old bakery cafe in Colchester

I had arranged to meet a friend here and luckily we had booked because even though it was early morning this place was very popular.There was a great menu selection and I’m sorry but I forgot to take photos. Tea was ordered first and even when we had finished the staff came and offered to fill the pot up. I thought this was extremely thoughtful especially as people were waiting to be seated we weren’t expected to leave. Top marks for curtesy girls. Just make sure you book in advance so you won’t be disappointed.

This is a nice cafe to visit, rather busy at times but that is to be expected. the food that we had was of good qaulity and good price. However nothing that you couldnt get at any other half decent cafe. saying that i would certainly return.

My friend and I had a late breakfast here 29.1.2020 and were more than delighted. Chose a full bakery English breakfast - sausage and bacon first class - and poached eggs on sourdough with smashed avocado. Both meals were excellent quality and presented beautifully. Waitresses were very friendly and professional and seats were comfortable and tables well placed in quite a small room - did not feel overcrowded. If you love poached eggs with well cooked whites and a yoke which runs when cut into then you will not be disappointed - best I have had for a long time. The English breakfast consists of so many choices - mushrooms, grilled tomato, toast, fried eggs, beans. What a feast. Lovely building too.

The food, service, location and ambience of the old bakery is awesome. I get food to takeaway sometimes as so delicious. Coffee tastes great and made spot on, sandwiches and pastries fresh and the right size. venue is light, bright and always spotless. Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant.

This is a great place for lunch or breakfast. We stopped here on the way from London to Southwold on the basis of the TA Reviews and because it was dog friendly. Couldn’t believe how busy it was at 11.30 on a wet Friday morning and we were lucky to get a table.We were also just in time for the breakfast menu and very much enjoyed a full English and poached egg and avocado on sourdough. The service was really friendly too. Would stop here in future and maybe try the lunch menu or the cakes next time.Dedham is a very pretty village and nice for a walk pre or post your visit to the Old Bakery!

Family of 5 adults, a toddler & baby birthday lunch on a busy Saturday lunchtime. Excellent prompt & friendly service. Food was homely, well cooked and promptly served. Festive atmosphere & brilliant visit to Santa & his elves in a delightfully decorated Shepards hut.Will definately visit again!

An English tearoom in the finest tradition. The staff enjoy serving the excellent food. Friendly atmosphere in a beautiful English village.

On way home from Suffolk to Hampshire chanced upon Dedham and The Old Bakery. Great lunch, great service and great takeaway (couldn't resist buying a few slices of their delicious cakes.

First visit after reading reviews. We had an explore for new lunch venue, Dedham is such a pretty location.We had not booked and were very lucky to secure a table (Saturday lunchtime)Very small inside so book to avoid disappointment. Cosy, clean interior.We both had Bubble & Squeak with Poached Egg without Hollandaise sauce. Very prompt service ... dish was nicely presented & tasted delicious, orange yolked eggs were ultra fresh.We followed with Lemon Cake & Coffee Cake. My coffee cake was very rich in flavour, really nice. My friend found Lemon cake a little sweet but that’s personal preference not the baking!2 big cups of coffee - £17.50 - great value! Efficient staff, clean toilets - it’s a great stop for lunch and cake.

It is not often that I report on my dining experiences as I am a retired food critic, it is on the rare occasion that I make the effort to submit a review. This cafe ticks every box!I feel it is only fair to give an excellent feedback. The atmosphere is wonderful with a warm ambiance. The cafe itself is clean, modern yet cosy, the staff are inviting and the food is delicious, what more can I say! It was a reasonably priced lunch and we can understand why booking is recommended.

We really like this modern little cafe. A good place to go for a hot tasty breakfast. We had full English with toast, tea and orange. The sausage was quite small (two would have been better for the price) but tasty and there was plenty of toast and two eggs.

If you are doing the Constable Walk from Flatford it is well worth extending it just a little to call in at this wonderful Café for a well-deserved bite to eat. The food is simply delicious and very reasonably priced. You can truly believe all the other 5* reviews: they’ve got it spot on. Pass by all the other food outlets – this is the one to come to whilst in Dedham.

The Old Bakery is a little further from the car parks than other options, just beyond the church. The extra walk is however well worth it. The coffee is excellent, the service efficient and friendly and the Coffee Cake is the best I have ever tasted - excellent!

It was an impromptu visit, but turned out so well! A new cafe so the decor is all very .lovely, but that must not be allowed to distract from the food, I decided on a late [second!] breakfast. The smashed avocado on toast with tomatoes and poached egg was delicious and now ranks joint top with 'Applaud cafe' in Ipswich as the best place to go for this breakfast...! however - I was to full to to any cake, which all looked amazing, so I will need to go back to try some...! [and it was all great value]

Made a visit here this wk, drove up from Rayleigh about 40ml to visit the Old Bakery for lunch, and well worth the visit it was too, excellent food, small and intimate with a nice choice of decor, the staff were friendly and attentive, all in all well worth a visit one which we will do again very soon.

What can I say? I go there everyday for breakfast. It's closed on Sunday/Monday but I'm there at 9am every other day. The owners are the nicest people around. Best service, best tea and coffee and best breakfast/light lunch in the village. Clean, cosy and comfortable, even if you're on your own. I'm a bit hesitant to write this review in case I can't get a table in future.

We can’t praise this cafe enough, we have been on many occasions now and each time the service is great and the food doesn’t disappoint. It’s great value for money and the quality of food is brilliant. We love that it is dog friendly - it’s the perfect place to go after a walk in the surrounding countryside.

Another visit to this lovely cafe, breakfast today. The staff are so accommodating, they made me mashed avocado, mushrooms and tomatoes on sourdough. It was delicious. My partner in crime had the same but with poached eggs.

I traveled half an hour each way to eat here, based on the reviews. A pet hate of mine is empty tables in tea rooms waiting endlessly for ‘bookings’, so I sat outside on a little table almost on the road. I ordered a Brie and cranberry sandwich on granary served with salad garnish and jackpot crisps, followed by a scone with jam and clotted cream. I thought they had forgotten my sandwich after a 40 minutes wait but it was almost ready. What can I say? It was certainly worth the wait!! Best sandwich I’ve ever had!! I had 2 delicious decaf lattés and then on to the fresh beautiful scone. I was disappointed it hadn’t been warmed at first, but I needn’t have been because it was superb! The only other time I’ve had clotted cream with scones was in my own tea rooms several years ago and this clotted cream was as good. Certainly worth traveling for. 10/10.

Would like to say a big thank you for the lovely cooked breakfast we had at the old bakery cafe this morning. It was so nice and hot and it was so yummy. We will be back very soon. Once again thank you 😊

Stopped by after a dog walk and sat at the pavement table, as we had my friend’s puppy with us (we later discovered the interior was dog friendly too, so even more points there).

Was working close by so decided to pop in and have my self a nice breakfast. What a treat, lovely creamy scrambled egg on toast and a nice pot of earl grey. Go on treat yourself, you will not regret it :)

I am always very apprehensive about eating out because it is so difficult to find places that cater to both gluten and dairy intolerances but this place was brilliant. The waitress Freya was very knowledgable and gave me a large selection of options to pick between. It makes me feel so much more at ease when the staff are well informed about intolerances/allergies. I had a gluten and dairy free wrap filled with smoked salmon, prawn and salad followed by some delicious lemon drizzle cake. My boyfriend had the chocolate olive oil cake which was also free from gluten and dairy and equally delicious. I would definitely recommend this place if you are visiting Dedham.

Have driven past many times but never tried it, gets good reviews so we popped in for a late breakfast around 10.30 . My wife is very fussy as to her cappuccino and croissants and they were both perfect. I had an americano and Welsh rarebit on granary, which consisted of 2 slices, a generous salad and crisps. It was cooked to perfection. Took a few minutes to be served but to be expected as made from fresh and the croissant was freshly baked. A bit more expensive than most cafe's but well worth it due to the quality and service. Place was clean and a good atmosphere and padded seats which were comfortable. Will definitely go again when in the area and may try for a light lunch .

Like Dedham very much. Never been to the old bakery before today. Ordered egg and cress sandwich for me and tuna sandwich for husband. Thought we were waiting a long while just for two sandwiches to be made up,, However when our sandwiches were put down lovely thick bread I thought.. When I picked up half of my sandwich it had already been cut in half same as my husbands before being brought to the table

Called in here for a coffee on a lovely sunny Spring day. Really good choice! Friendly and warm welcome, delicious cheese scone with chutney and lovely coffee.

I was so chuffed to call in for a coffee to find a selection of cakes without gluten or nuts! This is usually very rare to have one suitable cake, let alone a choice. I felt so spoilt! There were also lots of light bite options and with gluten free bread etc too.

Met my friend here for lunch, it is a lovely little cafe and I am glad I booked a table, it was very busy. We only had a light lunch but the food was tasty and even the garnish was delicious. I had a lovely piece of vegan cake a real treat as not many places offer cake. It was delicious. Staff and service were excellent. Well worth a visit.

Really lovely café in the centre of Dedham village. Well worth the drive out and will be coming back!!

Another cracking lunch with friends. Super selection of cafe style food, all home cooked on the premises. Friendly and accommodating staff make the whole unhurried experience all the more pleasurable. Only complaint is which cake to have for pudding as they all sounded so good!

Excellent small cafe serving food some of which is vegan and gluten free Service very good and also has options for those who are dairy fee

We had to make an effort to find Dedham but we were well rewarded.

Thus lovely little cafe is a "must return to" place. Always friendly. Fresh cakes. Good choice of lunches and wonderful coffee.

We decided to look around Dedham a lovely village . We had a superb breakfast in this delightful cafe . The staff were all very friendly .We will definitely return if in the area again . Thank you for making us so welcome .

Tea room at Flatford Mill was full so came here instead...glad we did...lovely cafe..lurverly soup and great cakes! Xxx

Normally have lunch in The Tiptree Tearooms when in Dedham but we walked further down the high st and found this gem and so glad we did, I had the Duck Wrap and my husband had the Chicken and Avocado on granary, both were delicious with salad garnish and mine had homemade coleslaw, good service and really friendly staff, will definitely return!!

Prompt friendly service and delicious freshly prepared food in this delightful cafe. Individual quiche and salad excellent. Prawn and salmon salad more than I could eat, (but I do have a small appetite).

We popped in for a cheeky Saturday morning breakfast, we were slightly hungover after a boozy night out. We really enjoyed the food and coffee, we will definitely be back.

Wonderful breakfast in a sunny spot by the window! We each had poached eggs on granary with mushrooms for my friend and smoked salmon for myself... a latte and cappuccino all absolutely wonderful and piping hot - all for under £20. Reasonably priced, very tasty food, excellent coffee (finally!), wonderful fresh loose teas (blood orange and Egyptian mint smelled amazing and are on the list for next time... along with the gorgeous looking cakes...) and absolutely excellent service. Friendly and unobtrusive - we were able to linger over our breakfast and coffee without feeling the pressure to move on from a near-full cafe.

Had lunch and a beer here. A very nice experience lovely food and very friendly and efficient staff. Good value prices as well.

Very friendly, professional and helpful service. Great food. Great decor and food presentation. Really enjoyed our lunch and look forward to returning soon. Also dog friendly.

Absolutely lovely place. My husband and I came across this place by accident and do not regret it at all. Amazing staff and great food. Will definitely be coming back here

Found on the High St during a walk. Popped in for lunch. What a lovely surprise. Tasty menu included daily specials. I had the prawn & avocado salad.... perfect on such a hot day.... and absolutely delicious. It was so fresh & served with the tastiest olive ciabatta. Bright, comfortable & clean interior & the service was excellent. Lovely cafe.... couldn’t recommend it highly enough.

We were in the area having just visited Flatford Mill and then on to lovely Dedham for a wander around. This cafe was a good find, I had a leek and bacon quiche with salad. It was a good sized portion and really tasty. The cakes looked lovely, I was too full to have one, but when I go back I will make sure I leave room for one.

I and my dog received a very warm welcome when I was looking for breakfast, following an early morning walk from Dedham to Flatford and back. I was served the most delicious meal of poached eggs on granary with mushrooms. I thoroughly enjoyed my meal and Tilly cooled off in front of the air-conditioning unit!

We had lunch , jennifer had sausage sandwich . I had a bespoke tuna melt with olive focaccia. It was beautiful , bursting with flavour . Definitely now my favourite place to have this . I had the chocolate browny with choc sauce and hadleigh ice cream , yum yum . Fentimans ginger beer and a latte . Really good place that does everything well , enjoy

A Lovely cafe, the staff are very friendly and the food is really good will be going back again soon

A pleasant little coffee shop in this very attractive village, it’s in a good spot towards the end of the High Street and has an attractive interior with much of the building’s original timberwork still in evidence.

Very attentive staff, very good food would definetly go back if I was in the area again my husband and I both had a ham and chicken ploughmans

Delighted to find this gem which has everything absolutely nailed. Excellent coffee. Lovely fresh cheese scones with tasty spiced chutney. Given the bland alternatives popping up everywhere, you deserve every success. Thank you.

Long overdue visit and well worth the wait. Fantastic community feel so sociable, food scrumptious and very reasonably priced.

We have been fortunate to have experienced Lynn Barnard's skills in the kitchen for almost two decades and her latest venture is really impressive. The cafe is small and intimate and the staff couldn't be more charming. We ate from the specials choosing the pie, the wrap and the jacket potato. All were perfectly cooked and beautifully presented. Eating here was an absolute delight.

Visited here last week for lunch, the sandwiches were excellent! The staff were lovely and the cafe had such as nice friendly atmosphere. Will be visiting here again!

Enjoyable experience with excellent service food of high standard and friendly staff Reasonably priced

This was a lovely stop after a walk! They get very busy around lunch time (probably because this place is so good!) but they made room for us!

This is great and just what is needed in Dedham High Street, The cafe is in a lovely old building and is really nice inside, clean, simple and modern. The food is really excellent, very reasonably priced and plentiful. Everything we have tried has been good, the coffee, scones, cakes, salads and hot food. The macaroni cheese is the best ever!! Thank you!

Well worth a visit but book if you’re planning lunch here! This is what Dedham needed, decent coffee! Lovely owners and staff so friendly. Food amazing. Recent visit we had homemade soups, wow! Great selection of cakes including GF.

This is an excellent place. Mrs Hobo and I nipped in for a lunch on Saturday, and managed to grab the last table for two. I don't like visiting when it's busy, and expected to find a huge delay - especially being Mothering Weekend. I was wrong - the staff worked well. An old beamed house, open and decorated brightly with a few frills, the large windows enabled anyone in the room to watch the world go by. The menu was spot on - not huge, not small, and there were plenty of specials. Mrs Hobo spotted that they served alcohol - certainly worth a revisit on a lazy afternoon. We both had the Welsh Rarebit, and Mrs Hobo thought her gluten free option was excellent. A decent mixed salad accompanied the dish - variety rather than quantity ticked my box, and complimentary hot water refills in tea pots has to be the way to go in this country - we were glad to see this in operation. The staff were all polite and attentive. An all round excellent experience. We hope they rake in the dough...

Was very busy but they made room for us. The sandwiches were lovely, very nice bread and my jacket potato was perfect. Fast and friendly service, my one complaint is that they allow dogs in such a small cafe. I don't think dogs should be allowed where food is served for hygiene reasons.

I visited with my Mum and daughter last Friday for lunch. Yummy jacket potatoes with fresh fillings. Wonderful service, tasty and heart food, lovely atmosphere and very reasonable! Already booked to return. This will definitely be one of my favourite local places.

What a great, welcoming little cafe serving cakes, pastries, light snacks and "Dishes of the Day". We arrived at lunchtime on Valentine's day (also half term week) so it was very busy. Although compact, with a constant stream of customers looking for a table, it did not feel too over-crowded. The staff were just naturally friendly, the sweet potato, squash and paprika soup was amazing, the orange & almond cake delicious. The coffee could not be beaten anywhere. We will certainly be returning.

This lovely tea room was a great find . The venue is cosy but very welcoming, the staff were particularly friendly . We had window seat and enjoyed coffee , homemade scone and a tea cake . Well worth a visit if you’re in the area!

We intended to lunch in a nearby pub but it was not serving food that day. The next pub was very expensive. Then we came to the the Old Bakery Cafe and what a find. The staff welcomed us and showed us to a table for two. The menu had a lovely selection of snacks and light lunches. I chose the Welsh Rarebit, my daughter the chicken and avocado sandwich, both were really tasty and came with a lovely fresh salad with a nice dressing and crisps. Both were very good value for money.

This cafe is small so is short of tables as it is so popular, shame it can't be extended or moved to larger premises as people looked in but as it was crowded went elsewhere.

We have just had a fab brunch in Dedham. Great food and lovely atmosphere at The Old Bakery Cafe. Glad we booked.

After walking in to no available tables, they offered to reserve one for us when it was free, after walking back in 20 minutes later to a reserved table, we were greeted by quick, kind service. Every employee there was incredibly kind and the food was exquisite and filling. I feel it’s worthy of the ‘££-£££’ marker on trip advisor, however the value for money was outstanding. Should I be returning to Dedham, I will most certainly return, but I might book a table this time!

I had an amazing afternoon tea for my birthday with my friends and family. We were allowed to bring our own cake and decorations and had the place to ourselves (15 of us) My thanks to the owners for excellent food and service and for making my day special.

A bunch of us sweaty runners arrived this morning 10 minutes before opening, just as it started to rain. The owner kindly allowed us to wait inside, and provided us with water until they were ready to take our orders. Could not ask for friendlier or more attentive people! The coffee is great, the breakfasts even better. Scrambled eggs with smoked salmon and toast, anyone? Highly recommend this little place, cant wait to go back and try the afternoon tea!

We visited this cafe as recommended to us, cannot fault this amazing little cafe staff were very attentive great service food was delicious and very filling, but the icing on the cake was it actually serves a decent decafe cappuccino i have travelled everywhere and this is only place ive found (apart from in cornwall) where it actually tasted like coffee it was spot on with everything, well done will defo be returning cant wait!

After booking for lunch, 4 of us chose from quite a varied menu. The staff were friendly & polite and we didn’t wait long for our fresh food to arrive. The jacket potatoes were cooked perfectly, not old or lumpy and the coronation chicken was delicious with them. The mushroom omlette and pastrami sandwich were thoroughly enjoyed too. Only room for one slice of cake between us as we were so full! The angel cake was fantastic- the lightest sponge I think I’ve ever tasted! The owners were very nice and my only disappointment was not booking an afternoon tea before we arrived. I’ll save it for next time!

This is a real find in an area with lots of options. I've been here a few times now and the standards and service have been consistently high.

I visited this Cafe today with my Sister and our Friend for a Traditional Afternoon Tea. We had read about it on Trip Advisor where the reviews were positively glowing. We booked our table a few days ago to request a window seat, also, as our Friend is a vegetarian, to let them know in advance. Sometimes, when you really look forward to experiencing a new place to eat, it can sometimes disappoint, but not today.

I took my sister and friend there for a high tea the food was amazing the staff were so helpful and nothing was to much trouble for them lovely atmosphere we were so full up we had to take some of the food home with us I would recommend this cafe to anyone that's passing well worth a visit I definitely will be coming back

Had lunch here today and it was perfection - delicious coffee, my husband had a beautifully baked jacket potato and cheese and I had the gorgeous bacon flan (quiche), served with tasty and fresh salad and kettle-style crisps. Friendly staff and atmosphere - the big windows were a real asset letting all the sunshine in today. Would definitely return.

I took my dad in for a midweek lunch and absolutely loved it. Relaxing atmosphere and fabulous food. We were so full after our mains that we took our cakes home to enjoy later! Well worth a visit.

Quaint cafe situated in the heart of Dedham. The building with its old beams, spacious modern interior provided for a great social outing. As a cake and tea addict the selection and standard was second to none. Well proced with attentive and charming staff. I intend to go again when next in Dedham. The tea pot and cups were particularly quaint. Good job.

Large selection of hot drinks and appetising cakes. Ordered decaf tea, flat white coffee, fruit scone and banana cake. Excellent! Scone and cake were both melt-in-the-mouth. Flat white was correctly prepared in correct size cup, so not too milky. Interior of cafe is very appealing. Staff friendly and attentive. Top marks all round. Highly recommended.

Popped in today...charming little cafe...excellent coffee..friendly service..perfect village setting..

A beautifully presented cafe with up to date decor in a lovely period building.Probably one of the best scone I've ever tasted served with high quality jam at a realistic price.Will certainly make it our first call when we next visit Dedham.Friendly and very obliging young waitresses,a real breath of fresh air.

Had a fantastic lunch in the old bakery. Staff was excellent food was delicious. Well worth a cosy . Five stars definitely.

What a fabulous lunch we had in this wonderful Cafe in Dedham. The service is warm and welcoming. The choice for lunch was great, we opted for the salads and the poached egg with ham and mushrooms and we all really enjoyed every bit, the salads all freshly made and very tasty. My friend who had the egg, ham and mushrooms said it was wondeful. Great coffee as well. The table by the window which looks down the high street is the best view in Dedham.

Love this café! I do like an afternoon tea and this is the best in the area by far, and very reasonably priced. Nice selection of teas, including a couple of unusual ones. I will be back often! Super friendly staff too! Thanks.

The Old Bakery is a true gem in our beautiful village. The owners and staff are super helpful and friendly. They make everyone feel welcome and are so accommodating - especially with small children! The food is top notch and the home made cakes are to die for. There are always gluten free cakes and the options change daily. Definitely worth a visit!!

So pleased we found this lovely tea shop, what a find! We had a delicious salad.We will definitely be going back and soon.

Super! Visit today if you can! Great coffee and some superb home baked cakes 🎂. Lovely surroundings and a warm welcome. Everything you need. Saw some ham and poached eggs being served to the next door table which looked very tasty.

Called in for lunch & we were greeted with a very warm welcome. Wide choice of food I had a pastrami sandwich which was delicious. The coffee was so good I had 2! Beautiful cakes (the chocolate brownie's are to die for! ) I've already decided what to have on my next visit so will be back again very soon.

My husband and I stopped for lunch last Sunday and tried out this new cafe in Dedham. The decor is country inspired, smart and clean and the owners gave us the warmest welcome. We were recommended two loose leaf fruit teas by Jess and they were delicious. Summer tea and blood orange (my favourite). I had Welsh rarebit from the specials and my husband had a sausage sandwich. Both were generous portions served with crisps and salad, but because we are pigs we had dessert as well. I can never resist a carrot cake and Lynn's has got to be one of the best I've tasted. Michael had a fruit scone with clotted cream and jam. I'm guessing it was good because he refused to share it. We can't wait to go back to this cosy, friendly gem in pretty Dedham.

This place is definitely a fantastic addition to the Dedham High Street... the coffee is the best I've had in the entire Colchester area. And the Gluten-Free options make it well worth making a special trip to Dedham. The interior is really lovely and the people who work there are super friendly. There are lots of vegan options as well.

Visiting Constable Country and feeling hungry, we found the Boathouse, Church Farm and Flatford Mill Tea Rooms full to bursting. Fortified by a bar of chocolate, we completed the tour of Flatford Mill before trying again to solve the lunch problem. Having spotted the Old Bakery earlier in the day, we found a parking slot in Dedham and called in for lunch - brilliant. Great light meal menu, delightful staff, comfortable seating, attractive decor. My wife thought her chicken and avocado sandwich was superb and I really enjoyed my pastrami with crispy lettuce and horseradish - the bread was an excellent granary. When we come back to Dedham, we'll make this tea room our first choice.

We visited Dedham having enjoyed a lovely walk across the fields from Flatford and discovered the Old Bakery cafe at the far end of the High Street.

Visited with my friend today and have to say my food was amazing! The owner was lovely lady who came out to speak to me about vegan options and also gluten free for my friend. Would highly recommend!!

We parked in East Bergholt village car park, and enjoyed a warm, pleasant walk across the fields to Flatford, made famous by John Constable's famous paintings. We continued past the lock and took the path to to the pretty village of Dedham, which was busy with tourists visiting on a Sunday. We continued west, along the High street past the commanding church until we came to Princel Lane. ...there opposite sits Old Bakery Cafe.....a new addition to the village.