat off. Presentation in cardboard boxes just isn’t possible and I’m talking about basic stuff. Will we return? We might, but just for a coffee and those binoculars.

I love this place and its amazing setting on the river. Sitting watching the boats and the birds with great food and service, what could be better. You can park near the boatyard or do an excellent walk along the river from the car park behind Melton station. Alternatively, do a longer walk along from Woodbridge and reward yourself with a stop here.

Lovely cafe bar. Went in a party of 9, had 2 ploughman's, two pulled pork baps , 2 cream teas, 2 large hot dogs, one toasted sandwich. Everyone really enjoyed their meals, some had deserts although the ploughman's were so large they had to be served on two plates we could not eat it all. Excellent lunch

Very disappointed.webdite said they were open but closed travelled a long way with a disabled person. Very disappointed

Possible the worst Ploughman’s lunch I’ve ever had - was really hopeful this would be a great spot but was really quite shabby and the food quality was so poor. A shame - could be nice, but a long way off yet and not one I’d be coming back to.

Delightful staff and a truly unique experience with stunning views! Yes, paper cups and boxes are used to serve drinks and food but this is an old battle ship - not designed for gourmet life. HMS Vale is fully licensed. A 10- 15 minute walk from Woodbridge Quay along the edge of the river Deben the wild life is amazing!

Don't get your hopes up. Called in for drinks and snack lunch having read good reviews and on the recommendation of a friend. Paper cups for tea, coffee and soup. Supermarket burger roll with soup and sausage roll in paper bags. Breakfasts might be good but I can only review what we had. Many better and cheaper places in Woodbridge. We won't go back.

This cafe is great in every way possible. The food is amazing, it has a friendly atmosphere and the staff are welcoming.

I went to the Deben Cafe with a friend on our motorcycles as the cafe is in a private boatyard and the owner is biker friendly. The cafe is an ex Swedish Navy missile vessel and is moored alongside the boatyard with beautiful views over the scenic countryside. The cafe is on the stern of the vessel and is partly covered. The reception was warm and friendly with a good selection of drinks and food. There is also a bar with a selection of beers on tap. I had the wild boar hotdog and it was very good and filling. I cannot fault the service and hospitality we received and will certainly go back again.

My husband and I stopped here while on our dog walk today, we decided to have two coffees and two baguettes. The baguettes had just come out of the oven and were crammed with filling. We thoroughly enjoyed both the food and coffees so will definitely return in the future.

This former Swedish navy vessel offers a good range of snacks and drinks in an outstanding location. Staff are friendly and efficient.

Great selection of enjoyable vegan and vegetarian options, all tasty and served fairly quickly. Even have doggy ice creams.

Popped into this place on a Saturday morning with my two boys. We quickly made our choices and ordered. I ordered (large English) to share with my youngest, the big boy went for chocolate waffles which he enjoyed after a 25 minute wait? Large English made up of 2x sausages n bacon, both over cooked! 2x hash browns(cold) one egg?egg cooked well! Salad tomato undercooked and v bland! A very small portion of beans which were hot, saviour of the expensive experience. The mushrooms were the highlight of this brunch for me? Premium priced food ( £12 for breakfast with no bread and butter?) and all the food comes in a takeaway box? Staff were nice! Shame though your almost paying for the history and view which is beautiful by the way!

Stopped by for Drinks on a couple of occasions during our walks to Woodbridge, staff very friendly and attentive.

My wife and I recently visited the Deben Cafe and paid £12 each ( yes, more fool us) for an average breakfast in a box. Despite the same breakfast being advertised on the website for £8.75. The wooden fork provided, didn’t survive first contact with a sausage and snapped. To cap it all my wife and I waited 30mins for the cardboard boxes to arrive. Maybe eating your overpriced breakfast out of the equivalent of a cardboard soup bowl with thin useless wooden cutlery is the latest hipster fad, but we can’t see it will catch on.

Now open under new management and its better as they now have a roof over one eating area and a bar. Currently serving food in boxes whether this is due to covid I am unsure but its fine. Pleasant helpful people and dog friendly.

Stopped in for a small bite during a walk along the water footpath and certainly worth the stop. Good coffee, great homemade sausage rolls and other fresh food treats. Very friendly service. Slushies for the kids and they even have a bar if you fancy...

Location right on the river is just fabulous, but unfortunately the rest is a bit of a let down. I think the coffee is percolated and it wasn't very nice, they could do with a proper coffee machine. The breakfast egg and sausage rolls could...

I found this place when running along the river path from Melton to Woodbridge - a cafe on a decommissioned Swedish naval vessel. Stopped by for breakfast the next day and had a great veggie breakfast. Really friendly staff and a great view across to...

Walked my german shepherd and my friends french bulldog as a group of 4 along the melton to woodbridge river. this was a welcome stop, and a place always goes up in my estimations when my dog is allowed to tag along. The only suggestion...

We were out watching the birds of the River Deben along the river wall. The rain came down, the cafe was there just where we needed it. Good service, good drinks and snacks and the added bonus of excellent views of the birds.

Lovely cafe - so friendly and an amazing spot on the Deben. Super feel to the place, food and coffee both great (sausage roll was massive and easily enough for lunch!) and they are super child and dog friendly. Well worth searching this place out!

Cool windy day and along with many others with dogs called in for breakfast. Since you are seated outside on deck (great on a sunny day) the breakfast was soon cold although delivered hot. Unfortunately although the service was very good the dry bacon let...

Great location; particularly if you are a bird watcher. Locally sourced food is freshly cooked. The coffee could be served a bit quicker. However I do appreciate the conditions everything is being prepared in and that prep space is at a premium. Friendly staff.

The boat is on a lovely spot beside the river. I had wanted to come here for a little while and came across this on a walk by the river on a lovely sunny day. Stopped for a yummy bit of vegan almond and orange...

A Sunday Sunday with a boatyard breakfast - what could be better ? This is an absolute gem of a location and a brilliant place for breakfast. I had the beans on toast but the veggie breakfast looked great! Brilliant value and family friendly.

Had the most amazing family breakfast here this morning,two of the massive Boatyard Breakfasts for the men,a Peters normal breakfast and a sausage and egg bap,all with drinks,absolutely spot on,hot,tasty and extremely filling,freshly cooked to order,presentation good and in the most amazing setting.Staff were all...

Parking at the free car park at Wilford bridge then walking along the river bank footpath to Woodbridge almost 2 mile. On route opening Friday to Monday at present a ex Swedish gunboat moored along side the footpath. Dogs permitted if on leads and well...

Good setting but poor quality breakfast and over priced Could be so much nicer as such a unique venue

A big thanks to Cate and her staff at the Deben Cafe for welcoming a group of 25 cyclists from Tendring Cycling Club this morning. It was something really different for our group to re-fuel for coffee, cake and other snacks on board a ship....

After having my retirement breakfast here I wanted to suprise my sister and family it took there breath away !my brother in law got the binoculars which are there for you to use on the tables, and spent at least ten minutes viewing the river...

My partner loves boats and walking so for his birthday we combined both. A walk along the river wall and a delicious lunch at the cafe. All the food is locally sourced and the staff are very welcoming and friendly. We would highly recommend this...

Had a great walk along the picturesque river to this fantastic location. Really welcoming, great food, great sense of humour (see the picture). Could not recommend this highly enough if your after something a bit different.

Just dropped in for lunch. A good choice of eats to suit every taste. Vegans and vegetarian are catered for. A good View across the river and binoculars are provided fro every table. Very reasonable prices. Don't be put off by any adverse reviews, it...

Went here with my work colleagues, all now retired, very pleasant staff, lovely full English breakfast, amazing outlook over the river, thoroughly recommended as a great place to go.

My two friends brought me here as as suprise retirement day breakfast the place was amazing,we looked at the menu ordered at the kiosk and was given a number, the tea was brought out in minutes and then our number was announced on the ships...