Grey Seal Coffee in North Norfolk

Really friendly staff, lovely food, just had something to put us on, so plumped for sausage roll & piece of cake...their vegan fudge is really tasty too!

Really great coffee here!! Quality is amazing and the cafe has a really nice atmosphere. Only downside is the queue/wait time- staff are all very polite and friendly but don’t seem to have much urgency when doing the job so there is a very long queue 🤣

Multiple tables left uncleared, stacked with plates, cups and left over food that other customers had been forced to pile up to make space. I asked for a cloth to wipe the table we had just cleared ourselves and the young waitress handed me one and watched me wipe the table (while standing behind the counter doing nothing) and then thanked me, with absolutely no hint of irony, for doing her job. I watched several other customers do the same and a different member of staff apologised that they’d “had to clear the table” but didn’t actually stop to clean it herself. Extraordinary. Drinks also nothing special.

Sat outside for a coffee - lovely capuccino, friendly efficient service will visit again. Would prefer a pottery cup and saucer (as used in the Sheringham branch) rather than a disposable cup.

The coffee here is consistently good but it could be cleaner - the tables aren't regularly wiped and I've had to ask for them to be cleaned on several occasions when I've gone in. The sofas look quite grubby which is a bit offputting.

We were on holiday in Sheringham and friends had recommended that we visit Grey Seal Coffee. Unfortunately the Sheringham cafe was closed the week we were there but we found the Cromer one open when we went for the day. Lovely coffee and cakes and a great relaxing vibe!

The staff made this stop a delight, so friendly and welcoming. Very dog friendly too. Can highly recommended the vegan sausage roll!

Despite the awful "decor" - more suited to the East End of London than to a traditional seaside town - I recommend Grey Seal as a coffee shop. Very good coffee and pleasant staff - though at times there need to be more staff on duty to keep up. Decent cakes as well.

Great coffee place, with a nice atmosphere and friendly staff. The best coffee we’ve had in a long time, and dog friendly as well!

Absolutely lovely place. Efficiently run. Smiley staff. Really good coffee. Tables cleared quickly. Busy. Smashing cakes especially the cinnamon bun/pastry. Well thought out decor - industrial chic. Love it.

I've been to the grey seal in Wells years ago, she several times and it was a lovely place. Stylish and a pleasure to spend time in. Therefore when passing the Grey seal in Cromer I suggested we pop in. Not sure if it's been sold and some new people running it now but it was totally different. It was scruffy, dirty, pots everywhere and we couldn't wait to get out. Shame this little chain has gone really downhill.

The coffee was bitter and such a disappointment. Service average and tables full of used coffee cups.

The best coffee we have ever tasted. Strong and rather small latte but my gosh it was delicious. Very cream, smooth coffee with no bitterness at all. The only issue is the wait, however, we were warned it might take a while as they were busy with one coffee machine and the beans are ground for each cup. We will definitely be back and taste some food too.

Great coffee and pastries. Friendly staff. Modern interior. Located in the centre of the town near the fantastic church. Highly recommended

Really nice hot chocolate, and a brownie cake that I can’t remember the name of nut sort of 2 brownies sandwiched with cream of some description, very nice indeed. Comfy and relaxing cafe

The decor and atmosphere of this coffee shop was modern, and the barista who took our order polite and friendly. But the coffee (which my husband bought for us while we were out for the day in Cromer on my birthday) was terrible. My almond latte was very strong, barely warm, and in a very small cup. I expect a latte is taste milky with only a small amount of coffee, be in a tall glass and be too hot to drink for a minute or so. My husband’s flat white was also barely warm. We were in and out of the place in less than five minutes. Not recommended at all!

Yesterday I visited this coffee shop while on holiday with my family. On walking in we were welcomed by a lovely spacious uncluttered space. There was a lot of natural wood and carefully chosen embellishments that worked well I had a cappachino and it was without doubt, the very best I have ever tasted. The coffee beans are ground fresh for each cup. Even the toilet was done tastefully,with a trolly containing plants.very clean. The staff were very helpful and friendly,providing great service. Next time I am in cromer, I will Deffinately be going back to this place.

The best coffee we had all week whilst visiting Cromer. Super cute decor and really well planned out. Coffees tasted great! Loved all the initiatives going on with the shop. I would definitely visit again!

Stopped off for coffee on a chilly mid morning. Nice independent pitstop, quite minimalistic inside but spacious. Plenty of seating, high for people watching (although not much to watch in March) or low & cosy to chat & catchup. Not a great selection on sweet treats unless you’re a brownie fan. Fab coffees, good quality, great choice.

Visited this coffee shop approximately 4 years ago and while in Cromer managed to find it again in the High Street - pleased to see you doing well. Nice relaxed atmosphere and good shop layout with comfy seating. Hubby being the ultimate coffee snob who grinds his own beans at home, loved it here so much he had two - really great coffee! Very nice cuppa of tea too complete with own pot. Beats the chain shops hands down! Well worth a visit!!

Stopped here on a very cold day to rest our legs and have some warm drinks. Coffee and hot chocolate were delicious, just what was needed. A great spot to watch the world go by and dog friendly is a plus!

Very relaxed, great coffee, lovely assistants, friendly and we feel at home...and they love our little dog.

This is the place you go to in Cromer if you're at all interested in coffee. They select, roast and grind beans for a great taste. Happy to first drink their Two Bean Espresso (Brazil and Guatemala) with characteristic S American flavours of nut, chocolate and smoke before buying a bag of beans to take home.

My husband and I were looking for a coffee and I said lets try the Grey Seal Coffee, so glad we did staff were really nice and helpful and the coffee is first class, after we arrived it began to get busy. Would definitely recommend this little gem of a coffee shop

Lovely little coffee shop, clean and trendy compared to some of the other coffee shops around Cromer. Would recommend the salted caramel brownie

Coffee was very nicely presented, but tasted so bitter. Shame as I was planning on purchasing some coffee beans to take home.

No complaints about the coffee and the lemon drizzle cake - they get top marks. The young lady needs to improve her arithmetic, we were over charged by one pound and the young man needs to clean his hands more often. A customer paid him...

Been popping in here for the past couple of months on most visits to the coast, its in a great location with a comfortable and modern decor. Coffee is always brilliant and the cakes look fantastic, looking forward to trying the Pizza on my next...

We happened on this coffee shop while exploring Cromer. Coffee, as you would expect from a roastery, was very good and the cakes excellent. It’s a modern place with partially bare concrete walls. Friendly staff, comfortable furniture, good tips for local walks. A nice change...

pizzas and coffee, all available as vegan. bags of coffee ground to order according to brew method, and delicious hot drinks too.

An interesting combination, but both are done exceptionally well. Coffee and Mocha were both great, and the chilli pizza was well spiced and very tasty

We visited a few days ago. There were two toddlers in our party. My little boy who is 20 months spotted the large pointer like dog on the sofa near the counter and approached it. Now I’m a big dog lover but I’m not stupid...

Slightly odd set up with ordering outside and eating either inside or out. But coffee was good and pizza great.

Best coffee in Cromer. Excellent coffee and cakes in a great position just behind the seafront. Interior currently closed but seating outside available and takeaway. Highly recommended.

Happy friendly staff, lovely Coffee (very instagrammable, lol) lovely cake and filled croissants. Was all served outside and felt v safe, contactless payments and sanitiser on tap :)

Really good coffee to take away and lovely local cakes. Sit in area currently closed but this was the teens favourite for coffee.

As an interior design student, I find it rejuvenating to see a café with such individuality and distinctiveness in this bleak town. The coffee is always tasty, and we were very happy to see vegan sausage rolls on the menu. The staff are friendly yet...

We are local but have unfortunately never ventured in since its opening but have always meant to. So on a rare day just us adults we decided to finally see what it's like. I was so surprised and love the decor and vibe of the...

Just popped in here to warm up and have a coffee. The ambiance is so relaxing and the coffee delicious. Staff super friendly and the place has a relaxed atmosphere would definitely recommend.

Cromer boasts over 30 cafes, most of them independent, so you've got to be very good to succeed here. I suspect Grey Seal is doing well because of its prime position and classy appearance; it looks good from the outside and often seems quite busy. But buyer beware. It's perhaps a little too trendy for its own good. Charming staff, nice tasting cakes but only average coffee and the most expensive croissants (£2.50 for a small one) this side of Belgravia. Oat milk, yes. Value for money, not really.There are possibly better choices if you are in town but I guess that's for you to find out. Hint: go on the Promenade..

Love the coffee here, wife bought a bag of it too. Cakes are very good too. Plus good staff. Always pretty busy which is a good sign. Indoor seating this time of year, but blankets provided if you wish to sit outside.

Lovely cafe, great tea, lovely Oat milk, but best of all are the fun staff, friendly, chatty, big smiles, really nice young people. Very cool cafe.

Located just back from the sea front, is this lovely modern looking coffee shop. Beautiful coffee, amazing hot chocolate, and lovely service. Great little find! Will go back next time we are here.

Best coffee in Cromer. There you have it. They roast their own beans and it shows in the flavour. Go just for the coffee. A limited selection of top line croissant, cakes and flap jacks.Savoury I am not so sure about. Convivial surroundings with a contemporary stripped back decor. They also pointed me very much in the right direction for dinner that evening . Nice people.

A little different but well worth calling in for a drink and a snack and they are part of the 1% for the planet giving back 1% of their revenue for the planet.

Just leaving this small place in the peak of Cromer Carnival week only to made to feel unwelcome, that families are not allowed (adult only coffee shop) first time for everything, so definitely no baby changing available just so you get the picture. The two young women stood chatting to each other (place empty) moaning they were open late (4:13pm) because we were finishing our drinks and certainly not welcome with toddler twins. So families steer clear!! Not worth the poor service, small cups and overall unwelcoming feel we received. Maybe put a sign up !! Just to make your point clearer that discrimination against families is or children is clear and ok!!! Thank you Grey Seal. Our family and friends shall not return

Visited for coffee which was good but struck by the fact it’s a good slice place but offers very little! No breakfast advertised. A couple of croissants on counter and a table with bread offering you chance to cook as much toast as you wish for £3.50! Much as I would have liked some toast with my coffee, I don’t expect to cook it myself for that price especially when 2 servers and no customers! Rather unhygienic too as bread not covered against flies.

was a lovely atmosphere and the staff were nice and seating areas were nicely arranged will be visiting again

Stopped here briefly to get a cup of coffee to takeaway. Staff were friendly and the coffee is lovely. Coffee came quickly as we were in a hurry to get back to the car. I believe that dogs are allows inside, but as I said, we didn't have time to stay

The only place in Cromer to get a real cup of coffee, made from fresh beans, difference choices all the time. I loved the arty atmosphere of the place, and the 'unlimited toast, help yourself' idea - and oat milk is available. No dairy free spread for the toast, though.

Great cup of coffee, as you can see from photo their attention to detail is superb. Being a sea side town it can get a bit blustery and cold. But if you still want to sit out side blankets provided on back of chairs to take the chill of. The place has a minimalist vibe, great view of a beautiful church, just down the way from the beach and pier.

The best cappuccino I've had and unlimited toast! The pup was also able to sit and chill. 5 stars! Thanks.

It is a matter of personal taste but we are into our bean to cup coffees although not a fan of anything fancy! We really enjoyed the coffee and the hot chocolates here and the prices were ok too. Service very good and friendly.

We were looking forward to a nice cup of coffee... it was far from that. It was the strangest tasting coffee I've ever tasted. Yuck!!

Did not enjoy the taste of the coffee, which was too bitter for me, and the decor left a lot to be desired. The service, however, was very friendly and efficient.

Our party of 6 adults and 3 kids stopped in on a rainy day for a quick coffee and ended up staying for another round of drinks and cakes.

It’s not often I’ll review a coffee shop but this coffee was awesome. Didn’t try anything else but the service was lovely and it’s the nicest coffee I’ve had in ages. Highly recommend 👏👏👏

I drink unadulterated black coffee and it was so very good I had to have two cups! The carrot cake was lovely and the service friendly. Finally the decor and spacious layout is attractive and relaxing. Highly recommended.

This lively place sits just behind the church tucked in near the coop. We came here for hot drinks and cakes.

I visited here yesterday with a friend and unfortunately we thought the coffee was awful! I had a flat white that was so strong it almost walked to the table itself ! My friend had an americano that came with a little bottle with milk in it which had a very strange taint. Infact she only drank half the cup. 24 hrs later we still have upset stomachs as shortly after we left the shop we felt sick.we wish we had complained at the time but there was only one member of staff there and we didnt think a coffee would make us ill!

For the perfect flat white try the Grey Seal cafe in Cromer. Lovely cafe with a fresh modern almost industrial feel. Dog friendly too.

Well worth a visit, reasonably priced, good service, great standard of coffee served. Staff were very pleasant and welcoming

Amazing coffee, extremely friendly and helpful staff and small but lovely menu with veggie and vegan options.

Really slow service. Had to wait forever for a takeaway coffee. One member of staff trying to do everything. Customers started clearing tables and stacking plates themselves. Employ some more staff!

The enthusiasm behind this enterprise is laudable - bringing good coffee to the masses, etc - but the execution leaves a lot to be desired. The stark ground floor space isn’t conducive to anything apart from twiddling thumbs, and having to wait 30 minutes for one’s coffee, with an uncleared tabletop, is simply unacceptable.

Visited today this morning. The coffee was absolutely fabulous. Far better than the chains! Dog friendly too. The decor is quirky but I liked it! Will certainly be going again for the great coffee!

There is a lot to say that a place like the Grey Seal shouldn't work in Cromer. This has more to do with Cromer than it does the Grey Seal and I am delighted that the people of the Grey Seal do the thing that they do - and do it so well.

The minimal/ industrial décor was a bit sparse and it was like sitting in the concrete and steel construction of a multi-storey carpark. I can, however see that this may appeal to people who want something different. it is not like any thing else in Cromer. The pot of tea was ok but overpriced and the service was diabolical, there was only one waitress and the tables were dirty. I wouldn't recommend it, there are many other places in Cromer which are frankly better value for money and cleaner.

This cafe should work. Firstly the coffee is the best in town in my opinion. They know their coffee in terms of quality.. But the staff lack of interest to chat about the coffee ; maybe they think Cromer inhabitants or visitors do not know their own coffee tastes. The interior is indeed grey, unfinished and sterile. Poor or little food choices. Thry need to invest in it in every way or it will lose out to the new( unfirtunate) Costa and other good coffee places with more choices and more welcoming staff.

Very disappointing. The room looked unfinished. Coffee very bitter. Hardly able to drink it but needed to wash very dry roll down. I had brie and chilli jam. The cheese sliced so thinly it was almost see through and didn't cover the base of what was similar to a burger bun. The other roll was cheese and chutney, again very thin cheese and almost non existent chutney. These were the only two options. In its favour the cakes looked nice and the staff pleasant. Only went in because the other cafes were full.

Loved the atmosphere, and the coffee was amazing, great place to relax with the family and even better the dog could come in so a great way to end our beach walk.

Really good coffee and delicious cup cakes. Great place to sit and people watch in stylish surroundings. Friendly staff.

Such a nice place to grab a coffee and catch up. The decor is delightful, so rustic and simple. Their vegan chocolate & rose muffin was to die for 🌹 They also have oat milk 🥛

This thing is .. it's not just that Grey Seal make the best coffee in Cromer, it's that it is so much better than anyone else's. Simples.

Cromer has needed a very good coffee shop for a long time. This nearly satisfies the need.

Looking for a good coffee when passing through Cromer, stumbled upon the Grey Seal and found the best coffee on our Norfolk jaunt. Also enjoyed rich but tasty dark chocolate and walnut slice. Loved the spacious venue, minimalist decor choice of seating and soft bluesy music.

Before I start let me tell you that I don't just love Grey Seal coffee, I ADORE it! The product is perfect and for any coffee fan this is the ideal brand for you.................but, I say with dismay that the premises does not quite hit the spot and neither do the staff. It is the simple things like, cleanliness, takeaway coffee lids not available, too slow to serve a queue of people, soya milk not available as its 'hard to work with' (although they can do it just fine in the Wells, Sheringham and Blakeney cafes!). I'm feeling so sad for the owners who have created a wonderful coffee which is so hard to do in such a competitive market but are being let down by things that could easily be rectified. Can they not see this? Its expensive, a small coffee being £2.50 but they have at last answered customers needs and provided the option of a large now for 50p more. Although they often run out of takeaway cups too! A few more tables would actually make it more inviting, to make it look like people are in there soaking up the stylish atmosphere while enjoying great coffee, I like the industrial minimal look but its too sparse really. Please Grey Seal owners, just take the time to look at the service thats being provided, you are so close to having it perfect, but far enough away for it to be noticeable.

Hadn’t been to Cromer for a while and walked through the town and came across this gem. I like my coffee and I was not disappointed. We had 2 americanos and considering there was only one person serving we didn’t have to wait long, the coffee was spot on. The decor was work in progress unless I missed a trick, industrial but ok. It’s not a cafe, it’s a coffee shop, enough said.

We saw this coffee shop for the first time and we immediately impressed. Spacious clean modern and good tasting coffee. Recommend the cake with a mango centre.

With super friendly staff, excellent coffee and unmissable cakes and savouries this chain of independent coffee shops are well worth a visit

Lovely time spent here. We’re not local to North Norfolk but have fallen in love with the Grey Seal story having already visited the coffee shops in Cromer and Blakeney. The atmosphere was great, the coffee even greater and the staff were a dream. Super friendly and inviting.

Coffee was good but expensive at £2.50 for small flat white compared to £1.60 for larger flat white with complimentary wafer roll at Rocket House. The Grey Seal‘ baristas’ could not serve coffee at our and another table without spilling it into saucers. Need to get basics right.

Very minimalist building and decor inside but lovely coffee. Small selection of cakes but very tasty. Toilet is massive but has no baby changing table/facilities which should be added

Cromer has many coffee shops to offer but this one looked interesting. Arty, Quirky and well located. I really wasn't sure if the renovation was finished, but - whatever! The service was incredibly slow, heaven help them when they are busy. But the biggest disappointment was the coffee. So bitter that even with a sugar lump it was undrinkable. I don't know if the coffee has been allowed to deteriorate or just that its a poor blend, but its very unpleasant.

Yes, it’s good to have somewhere that serves decent coffee in cromer, but that’s no excuse for rude staff who can’t be bothered to finish their chats with each other, even when customers are waiting. Add to that, no level disabled access - a completely pointless step up into the shop, through a narrow doorway - and being sold out of lots of items. The Sheringham branch is MUCH better!

Hubby was needing a good coffee hit and found it here! Nothing instant on these premises - this is hard core. Hubby usually has two extra shots in addition to the norm and the coffee was great tasting. The tea had a very nice flavour too served in a small tea pot with a cup and saucer.

We had stayed in a beautiful apartment above the coffee house as it was being renovated and were very pleased to have such a lovely addition to Cromer.

At last a cafe with proper coffee in a seaside town. Pooch friendly too for the well behaved. Healthy looking cakes, good clean interior with pleasant atmosphere.

Came across the Grey Seal when visiting Cromer. It has only been open for 6 months and deserves to be one of the places to have a good coffee.

I found my visit to Grey Seal Coffee a pleasant experience. It's so good to see independent coffee houses spring up giving customers more choice than the usual Costa and Starbucks. Recommended a visit

This is what was a large shop with a stripped out interior. Exposed brick, polished concrete with a few quirky places to sit and slouch sofas too. Good coffee roasted by them. Not many cakes left but it was Sunday afternoon. They also sell sour dough bread. Could do with a better sound system. Nice!

This is an unusual cafe. Not much seating and chairs aren’t very comfortable! Nice decor with quirky added touches! Only one toilet for everyone to use which could be a problem in busy months!

Half way on my walk Sheringham to Cromer and back along the beach and coast path. Perfect place for a little bit of sustenance! Best coffee, lovely cake and friendly service. Add rustic charm of how the place has been renovated, the fact that this is local coffee roasted locally, brings you 21st Century North Norfolk. And the young lady Barista kindly charged my phone fo me - omg, it/I would have died!!

I will try to keep my review as objective as possible because I think this is a ‘Love it or Loathe it’ sort of place which would probably appeal to younger rather than older people.

Play sudoku with Barista Daisy, or even Sam or Joseph (they don't play, so you'll get the free cup), to try for a free second cup of Aeropress, Americano or Cappuccino as you feel charged up (caffein-ed up) about the Norfolk coast's future. With coffee shops like this there is no reason to get on the 3 hour train journey to dreaded London. Other way round? Londoners - Come to cromer! co2Cr?