Leonora's Kitchen in Canterbury

Had a decent bacon sandwich here which is increasingly hard to find these days! I asked for ketchup and was given a generously sized pot of it at no extra charge. Water was also given without being asked, which was very much appreciated. The staff here were welcoming and attentive. A place I'd return to support :)

This cafe is a Social Enterprise. You pay what you feel your food/drinks are worth. I was a bit uncomfortable with this as I did want to short change them. However, the cafe operates a Pay Forward scheme for those in need so I used this for guidance plus a good tip on top. The food is good and varied. I will support this project in the future. Well done all.

My first visit, different concept. Very enjoyable.

I went with a good mood to take a Coffee to start my day well. But guess what the moment i entered this shop immediately ruined my day i don't know where to start from... The place was very dirty, Staff was very rude and had a very bad attitude.. The Staff was very slow and not able to be helpful at all...the coffee tasted more like water than a strong proper coffee... i also have to mansion that is very overpriced shop even for todays generation... I am so sorry and disappointed that i will never ever be returning back...(a small advice if you don't want your day ruined just don't even think on stepping on this disgusting shop)

Wonderful place. I love the concept. So friendly, too.

Absolute highlight of our weekend in Canterbury! Lovely cake and such a perfect atmosphere sat outside in the sun with tea and cake. 100% will return again!

Found this place when looking for lunch - had very good toasted sandwiches and the coffee was lovely. Very friendly vibe, completely recommend 👍

Some of the best scones I have had since being here in London. Top notch! You can also donate a drink or meal to someone in need at this place

Super welcoming and friendly. Lovely homemade cakes

Great place and great staff! Very peaceful.

What a wonderfully quirky little gem of a cafe. I spent a very relaxing couple of hours here with my good friend, catching up on life. The staff are warm and friendly and the quality of food and drink is high. So refreshing to be welcomed and encouraged to spend time. I encourage anyone to seek this place out and experience the atmosphere. If you can there is a pay it forward scheme which is a lovely idea. I look forward to a return visit 🙂.

First time visiting this morning.. Will definitely return. Lovely service, friendly calming atmosphere 100% recommended

Recently visited the great cafe with my daughter's dog Max- who received a warm welcome! The food was excellent and staff very friendly. Even after a long time walking around Canterbury Max the dog found his way back to the cafe and we had a afternoon snack and coffee- thank you for such a great welcome!

Friendly staff, great cause and vegan options available. Banging coffee too.

Want to say a massive THANK YOU to the team at Lily's for catering our event last week. The sandwiches were so fresh and had generous portions of delicious filling, the cakes were absolutely gorgeous and also generous in size. Great service from a fantastic social organisation 👏👏

Met the lovely Nina today whilst drinking a latte. We loved the fact that by buying coffee here we were helping out and we love the pay it foward scheme where by you can buy somebody, who needs it, a hot meal.

Great place to stop for lovely food and drinks. We had pumpkin soup, quiche and lattes and it was brilliant. The staff were great with happy with there work. Very helpful. Go in and give it a go and you will love it too.

Great little cafe with a "community" theme to it, right up my street. Couldnt fault the grub or the srvice. Will definitely visit again

One of my favourite cafes in Canterbury. Always friendly and welcoming. I never feel like an outcast here. They serve a tasty selection of food and drinks. I highly recommend dining here.

Had lunch with a friend here. Menu brief but good and sandwich was tasty. Mix up with drinks but sorted easily. Will return!

Nice place for an afternoon tea!

Brilliant cafe, friendly staff and superb food, cakes were excellent, very dog friendly

Friendly service, good portions of cake🍰

Beautiful cafe, with amazing staff! You can also donate £5 for next person in need ☺️

absolutely wonderful Concept and great coffee Break Place! We ordered some refreshing drinks which were exactly what we need on a hot summer day! Drinks were yummy and the staff so so nice. Plus you can pay forward a meal for someone in need, so if you have a spare few quid you can help others :)

Very good food and lovely people

Lovely café food, cakes and teas. Very friendly staff and such a great way to help the community!

It was kind of funny I was asked to pay in advance I said I wanted to pay at the end, but they made me feel like a criminal and quite rudely kept asking me to pay. That was my first and last visit.

I visited as a welcome break from my Christmas shopping. The premises is spacy and nicely decorated with welcoming staff and a nice menu. I had eaten already, so only stopped for a latte, but the drink was great and I really liked reading about the great work they do there. Will return again for more than a coffee next time!

Food is good and service is great if a little quirky. The whole enterprise is not for profit and offering opportunity to ' the overlooked' and i feel deserves your support.

Cute shop with kind staff and great prices. Highly recommend.

Take away coffee and sandwiches yesterday lunchtime. Delicious, good value from a cafe with a brilliant, socially responsible approach.

Fantastic home made quiche and salad plus a bottle of local beer for less than £9. Best of all was the great service. Our attentive waitress highly recommended the cakes, so I look forward to enjoying a piece next time I'm in Canterbury.

Excellent food and service this is our favourite place to eat in Canterbury

Lily’s is lovely! We were drawn in by the ethics of the social enterprise and volunteer aspect and we were so pleased to stop by! Warm and wonderful service... you can see the volunteers at the front of house really care about creating a hospitable environment... super friendly and keen for you to have a welcoming experience. We had cold drinks and a sausage sandwich- all for just over a fiver. Brilliant value and brilliant service. Also love you can “pay it forward” by paying for a meal for a vulnerable/homeless person. Proper community. Love your ethics and service Lilly’s- well done!!

A great cup of coffee...excellent infact!

Haven't had the pleasure of visiting the cafe itself but have ordered the quiches via Open Food Network and they're the best I've ever tried, can't wait to pop in some time!

Lovely place - had the quiche and the bulgur salad, cake and coffee. All very good quality. Great value and friendly attentive service. Highly recommended!

Amazing afternoon tea with savouries! So impressed with Lily’s Bistro, every piece of food was so nice and professionally presented with some nice little touches. Everything was delicious and fresh. Really friendly staff who are quick to respond to emails whilst being very accommodating with dietary requirements etc. Would recommend 100% and I’ll definitely be ordering again. Congratulations guys, what a fantastic social initiative, you should all be very proud 👏

Lovely staff make the difference here. Enjoyed our coffee and homemade cake too.

Good service and a lovely pot of tea

Amazing food, fresh, delicious and just brilliant. Service was friendly and welcoming. Loved our meal and will definitely return and rave to all about Lilly's Bistro 😄

Great place to have a light lunch or vegan cakes. Lovely outdoor sitting and very helpful service.

Lovely place and very affordable! Would highly recommend!!

Great to find somewhere still open today serving a hot lunch. A cheerful friendly welcome on a grey and miserable day. Turkey and veg stew with home made bread. Thank you - and good luck in the coming months.

Lovely food, happy helpful staff 😊

The best hot chocolate and coffee ive ever had

Love this place. Do events for kids

So glad we chose this place for lunch. The food was delicious, the atmosphere was cozy and welcoming, the staff was super nice and accommodating and it's a socially conscious place of business. Perfect choice!

Nice breakfast, friendly staff and good for the community.

I love this place. The setting, it's ethics (regarding community engagement, it's charity work, reducing food waste) and the variety of food available too. It is excellent for veggies and vegans. I love to come here for breakfast in particular; the bubble and squeak is delicious. It's a very comfortable place to have a meal and hang out with friends. They put on a lot of events as well and I'm hoping to attend one soon.

Yummy food, great customer service, and you know that when you're eating there you are supporting local people and business. Would highly recommend!

Really good cause, fresh and homemade food, cheap, Zoe and all the staff members are lovely 😊

Great food! Banging sandwiches and cracking coffee. Came with a friend and had the gourmet sandwich that had beef and gravy. Had some cake for pudding and oh my word they were fresh and fluffy. Definitely found my new regular spot for lunch. Super excited about all their plans for the future with how they work with the community. Go Lilys WOOOOO!!!

We popped in for half hour and can hands down say they sell the best hot chocolate in Canterbury. What a golden nugget. They will certainly see us again.

Very good coffee and cakes. This is a social cafe so we were happy to accept a slow service. Keep up the good work.

Nice and cosy place, great food, friendly staff and very good social cause!

Pre school cooking....decorating gingerbread men...stars....tree. great fun!!

Great food and staff, a community based restaurant which helps others with disadvantages in life by providing them training and work, a must visit!

Fabulous ethically run cafe. Wonderful friendly staff and a great atmosphere. Love it!

Love that this social cafe gives back to the community.

One of the best breakfasts I've had for the price in a while!!! Highly recommended

Fantastic food and a fantastic ethos.

Lovely staff, a great atmosphere and they have delightful cakes. Definitely recommend to anyone.

Lovely family run business, food is great, staff are lovely. One all should try when visiting Canterbury

This is fantastic for breakfast and afternoon tea

Delicious Home made cakes and a wonderful place for afternoon tea. Friendly staff and a great addition to Canterbury.

Friendly service and delightful surroundings. Greatly appreciated the separate vegan menu and would highly recommend the imaginative food.

Good was ok, but service was slow. Quite a small venue but in good location.

Nice little place for tea, coffee and cakes. I think they do cocktails as well. There was plenty of sitting space. Few seats outside as well. Good variety of cakes. Staff was helpful as well.

Fantastic coffee and cake. Would definitely recommend to anyone.

Caminando con mi hija, mi nieta y cochecito cuando se puso a llover, pero tan feliz la comida estaba recién hecho y delicioso incluso tenían juguetes para divertir a mi nieta muy atento, gente agradable poco fuera de las principales calles. Que bajar de la Kings milla vale la pena

Haben hier zur Mittagszeit ein Sandwich gegessen, das frisch zubereitet wurde, belegt nach den Wünschen des Gastes. Gut gemacht und sehr lecker.

Het was even zoeken naar de zaak maar toch gevonden, lekker weg van de toeristische drukte is het hier lekker rustig. Bediening en sfeer zijn no nonsens maar gezellig. Leonara is een gezellige dame, je waant je precies thuis bij moeder in de keuken. Eten was lekker maar onze champignons waren iets teveel gebakken, het fruitsap lekker fris en dikke snede toast was heerlijk. Chai Tea gedronken die lekker kruidig was. Bij het ontbijt jam gevraagd en niet hoeven bij te betalen. Wat een beetje vreemd is, is de kerstverlichting midden in de zomer en het toilet zit in de keuken.

Great place...You can sit in parlour at front of back in kitchen. Food is always is very good. Good for brunch and vegetarian. Cakes. As the food is fresh occasional all used up but lots of choice. Well recommended

Afternoon high tea was fabulous and the staff were very helpful. Such a lovely cosy atmosphere a real treasure

Really nice place, although the service can be a little slow.....great breakfast and fantastic tea....overall a good independent place and worth a visit.

Encontré por casualidad cuando Leonora's pasando por delante! Estoy tan contenta de haberlo hecho! Paramos para tomar un café y un bollo cada una. Realmente nos impresionó. Dos zonas de asientos, al frente cerca de la ventana o en la parte trasera al lado de la cocina. Nos sentamos en la parte de atrás observando la pasaba en el lote - miré al lado de bollos frescos. Enorme, con bollos frescos para repetir de crema y mermelada. Menús de desayuno y almuerzo parecía encantador y sin duda volveremos a probar estas dentro de un par de semanas! Buena relación calidad-precio, personal amable - tan encantador para respaldar un trader independiente.

Qué lugar sencillo! En una calle tranquila en el encantador Canterbury. Me dieron un desayuno inglés y todo estaba muy bueno. La camarera era muy agradable y sencillamente tuve una relajante desayuno.

A menudo pasar por este café para café y almuerzo. El personal siempre es amable y servicial y la comida deliciosa. Esta vez tuvimos que estar sentado en la parte trasera de la cafetería donde se puede ver la comida fresca de ser preparados. Sin embargo, estar aquí nos quedamos un poco decepcionados, ya que el cuidado del entorno es menos agradable que el frente de la casa. A un lado estaban las pilas de archivos y papeles desordenado y las escaleras ya que pasaba estaban llenas con cajas y juguetes para niños. Fantástica comida en la cafetería bajando los reyes milla pero la calidad de la fachada principal de la casa continúe en la parte trasera.

Un almuerzo de dos platos, así que naturalmente compartimos un entrante y postre! (Tan bien buenas porciones de tamaño).

Delicious local food, with lots of vegetarian choices. I had the cooked breakfast and my daughter had a veggie burger. Will definitely return!

Leonora's catered for our office Christmas lunch for 20 held at Conquest House 2 doors down.A very good value 3 course lunch including a welcome glass of prosecco when we arrived. Very tasty and well presented food, helpful and friendly service.Overall a great atmosphere

We had a coach trip to Canterbury and didn't want to eat in the usual place for lunch and decided to find somewhere of the beaten track. it was fairly full as this café only has limited seating, the waitress seated us at the front of the cafe as this was the only table available, we studied the menu and decided to have the set 3 course meal, when the waitress came over to take our order she told us this was not the correct menu and she would get another menu, we decided on the set 2 course lunch menu, after quite a long time about 15/20 minutes our soup arrived, it was very enjoyable but every time the front door was opened we were freezing as it was a very cold day,after we finished our soup another good 20/25 minutes pasted before our Chicken Parmesian Gougons arrived which we enjoyed, but if we did ever go back we would ensure that we sat well away from the front door.

Ran in here to get out of the rain and was greatly surprised by the quality of the food and wonderful flavors of the food. Everything is cooked to order and we will return.

2nd time we have been here whilst in the city.Great service, great freshly prepared food and the best tea ever.Its just so nice and relaxing here. No hassle of bigger chains and a lot more personal.

We have been meaning to write a review for a while but kept forgetting so now we have knuckled down to write one!Firstly all we can say is 5* is not enough! We visit as frequently as we can and love it even more then the last. The food is homemade which gives it the special, more personal touch and we are served a plentiful amount. The cosy and snug atmosphere in the front and the back will keep you warm on the greyest of days. The staff are so friendly and attentive making your visit as special as the last. We will keep returning again and again!!Jerome

We were recommended to this quirky little place, and thoroughly enjoyed this experience. Soups were thick and hearty; more like a goulash. Sweets were sticky and tasty, just as a sweet ought to be.Eating in the kitchen was a bonus. Very friendly and cheerful.

Was visiting Canterbury recently and en route to the Cathedral decided to have morning coffee and therefore as we were walking by decided to stop here.A charming little café we sat in the kitchen in the back which was fine we only stopped for coffee and teacakes / scones but both coffee but food was excellent.Nice service and a good place to visit.

Très bon endroit, la cuisine est faite devant vous et tout est fraisC'est un endroit idéal pour un en-cas en dehors des circuits touristiques

We were looking for lunch in Canterbury, and not knowing the city were just looking as what was available. When we passed Leonora's Kitchen a member of staff was on the street with a sampler plate. Lovely friendly girl, very chatty, so we decided to eat here. A great choice. Small but cosy, and we were looked after by a team of friendly and efficient waitresses. We only had the soup, but a good size bowl with amazing bread. I would have just had the bread on its own.Opposite the cathedral, and well worth a visit. One of the waitresses helped us with some of the sights of Canterbury which we should not miss on this visit.

We visited this tiny little cafe in the center of Canterbury the other day and had soup/bread for lunch which was delicious. Everything is freshly made and looked delicious. The set 2 course lunch for £10 looked excellent value for money. My only negative comments were that the waitress service was a little slow and they use Stork margarine to butter the bread, and I thought Stork was meant for cooking? Anyway, all in all, very nice and I would recommend.

This Café is small but brilliant. Food is freshly made and Kitchen is inside the restaurant thus you can see it all being cooked fresh. Very busy lunch but worth waiting.Staff very friendly and service excellent.

Leonoras is a small family run business very close to the cathedral and is served by a small friendly staff team who are all too happ[y to accommodate customers

We visited the restaurant today and found the food outstanding. With my dairy problem the catered with this with ease. The ham omelette was excellent as was the pastry tart with roasted vegetables. This restaurant should not be missed. It is off the normal high street and warrant the position it was in. A stones throw from the cathedral. I will visit here when next in Canterbury - thank you for excellent service.

4 of us went for breakfast and we were all impressed. Clean, friendly, gorgeous food. Recommend it to everyone

Our guided walk finished just outside this place and we went in for lunch. The had an interesting menu and each dish we had was well presented. Because of this it was a bit slow. I had roasted vegetables on a Kent 'bap with houmous and salad

This was my first visit to Canterbury and Leonora's Kitchen was a real gem of an introduction to the city. The food was fresh and well-prepared, the service exemplary. I (and a friend I happened to bump into!) even got talking to one of the longest-serving customers who, along with her friend, gave us a full guide to the town with top tips of where and when to go to key tourist attractions.

Very impressed with the staff here when we needed a table for 4 adults and a toddler in the small front room. (Too hot and crowded in the back)

My husband and I enjoyed a lovely full English breakfast, perfectly cooked and full of flavour. The service was friendly and efficient. It is encouraging to have such an open plan kitchen area, you can see your food being cooked to order.