James' Cafe Bistro in Leicester

Popped on for a snack as saw all the 5☆ reviews. Bitterly disappointed. Waiter walked past me when I entered without a good morning. Place seemed run down rather than bohemian. The waitress approached after a few minutes (only two other people dining) . No greeting just stood waiting for my order - scrambled eggs on toast and pot of tea which was served in an array of china, the milk jug being badly cracked and looking a bit mucky inside. Quite unpleasant. Didn't enjoy the food much as eggs had a funny taste poss cooked in oil rather than butter. On rhe whole an unpleasant experience and wouldn't use again.

Probably the best place in the city centre to get a cooked English breakfast that is made with care and quality ingredients. Taste was superb. The hash potatoes were exceptionally good with mild hints of flavour. The location is on a quiet street just behind the main shopping centre and it's very calming. Gift shop also inside with local artisan products. Very friendly staff and much cleanliness. Highly recommended 👌

Food is freshly made to order, so service is a little slow. There's a good range of breakfasts, salads, sandwiches and quesadilla. Sadly no jacket potatoes, and pasta is only available in the evenings. Decent selection of veggie options, with gluten free and vegan options clearly labelled on the menu. Food is tasty - the twice cooked chips were a triumph. My roast veg quesadilla was tasty but a tad greasy. If you're sitting near the door, expect a cold gust every time it opens.

An early dinner before going to the Curve for a show. Ten past five and the place was not busy but managed to have an atmosphere due to a brilliant playlist. Modern but not ridiculous music by artists you wanted to know about. Look them up by searching for James Bistro on Spotify. The food was ample, freshly cooked and delicious. Priced very reasonably. We were planning to go to a well known chain restaurant but did not regret giving this place a go. The coffee was excellent and I had a plum pudding the like of which I have never tasted. Poached plums and blueberries on a batter type base. For a main I had a chicken Quesadilla, also cooked from scratch and delicious by someone who seems to just like cooking for people. This is such a good find, all day breakfast ( well, til three pm) not far from John Lewis and Christmas shopping and not too far from the Curve. The decor is the kind of place you would visit as a student. You can imagine someone writing a novel with occasional reasonably priced fayre keeping heart and soul together. Loved it!

Sitting here having just eaten the Full English, damn, it's really good. The potatoes cooked in herbs are that delicious extra touch. Also the great background music adds a little toe tapping extra. I will be back...

We had our wedding reception at James’ in September and couldn’t fault it. Food was excellent and catered to our needs and there was lots of it!

Comfortable, wheelchair friendly, cafe. Very good service and good atmosphere. I didn't eat but my friend had gluten free pancakes that looked lovely

One of my favourite restaurants. Always great food and service.

Cannot believe I didn’t know about this place!! Really nice atmosphere, music and great food & service + the ginger cake is bomb

Great cakes, informal friendly atmosphere.

Lovely food and genuinely friendly atmosphere. I'm a regular now!

I only met a friend here4a coffee but its a cosy clean little bistro with friendly professional service x

Seriously good food at a fair price.....great service and just outside highcross! My pic is only half a sandwich as it looked too good not to eat before taking the pic.

Absolutely terrible service! Went here last week, the waitress didn't even bother to come over after being there for 20 minutes. Felt so uncomfortable and unwanted we left. Would never return and would NOT recommend. Poor service and the menu was poor too!

Great relaxed place to have some food and refreshments. My friend has a list of intolerances as long as your arm including onions and tomatoes and James took it all in and made her a fantastic meal off menu.

Lovely food. Service is a bit slow but I don't really care cos this is somewhere you want to chill for a while in.

Foods decent service was garbage we was 1st in told to sit down then regulars must have arrived after and was served before us very unprofessional

First come last served, unless you’re a regular and you get your drinks before anyone else didn’t even have to order was brought to straight to their table. Not how a restaurant should be ran, first come first served that’s how it’s meant to work.

Inclusion day centre have recently started coming here with the people we support (who have Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities). Our guys absolutely love it there and the staff team at James’ Bistro couldn’t be more attentive and helpful. Nothing is too much trouble and our mess, noise and general chaos is welcomed with a smile. Many places could learn from these guys regarding inclusion. Thank you all and we’ll be regular visitors! 😁

Went here for the vegetarian breakfast and it was very good. Coffee and chai tea were also good. Staff very helpful and friendly. The decor is quirky with art you can buy on the walls. It's a nice independent cafe, and worth seeking out to get away from the more standardised offerings in the nearby shopping mall. Will go again if we're back in the locality.

Such a lovely place! It’s a welcoming and comfortable environment - the service and food was amazing

Great place off the beaten track. Good vibes

Fantastic little place to go for lunch. I went with 8 friends and we all had a brilliant time - the food was tremendous at a brilliant price.

Lovely service, food and place, would recommend for a nice breakfast or brunch. Will certainly be back again.

I held my birthday party in James's Bistro and I highly recommend James and staff and the venue. They produced a lovely finger buffet at a very reasonable price and their service was brilliant. We were able to bring in a dj and have live music as sound system available - and space to dance. Its such a lovely cafe too - I will definitely be visiting again 😊

I held my 70th birthday party in James's Bistro and I highly recommend James and staff and the venue. They produced a lovely finger buffet at a very reasonable price and their service was brilliant. We were able to bring in a dj and have live music as sound system available - and space to dance. Its such a lovely cafe too - I will definitely be visiting again 😊

We visited here because of all of the positive reviews online but sadly didn't have a great experience. The place was busy which I appreciate can delay things, but our food was nearly an hour wait. When it arrived, the food was nice. The service wasn't great. No one came to check on us during the hour wait (to offer more drinks or something), no apology for the delay and just missing some customer service basics.

The food was lovely and I liked the atmosphere but the wait was so long for the food, well over 1 hour for food. We discussed afterward that you would have to chose another place to eat if you didn't have a completely free scheduled afterwards. We did ask for extra hollandaise sauce but it never came and after waiting and holding out to eat, we decided we just had to get going or it would be freezing cold. I actually said to my partner when i asked for it, i dont reckon theyre going to bother getting us that 😂 and the sauce didn't come. The amount of hollandaise on the eggs benedict was so little and I'm not a fan of it drowning. I know this review sounds negative but the food was nice quality and I would really like to give it a go again maybe just a little change to the openess or attentiveness of staff, as I really felt I was a big bother asking for anything.

In need of a deep clean. Food OK. Staff a bit slow.

Super chilled independent cafe bistro. Food was tasty, we weren't brave enough to try the Flash Burger though, maybe next time!

Nice place with poor service. Staff didn't wear gloves when handling food. Holding plates with thumbs in the food. Soup was cold. General quality of food was not great and service very slow. Very disappointed

From the food,staff,decor to music...the whole place is a Vibe!

What a hidden Gem! Tucked away behind the hustle and bustle of the Highcross shopping centre is this charming bistro filled with beautiful artwork, soulful music and the aroma of delicious food. My wife is vegetarian and we struggle to find somewhere special to eat that can accommodate both of our needs without a 'token' vegan or vegetarian option. This was most definitely not the case here as the choices were as endless as they were delicious. Staff were friendly and accommodating and the chef even found time to come and ask if we were enjoying our meal. Not just a fantastic meal but a delightful experience. Very highly recommended!

Excellent pop-up vegan night at James's by FullaVibes. 😁

My second visit, this time had full english breakfast. An attractive independent venue in town centre.

Visited today with my sister for a late lunch. We really enjoyed it, could have stayed all afternoon. Interesting choice of music, lovely food. My new favourite place!

Great food slightly slow service as we were on a time limit but great place

Nice coffee, cool atmosphere, would return again 👍🏻

Wonderful. Great place to hang out, freshly made food and epic cocktails. Free table football. Gluten free and vegan menu options, plus Black pudding for me. Brilliant comedy and open mic nights. Unmissable.

I love this quirky cafe bistro. So glad it has reopened.

Really good experience of Really genial service staff, first class food, zen ambience, clean and comfortable seating and table, smooth eclectic music, boutique surroundings, suitable pricing. Very much a repeatable interlude.

Excellent food and service away from the hustle and bustle of the main city centre! Guaranteed to get a table even midday on a Saturday! Relaxing atmosphere, a place to chill out in!

cool spot ! I had breakfast which was good and “Real tea” in a pot! The atmosphere is relaxed, they play nice eclectic vibrant music. The service was 👍🏾. Also Free Wi-Fi !!!Only thing I can fault them is it was really cold then !

It's a beautiful place with wonderful food

Absolute hidden gem. Beautiful food, desserts, cocktails, the setting, the staff, independent. Truly fantastic

Great service and food, it would have been 5 if they were open on time ;). We will 100% go again, the pancakes were the best I’ve had in years.

First time using this place primarily for drinks with friends. Really liked it and will be back again for food next time. Great atmosphere and tucked away from the city centre hustle and bustle.

Amazing food, great atmosphere and music, friendly staff. We loved checking out the paintings and little shop featuring local artists.

Great breakfast and friendly staff too!

Never been before, looked great from outside, young lady on til very kind and hospitable. Couldn't have been nicer if she tried. Menu was, mediocre. The prices were high. I ordered a full English breakfast. Eggs came poached, the yolks were hard. Grilled tomatoes came in slices, not halved? Annoying. Cubes of seasoned potatoes were burnt. Sausages beautiful. Faultless. Bacon, nice but paper thin. I take huge pleasure in eating out. I always say it's the little things that make a difference. Keep it simple, don't stingy it up on portions and keep the price right.

This is one of my favourite places to eat in Leicester, and is an often overlooked 'hidden gem' in the city. It's secreted away in a side-street behind the highcross shopping centre and offers good food at good prices. Although, I'm only ever 'really there' for their delicious American Pancakes, with a variety of toppings available and Vegan options are available too (just like a lot of their other food items). It's run by good people and was loved so much by the locals, that when they were forced to close last year because of rent increases, there was a successful campaign to bring them back, like a phoenix from the flames.

This is a gem, great food, atmosphere and service. Beautifully decorated chilled vibe and seating. Also a great place to go to purchase local art and crafty stuff. Thank you James' bistro

Great place. Very atmospheric. Good open mic.

Brilliant atmosphere and the best American style pancakes I’ve tried anywhere in the UK.

I can't comment on the food as I only had a coffee, but it does look good. As for the Bistro itself, lovely relaxing atmosphere and great staff

Absolutely fantastic experience, can't fault a single thing. Amazing food, good price for the quality, good portion sizes, and really friendly staff. I will definitely return to try other things!

This is the bargain basement of bistros. A half breakfast that is bigger than a wetherspoons small one. Go for the food!

It's lovely here. So cosy, friendly and seeing so much art by local artists warms me straight through. Also love the opportunity to buy jewellery, art prints, handmade crafts while enjoying a lush cup of generously large tea. Win.

Enjoyed a very pleasant lunch here yesterday. Varied menu with some specials. Home cooked. Veggie and vegan options. Reasonably priced. Relaxed ambience. Would recommend.

We had the wrap party for our show here and the food was out of this world. Very generous portions all prepared to perfection. Everyone had a fantastic time and we all left in a full & jolly mood. You must check this place out. Slightly off the beaten track but a hidden Leicester gem worth seeking out.

Great place, love the music and art!

We went for a mid-week breakfast and it was a really nice chilled atmosphere and the food was fab! Also loved all the quirky decor and the little trinkets on sale

It was nice clean and friendly we enjoyed it

Great place to eat and hang out with friends!

Loved the food, the coffee, the establishment and the music 🤌🏼

I enjoyed everything about this place. The food was amazing, the atmosphere is lovely, and all of the staff are really friendly. For the quality of food, the pricing is really reasonable. I often find when I order pancakes at a place they taste heavy on the use of bicarb but these were perfect. Very filling! I will definitely be returning, there's so much I want to try. I also really like that all of the art work on the walls are from local artists and available for sale.

This place is an amazing find. What a treat to see a local arty style cafe. The decor is beautiful and you can even buy the art too! The staff was super friendly which for me being disabled and having a dog was essential that we felt welcome. Dog got a lovely bowl of water and se bacon too. I ordere some light snacks all came out fast, excellent presentation and super yummy. The cafe has many types of nights and deals I would make this a regular hang out spot if I lived locally.

Why this place isn’t rammed to the rafters all day, I don’t know. Good value, mega portions and clearly cooked to order. I’m ashamed I’ve never been in before to be honest. As for the music??? Sold

Great place to meet friends and family, Food is Amazing and Great value. Cocktails well can only say you need to try. Wonderful people.

Disappointing experience. Compared with other places in Leicester this is pricey, so we were hoping for excellent food. I had the half breakfast, was not expecting even the black pudding to be chopped in half. It was an end piece too, rubbery and chewy. Overall very unimpressed. Other people in the party didn't enjoy their food either; cold food, slow to arrive, and we left hungry. The waitress was polite and kind and we couldn't fault her but overall I don't think we will return. Edit: to the owner response - I agree, that's why it was even more disappointing. No-one in our group of 7 enjoyed their food or the overall experience. We regularly meet for brunch in Leicester and so have experienced cafes all over the town so I hope you will take on board the review rather than brushing it off.

Had breakfast here on a Saturday morning. We all had the full English, coffee and orange juice. Really tasty food, great service and lovely to be able to eat outside to sit.

So glad we decided to go out of our way to James' had the flash burger and mac n cheese to share it was very indulgent but excellent. Cocktails also very good, espresso martini and margarita! It was a Saturday night, wasn't too busy, which was nice the atmosphere was very cozy and chilled. Will return soon.

This is a hidden gem of a cafe with a lovely relaxed vibe. The menu is varied and suited to all so everyone should find something they like. Also in the cafè you can find art by 60+ local artists ranging from jewellery and cushions to paintings and pottery. A lovely place to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city centre and what's more is that it's an independent business so has that personal touch which the big chains don't have. I'd recommend checking the website for opening times before visiting as they're not open every day, but well worth a visit.

I had the Flash Burger and thoroughly enjoyed it. The unusual mix of ingredients worked surprisingly well. The decor of the bistro lends well to the friendliness of the staff.

Love the atmosphere of this place, an art gallery/craft shop cum cafe/restaurant. I went for lunch because it was where our Christmas party was going to be and I adored the location, the quality of the food and the atmosphere - a little oasis right next to the Highcross. So when it came to go for a Christmas Meal (Pre Plan B) I was pleasantly surprised, they had rearranged the whole venue into a restaurant setting, the food menu choices were so good, catering for all dietary requirements of our group, the cocktails were lush and the food was of outstanding quality, sometimes you feel like part of a conveyor belt for the ‘office party’ when it comes to food but it was honestly five star quality, I loved every mouthful. Would definitely recommend.

Good variety, friendly staff, relaxed atmosphere, great hot chocolates

Lovely, quirky café round the back of Highcross. Lots of space and there are also gifts to buy. Prices are good, we had a big pot of tea for 2 and it was only £2.00 ☕👌🏼

Best place in Leicester! Run by lovely people and delicious food and some incredible art and crafts to buy from Leicester's finest independent artists and creators. THE BEST PANCAKES IN LEICESTER.

Possibly the best veggie Breakfast available in #leicester A warm welcome as you arrive.. cool and eclectic music playing and incorporating the wears of local artists. @jamescafebistro is as cool on the inside as it is on approach. The Vegetarian breakfast was sensational.. Hints of garlic in the mushrooms Home grown rosemary in the potatoes and vegan Black pudding with Beans in a container if you need it.. The flavours and quality of produce outstanding. A reasonable but not extended wait for the food in wonderful surroundings.. Great food wonderful service fabulous environment Joint First favourite breakfast spot #simoneats #vegetarianfood #Vegetarianjourney #brunch #leicestercoffeehouse #leicester #leicesterbrunch #leicestereating @coolasleicester recommendation thankyou

Great food and atmosphere, service a little slow, but were short staffed.

I happened to find this cafe/bistro by accident today, whilst shopping with my mum and 3 year old daughter. What a find, it was great! Really lovely vibe with great artwork inside, some available to buy too. They had a great soundtrack playing and I had the best Spanish omelette I've ever had! Great portion sizes and the food we all had was delicious - another lovely touch was that my daughter was given a free lolly for Halloween season. The lady who served us was lovely and we will certainly be back again, thanks :)

Reminds me of the cafe that was in the Silver Arcade before it got its soul ripped out. Great burgers Do try this place out

My second visit there and there will be more if oppertunity comes up

Lovely food, beautifully prepared and presented.

Lovely place friendly staff and good food. Be prepared to wait for freshly made food though.

Independent comfy trendy spot with great music, art and food.

This is a recently discovered gem tucked away on East Bond Street behind the Highcross, it's quirky, arty and the staff are delightful and friendly, my Cajun Chicken and slaw Ciabatta was delish as well as very very filling, will be going again and bringing pals

What a hidden GEM! Just had my first vegan breakfast here which was lovely! Really nice place with very friendly staff. Will definitely be coming here again!

Lovely arty cafe. Great service comfy seating inside and out. Love their peanut butter cookies. Friendly atmosphere. We'll worth a visit.

The best Rocky Roll Cake ever. Absolutely loved that. Thank you x

Best place to eat ever,relaxed kid friendly and great food.

I’ve been meaning to write a review of this place for some time...tucked away behind the shopping centre, I and my family come back here every time we visit Leicester town centre. It’s a cosy and friendly little place where you can get a great cuppa (my mum can vouch) or a good coffee. We’ve had fabulous breakfasts, light lunches and delicious late afternoon meals (the carbonara is a particular favourite) all beautifully cooked with good ingredients. The service is very friendly, the chef is really good and although we have waited a little while for our food on one or two occasions, the wait has never been excessive and it’s because it is cooked to order and arrives piping hot. The decor is eclectic and they support local artists with art for purchase on the walls and other bits and pieces for sale, if you like a browse as you wait. Highly recommended.

In my humble opinion, this is the best quality pound-for-pound restaurant in Leicester. With James' unique menu, served amongst authentic and tasteful artistic decor with a relaxed atmosphere, there is nowhere the same as this charming little eatery. Delightful creativity, glorious flavours and generous portions abound, at very reasonable prices. Friendly, accommodating staff and a central, but quaint and quiet, location put the proverbial cherry on the top. My favourite place to eat.

Really nice place, great food and really friendly service. Will definitely be going again.

Fantastic food and service! Would 100% recommend 👌🏽

I meet here often with my friends, we’ve never had a bad visit. The food is amazing, the staff are very friendly, and always helpful when dealing with allergies or picky eating. I visited recently for the first time since lockdown was lifted, and we were made to feel very safe, it was very airy with lots of space between tables, and table service to avoid having to walk round too much.

Popped in yesterday to meet a friend and stayed for 2 hours! It's a lovely, cosy and humble cafe. Started with coffee, very tasty! I then had spinach benedict and my friend had the blueberry pancakes, both absolutely delicious and really fresh. You definitely get your moneys worth on the portion sizes. Very friendly, and greeted at the door, social distancing in place and it's a big space so felt totally comfortable. It also has wonderful local art on the walls, bespoke handmade products, which is perfect for gifts! Maybe my new favourite place in Leicester! Thank you looking forward to my next visit!

Such a lovely place. The staff were so friendly and accommodating. I went here with my family for my 18th and they even gave me a free brownie with a candle in it which was such a sweet touch. We all loved looking around at the artwork and jewellery for sale in the shop too. Will 100% come again if we’re in the area. Thank you!

My name is James so I give it 5 stars

just had the Cajun Chicken Burger its a 10 really really Good 👍