Hay in Powys

Disappointing, overall. The food was very overpriced and not as described - we ordered the carrot and coriander soup, which was definitely actually tomato - and the table was dirty. The very young staff all seemed to be doing work experience, and none of them wanted to be there. It took three attempts to get our table cleaned, and the girl taking our food order was completely disinterested. This was a real shame, and to me it suggests a management problem - you can't just hire teenagers and expect them to do the full workload of wait staff. The ambience was also really weird. It felt like a school canteen. The decor is very unappealing, feeling more like a leisure centre than a cafe. This place is definitely coasting on being the nearest cafe to the carpark, and one of the few cafes to be open after 4pm. I honestly recommend just bringing a flask of tea in your car and a packet of sandwiches.

Soulless place with disinterested, teenage staff and confusing menu. Coffee (flat white) was bland but food was okay except one of the parts of the overpriced toastie was absent. Sadly this is the only place advertised as dog friendly sp didn’t have much choice but I can see why it was empty compared to the cafes in town. Won’t be coming back.

After visiting hay whilst on holidays we thought we would stop for a sandwich. We went in and ordered. The table was dirty so we had to ask for it to be cleaned when the girl cleaned it there was still food residue on the table. You can see the kitchen from the table and they were flinging on the food with no care. I ordered a sourdough mozzarella roll which was dry my partners beef sandwich was white when we asked for brown no rocket as advertised! The food was inedible so I asked for a refund . They were very good in dealing with the refund however the food quality for the price is shocking

The food was very expensive, £40 for 3 sandwiches and some drinks that weren't even that great, we had to wait over 30 minutes for the food and it wasn't even busy.

This used to be a great place for breakfast. Now, sadly, the service lacks personability and is pretty slow. The coffee was awful, barely brown water. There is no childrens menu. No blueberries in the blueberry muffin!! And the sausages are like what they serve at school. They also missed my meal off the order!!

Possibly the worst cup of coffee I have ever bought anywhere, and I don't just mean in the UK. You're bottom of a global league of rubbish baristas. Any acquaintance that insipid cup of tepid, off-white liquid had to a coffee bean was purely accidental.

Don’t waste your time! Called here on Saturday just after 1 for some lunch to be coldly told ‘we aren’t serving food’ even though there were people in there eating including what appeared to be a member of staff. Ended up ordering a coffee instead which cost 4.50 and was mediocre at best. Staff were unhelpful and moody, felt very unwelcome

Honestly, if you need to find a place to drink and eat when you're hungry, it's best not to come here. First we ordered 2 servings of soup and waited for more than 20 minutes, while the tables that came later had food but we were still waiting. After asking the staff again, she said it was 5 more minutes . After another almost 15 minutes passed we still had to wait, then I had to cancel this order because it was taking too long. The staff here are just busy standing around talking to each other about nonsense, not paying attention to the service, including the chef. If their time is not important, other people's time maybe very important to them. Finally, if you don't want to do this job, it's best not to do it and give the job opportunity to those who really need it. Even though the shop was very empty - they couldn't do a good job, when I sat down at the table, I had to clean my own table because it was so dirty. It's a pity that the company has young employees who are lazy and not responsible at work. I wasted my precious time here.

This cafe is in an ideal place to capture passing trade from the car park. Maybe that is why they feel they can charge £4.50 for a mediocre coffee that has been overheated and does not have much coffee flavour. The staff are like rabbits in headlights I had to wait 10 minutes after receiving my first takeaway coffee to get the second. Both ordered at the same time. Don't bother stopping here, there are many more in the town that actually smelt like coffee shops.

A bit slow and not much friendliness - the food was about what you would expect though. Standard cheap-ish cafe in a small town - but sometimes that's just what you need?

DO NOT VISIT THIS CAFE. The prices are daylight robbery. The food is poor and the whole place smells of cooking fat and the hygiene is bad. I ended up with an upset stomach, Wish I never entered the place.

Staff need leason in manners, food well greasey, overcooked had better food from burger van on side of road. Never again 😔

Incredibly rude staff who really need hospitality training. Walked in to order a couple of drinks and a young girl was behind the bar flicking through a magazine and didn't look up when we entered or acknowledge our presence. Finally she deigned to look up and did not smile, said hello but didn't answer back. Grunted a non response when we asked for what we wanted. She was so incredibly rude and unfriendly I almost walked out and wish I had. Came over a few moments later and plonked these badly made coffees right on the edge of the table with no smile. I noticed a big sign up on the door advertising lots of vacancies for staff,I can see why! Won't ever be going back.

Had breakfast here twice during a stay near Hay despite having seen some less than favourable reviews. Was far better than other breakfasts that we had during our stay. The service was efficient, staff were friendly and the food was great. Portions were huge and everything was well cooked and served on a hot plate. Really couldn't fault anything.

Very expensive with poor food and service. Although there were 4 staff no one remembered our drink order. The place isn't clean and food is not worth the price.

This place has gone downhill massively. Stood in front of a miserably faced girl behind the counter for 4-5 minutes until she acknowledged us. (It’s as if we weren’t even stood in front of her) When missy moody eventually did serve us we payed well over the odds for mediocre food. Much better cafs in Hay, take your business elsewhere

Not dog friendly, so we took our business elsewhere. I’ve never known so many cafes to refuse entry to dog owners. It’s not exactly the Ritz inside, so I cannot see why a well-behaved dog cannot sit on a hard floor under the table. We could have sat outside on a miserable cold day in what amounts to seating in an alleyway, with no outlook. We are from the New Forest where dogs are allowed in most places as they want your business.

Thought it was very expensive and huge breakfast , could do with offering a smaller portion at a lower price. quite a few folk walked in saw the prices and walked out again.

Stood at counter for up to 5 mins waiting to be served whilst two staff stood behind counter chatting and having their own drinks. When they decided to serve they asked the family behind me, suggesting they were first. The family correctly said it was our turn. We were then told it would be up to 25 mins wait for food - café practically empty. Decided not to wait any longer as there are plenty of friendly options in Hay. Really shocked by lack of interest in service.

Very disappointing, yes it was Hay festival week and it was breakfast time ish (10 30am) Told that it would be a 25 minute wait which is fine especially over festival week but it ended up being 55min . Four lots of people who ordered after us were served before us. Two breakfasts and two hot drinks £36. Very slow service and staff really couldn't be bothered, 5 staff working so there was no staff shortage. Almost went and asked for our money back then the food arrived, which was very average really and clearly wasn't local produce. Have only given it one star because it wouldn't let me go any lower 😡

Lovely breakfast and the staff were very nice and friendly. I don't understand the reviews stating it was expensive - prices have gone up everywhere and the prices here are no more than anywhere else, especially for a tourist town. Very clean and tidy and the food was delicious.

Vege fry up spot on I can't understand how this place is displaying a 1 food rating. It's clean and food is very tasty

Went in for a cuppa straight after arriving by bus and without checking out reviews. Agreed with other reviewers...it is very expensive and has all the atmosphere of an empty barn. The coffee wasn't up the the mark either. There's loads of cafes in the...

Very expensive, very slow service with only one person taking orders at the till & making drinks. Lady in the kitchen was very abrupt and rude to the staff and to customers. We asked a simple question about whether there was butter or margarine on...

We arrived in Hay and parked in the main car park. We were meeting relatives at the Post Office but being early, we opted for a coffee and this was the nearest place. It was virtually empty (not always a good sign); we would have...

We called in here when visiting the Hay-on-Wye Christmas Fayre. My partner had the breakfast and it was lovely, freshly cooked and tasty. The staff were friendly and helpful. We would visit again.

Food nice but service awful. Staff more context on ‘having a laugh’ with each other rather than serving paying customers. Had to ask twice for food we had ordered . Very poor current service.

Rather poor quality cakes - stale and overpriced. The hot chocolate was luke warm too. Tea was fine but £3.40!

The service was absolutely terrible. Had to wait to be served whilst the staff chatted amongst themselves. The tea was good but when the sandwich was finally ready it was thrown at me. It was truly the most awful cheese and ham toastie I have...

What can I say...? The young lady behind the till obviously didn't want to be there. Give the dreadful service and coffee that was almost as bitter as the look she gave as she served us, i suspect she won't be there much longer... either...

No charm or manners from the staff and a fairly long wait for food. The food was okay once it arrived but the miserable and inattentive service that we received means we won’t be going back.

We stopped for a simple lunch for 6 people. We ordered 6 drinks and 6 meals for the six of us, but received only 6 drinks and 4 meals. Two of us went up to order and can confirm that we definitely ordered 6 meals,...

The staff are very accommodating here. I queried the price of our order only because things have increased in price so much recently and i think I'm a bit out of touch. The staff were really helpful and broke down the bill and also gave...

Popped in for a coffee. Met with attitude and unhelpfuness. If you have had a bad day - don't take it out your customers.

We went to this cafe and ordered some food and coffee . Nearly fell over when they said what the total price was ! And to add insult to injury would not take our cash but insisted on payment by card only . When asked...

Arrived to a nearly empty cafe and no welcome. We stood and waited at the counter for a good while before being acknowledged and then waited further to be served. I chose this café due to the pancakes on the menu, however they were not...

My teenage daughter loves books so where best to take her than Hay-on-Wye. We parked up early and went on the search for breakfast. Couldnt believe it when we saw this place right next to the car park with an appetising but simple menu especially...

Should be much cleaner. Floors filthy and tables full of crumbs, despite the cafe being mostly empty. Wouldn’t return as there are cleaner cafes in the area.

Very Disappointed with guy serving, no prices on broad inside place. Very expensive Jacket potato £9.10, Ham toasted sandwich £8.10, Latte £4.40, total over £25. No wonder the place was empty we will never go into the place again. Bristo in town was very good...

This is a small Cafe with a range of snacks type meals on offer. The place is spotlessly clean. The serving staff are very friendly and efficient. I thought that the prices were a little on the high side but the free use of the...

We popped in here for a snack lunch whilst touring Wales. We had toasted sandwiches and coffees which were ok, but a little expensive we thought. Unfortunately, it was clear that the standard of cleaning was below par as the tables had not been properly...

Great entertainment at this cafe for all the wrong reasons! The cafe seemed to be very short staffed and the cook must have been having a rough day!

Warm sunday early afternoon on a visit to Hay on Wye we needed lunch so popped in here. As pensioners who are careful how we spend our pennies we were shocked by the limited menu and high prices. Over £10 for a breakfast? £7+ for...

Well not impressed at all the corrissant was cooked properly ver doughy in the middle. Only card payment which really isn't very good. Not the cleanest place food scraps all over the floor. Plenty of staff but cleaning away after customers leave very slow. The...

Our fault. Should have read the previous reviews. Expensive badly maintained cafe, capturing visitors to the pretentious hay on Wye . Cafe right by the main car park. Probably best to avoid the entire place. Dirty plates and dishes on most tables whilst the owners...

Fabulous cafe with very nice breakfast- We got here at 9am as it was due to open but they said they were delayed. No mind, we went for a wander round Hay. Back for opening and ordered pancakes for my daughter - sadly they were...

My mother and I used to visit here regularly pre pandemic when service was good, menu was interesting and it was clean and well presented. A previous visit here just after reopening was less good, the menu was much more limited and was executed less...

A really good simple cafe. Delicious food. (Best BLT sandwich I've ever had and great sponge cake!) Good coffee. Really friendly service. Spotlessly clean. Easy wheelchair access.

We honestly loved this little cafe in Hay. Amazing food and I still have not found pancakes as good as here! The staff were lovely, even when putting up with the unpleasant customers the pandemic has created lately. And the chef (who was pregnant) was...

A very welcome cafe stop while hiking Offas Dyke path. There's no vegan options on the menu but the chef was really accommodating and made us up a vegan breakfast, which was very welcome and helped fuel us for a day of walking. Very clean...

Have visited before so decided to visit again. Wouldn't bother again. Asked for a takeaway ham, cheese and salad sandwich aswell as a cup of coffee and tea. Table was dirty, tea and coffee delivered and dumped on table so spilt, no apology. Tray was...

Really enjoyed lunch today - menu is not huge but enough choice - very impressed how well our gluten/dairy free requirements. BLT sandwich turned into BLT salad without an issue. Definitely recommend.

This cafe is spacious and the seating is well apart. We had the home made potato & leek soup and it came with a really nice warm flat bread/roll. We enjoyed our meal here and would visit again when in Hay. The staff were very attentive and pleasant.

Today I got charged £9 for a bacon and egg sandwich. When I asked the girl she answered the bacon sandwich was £5.50 and the egg was £2.50 which comes to £8. What’s worse the breakfast sandwich is £7! Ridiculous….

Our visit today started badly and got worse. Firstly they don't have a GF menu and apparently little understanding of food allergies full stop. this is 2021 not 1991.We ordered a quiche for me and jacket potato for my gluten intolerant wife. The place was not particularly busy, but we had to wait 40 minutes for the food to come out. Firstly the Quiche, then a few minutes later, another one. After much fevered discussion behind the counter a microwave heated jacket potato emerged.Waiting an age for food is almost acceptable if the end product is exceptional, but when It's below average as this was then 40 minutes is unacceptable.The wait cannot be attributed to the food be freshly cooked to order but to the chaotic disinterested lady out back doing the food preparation.

I had a couple of breakfasts here during my stay in Hay. It is very clean inside and the staff were friendly and efficient. I was disappointed that the pancakes were unavailable but the smoked salmon and scrambled eggs were very good.

Really nice young lady serving - gave us water for the dog . We had a sandwich and toastie - all fresh . Good value and felt safe - we sat outside . Seemed to be a lot of choice of menu - will visit again

We visited cafe hay for breakfast on the 31st August. We ordered a latte, hot chocolate, full English and a veggie full English.The staff didn't seem interested in being there and there seemed to be many mistakes that we overheard. When making our latte the girl spilt half of the coffee out and then preceded to use it still, just topping it up with milk, so that didn't taste like coffee at all. The hot chocolate tasted like hot milk and hadn't been mixed at all, there were lumps all over it. The food was average. Staff seemed to have no training on corona virus precautions, they would come right up to you, no masks were worn and they put croissants where you have to stand to pay, so they were getting breathed on by everyone! Not a good experience!

We are a family of 6 with children with dairy allergies, staff weren’t interested in helping and knowledge of cake ingredients where shocking.. attitudes on the girls where like they couldn’t be bothered.

We had a weekday lunch here in mid August. The Covid procedures were clearly shown and we felt the premises were adhering to the requirements very well. We enjoyed a full cooked breakfast which was very generous, a breakfast bap which was filling and tasty and finally a delicious Welsh Rarebit. The hot drinks were freshly prepared and with a good size tea pot and hot water to top up with, not always offered at other places. We really enjoyed our lunch, it was great value and tasted lovely. The homemade cakes looked good but we had no room to try any!

Not the first time we have visited here and unfortunately both times were a disappointment. There always seems to be a long wait for food, granted the good is made fresh but even so it does take a long time to arrive. Unfortunately our order was wrong which didn't help - the manager (I think) was very apologetic & my partner was given ham to add to his quiche. It is in a great place and the young girls working there do seem to want to help but there is not a lot of organisation. Always busy so I guess most people enjoy their meals but next time we are in Hay-on-Wye we will give it a miss.

Went there for breakfast and had a delicious croissant and Mushrooms on toast. Absolutely lovely. Went there again for lunch and the result was much the same. The Grilled goats cheese salad was very enjoyable. They have a variety of food on their menu and the prices are very reasonable. The staff are friendly and the service is excellent and the gaps between tables are spacious so social distancing is easy. Lovely location in the center of Hay-On-Wye. Not very much that's vegan but plenty of vegetarian options. Low waiting times. All round a great time.

Great cooked breakfast and breakfast rolls. Blueberry pancakes were freshly made and delicious. Really nice tea (leaves not bags). We also had lunch, tuna & cheese toastie, which was really tasty. This place can get busy, especially if a team of cyclists drop by as happened this Saturday and the staff, understandably, really struggled to cope, but we would recommend this place.

Went with wife and daughter, I had breakfast which was ok. Wife and daughter had panini's or something like that. All was ok. Staff were very good and after being treated so badly earlier at the indian we were a bit late and so glad of some smiles and nice people. When we left the Lady from the Kitchen shouted such a nice thankyou what a difference. We will go back for sure.

Very tasty scrambled eggs on toast! And coffee, even if it could’ve been hotter. Bit pricey but good service and hardly any waiting time!

Has a good location but marred by dirty tables cleaned with unclean cloths and lack of cleaning spray dirty floor and wasps attracted by left over food outside. Staff Were selectively pleasant to customers but not my wife who they rolled their eyes and put on sarcastic fake smiles. Food quite expensive and ice cream very watery

After a long early morning walk up the Black Mountains stopped here for breakfast. It was an excellent meal served by polite friendly staff

Called in for lunch before visiting the town pleasant staff, calm setting and made to feel welcome. Great food, excellent choices.

I recognize that working in a cafe is not every young person's dream but at least try and put on a show. Table dirty and had to ask twice for it to be wiped and then it was done badly. Nor knowing what the soup of the day is at half past two is a bit sad and please don't play with your hair when cooking my food - maybe that's just me being jealous. However the food was good when it finally arrived. The four of us each had something different and we're all pleased with what we had. I would eat here again but I would be much more assertive about things.

Called by to have a quick bite to eat. Ordered some toasted sandwiches. Cheese and ham, brie and bacon and quiche salad. Asked brown or white bread chose one brown two white. All came back 20 minutes later. All white, was asked if okay to have what they served, no offer of changing to brown. So said yes. All came back as ham and cheese, halfway through eating his toastie husband realised he had brie my daughter had ordered, she realised she had his ham and cheese. Then my quiche was served, I like warm quiche but it was cremated! When I asked if this is usually what their quiche looked like they said yes. I asked if they could do something about it they said yes but it will another 15 minutes. So asked for money back (£9). Not great for quick cafe food plus uncaring service.

Whilst working in the area I called into here and whilst I appreciate it's a cafe based around tourism it's a little overpriced for what it is it was a quite rainy day but still there was only 4 people in there maybe a bit cheaper pricing would attract a few more people!! General quality looks good but a little small on portions to go with the inflated prices £5.50 for a toasted sandwich using only medium thickness bread !!

Full English Breakfast. Excellent quality and service. We use Cafe Hay as a treat on special occasions. This time finishing GCSEs. Thank you.

Brief stop in Hay for a cup of tea and came here because it was nearest to the car park. Very glad we did. Earl Grey tea was proper leaves in a generous pot and spur of the moment decision to have a tea cake turned out to be a very good one. Tea cakes are so often a disappointment: too small, poor quality, stingy butter or, worst of all, not butter but some kind of spread. Hay Cafe's tea cake was a genuine surprise and delight. Seemingly not one but two large cakes, sliced very thinly, toasted to perfection and very generously spread with proper butter. Staff also v friendly and welcoming.

Visited this location as we were going to sit outside with the dog. Had a good choice of menu but the food was wonderful and freshly made.

Love coming here for my lunch. The bread is really good. Highly recommend the toasties and sarnies!! Nice place with a nice friendly feel xx

Decided to go for the standard cooked breakfast which was ok, fair size but elements were over cooked (bacon was rock). Not cheap at just under £20 for two breakfasts, one small coffee and a can of coke. Not a place a would go back too sadly.

Stopped her after visiting my new work location. Although we only stopped for lunch, i had a chicken and chorizo toastie and some chips, which was by far the nicest toastie i had ever tried, the prices were cheap and the food came out quickly. staff were really nice and polite, the place was nice and quite and very clean. would definitely visit again

08/02/19. The surroundings are lovely, clean and a varied selection of food. The food quality was excellent, but unfortunately, I don’t think the female serving us was enjoying her day, bordering on being rude.

This is the second time that myself and a friend have visited Cafe Hay in Hay-on-Wye for brunch, We are in Hay every couple of months, and planned our visit this time so that we could stay a bit longer and enjoy our meal without rushing due to appointments.

I had always ignored this place, as its situation beside the main Oxford Road car park, and somewhat clinical look, made me think it was a sort of bus station café equivalent. As it happens the flat white and tuna sandwich I had immediately prior to setting off on my drive home were perfectly pleasant , and in line with prevailing Hay prices. Would use again if gasping for a cuppa on arrival, or needing a pick-me-up before heading home (especially if it's Sunday and The Sandwich Cellar is closed).

Expensive, disinterested waitress barely raising a smirk. Had to ask for cutlery, sauce. Apparently it was self service but not mentioned. Floor like a greasy skating rink.

Called in for n afternoon snack of a toasted sandwich - cheese and onion - average with minimum side salad but hot.

Full English breakfast was tasty but when we ordered and paid they never said that there was a 45 minute wait, or that theyd run out of black pudding. Latte was tasteless, but maybe that was because it was decaf. Americano was OK, apparently. Felt sorry for guy who was left waiting after his mates had finished eating.

Came in here for a coffee and something to eat. Cafe Hay is a nice place to come and eat and have a tea or coffee.

We ate here twice we liked it so much. I thought the vegetarian full English with the glamorgan sausages was particularly good. The whole place is sunny and pleasant in the mornings and the service was attentive without being fussy.

Lovely little cafe nice food and drink...especially the tea. Nice atmos and generally pleasant staff who were very accommodating

Popped in Bank Holiday Monday for brunch. 1x adult plus 2x grown up teenagers.

Have used ‘Hay Cafe’ for the Full English Breakfast for a number or years when wanting to treat my teenage boys. The quality has always been spot on and for £8.

Popped in for lunch. My wife had the quiche with new potatoes and salad, all,of which she said was very good, as was her Earl Grey tea.

I had a flapjack and some fizzy apple to drink which were nice, but my parents did not particularly enjoy their food as it was a little stale, very dry and the café itself needed some care and TLC.

What seemed like a good choice soon proved not to be. We ordered 2 English breakfasts which were very average and greasy. Best bit was the sausage, it was black, completely non edible as was my husbands, a slightly lighter shade of black. Who would dream of serving this?? We asked to have them replaced, the waitress was apologetic but the girl who brought the fresh ones out wasn't so polite. By this time we had given up on the food. Would I return, No Anyone who thinks it’s acceptable to serve food like this shouldn’t be in that trade. It was a Monday morning and very quiet, so no excuses. The table next to use also had some issues with the wrong tea being served. There are far better place to eat in Hay.

Stopped here over Easter weekend. Just a coffee and a cake. Plenty of space for proms, high chairs, baby change/ toilet. Tables needed clearing/ cleaning. Drinks were brought to us at table. Our son loved the Easter nest cake!

The cafe is friendly and the staff work hard the food is excellent value always welcoming the menu is full of different thing to have

Ideal for simple food, drinks and cakes. Good service, clean and tidy with good parking close by. Nothing fancy just simple and straight forward.

Modern cafe close to the main car park.

Girl with short hair at the counter was lovely and very helpful when I asked questions about one of the dishes. Her colleagues however left much to be desired. They ran about the kitchen yelling about how they were having a disaster with one of the cakes. They then proceeded to take their lunch at one of the tables and were very, very loud with no regard for the paying customers. They also seemed to be rather rude to their aforementioned colleague which made me very uncomfortable. I enjoyed my meal and found the decor suitable but the attitude from the majority of the staff spoiled the overall experience.

Service was prompt but an item was left out of my meal. Food was pretty standard. None of the staff came to ask if everything was ok with our food, and instead spent time chatting amongst themselves (very loudly might I add) Won't be returning.

We called into this cafe for lunch; it was next door to the car park. Even though we arrived well past breakfast time, the friendly staff were happy to provide my husband with the full English breakfast and cooked a couple of fried eggs on toast for me with mushrooms (which wasn't on the menu but they happily obliged). The food arrived piping hot and beautifully presented but took some time - it was busy. I have to say the breakfasts were the nicest we have enjoyed in a long time - full of flavour and thoughtfully cooked. I can't recommend this place enough. The toilets (including a large well appointed disabled toilet) were spotlessly clean and looked new - beautiful turquoise metro tiles and matching coloured floor tiles. Well worth a visit and it has a sunny square for al fresco dining!

We popped in for a tea, coffee and a couple of cakes as my wife had some fond memories of this place from some years ago.

Popped in for a quick sandwich today, lovely friendly service with a smile, had a lovely freshly made sandwich, coffee and a flapjack, would highly recommend