The Glasshouse Cafe in Colchester

Top tier! Lovely settings, peaceful, friendly staff who went out of their way to make sure we had honey for the tea, ample parking, food was 10/10. Will be back!

Based in a smart greenhouse on what looks like a small holding Standard food options but done very well. Options for breakfast, lunch, dinner, tea and cake. And of course coffee, tea etc Run by the owners I guess, slightly quirky but overall very good and would recommended. Great views

Great freshly made food, highly recommend. Unquie and peaceful experience. Owners are very friendly. Thank you for accommodating us and for your swift and honest service.

Love it everyone is so nice very quick service very nice food thank you glasshouse

Excellent find. Nice location for brunch. Excellent service and good size portions. Reccomend Fish and Chips.

If you want somewhere that has beautiful fresh cooked meals, or cakes, run by really friendly people, this is the place to visit. It's a place to just sit and enjoy your meal while taking in the lovely scenery. It's dog friendly too. Lots of outdoor seating should you wish. I've been twice now and both times have managed to get seated but maybe an idea to ring ahead to get booked in, just in case. I will certainly be returning again soon.

Love it great staff and good prices came here with mates and they love it to we will all recommend it to everyone we all know

Dropped in without reservation on Mothers' Day and it was immediately clear they were very busy! No tables inside but a lovely lady said we'd be fine to sit outside if we wished. The view down the valley towards Mersea is a stunning vista of beautiful Essex countryside and on a nice sunny day, the setting was perfect. Now all we needed was some nice food - our server did say it may take a while given how busy they were. Thankfully, the food was great - a good menu with plenty of options, good portions. well priced, and our service was much quicker than we could have expected or hoped for. Everyone we spoke to were extremely polite and welcoming. I really, really enjoyed our visit.

We called in on the off chance of having a coffee and small snack. Toasted sandwiches with a mixed side salad and lattes to drink made for a delicious afternoon snack. We will definitely be going back to have one of their tasty hot meals in the near future. Highly recommend. 👌

Wow absolutely amazing lunch was had by the 5 of us .We all had freshly cooked fish ,chips and peas which all enjoyed very much ,followed by lemon meringue pie,all served with a very welcoming and friendly by the owners Colin and Linda . Will definitely be back ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Had the day off work and decided that me and the wife would pop out for lunch - had the glasshouse on the list, so we travelled over to give it a go. Parking straight outside on the gravel area. As its name suggests, it's basically a big glasshouse. It looks like that in the summer there is also the opportunity to admire the view from some outside space. Inside there is a few tables, but I imagine it would be quite tight in there if full at all the tables at the same time. A few options on the menu that took our interest and we eventually opted for a ploughman's (carved ham and cheese) and the tuna and red onion jacket potato. The food was really nice / tasty, albeit a little on the higher side in terms of price perhaps. My wife said her hot chocolate was nice, and I enjoyed my tea - although the crockery could have been a bit better (the little milk jug had a chip out of it, and I had to give my cup a quick wipe before pouring my tea - nothing that ruined it, just could have been a tad better!) I would certainly come here again, perhaps on a day where the sun is out and bring the kids - although I didn't actually check to see if they had kids menu options...!

Enjoyable lunch, beautifully presented, good size portions.Quality.Thank you.

Good tasty food, presented well.Plenty of choice.Helpful, friendly service.Very welcoming.Thank you,we will return.

The food was nice, but the condiments bottles were very dirty and not covered with lids so open to dust and insects etc, coffee had the grounds in bottom of the cup, I won’t be returning.

Lovely ham, egg and chips for lunch today followed by a slice of cherry and coconut cake. Yum! 😋. Thank you to Linda and Colin, always, for a warm and welcoming reception.

Lovely unique place friendly hosts relaxing atmosphere great food.

What a fantastic dog friendly cafe to find. I've lived in this area all my life and never realised that this cafe had existed let alone been here for 4 years. the food was excellent I had a proper ploughman's which was made from a variety of fresh produce (the ham was especially nice), and not just a big lump of cheese, bits of mixed salad and a few crisps that you find in some cafes/ pubs my partner had a ham toasty and salad which she also enjoyed. The staff ..well owners actually, were really friendly and welcoming and the prices were very good. Would we go again .. absolutely and look forward to it (maybe the fish and chips next time) thankyou Colin and linda

This cafe was a brilliant find for a spot of lunch. The cosy and quaint building has stunning countryside views no matter the weather. The staff were wonderful and so helpful while the food was delicious! The portion sizes were generous and fantastic value for money. We can’t wait to go back already!

Lovely food, atmosphere and staff. Would recommend..

Had my mother's wake there. The food service and surrounds were perfect.

What a great find! Lovely and cosy, bright with beautiful views. there were four of us and the service was great! we all ordered the fish and chips which was beautifully cooked and piping hot, only wish i had room for the apple pie and custard. Next time! Excellent price, can't wait to pay a visit in the summer months and have a coffee outside. Thoroughly enjoyed, thank you.

Lovely meal, great views. Great service

Visited for the first time last week, what a treasure we found. Had fish, chips & mushy peas, delicious, the fish was fresh that morning from Mersea, batter was light, chips were crispy, not at all greasy. Best fish & chips we’ve had for ages. Service was excellent, going to book for the special next time. Definitely our new go to place, thank you.

Happened to drop by here en route for coffee and cake, and was not disappointed! Absolutely delicious mocha and lemon meringue tart, and the views from the cafe were beautiful. Will definitely return.

Hidden Gem! We came across this cafe a few months ago and enjoyed a lovely lunch, looking over the most stunning of views. We have since returned for breakfast and that was equally as lovely. The food has always been freshly made with some home grown ingredients. I don’t think you can beat it when the chef himself goes and picks his own vegetables from the vegetable garden. You can really tell that the owners put a lot of time, energy and love into this place and its surroundings. We cannot wait for our next visit.

Had cod & chips today with my wife and a good friend. Nice welcome and lovely location but the quality of the food was poor. Chips not great and the cod had been deep frozen, soft wet and tasteless.

It was a mesmerizing place with delicious coffee and a delectable vegan carrot cake.The shop and café ladies were incredibly helpful and welcoming. When I asked about the flowers, one of them eagerly guided me on what to choose, how to plant them, and provided detailed advice over coffee. It's an interesting place and perfect for a warm chat.

Love it nice place and great view good price and there was a lovely young man there who was nice and overall it was just a lovely place

Excellent hosts, superb food and service!

A fab find for quick pit stop whilst cycling. Cake and coffee bang on. Cycle rack. Inside or alfresco! Very quiet surroundings. Excellent staff!

Really enjoyed my lunch very quiet while we were there

Lovely place !! Visited today and had a sandwich, lovely! And plenty of salad and crisps as an accompaniment. A lot of choices on the menu to choose from. Lovely lady served us , we will be back !

Excellent Breakfast, first class service and views.

Pulled into the car park here this afternoon to be met by an extremely rude woman! “We have a private party did you not see the sign!!” The sign was a billboard on the floor that you actually couldn’t see until you were in the gate that it was leaning against! My daughter said oh we came to look at the plants too are we not allowed “yes you can”. We had 2 children with us, the oldest 4 was telling us what a rude lady. We were made to feel so unwelcome we didn’t bother looking at the plants and ventured 2mins down the road to The Plough Pub where everyone is made to feel welcome - safe to say we WILL NOT be revisiting thanks!

Lovely place to eat, lovely fresh hot food and very pleasant staff.

Thank you,Linda, for making my birthday lunch so memorable. The little Bakewell cake and candle was a generous and thoughtful gesture ! I have enclosed a copy of the picture you took for us: our combined age is 337.

Great food Good service Wonderful atmosphere

Best place to eat for miles around their 'home cooked' lunches are exceptional, we have never had a poor meal at the Glasshouse and normally dine on a weekly basis even though we live on Mersea Island and it means negotiating tide times. Our 'highlight' of the week with a friendly family running the cafe. Best to book in advance as space is limited even a call on the day is usually sufficient!

A wonderful 80th birthday lunch for friends 12 of us. We couldn't ask for better service thank you

Popped into one of my favourite little lunch spots today. I had the Club Sandwich, although eas tempted by the fish and chips having seen the whoppers on neighbouring tables being devoured. I followed this up by apple pie and custard. Lovely meal, as ever. Haha, I think I have only a couple of items on yhe menu that I haven't yet tried 😂. See you again soon.

We try to have a weekly lunch at the Glasshouse and today was as good as always. Never varies on top quality food and friendly service

Had a lovely lunch with family. We each had a different menu item, and we were all impressed. A nice afternoon looking across country fields towards the East Mersea Estuary. We were asked if we were warm enough, they had a heater aswell as radiators. There were flowering spring bulbs everywhere, which can be purchased. It was a nice sunny atmosphere for an early February afternoon. Overall, a good experience and will be happy to return. Recommended.

Visit there on occasions with my wife on our Motorcycle. Always good with friendly staff and other customers to chat to. Chief sometimes appears for a chat and joke. Looking forward to our next visit. Dave & Nicki.

Great little cafe, food was excellent as was the service

Absolutely beautiful venue…. The owners and staff are wonderful…food a treat….. Such a breath of fresh air in nature rich surroundings …. Likely to become my local… Michele ( partner at Starlight Tea Chapel)

Just had a nice lunch here , pleasant atmosphere and friendly owners. Food was very nice , they also sell flower bulbs etc.

Food and views are amazing and a must forbreakfasy

Friendly and welcoming. Food great and view wonderful!

What a lovely find, beautiful setting, lovely food and friendly hosts. Will definitely be returning.

Called in, late one afternoon. Beautiful views, lovely coffee. Friendly owner.

Great venue, well worth a visit, a little quirky which makes it a bit more interesting. Spent a wonderful afternoon with some old friends as part of a special birthday celebration. 10/10 for service and atmosphere.

Ordered three breakfast’s today and spoke to the cook that I wanted my egg softly cooked underside not burnt he reassured me that he understood. Meals came out, could have used the eggs as a frizzyby You could pick the yoke out with a fork. When I mentioned this to the waitress she said no one else has complained and was rather rude and abrupt. The rest of the meal was only fair and I haven’t ever had or seen sausages cooked that much. Shame as I came here about a year ago and it was bad then, but people told me it had got better. Sorry to have to leave such a bad review but the way I was treated makes me feel this way. Waitress after thinking about the way she spoke to me did offer different eggs but to late then .

Great 70th birthday celebrations.

Can’t believe I never got a fly in my coffee, Great experience nice people great food :)

Terrible coffee, came with a fly on top. I wouldn’t mind the fly of the coffee was decent but it tasted largely like muddy water. Would avoid for free let alone for £3

Friendly staff, excellent food & great views

We had the best fish and chips ever! It was delicious with fresh Mersea cod in light batter with yummy chips. The owners and staff are so friendly and helpful in a charming cafe. Highly recommend it.

What a great place to eat the food fantastic their fish and chips are best the fish is so fresh and the batter is light and crisp. The couple who own and run the cafe are so friendly. .

It's a nice, comfortable place and the owners give a personal service , maybe worth while to pre booking

Fantastic lunch in a lovely cafe with some great views. Very friendly and helpful staff, fantastic local caught fish and chips.🙂

Thoroughly recommended. We had a fabulous breakfast.

Very cute place to stop by, wonderful views xx

Fabulous little café, can get very busy,, and the owner is so friendly we had a great chat,,, food was absolutely stunning,,, highly recommend,,,

Lovely food as always. Really friendly, and beautiful surroundings

Excellent food and great staff. Definitely go again soon.

Unusual location. Very nice food. Reasonably priced.

Had a very nice breakfast. Lovely views across the ooen fields.

Excellent food, lovely food and beautiful views 😊

Just had a delicious meal of fish, chips and mushy peas, the place is situated in a beautiful spot, everyone is very friendly and nothing is too much trouble, i would definately recommend giving this cafe a visit, They were lovely enough to bring a cake and candle when they found out it was my daughters birthday, thank you so much, we will be back.

Just back from an absolutely beautiful breakfast at the glasshouse. Such a lovely warm welcome and the food is delicious! Thank you so much we will definitely be returning customers

What a fantastic place. The Fish & Chips and Apple pie were fantastic 10/10, and very reasonably priced given the exceptional quality. It’s a wonderful location, with views over a beautiful rural landscape. We will be back for sure.

Had a really rich and freshly made English breakfast

On holiday,I ordered 1 portion of fish and chips to collect ,must admit I was gobsmacked when it cost £12 ! Luckily my 2other family members were eating something else or I would have had a mighty shock at £36. Sorry it's too expensive for takeaway .tasted fine .batter wasn't great lots of bones in the fish .

Lovely fresh produce much of which is grown on the premises. Good selection, very accommodating, friendly and helpful. A very nice place to go.

Fabulous setting and great food

Had passed the place a few times, finerly found the time to call in, was late for the area, most places close at 4, and mersea is a holiday destination and unless you go to a pub you can't go for a coffee, glasshouse closes at 5. Welcome was friendly, lovely views and sitting outside on a hot evening a nice breeze, cake selection was ok, fresh delivery was due the next morning, we was happy with what they had and was a nice break in our schedule, sure we will return.

Excellent and very friendly service from the couple working there . I had my 90 friend with me and they considered her needs and my dogs . We were all very impressed .

Absolutely stunning views very peaceful, lovely people so helpful we had the full English was amazing come up a nice size portion after a lovely walk around the reservoir, will definitely be visiting again!

Delicious Cakes and Tea. Stopped in here this afternoon on the way back from Mersea Island. Wife had the Coffee and Walnut and I went for the Cherry and Coconut. Big pieces of cake both served with a pot of lovely Tea. Definitely worth stopping off here if you are nearby.

Stopped in for an early lunch. We had the burger, club sandwich and toasted sandwich. All were amazing. Fresh ingredients and big portions. The place is in a lovely setting, spotlessly clean and very friendly. Thanks.

A lovely location set in the Essex countryside. Plenty of seating inside and out. Average food served at a price.

They were unable to feed us as they had a lot of people people coming in later...

We had my daughters baby shower 12 adults and one three year old here and it was so lovely the food was just perfect fresh and all so tasty Colin did a wonderful job presenting us with great food and Linda made us feel so very welcome and really couldn’t do enough for us all it’s lovely to find that jewel in the crown it’s definitely here and i rarely write reviews but they really deserve this.

Lovely spot for afternoon tea, with views through the glass towards Mersea. Very welcoming, other meals are available!

Our 1st visit to the Glass House and it won’t be our last. The welcome was 1st class, the meal was excellent and the service was great very friendly. Lovely views, really nice place.

Great food with fast and friendly service

Fab venue to grad an afternoon tea with lovely view's of the countryside, great service very friendly with a nice selection on the menu will definitely be going back again.

Very pleasant, good quality food, and friendly service.

The welcome was really lovely and the view across the fields to Mersea were beautiful. A lovely place to sit, relax and eat excellent food! The food was great, massive portions and presented perfectly. The desserts were also delicious and had to bring some home such was the size of the cake

Visited a few times, always a friendly welcome, and lovely food.

Really beautiful setting. The owners are so welcoming and friendly. I have been many times and always receive delicious, excellently presented food. I would highly recommend a drive to the Glasshouse. Nothing is too much trouble. Will be taking my friends on my next visit. Scampi delicious!!

We had driven past a week or two before and decided to go for lunch, it was a week day so they were not overly busy but were expecting a large table shortly. The couple that served us were friendly and we enjoyed chatting to the lady that served us. The food was very good and we enjoyed the experience.

We cycled over today with some friends for lunch, we were made to feel very welcome, excellent food, terrific location. We had telephoned to advise them we were going to call in as we appreciate the cafe does get very busy at times. A very pleasant lunchtime we will definitely be back again soon.

Wonderful place for lunch. Arrived in a group of 8 cyclists, had prebooked. Seating capacity limited, staff extremely friendly and efficient. Menu, ciabatta, sandwiches etc. with a special of locally caught fish. Highly recommended. Alan

Maybe they don't like cyclists? Only 4 other people in the Café. Arrived by bicycle as a 50 plus couple. Removed my shoes out of respect although they were not muddy. Said hello to the lady behind the counter. Sat down. A few minutes later we went and got the menus. Said hello again but got no response. 5 minutes or so to passed. Another couple of slightly older ladies arrived. The proprietor said apparently the table we were sitting on was for this new couple. Ok no problem we can move but I got the feeling we were not wanted so we left. Certainly won't return and I just hope the lady serving was having an off day and doesn't treat all customers like this. Can't comment on the food or drink as we didn't get that far

A scrumptious full English in an idyllic setting. Thank you

Lovely place and lovely staff x

Eight of us had a family Sunday brunch here - the food was fab (veg full English w/ Linda McCartney sausages!) - and such a friendly, warm welcome in this family-run place - highly recommended

Lovely place to visit, fish and chips are great!

What a wonderful place to visit, the food, ambiance and people were so welcoming and customer centred. Will be returning soon. Thank you Linda, Colin and Natalie, a superb cooked breakfast xx Tom and Alexina