Johns Delicatessen Instow in North Devon

A high quality establishment with quality and coordinated decor matched by friendly and helpful staff. Family of 5 and dog were well accommodated for refreshments and cakes. Seriously nice coffee and delicious cake. Would definitely visit again :)

A lovely place to visit when on our annual holiday to North Devon. My decaf latte was one of the best I’ve ever tasted. Pedant that I am though, we always question and guffaw over the missing apostrophe in “Johns”. Found two other apostrophe errors on other signage too. Please tell me I’m not the only person to notice this…! :-)

The food is consistently good as are the beverages! My Venezuelan chocolate was gorgeous. I was taken ill, and the staff were so helpful. Thanks x

So expensive for an average baguette. There are so many other little cafes further down the Tarka trail which are so much better.

Great shop in Instow and cafe. I love to buy their tarts, pasties and desserts. The steak pasty and cheese and onion are delicious. I have noticed though that the pasties are smaller than they used to be and the pastry much thicker, too much. But disappointed, probably won’t recommend those. I do love the quiches and particularly the walnut Stilton and broccoli tart.

On a recent visit to meet a friend for coffee, my first impression was ...so many dogs....you could smell dog and hear dogs ... constant barking... This is not very relaxing and does not make for an enjoyable place to eat food. It was a very disappointing experience and will not be returning.

My family and I decided to have a light lunch out and visited John's Cafe as it was nearby. We arrived and we were served by very friendly staff. As we waited, the cafe started to get busy and everyone that came into the cafe had dogs. Some of the dogs were wet and smelly as they had obviously been on the beach fir a walk. My sister is allergic to dogs but they were all around us, close by. So, if you want to eat lunch away from dogs, give the cafe a miss. The food was nice, as were the staff though.

Stopped off for breakfast after a walk and had the eggs benedict with bacon. Served promptly with a lovely mug of tea while i waited a short time for my breakfast to arrive and it didn't disappoint, arrived nice and hot and was very tasty. Going back for brunch very soon

Had the Full English Breakfast with partner. Bacon,Sausage X2,Cherry tomatoes stalk,fried egg,large mushroom,toast. Very filling,tasted lovely,tomatoes lovely and sweet Cost £11, I thought good value. Also had very nice cups of black Americano coffee which went down very well as weather was so wet and cold outside,warmed the bones. Service with a smile and nice chit chat,plus food came very prompt. Thank you John's Instow

Coffee was cold. They Charge 60p more for them to take the cakes out of a plastic tub and put on a plate if sitting in. Orders made after ours were being handed out sooner so when I suggested the children will be fine to not have a plate and keep the cakes in the tub the staff said well it’s table service so I should suggest you don’t come here again! Abit harsh considering the service was taking so long!!

Whenever we are in the area on holiday we always head to John's for eating in but also to stock up up for one of our holiday cottage stays. Everyone is so friendly and helpful there and the menu and shop are packed with well chosen, high quality treats. We've had family illness of late and not been able to visit as much as we'd like. Paula arranged for a much needed supply of their excellent chocolate brownies to be posted to us. You really do need to try the brownies to appreciate how fantastic they are! Looking forward to returning in 2024. Many thanks

A lovely location and vibe - been here many times but today's visit was very poor! We ordered a sharing fish board but it was a long time before someone told us one of the main parts had run out - the substitute fish was just not the same - for £25 you expect it to be spot on! We had to change orders - my partner had a crab baguette. It was hard and very chewy and she couldn't eat it - we've had better in Greggs! She complained and it was reduced by 50% - fair enough but again, at £13 it should be excellent? I had the steak pasty, really nice but it must be the smallest I've ever had - again really expensive and just not worth it. Nice place but very over priced and slipping standards....

Visited for lunch. We had the soups of the day, Tomato & Roasted Garlic,Curried Coconut,Cauliflower with a half Cheese & Ham toastie each. Both soups,toasties very tasty and filling. Thought meal was good value and would recommend their soups. Staff very welcoming and attractive during our visit. Thank you

Stopped here for a break and stayed for bruch. The service was swift and efficient. The food was fresh and very tasty. The restaurant is on the waterfront.

Came in this week for a take away coffee and cake, despite it not being busy and no queue, it took over 20 minutes for coffees to be served. Staff chatting amongst themselves whilst we were waiting. This isn’t the first time I’ve experienced extremely slow service in Johns. For the price you pay in Johns, the service unfortunately does not match.

Ordered coffee and cakes. We had finished drinks and cakes still hadn't arrived even though they just needed putting on a plate. We cancelled them. When we went to pay the lady handed us the card payment machine and turned her back on us. Very rude. Really expensive drinks and cakes too.

very good food and excellent service. i completely recommend it to anyone on holiday or nearby. there is also plant based food which is a healthy option to anyone. the shop next to it attracts people in the cafe and walking near. lots of food and drinks etc to choose from! very good cafe and shop.

We were waiting for the ferry and the weather was magnificent so stopped by the Johns outlet for a sandwich. I was disappointed by the lack of value for money. Left with a lighter wallet and hungry.

Would definitely recommend this cafe/delicatessen shop. We had a lovely tasty breakfast. I had breakfast bap consisting of egg, bacon, sausage & choice of toasted bread. My husband had the full breakfast. My daughter had chocolate croissants (2) came with butter & jam. We also had nice Americano coffee, green delicious smoothie & coco/caramel milkshake. Staff were lovely. Nice relaxed atmosphere. Dog friendly. Also its a delicatessen & sells pastries etc.

Unfortunately, my experience wasn't great. Johns closes at 17.30 and I walked through the doors with my baby at 17:15 only to be made to feel like I shouldn't be there. The young lady (blonde, around 18 years old) huffed when I came to the till with a handful of deli items. I actually had to ask if they were still open because that's the energy that came across. I felt rushed, there was no eye contact or chat, I tried to make light of the awkwardness I felt but she never cracked a smile. John's isn't cheap, I spent about £30 on different deli products. In 1 arm I had my baby and the other I was balancing salami, cheeses, olives etc yet I was never offered a bag!!! So strange. She immediately walked away once I was served without a 'thank you or bye'. I left feeling deflated as I really like to support the locals. On this occasion I wish I had shopped else where. Disappointing.

My friend and I chanced upon Johns food stand on the pier at Instow. We ordered the “Pier Dog”and what a dog it was. The brioche roll held together an admirable portion of sauerkraut, crispy onions , Ukrainian dressing and a genuinely great Bratwurst sausage. Top marks all round and worth a visit for food lovers.

This was one of the first places we went when we got to Bideford the selection of fresh and local produce was very nice could spend a fortune in here if I lived locally

The food was exceptional, so tasty and nicely presented. The table however was SO sticky. I asked for it to be wiped but this did not solve the problem. The varnish/finish is clearly not fit for purpose. Another couple sitting close by said the tables have been sticky for many years. Why let yourselves down by not sanding the tables and sorting the problem. It totally put me off from returning. Shame as it is a quality place and top dollar prices with ghastly tables. Sort them as a matter of urgency.

Wedding picnic for the beach. Absolutely fabulous. I only wish we had taken photos. From start to finish the attention to getting it right was amazing. We chose with Anthony the food to go in each one and nothing was too much trouble. On the day we were lucky with the weather but the picnic would have been amazing whatever the weather. They also found a cake supplier and that was truly fantastic as well. A huge thank you to Anthony and the team. Gerald and Anne

Called in today with friends. Wonderful toasties with ham, cheese and chilli. Wonderful banana milkshake. Cakes looked amazing and wish i could have tasted a piece - alas i would have needed to cycle further to burn off the calories! Hope to be back another day and take a piece home to try. Table service. I thought expensive but i guess not compared to other cafes/bistro's. Clean tables with friendly service.

Lovely little place which was very dog friendly and welcoming. The staff were attentive and the food was delicious if a little on the expensive side at around £12 for a toasted sandwich and almost £4 for a slice of cake. Nevertheless it was a pleasant place for a light lunch and the deli counter was amazing!

Fantastic service and wonderful food/drinks. Lovely atmosphere and it’s kept clean and tidy with plenty of choice on the menu. :)

First, nice but expensive coffee £3.60 I refuse to pay £4 for a croissant or £5.50 for a bacon roll, so cannot comment on the quality The issue is the layout. They used to have a sit-in area about 2/3 years ago on my last...

Sadly they charged £4 for a croissant to sit in. Robbery in daylight especially in the current economic climate.

Hier gibt es alles, was man braucht um gut zu essen und zu trinken. Und noch mehr. Ob man/Frau vor...

We love buying local produce when in the area . You walk in and want to buy everything! Delicious cakes , scotch eggs , cheese & deli items are our faves . Good choice of beers & local spirits too .

We went to Johns with our dog while we were on holiday in Devon . It’s a really great cafe with attached deli and definitely worth a visit . The staff are very friendly and the food is very British and very delicious , I...

Looking forward to a rare breakfast out. However, the quality and value for money did not match our expectations. Staff were friendly, helpful and attentive. The plate contained 2 small pots of butter and sauce thus taking up room on the plate. The biggest let...

Whilst walking around Instow we came across John’s. We’d already had brunch but as the window display looked so interesting,decided to check out their Deli. Oh my goodness what a fantastic Deli. It is like an Aladdins cave of deliciousness. Never did we expect to...

Stoped here for a coffee and cake after a work meeting. What a gorgeous place. So many cake choices including several Gluten free options which I need (and are usually hard to find). And lovely coffee. Staff were so friendly and helpful. And the views...

We called in for coffee on a sunny midweek lunchtime in late January. Johns was very busy during our visit, and we volunteered to move tables so they could accommodate another family. The coffee was good, and we would call in again when next in...

Very disappointed with the restaurant, my partner being vegan order the super green Rueben, confirming it is a vegan dish. When the meal came, checked again three times the sides were vegan. Only the third time did they admit it wasn’t vegan. They apologised, but...

We stopped off in Johns cafe for a pit stop as we were cycling the Tarka Trail. Ended up having a full English breakfast with a pot of tea & coffee. It was delicious. The staff were very friendly & we will definitely be back...

Went with a friend and had lovely red velvet cake and Sicilian lemonade, the cafe was amazing and the staff where even better. Definitely worth a visit if your in the area, even better when we found out they do platter to take home for...

On two occasions in the last month during visits, a single hot drink has taken in excess of 15 minutes, despite minimal queue or other orders drinks going out during this time. Staff appear to have no urgency, chatting amongst selves. Other customers also voicing...

We cycle here a couple of times a year just to pick up the crab baguettes. Awesome! its just off the Tarka trail and easy to find. Right next to the beach...Oh and the coffee's good too!

We came here yesterday 16.11.2022 to celebrate a colleagues last day at work as she was retiring; we had a lovely time; the staff were friendly and accommodating. The food was freshly made to order and was delicious. The variety on the menu is good...

We stumbled across this place while cycling the tarka trail, Oh My !!! we had a sharing platter of sandwiches and quiche, scotch eggs etc, it was amazing, couldn't leave without buying ga thing or to in the wonderfully stocked deli/gift shop. AMAZING place.

Popped in to escape the rain. Discovered a well stocked Deli and cafe. Lemon Drizzle and Caramel cake full of flavour. Washed down with a lovely cup of tea. I wish I lived nearer would be a regular customer.

Amazing vegan food to eat in - empty plates all round and such friendly staff too. A real joy to eat here

ourparty of 4 adults, 3 children and 3 dogs were well catered for (gluten free and dairy free options) and well looked after, in sharp contrast to our later visit to John's of Appledore. This was a small but proper restaurant. Very good.

Looking for a takeout lunch, this place looked delightful. The chalk board outside advertised bacon and sausage baguettes £4.50 for loyalty card holders! Once inside I was told they stopped serving those at 1.00 pm. WHY??? I had to choose something in a hurry and...

Ate here today. I have never been tempted to write a negative review of anywhere before, but I thought this cafe was very poor, and expensive into the bargain. I had the leek tortilla, which was a small slice with some mixed salad (couple of...

John’s is a lovely little deli/shop but I’m sorry to say that my latte was awful.. I couldn’t even drink it. Nice slice of cake but extremely small portion for over £3 a slice. I would have said about my coffee but I took it...

Cycled from Torrington to Instow in the TARKA TRAIL- stopped for a bite to eat, I could not fault the food - excellent portions and very tasty food. Staff were helpful , courteous .

Second or third time visit. Staff are always polite and affable. I had the devon steak pastie which was superb

What a fantastic place. Fresh local food on the deli and fresh produce. Lovely groceries, wines, beers and gift ideas. There is so much to choose from. Also has a cafe. Great service and friendly staff. Would highly recommend. They also have a shop in...

I looked around the shop before I sat down, they gave a great range of local produce, also on the deli. I had a bacon sandwich and a coffee, both were excellent, I also bought a ham baguette for later. My dog and I were...

Lovely place, great service and brilliant food. It was deservedly quite busy but well worth a small wait

Been to John's in both Appledore abd Instow many times as a local person, called in with my mum for a quick light lunch. Sat down and absolutely amazed by the process for some of the lunches. Understanding the cost of most things has gone...

This is a lovely coffee shop and deli selling a wide variety of local and artisan produce. We had a cream tea in the coffee shop which was wonderful. Both the tea and coffee were superb, The scones were warm and huge. The staff were...

Went along at 9am to buy bread/ rolls for breakfast and told their delivery was late. Was offered a fresh loaf ( from yesterday) which in reality would only have been suitable for the foundation of a wall.. not good enough! Previously bough essentials during...

Amazing selection of picnic food - which is what we were looking for. We chose the Quintessential Picnic Box - ordered at breakfast and collected later in the afternoon. It was really excellent and came with chutney and eating irons. Staff were friendly and helpful....

Lovely cafe in the deli. Great family lunch, toasties, pasties and crab sandwiches. Lovely selection of cakes and other deli goodies. The cream tea also looked very good.

It’s in a fabulous spot but don’t ask for a £9 crab roll. Dry bread, small amount of crab, never again. The other food may be better but I wont be trying it.

Pasty all pastry and poor amount of Meat,Crab roll flavourless and very,very expensive, Had to ask for service,I will go to their Cabin next time [near the ferry] better prices and better service

Went for lunch ,bit expensive but well worth it,great selection of food and Delhi ,good service would recommend a visit

Visited Johns of Instow twice last week whilst staying in the area. Eaten in both times and didn’t disappoint. Everything fresh and tasty the staff couldn’t be more helpful and friendly. Shopping was a lovely experience almost to much to choose, wonderful breads, cheeses meats...

Went for a drink with the dogs and was so lovely! Everyone was really nice and very attentive. We bought some food to take home which was brilliant, such a great place! Would recommend!

What a shame! Had two lovely coffees here then decided to buy various items from the shop. When paying the lady on the counter made us feel as if we were a nuisance as she would rather talk to her colleagues. No thank you and...

The food may seem quite expensive but once bought is delicious. Have visited both appledore and instow many time and have not been let down. From chicken, bacon and leek pie to vegan coco caramel milkshake, have not been let down. Love the local side,...

The young lad in the ice cream hut was so extremely bubbly and happy to serve me. The ice- cream was incredible and he was extremely polite. I will definitely be recommending to friends back home.

Popped in for coffee while on the coastal walk. Initially thought my latte was a bit expensive at £3.60, but it was excellent. So I had no quibble at paying the price. Had a breakfast while I was there, which again was very good. Nice...

On holiday and with a family birthday to celebrate I asked Johns if they could help with food for an evening meal. Their suggestions fitted well with what I was looking for and they were able to help despite being quite short notice. We had...

I understand that we have inflation and this is a business, but £3 for a small takeaway tea …..!! I’ll bring my flask next time.

John's does delicious pastries and bread and has a wonderful array of pickles, chutneys and relishes. The garlic mayonnaise and black garlic pickle is outstanding. We will definitely be back when next in instow. A must visit shop

Picked up a couple of cakes this morning for a little tiffin and they were delicious. There is so much local produce on offer in here it was hard to know where to look and the only reason they don't get a 5 is because...

This place has seriously gone downhill! Extremely expensive for tiny portions. Awful service, clearly lots of untrained staff. They served the takeaway people instead of the customers in the cafe, so all the tables sat and waited for ages. One of the waitresses even told...

Stood for a while waiting to be served next to the till; didn’t get acknowledged. It’s hardly difficult to say ‘hi there, won’t be a moment’. Apparently you have to stand smack bang in front of the till to become visible.

What a disappointment. We were visiting family and thought we’d support a local business. The place was absolute chaos inside. Lots of staff wondering about but only one making hot drinks. Half the food wasn’t priced either but we grabbed some sausage rolls and waited...

The waiting staff were very unhelpful and off hand to the point of rude. There is only one toilet which was filthy and you need a key for it which obviously wasn’t sanitised between customers! The menu was very limited and they have no idea...

We have rented a house around the corner. They shop/ deli, has all the things you would want. Some of it is the run of the mill that you might need. Then there is the local produce. Some of it is special- yet pricey. I...

I have previously reviewed Johns of Instow and given 5 stars for food and service and am a frequent visitor to the cafe. However I visited today with my husband for breakfast of bacon sandwiches and coffee. Really disappointed when the sandwiches arrived to find...

We had Afternoon Tea for two. What we had was lovely, especially the sandwiches - ham on white batch bread with plenty of beautiful butter and brie with sweet chutney; the bread was so fresh, with a good crust. I was surprised there weren't any...

Great deli with a wide choice of fancy food items as well as cheeses, meats, pies, fruits. Good espresso and hot chocolate.

Expensive but quality. Their coffee was worth purchasing as was their cheese but as I say you are going to feel the payment.

Visited for breakfast before commencing another leg of the SWCP. Really good quality food and reasonable value for money for what you were served. Not the cheapest if you were just looking for a bacon sandwich and what they serve is more comprehensive and upmarket,...

I went to Johns Deli for a takeaway coffee and I had an absolutely lovely experience. The coffee itself was absolutely delicious and the two members of staff that we spoke with at the cafe counter were extremely lovely. In particular, the barista who made...

I accept that’s it’s limited menu in January but why not put up a board of what sandwiches you are doing ?To be told ,”I might have ham ?or I might have cheese ? Oh I don’t know if we have pickle ?(this is a...

2 yrs ago I wrote a review on here about a sandwich I'd purchased for lunch from Johns in Appledore that was rock hard and lacking. This time we went to Instow Johns and needed sustenance before walking he dog on the beach (a great...

After a long drive down we decided to stop in Instow and revisit 'Johns of Instow' where had previously experienced good service. Unfortunately this experience was not repeated. My Wife fancied a Hot Chocolate so we went in and ordered one each. The assistant (ginger...

We live locally to John’s and shop there regularly but lunching in the cafe os a treat. Today we decided not too many tourists around so would stop for lunch as we can always take our Yorkie in with us. We both chose the Christmas...

If there is ever a cake, scone or jam apocalypse then John’s will make it through unscathed. It’s tea room heaven, but has a bizarre lack of seating and (on the day we went) chaotic service. But in a very middle class smiley we-are-going-to-get-through-this sort...

Booked for Breakfast on Friday morning. Confirmed they had the booking but table wasn’t ready. Both ordered the full English to be advised they were “out of sausages”! I suggested that they substituted with baked beans to be told “we don’t do baked beans” Tempted...

What a lovely find! Was in Instow and saw this lovely little place and stopped for breakfast. Really nice food and proper tea with leaves! Served by the delightful Darcy who was very friendly and smiley. 😊 The deli and shop are like an Aladdin's...

This deli is great, they have everything from milk to cannoli, scotch eggs to pasties, crab to pickle. There is a cafe with cakes etc too.

The food was outstanding and the staff where fantastic and friendly ,I would recommended the breakfast ,

Disorganised and grumpy Coffee girl banging away on the knock box which was totally unnecessary Ordered a clean green smoothie which they made with coconut milk!!!!!! An absolute no no! Smoothies are made with apple juice plus the Other ingredients! It was awful Threw it...

We've just returned from spending a week in Clovelly and we visited Instow beach to take our dogs for a walk. At the end of the beach we discovered John's Deli and it soon became our favourite holiday destination! We enjoyed great coffee and an...

Had a really wonderful visit today, their staff are friendly and helpful you could feel the smile from behind the masks. Food was wonderful, thank you.

Really wonderful food and good service make sure you eat nothing before trying this also the milkshakes boy is this really lovely.

Quality tea pigs used but not allowed to brew and too much milk added to soon Coffee very weak too large takeaway cup used or maybe it should be 2 shots of coffee, very disappointed didn't complain when I seen how another customer was being...

Whether you want to eat in, have a take out or buy some lovely fresh and local food this is your place ! They have an icecream hut by the beach too and a coffee shed by the ferry. Over the river is another John's...

Very nice food/drink. Good friendly staff and good service. Price wise it’s not cheap but it’s worth the money. Location is on the beach front, not much parking.

Best carrot cake I’ve eaten! Not much seating so had to take away. Delightful deli shop selling a varied range of quality goods.