The Apiary Cake and Coffee House in South Norfolk

Filthy shop.Cobwebs, sticky tables, crockery looked underwashed.Would not recommend. Staff did not create a good impression either.

So much choice for places to eat on the high street. I saw this vibrant cafe with big windows and an open door. I was immediatley drawn in as i could see some lovely cakes on display and people already eating and drinking inside. I actually felt like i was invited to take a seat, I then saw a full ploughmans lunch on someone's else's table, it looked amazing and healthty so my choice was made very quickly. I opted for cheese and ham and i couldnt resist a home made scotch egg. This was great food in what felt like a home from home style cafe where the staff were actually asking people how their day had been. I didn't have one of their home made cakes or tray bakes so I will save that for my next trip here. However I even treated myself to a jar of local produced honey.

We entered the café which was fairly quiet, approached the counter and were told to take a seat and the waitress would come and take our order. After about 10 minutes we we still awaiting service. While we waited several people who appeared to be regular customers entered and went to the counter, chatted and their order was taken. At this point we decided to leave.

Been and had the nicest Easter treats, a chocolate scotch egg! Which is a cream egg, wrapped in a brownie ball! Lovely selection of cakes available and menu for lunch.

Such a lovely cafe beautiful coffee and a lovely sausage roll very pleasant staff, would defiantly visit again. The weather was an added bonus.

Following recommendation was really looking forward to this Mexican street food. Ordered 4 main meals and some chips. They were running a bit late so we had a 10 minute wait but that was ok. We only live 3 minutes away. On unwrapping the meals the vegetarian one was not included and instead 2 breakfast burritos. The chicken burger and the beef burrito were both really cold despite the tin foil. As we live so close we returned the meals and the chef said he would cook us new meals. 20 minutes later we did get a correct order but the food was still only tepid and could have been the original slightly warmed and rewrapped from the look of the foil. Taste was ok but nothing special and not worth £45 Really hope others have a better experience but I won’t be rushing back anytime soon. Still think this is a really good addition to Harleston and could be fantastic but sadly missed the mark tonight.

chef Jillian’s bringing that authentic taste of Mexican street food in to Harleston, my mates and I love these brilliant burritos 🌯, if you haven’t tried these yet you’re miss out . top quality.

Would definitely recommend going here just to try the burritos, absolutely delicious and jam packed with so much flavour and ingredients. There's lots of options to choose from, i'm vegetarian and had the spicy mushroom and halloumi which was amazing. Obviously due to lockdown it's takeaway only but i've been here previously and it's a nice family friendly coffee house with lovely staff and very reasonable prices.

Me and my daughter went along for the burritos ( this was when we could eat in , but are now serving them to takeaway ) A really great , original idea and super nice . You get a choice of fillings and sides as well should you wish . They are hand made to order by the chef and very filling The Apiary has become a big part of our town ,a great cafe with a wide choice of menu , bakery and green grocers . They may soon be offering an evening takeaway service as well I hear .

After not having any granary rolls was offered a white roll instead for a takeaway. Second bite in noticed green mould spots on rear o roll. Disgusting. Will not return. Very wary on going anywhere during pandemic this was one of only a few outing I’ve made and what a disappointment. Teach me to stay home.

We popped in for a takeaway slice of cake and was thoroughly disappointed with the size of it. £2.99 for a tiny slice!! I’ve had a look at other reviews and pics of the cake slices and I can tell you that the previous pic of a slice of cake was nowhere the size we got. Maybe 1/3rd of it. Very disappointed as we went to Norwich earlier this week and got a huge slice for the same price.

Pleasant cafe with a good selection of food. However the wait just to be served was extremely long and really let the place down. They did say they were busy, but the cafe wasn’t full.

Called in whilst in Harleston. We had a coffee and a bacon roll. A bit expensive, but very nice. Friendly staff and a massive choice of food. Will be back.

Visited for lunch with Mum and Daughter. Lots of space for pushchair. Lovely staff, great to see the owner there, lovely guy. Jackets pretty good, little small but fresh. Great Flat white. Only issue is the cleanliness of the place. Needs a really good scrub, floors and corner dirty. Will definitely go back.

I visited your lovely coffee shop twice with my 2 daughters whilst we were staying with family in Harleston. All the staff were so warm and friendly, our food and drinks were superb! My eldest daughter said the chocolate milkshake was the best she'd ever had and my youngest daughter loved her 'berry go round' smoothie just as much! We had such a lovely warm welcome as soon as we walked in on both days! Even now I'm back home in Devon I keep comparing every coffee shop we go into to yours! And no one else beats you! We love Harleston and we'll definitely be visiting you again! Amazing customer service! (And great bacon baguettes!)

Possibly the worst pizza we have ever had, unable to finish. Who thinks it is right to put half tomatoes as a pizza topping? Social convention dictated we said it was lovely but we all felt nausea afterwards.

A friendly greeting goes a long way, and even the guy at the back of the shop acknowledged our approach to the counter, where a vast selection of tasty treats awaited us. The staff were very attentive and service was impeccable: This produced a restful and friendly ambience in which to relax and enjoy the aforesaid treats. Highly recommended for a spot of ‘down time’.

We stopped at this bee themed cafe for morning coffee and liked the decor and feel of the place. It was busy but the staff seemed cheerful, which is always a good sign.

Popped in for morning coffee. Nothing too much trouble. Staff really friendly. Plenty of choice and seating. Can recommend.

We had a lovely girls evening at one of the Friday Pizza nights, pizzas were yum and the glass of Prosecco on our arrival was a lovely surprise! The waitresses looked after us very well, especially as there were 7 of us all not knowing what we really wanted!! Was very enjoyable and we had a lovely evening!

We had a lovely evening catching up in an ambient atmosphere, the service was warm and welcoming. Our pizzas were very tasty and the prosecco went down a treat.

We visited Charleston for the first time on a Wednesday in June. What a picture, postcard place!!Easy,free parking,and the people ate so friendly, especially in the Apiary Cafe, nothing was too much trouble and lovely smiley faces.Food was brilliant and a gorgeous cup of tea ,so would definitely recommend.

After discovering our preffered eatery was closed for the bank holiday. We reluctantly walked into the Apiary. Firstly the shop and dining area were filthy. Cobwebs, sticky patches, food and dirt everywhere, unsure if they own any cleaning products? I was ready to leave but the rest of the family insist we give it a shot. We ordered 1 cap, 2 milkshakes and a water. We also ordered 3 toasted sandwiches and 2 bacon rolls. The people after us ate drank and left before we recieved our drinks (minus the water, forgotten) the milkshakes tasted aweful. Apparently you have to pay an extra 75p to have the remaining integral ingredient added. FOURTY FIVE MINUTES LATER .. We were ready to leave and had to let them know we wanted takeaway instead. They were just about to bring them over. Unbuttered, tastless buns with minimal filling and a side of stale crisps. FOR £33!!! What an absolute joke! One of the toasted sandwiches even came out 'fresh.' We noticed a few customers having the same issues. DO NOT EAT HERE!! They do not deserve a dime.

Very pleasant place for coffee and cake, or lunch, scones always fresh. Friendly and helpful staff, always willingly to help

Eight of us enjoyed a good pizza night out. The food was good and the staff were friendly and welcoming.We had a great night and would recommend pizza nights.

Se passate per Harleston e la vostra caffeinemia piange, fermatevi pure in questo piccolo bar. L'ambiente è accogliente e combina una gestione molto amichevole con uno stile moderno e un'ottima varietà di scelta.

We often frequent The Apiary for coffee, cakes and light bites which are always yummie, service is prompt and very friendly, all the staff are lovely to talk to. We tried one of their Friday pizza nights, candle lit tables, music in the background, service really good. Free side order of coleslaw (special offer changes monthly). Staff attentive but overly intrusive, we were felt welcome, not rushed either. We booked for 6pm and left around 8pm.

We very much liked the cheery “good morning” on entry to this café. The coffee was made just as I like it. The place is bright and clean and has plenty of room for pushchairs and people. Nice selection of cakes and pastries.

Would recommend lovely atmosphere and food great too. Popped in late morning so not too packed but there seems plenty of tables.

Nice enough place, the service was rather slow as they perceived themselves to be very busy (3 in line)

Popped in for a couple of scones to take to a friends for afternoon tea. Only cheese scones left and I was charged £1.50 EACH. Regular size, nothing special, in fact they were dry and tasted like they were left over from the day before.

This is a small cake and coffee house with the bakery at the back so you can see where your food has been made! It has a few tables outside in summer. All scones, cakes etc are baked on the premises.

Great food and very friendly staff, they were attentive and ensured we were all welcome. Coffee was good too!

Today I decided to try the coffee, which I believe is advertised as the best coffee in South Norfolk but don’t quote me ! Sadly it didn’t come up to my expectations. I ordered a flat white & I received a cup of very strong coffee with a pile of foam on top. Very disappointed! A flat white is exactly that, flat, no foam, maybe just a small amount of crema at most.

Nice atmosphere with very friendly staff. Good choice of bakery style products. Cheese straws and scones very nice.

Two amazing gluten free cakes were made for my mum's birthday with only two days notice!!! I can't thank The Apiary enough! The staff are always so friendly and helpful and their gluten free rolls are a must. I wouldn't go anywhere else x

I can’t thank you enough for all the food & cake you prepared for our daughters first birthday party. It made the day so much more enjoyable as I didn’t have to lift a finger & could concentrate on her and having an amazing day creating special memories. It was so easy to deal with you, the staff were amazing, it was very reasonably priced & all tasted amazing. I would highly recommend using you for any events. Thank you

Great flat white coffee and freshly baked sausage roll, both made to perfection. It is obviously a well used cafe as everybody seemed to know each other, creating a lovely feel to the place. Will definitely re-visit.

Something makes me walk past the other cafes and eateries in Harleston. Very good coffee? Good selection of cakes, pizza slices, quiches, even bacon butties. Warm, convivial and welcoming. Oh! And lovely staff! Visit when in town, you won’t be disappointed! Richard Brooke-Haughton

The staff are happy and helpful. The restaurant is nice and clean. The staff have good manners and helpful

From the moment we walk in the door with our children we are welcomed with big smiles and laughter all around. The prices are very reasonable. The food is top quality. The staff are fantastic with children especially after holding a birthday party there. They went above and beyond. This is happily our regular cake stop and long may it continue to be!

My family and I visit The Apiary every week after school. Not only for the excellent cakes and drinks but for the welcoming atmosphere and friendly staff.

I changed my allegiance to The Apiary a few months ago. Good move!. Great ambiance. Friendly staff, kind and polite. Always ready for a great laugh.. Management also. .Young Saturday staff equally as nice and polite.

Extremely overpriced and very rude staff! Don’t like the huge difference in price for eat in and takeaway. Not welcoming. AVOID!!!

The coffee was nice and there was a special offer of mince pie and coffee which my husband choose but the mince pie was cold. My cappuccino was really hot and not very frothy but it was quite large and quite nice. I had a scone which was fresh and crumbly.

Stopped in for a coffee and lunch. Lovely toasted brie and cranberry on malted bread and wife enjoyed a coronation chicken sandwich. Good coffee and drinks.

No my last visit to this placeI witnessed two young mothers and their off spring and their appalling behaviour.They had children in the provided high chairs.The children dropped more food on the floor than went into their mouths. The mothers did nothing to clean up the mess, just brushed all of the food off the high chair trays and wales out.What an awful way to behave and what sort of of example is that to children growing up.Same as this used to be a decent place to go in Harlestonthe blackboard on the wall and chalky things to scribble are a poor idea because it leaves the kids let loose to run around the restaurant while the parents just let them play and bother others who just want a decent place for coffee etc. Not a place I will visit again, nor the people I was with. Thankfully we have found a really nice tea shop at the back of an antique shop where the atmosphere is congenial and no encouragement for kids to be there

The cafe was busy when I visited, people going in and out, and that was the problem, with a surprising number of people leaving the door open. It wasn't a particularly cold day so it wasn't uncomfortable but it was difficult to take one's eye off the door, will the next person close it when they enter or depart.

This is an ok venue nice coffee and cakes but all a bit sterile for my

Super little cake and coffee shop which we visit very often for a light lunch or just coffee/tea and cake. The staff are very friendly and efficient and everything is baked on the premises. There is also a deli counter with an amazing selection of cheeses etc. I needed an egg free birthday cake for my grandson who is allergic to eggs and they baked one for me, at a very reasonable price, which was absolutely delicious. Harleston is really lucky to have such a smashing little cafe and bakery.

Popped in here while car was in the garage. My almond croissant was delicious as was my husband's cheese scone and the coffee was good. The staff were friendly and brought our selection to our table. A geat place for a mid morning snack.

Popped in whilst car was in garage, given a friendly welcome and had a couple of great coffees and a piece of yummy carrot cake.

We visit the Apiary almost every week. The staff are most friendly, and the food and coffee is first class. I highly recommend this.

Popped in for tea and cake with my daughter Easter Saturday. Huge piece of cake, cheese scone, tea and a fuzzy drink for £7

First time here. Had a toasty (can't remember what they call them) was very good. They offered to make my mum a different sandwich because of her diet. Nice coffee. Staff really friendly, lady got up from her break to serve us. Cause looked tasty too! Only thing I would say is it didn't quite have the coffee house feel, a little disjointed. I will however return. Well done.

After many days lost at sea, Captain McDogster was grateful for his latte and cake. Ship Ahoy me harty!

The Apiary is our regular go-to spot for coffee, cake and breakfast in Harleston. The Apiary also delights my team every Friday morning with the our breakfast team bacon-run.

Have never Been disappointed when visiting The Apiary. In the summer time my daughter often asks to visit for a lovely ice cream or milkshake. There is plenty of room for the pram and we are always made to feel welcome. The staff are always very helpful and friendly. I love the atmosphere in here and only wish I had more time for lunchtime breaks so that i could have one of the many delicious cakes on offer. On a cold day like today it the middle of February, it is a lovely bright place to be to get away from the cold and feel like its summer again with the bright decor and pictures on the walls.

I booked a Buffet for my parents 50th Anniversary so v special event required nice food. I ordered a cake which was superb but the rest of the food was average at best. I had high hopes for this as place as the reviews said everything positive I wanted to hear. The main buffet was, for me was nothing special and at £200 for the lot, I expected a lot more.

I called in for a cup of coffee and ordered a flat white First I noticed the cup was not too big in fact quite small and then it was only filled about 3/4.

I ordered tea in a mug. They started to give me a cup but I repeated my request for a mug. They also made a mistake with my change which I had to point out.

What a delightful find, I moved nearby last month and found the staff so helpful as I was new to the area, they go beyond normal customer service and the fresh food is exceptional and reasonable priced. Mike the owner has been great with my extra time there due to BT being so lacking in customer care. The ladies are always smiling, always willing to chat as do the customers, as they say its "service with a smile" here in the Apiary

Ok, owner polite but never smiles and doesn't give recognition when returning and I feel is frosty. Other ladies nice.

I ordered a toasty to take away, it was a bit of a disappointment it had normal supermarket type white bread the filling was a bit lacking (cheese and red onion) and took for ever to cook, I think if you offering toasties to go you really need a professional fast cooker. As they lady serving me felt a bit embarrassed how long it look it was still under cooked. The price as well I was a bit of a shock for cheese and red onion £4.95 (it would have been lovely to have home made thick bread) Maybe I came in on a bad day and need to try this place on another day.

Having recently moved to Harleston we have impressed with the home cooked fayre,light lunch and small eats available but the recent MacMillan Fund raising coffee morning put this establishment in a different light. The hosting of the event and giving over of its facilities in current economic climate was impressive and demands special recognition.

We needed the Services of an In site caterer for a family event. Start to finish Mike was on it. Highly recommended. If you would just like coffee in the high street the Apiary is a great place to meet and relax.

Good food, everything from fresh sandwiches, an amazing range of toasties, great coffee and loose leaf teas. They also have a wide range of bread for sale, plus they will cater of all allergies

Was on business and fancied a quick break. Lovely cup of coffee and a cake and ended up buying some bread to take home. Extremely friendly service and will recomend to all.

First time visitor to the Apiary and what a find. Wonderful smell of fresh baked bread hit me as soon as I entered the café. Ordered a Flat White coffee which was made to perfection and the scone was fabulous, no wonder it is so popular with the locals!

This is a popular coffee shop in Harleston. It's spacious, and always well patronised whenever we have passed or been in. A helpful man behind the counter made us two small (teacup size) decaff cappuccinos with one shot.

Best cakes and cheese straws around!! My daughter loves coming here for a cheeky little treat after school!

We popped in here when we were in Harleston waiting for The Women's Cycling Tour to come through the town. The staff were very friendly. The choice of freshly made cakes as well as savoury items is very good! There are plenty of tables and chairs that aren't crammed closely together either!

Visited this place recently whilst in the area and the quality of their offering is great and the service cannot be faulted but the best thing is the quality of their coffee!!

I have been using the Apiary since shortly after they opened and they get better and better. The coffee is as good as if not better than the national chains. The rolls and sandwiches are always fresh and tasty. The cakes are simply the best. The toffee popcorn tiffin is to die for. No where else locally comes close to the friendliness and the quality of the Apiary

I have been coming to the Apiary regularly, to work from my laptop, the staff are fantastic and also Mike the owner is lovely and welcomes you in with a warm smile. I would recommend the Apiary for its coffee and also the best cakes in town! ;-)

Such great service ... Lovely happy staff , such a warm welcome .. Scones and cakes are amazing .. A must visit all you cake and scone lovers !!

very satisfied with the staff that I was served by, the staff are always very helpful whenever you need to whether It be a lovely Pot of Tea, a Latte, an Expresso, and even a pizza slice, or a sausage roll or Cornish pasty from their wonderful range of freshly baked items

I use the Apiary Cake & Coffee House pretty much 5 days a week to purchase my lunch& often a piece of cake too. Love the taster plates by the till.. always something new to try. Food is always fresh & tasty and served with a smile. Highly recommended.

Delicious cakes, scones filled rolls & lovely drinks. A very comfortable place to relax, very friendly & helpful staff - 100% recommended

Roll I had was very nice but the filling let it down thin slice of cheese hardly covered the roll , love the bees round the walls my grandson loved looking at these, The roll would have been better with grated cheese and please can you have white onion as well. The sausage rolls are very nice and cakes , but the other rolls looked very nice in cabin ate mine didn't come like them.

In my opinion this is the only place to go for fresh gorgeous rolls and sandwiches and the most delicious cakes in all of Harleston. I get my lunch from here every day and never get bored as there is always something new and amazing to try. The owner and his staff always make you feel appreciated and nothing is ever too much trouble. The quality of everything they serve is first class. The bread is even made in store. There are lots of coffee shops in Harleston these days but The Apiary stands head and shoulders above all the rest.

After a busy Saturday shopping we ended up in Harleston and stopped at the Apiary. At first glance it looked very expensive but actually it was quite reasonable. We had a coffee, tea, breakfast roll and cranberry and brie Panini. Oh and we bought a cheese bread to have with dinner as well. All came to just after £14.00 and was worth every penny. Also they leave small chunks of cake out to try and they are delicious too.

Quite good coffee and tea but I found the cafe rather bland and lacking in atmosphere. They need a few more bits to create a style. There are also steps to negotiate.