The Refectory Kitchen in Canterbury

Had the ‘Grill Up’ and it was wonderful. Served by friendly, highly efficient, young staff, who seat you, and serve you with great skill and attention. So why not 5 stars? Simple. It doesn’t come with black pudding as standard, and to get a triangular (yes really) not particularly thick slice, as an extra, costs £1.50. This took the edge of a great start to the day a little, and is clearly the worst kind of discrimination against me, and my fellow Northerners. Whilst tempted to sit outside, with a placard, singing ‘We Shall Overcome’, instead I’ll probably go back again, as soon as I can, and try the Rancher. Great place, great food, super staff. Go!!

You simply can't go wrong opting to go here for lunch or breakfast. It's so incredibly tasty! No mistake, I'm partial to a dirty fry-up with all your essentials at a greasy spoon, but this isn't that. This is quality food cooked beautifully. The menu isn't too excessive and they play to their strengths - get eggs! No matter what you opt for make sure it includes eggs. I've been here a number of times now and I'm a huge fan of the Refectory Grill-Up, which I strongly recommend. However. More recent visits I've been a sucker for The Rancher, which is poached eggs, sausage patty and holllandaise sauce is up there with my favourite breakfast in canterbury (only rivalled by the Eggs Chaucer at Tiny Tim's). On this visit me and partner both got it and with a side of paprika potatoes to share, which weren't spicy but had lots of flavour. The price was around £40 with a chai latte and cappuccino, which for what you get is good value for money. The restaurant can get very busy, so I encourage you to book in advance during key times. If you do find yourself waiting, it's worth it, and I've never had to wait more than 15 mins. Don't leave, be patient. The service is great and you will leave incredibly satisfied!

What a great find for breakfast/lunch. Menu was quite different to the run of the mill restaurants you find in Canterbury. Staff were very friendly and efficient. A lovely log fire was burning to warm us up. Loved the peacamole. Wish it was on my doorstep.

A bustly place with very professional staff and fun art on the walls. Most important, though, the food was excellent. There was nothing on the breakfast menu we didn't fancy, not least because there were so many imaginative and creative ideas. A great experience.

We had a very tasty late lunch/brunch at this establishment recently. Unfortunately, my wife wasn’t able to have a milkshake as the ‘milkshake machine’ was broken…didn’t know you needed one to make a milkshake… However, the Rancher (with a zing of chipotle) and the stack of Buttermilk Pancakes (sweet with the balance of salty crispy bacon) were both very nice washed down with ginger ale & lemony lemonade respectively. A good place to have good food.

Had a fantastic breakfast here. Had extra hash brown which was delicious and the grill up. All cooked perfectly and very high quality ingredients. Also had a very nice chai latte. I researched best breakfast in Canterbury and this came up - we agreed it could not have been better.

We visited here on the strength of other reviews and were not disappointed. We had the veggie up and eggs florentine with a side if a hash brown. Absolutely delicious, piping hot and the best breakfast we've had in ages. The breakfast tea and americano were also lovely and we both loved the blueberry apple and ginger juice. Staff were also lovely! Highly recommended

Very busy place with a good range of brunch options including vegetarian and vegan fare. Great service. Be prepared to wait as the don’t take reservations.

Popped in for brunch with 2 friends and a pooch. Outstanding service, dog bowl for water on arrival and swift coffees/juice. Macchiato's were banging and OJ fresh. Ordered 2 x Eggs Royale with extra spinach and 1 x Refectory Grilled Breakfast with one of their amazing hash browns as an extra. Totally scrumptious, exactly the right amount of food, homemade baked beans and everything. Really impressed. Highly recommend.

This was my favorite place for eating breakfast in Canterbury. The food looks and tastes amazing. I also loved the friendliness of the staff and the ambience.

Very nice staff, excellent food. We had avocado on toast, and the waffle, bacon, sausage special prices as expected for a tourist town - can fully recommend!

Service was impeccable from all the lady’s who worked there, they were so lovely and friendly. The food was out of this world, we had the grill up which tasted amazing. We loved the home made beans. Great quality food. Me and my partner said this was one of the best breakfasts’s we have ever had. Highly recommend this place!

Super, super friendly lovely staff. AMAZING food & drinks to say the least, great variety, we will defiantly be returning it’s our new local favourite breakfast spot. Quick efficient service despite being super busy. They’re also dog friendly in & outside which is great!

Loved this place! The service was impeccable. We had to wait about 10 minutes to be seated, but waitresses were keen to get us in. There is a wide range to choose from for breakfast (which is served all day), and a lot of combinations that I have not seen before. The waitresses were polite and friendly and really looked after us, despite it being a full restaurant. The food tasted amazing. I cannot wait to go back!

2 stars for the location and terrace. Lost one star for food, one star for price and one star for service. Overrated breakfast indeed. Expensive for the ridiculously small portions. The avo and smoked salmon toast is quite small. The merguez and egg dish has 3 tiny merguez, and 1/2 a piece of bread of the side, disappointing. The coffee is all right. The service is extremely slow. Bottom line don’t walk in based on their reputation. 4 years ago it was better. There are other places for breakfast in Canterbury.

Nice food and coffee but don’t walk in they’ll throw you out ! Strangely operating like the height of covid Walked in out of the rain but told to wait outside despite the half empty cafe with many empty tables . Very unwelcoming and bizzare...

Very nice. Certainly get there at 8AM on the weekend as by 9 there's a queue normally down the street. Probably the best breakfast in Canterbury.

Was okay not awful, we read the reviews and thought we would try it out,would come back to try again

Popped in after reading the reviews, it didn't disappoint, infact exceeded our expectations. Staff polite and friendly, quick service but not rushed. Lovely ambience and decor. I had the breakfast which was exceptional, especially the sausage and bacon. My wife had the scrambled egg which...

Coffee Master here; coffees were sublime. Lush latte art 🤩 Both dishes were 5/5, don’t know much about eggs, but I know the poached egg was a bloody gooden. (Evidence provided below). Defo returning soon.

I can see why this place has been rated so highly. The food was amazing, staff were very friendly and helpful. Really enjoyed my breakfast, good value too. Thank you

The food and the service were excellent. Very cozy. Had the blackberry and green apple porridge and hash browns for breakfast. Delicious.

I would 100% recommend this place for lunch/brunch. The staff are so so lovely and the food is top notch. I would personally recommend the pancakes or the brioche french toast because they were so good!

I live locally and had a friend visit me so we decided to come here, despite never having visited before. I’d heard good things and was not disappointed. Luckily, we did not have to queue and were seated immediately. The staff were lovely and highly...

We arrived between Christmas and New Year. It was very busy so we had to wait outside whilst a table became available. Coffee food and atmosphere were excellent. Staff very attentive. Shame it’s not in Manchester

First time visit for a breakfast treat. Menu and choice excellent we both had full English with black pudding. Food was first class and service very good.

Went for Brunch & the food was excellent & has been every time we’ve gone, can’t recommend this place enough, you might have to queue to get in but it is more than worth the wait & the wait is often not as long as...

Outstanding classy breakfasts. Excellent chai latte. Lovely staff and atmosphere. Convenient location. Nothing not to like.

Lovely & friendly service, staff were welcoming and very nice. Food was excellent, the homemade baked beans are the best! Highly do recommend this place if your in Canterbury and getting breakfast whether your local or just visiting

Busy and good atmosphere but you do usually have to wait to be seated as you can’t book. Friendly attentive service. Good choice on menu for breakfast/brunch meals. Would say that plates need to be bigger (not serving size) so that you actually have room...

The restaurant is quaint and the tables are nicely spaced out so it doesn't feel crowded The staff were really nice and polite and the food was better than many places I have had brunch Close to the centre of town this is an ideal...

Yes, it's as delicious as it looks. Almost always a line (cue) outside, especially on weekends, but well worth it. Great selection of coffee drinks, juices, and brunch items. Staff is lovely as well.

Great little cafe, coffee was delicious, amazing freshly pressed juices, French toast and full English were really good would highly recommend only downside staff weren’t that attentive but would 100% return

Best Brunch place in Canterbury, location very easy to find for tourists (as we were!). The food we ordered was delicious and the staff was very friendly and professional!

Great Food and very friendly Service. Food arrived nicely presented very fast even if the place was busy. Freshly made juice, and coffee was great too. I will definitely come back in next few days.

Good food, lots of vegetarian and vegan options. I tried the tofu scramble and loved it. Service was great as well. Definitely worth a visit.

Had one of the best French Tosst and bacon I have ever eaten. Greatcoffee, fresh juice and efficient, friendly service.

I don’t normally do reviews but I felt like I had to with this place. Hands down the best brunch/breakfast I’ve had in this area! I had been meaning to try it for years then finally did in the new year and not stopped coming...

Gorgeous little cafe. Constantly busy with people requesting tables. We waited around 10 minutes for a table of 2 people. Pleasant serving staff and a good menu with quirky selections. We had the maple bacon pancakes with honeycomb butter and the rancher. Coffee was very...

I could not recommend this cafe enough! The staff are so welcoming and kind as soon as you walk through the door, and were always checking we were okay. The menu selection is great and has something for everyone. Everything with the food and drink...

Lots of options & very delicious. Staff were all so lovely. Good value for money also in my opinion. Highly recommend this cafe/restaurant!

The food never disappoints and is always delicious...for a reasonable price too. Dog friendly. Friendly staff. Awesome.

Had the most amazing club sandwich with lemon new potatoes, friendly attentive staff, it does get busy but it’s not surprising as was excellent

Place runs like a well oiled machine. Chef knows what’s up, front staff knows what’s up. Prices good, quality excellent. We had a grill up and another dish with in-house smoked salmon. Fresh juice - lovely. Latte also super. Don’t be afraid of a queue,...

I decided at the very last minute to dine here and was met at the door with a smile and a cheerful greeting. The staff were very attentive and the food was great! If I have to make one small point it would be that...

Greeted by lovely staff, a very cosy little restaurant. The breakfast was tasty, the produce high quality. Only down side I think the homemade baked beans are too tomatoey and tart. Other than that spot on

Friendly, efficient service in a really nice atmosphere. Most importantly, the burgers were excellent. Quality ingredients, really well put together. I can't comment on anything else on the menu as we were all in a burger mood! Guess we're just going to have to visit...

Went on a recommendation from our Air BnB host and it did not disappoint! An excellent range of breakfast and brunch options, for those with all kinds of appetites. We had eggs royale and Brioche French toast with apple, syrup and biscuit crumb topping. Would...

The best place - feel so lucky I found this little gem on Google! Gorgeous food, both savoury and sweet, fantastic coffee, and wonderful staff and service. Absolutely loved and will be back when I next visit Canterbury. Also sooo much vegan food. I’ll be...

It was my first visit to Refectory Kitchen and it was excellent and I will definitely be coming back. From the welcome greeting through to food and drink ordering and delivery everyone I dealt with were both friendly and efficient. I ordered the Club Sandwich...

Wonderful breakfast with the family, they were very very busy, good prompt service, lovely staff always smiling and helpful, will be going back soon, do try when in Canterbury

Love it here. Food is wholesome and tasty. Great portion size, staff are always so friendly. We visited the city for a weekend (we used to live here) and we went here on both mornings we were in town!

On our way back from Whitstable stopped off to check out Canterbury ! Lucky for us we did as this little gem just before the West Tower was AMAZING !!!! Waited 5 mins for a table for 2 as it was already buzzing at 09.30...

Incredible pile of delicious pancakes with maple syrup, bacon and an inspired butter. Best coffee for miles too. Great staff. Can’t recommend this place more highly!

Had the most fantastic breakfast here with my 5 year old son! Excellent, friendly service, great menu, and the food was excellent! He had porridge from the children’s menu (served in a cup and saucer) and I had ‘Green eggs and ham’!

This spot is busy all day once it opens the doors, which speaks for itself! A neat, small cafe with a fresh juice option every day & a delicious array of food & cocktail options. The service is fantastic & attentive on every visit. The...

The Refectory Kitchen is consistently good. On this occasion my Club Sandwich was faultless . The Smoked Salmon & Avocado looked tasty too. The Chapel Down Rose was also a hit. Much to recommend!

What a brilliant place to have breakfast! It’s a really nice room, the look is great. The staff are excellent. The breakfast / brunch menu is Top notch. The waffles are unexpectedly good (unexpected because I generally find them too dry and a bit tasteless...

We have been trying a selection of places for breakfast in Canterbury and The Refectory Kitchen comes out near the top. Far better than Kitch and The Skinny Kitchen by far. Fenwick is good and we do use it quite a few times but a...

We had a delicious breakfast here yesterday. I had the waffle, bacon, sausage, eggs, and maple syrup, my hubby had the full English. Both were generous and super tasty. The waffle was huge and had plenty of syrup which was appreciated! The coffee was the...

Went to visit friends in Canterbury for a couple of days, visited the Refectory on my first morning, was straight back there the next morning it was that good! As soon as you walk in you feel warm, cosy and relaxed, great atmosphere. On my...

Visited this place as we were staying nearby at The Falstaff. We had breakfast a number of times at The Refectory Kitchen and thoroughly enjoyed it. The place is very nicely designed, the staff are fantastic and the choice/quality of food on offer is superb....

Visited at around 11am on a Saturday and we were seated very quickly, especially considering there was 7 of us. Staff were very friendly and happy, served us drinks and food very quickly. Ordered a mixture of food including the ‘green eggs and ham’, eggs...

A truly historic breakfast in a historic city. The menu was inspired, food outstanding and service friendly and impeccable.

The reviews list is it as allegedly the best breakfast in Canterbury - I would have to 100% agree, the food, the service, the atmosphere are all superb! Great coffee, and the Bloody Mary’s are something else and possibly the best I’ve had, worth going...

Absolutely delicious food, one of the best breakfasts I’ve ever had! Coffee was great too, and wonderful, friendly service! We had the smoked salmon & avocado and the veggie up breakfast, both were amazing!

Went past at varying times and it was always packed..my family who live locally say its lovely and always like this and one has to book in advance. Good luck, i will keep trying when in town.

Great breakfast and friendly staff thank you, a real stand out cooked breakfast compared to a regular fry up. And the bacon pancakes looked awesome too.

I eat regularly at The Refectory. Always somewhere to meet a friend for late breakfast or an early lunch. Food always lovely and service excellent. I run a local AirBnB and recommend always to my guests. They always return singing the praises of breakfasts a...

It is with good reason this place is rated best breakfast in Canterbury. We visited multiple times during our stay. The food was amazing to eat, the menu interesting. The produce was fresh and sourced based on quality. (Man those sausages were the best!) Great...

A fantastic brunch, cannot recommended “The Rancher” enough, fabulous take on the eggs benedict, great coffee and lovely staff

Had breakfast here and would struggle to complain about anything. Service, food, coffee and location were all top notch.

Truly delightful food, staff are very friendly and welcoming. Would definitely come back next time we are in town to experience more of the menu.

A brekkie visit follwing checks on trip advisor for recomendations , the system does work. This lived up to the reviews with the service and food being very good. Its busy so alot of people agree

Came here with friends for Friday lunch. Absolutely lovely staff members first of all, delicious fresh juices, and fantastic mains. We had the veggie burger, roasted veg sandwich, eggs Benedict and green eggs and ham - all were absolutely cracking. Would definitely return when in...

We arrived on a train from London at 1230pm and found this restaurant for lunch. It was perfect for our adult family as it has a nice selection of very appetizing dishes for both lunch and breakfast! The staff was very lovely and the food...

A charming, rustic eatery in a busy thoroughfare with both inside and outside dining. Service was quick and friendly with a menu to make any mouth water. My friend opted for poached egg on smoked salmon with smashed avocado on sourdough toast whilst I plumped...

Checked this place out before we got to Canterbury and the reviews made it sound ideal, when we got there it was busy which is another great sign of how good a place is, had a 15 minute wait while a large table finished and...

This is the sort of establishment we should be supporting for a light lunch, snack or stop during a visit. It's modern. The staff are charming and attentive and the food and beverages are great. Well worth a visit.

Superb service, superb food. Visited 3 times during the week we visited Canterbury. Highly recommend. One of rhe friendliest places we've been!

Great Sunday breakfast- lots of choice and we’ll presented. No problems taking our dog in too. Friendly service

Great service and nice interior. Our breakfasts were excellent and reasonably priced. The waitress provided the name of a local coffee roasters where they source their very good coffee. Recommended

Sam I Am in the poem by Dr Seuss would have had no problem in persuading his friend to eat green eggs and ham at the Refectory as they're really good & my husband enjoyed his sausage sandwich. What really makes this place special apart...

Lovely place to eat....delicious variety of dishes ... all beautifully presented...coffee was excellent....we'll be back

Popped in without a booking hoping to get a table. Both my daughter and I ordered the poached eggs with salmon and avocado and it was delicious. Staff are lovely and very efficient and I’d definitely recommend a visit.

Having visited this lovely cafe before we decided to come over from Whitstable to dine again.We haven’t visited for quite a while as COVID prevented this.I had the Refectory Fry Up and my husband had scrambled eggs on toast. Both breakfasts were delicious ( I...

Group of 6 visited on a Thursday morning. The venue was unable to accommodate us immediately but said we could wait. After 10 minutes or so, 2 tables became free which were in close proximity to one another. I suggested to one of the staff...

This brilliant little cafe never fails to please. Delicious carefully prepared food and drink along with friendly service.

The best coffee ever! Lovely food with fab service. Varied menu with plenty of vegetarian and vegan options. Would definitely return for brunch.

Went to pick my son up from uni and we went here for breakfast. We had a warm Covid friendly welcome and quickly shown to an inside table. We were quickly given a jug of water. I had fresh orange juice, the green healthy smoothie...

Great vegetarian breakfast, eggs, homemade beans, smashed avocado and a sweet corn fritter! Lovely juices and coffee too. Gluten free bread available as well.

We stayed close by and spotted this walking past. The breakfast menu is has everything you would want from healthy to indulgent. The quality and value is excellent. Recommended!

Just amazing! There can be a queue but the food here is amazing! Staff very welcoming and attentive. But it's the food - quite special. We had the mozzarella dippers as a side. They were amazing. If we had found this our first morning in...

Great café for brunch! Popped by without a booking and the friendly staff sat us very quickly. The coffee was good and food even better; would definitely recommend the refectory rancher. 10/10.

Modest premises but superb venue. We had breakfast. Lovely choice, food beautifully cooked and service attentive without being intrusive. Thank you we will be back.

I love this place. The service and food were amazing. Only wish it was in my town. Can’t wait to go again.

Pancakes and bacon for Breakfast. They were very nice. Coffee was went down a treat. Staff were friendly and welcoming. Tables nicely spaced out and you felt safe. Highly recommend a visit here, it will not disappoint.

Service was brilliant - especially Dan who was so accomodating. Excellent gluten free options and the food tasted great!

Wow this was one of the best breakfasts I had for a long time. The Stateside! Waffle with scrambled eggs, streaky bacon, sausage pattie and maple syrup. I don't often find this combo on brunch menus and have to put it together myself but at...

Lovely little cafe with a little sitting area outside the from. Nearly went somewhere else but then came across this place while walking around and I had previously saved on my list to look at later. All the staff were really friendly which was a...