The Riverside Cafe and Terrace in Stratford-on-Avon

Used to be a regular and go at least once to twice a month grab a coffee and something to eat, sit outside as the atmosphere was great in summer then they changed the seating to make a more service style restaurant outside went there a few times but the food was expensive and the coffee arrived cold and after you had you meal it felt like you were no longer welcome it was much better before they changed it - I haven’t had the heart to go back

We visited with friends for a light lunch before a matinee. We were encouraged to see that soup and cheese scones were available. Except that they weren't... The person in front of us in the slow-moving queue had the last of both - at 12:15 on a day with a fully booked theatre. We opted for a sausage roll and a slice of cake each. The sausage rolls were horrid - you'd get better at Gregg's. One of the cakes was OK, the other was terribly dry. Never again.

Location lovely, food good however the service made the occasion. Courteous, efficient, friendly. Thanks to Nicola and Lucy for making a solo outing an absolute joy 😊

Have only been to the RSC a couple of times since Covid. Before then we always had a sandwich and a drink before a matinee in the small bar in the Swan. This no longer serves food so we have tried the Riverside Cafe. The fact that the shelf life of the sandwiches was measured in several days speaks volumes about the quality of the food. The bread was like damp cardboard, flabby and tasteless and the tuna/mayo filling in mine was like a paste with no texture. Cheap maybe but not deserving of being sold at the RSC. Chocolate cake crumbled under the fork and was sickly sweet. It would not be difficult to find better suppliers to up the standards. We are willing to pay more for better. Service was fine, no problems there

Have used this location for many years. Arrived today to be told it was table service take seat we will come and take your order. We sat for 15 minutes watched staff standing around ignored us. Then people they knew arrived and instantly were served. Needless to say we left and will not be returning, to what had been a great location. On reflection unfortunately the level of service provided is what we have come to expect from young uninterested people. Stratford proved many other locations who value your custom I would avoid this location.

Yesterday (Thursday) we attended the RSC matinee and thought it would be nice to have afternoon tea afterwards on the riverside Terrace outside- it's such a nice location. It was not to be though, for the misnamed "Riverside" Cafe ( with an abundance of pastries etc) is inside the theatre building, now sealed off from the Terrace ( on the other side of now blocked doors), immediately outside. So to be clear the Riverside Cafe is not by the riverside. Even worse, at 4.25pm the Terrace had scarcely no pastries to speak of, no scones, nothing of significance - and no, neither they nor we could bring anything out to the riverside from the so called Riverside Cafe. It was forbidden, verboten, absolutely not permitted. Tomorrow, Friday, they said may be better, as the Terrace menu was planned to improve - but today, Thursday, we could have lunch or dinner outside at 4.15pm but no afternoon tea. So, we were forced to buy from the Not Riverside Cafe instead and found an area quite far away at the side of the theatre - which was completely empty but at least outside. Unfortunately, even the cafe pastries were disappointing ( filled with sweet butter -cream) and so we were all left with a literal and metaphorical nasty taste in the mouth. What a waste of a super location and what a shame that the customer comes last - back to the worst of the 1960's. Great theatre, but dreadful catering.

The only one thing is good that is location by the river. Food is horrible, service also not the best. didn't expect that everything will be just cold. Cold fish, cold chicken.. disgusting. Cocktail was awful. Very disappointed. Not recommending.

Had lunch here. The cafe offers pretty standard food options but with the bonus of seating outside on benches by the river which was very pleasant.

I cannot think of a more wonderful place to spend a relaxing lunch in Stratford-upon-Avon? Staff are top notch, consummate professionalism mixed with friendliness, food is always perfectly done.

A skimpy salad, an OK sandwich, a coffee and a glass of water. Surely they could match the quality of the performances with theirsimple food!

In stark contrast to the wonderful experience we had in the theatre itself, the process of attempting to grab a quick bite before the matinee was frustrating and depressing. Please understand that I put none of this at the door of individual staff members, who were polite and did their best. This is a management problem. Admittedly, the drab, dismal surroundings would probably not have worried me had every other aspect not been so dire but it really isn't a pleasant space for a cafe and bar. The real problems, though, start and end with the pitiful inadequacy of this cafe to cope with the number of people likely to be visiting the theatre at any given time. A colossal queue, no vacant seating and no food remaining in the cabinets are facts that speak for themselves. As the weather was chilly, cold drinks were still well stocked but very expensive. Tens of people had to make do with crisps and a drink (and even the crisps were the dregs of their type - Pombears to be specific). Faced with a long, slow moving queue, many were turning away as they realised they wouldn't have time to snack before the matinee. I mentioned this deficiency to a staff member who gave the excuse that it was snowy, so more people than expected had come in. Well, in case anyone hadn't noticed - sometimes, in England, the weather is bad! If you only plan for the best case scenario, this kind of debacle is inevitable on a regular basis. I don't know what the other restaurants are like but I'm afraid this badly run eatery is letting an otherwise fine establishment down.

We called in here late Sunday afternoon to have tea/coffee and cake/scone. There was nothing on view to show the prices of the cake or scones. When I asked for a menu/price list showing prices, I was told that they did not display such information. If I wanted to know prices, I could point to each cake and the cashier would check for it on the till, and call it out to me. Imagine doing this with a queue waiting! I like to know the price of an item before agreeing to buy it.

Mother and I came here when we were booking up for Richard III later in the year. The food was ample, and the coffee and tea were really hot and good. I also loved the view of the river Avon. Excellent throughout :)

We went to the Riverside Cafe before a performance. The food was excellent, service really good and value for money. We were not rushed but they had the timing exact to get us out in time for the show. Worth a visit.

Only stopped for coffee but they make a lively cappuccino and you can catch a dot by the riverside to watch the swans. Cakes looked good!

Good theatre restaurant. wide range of food and wine was very acceptable! although not grande cru. Better than many other theatres we have visited.

The serive was good, choice was limited and some of the food was very dear, our table hadn't been cleaned, wouldn't use again

We had a lovely day and we went to the Cafe for a tea and decided to have shorbread it was yummy and well worth the £2.50 and we are looking forward to seeing the boy in the dress soon has we looked over dates over a lovely pot of tea afther warm welcome and went booked to it in March we are at 1pm . See you soon Thanks all

I felt very sorry for the overwhelmed member of staff today. There were trays of used crockery piled up indoors and outside. There was a queue for drinks and he was struggling to cope. We had tea and coffee. The Earl Grey tea brand has changed and was not good. We d noticed this at Susie's and at the Rooftop and thought it would improve. It hasn't. As we left, I noticed another member of staff arrive to help clear tables. The Box Office staff were chatting to each other. It would have been kind if one of them had gone to help. They were not busy. This isn't the quality or experience you'd expect from such a well known venue. The competition in Stratford is fierce , quality is much better elsewhere.

At the side of the river it gives splendid views and a good service. the drinks and food are much as you expect, quality and well priced. You won't be disappointed.

While in Stratford upon Avon we went to the Riverside Cafe for a drink and cake. I remember coming here as a student before watching a play before the recent renovations. It was such a treat and high quality but now is very ordinary. So much more could be made of a cafe in this prime location! We chose a cookie, brownie and piece of shortbread and waited in a long slow queue for drinks and to pay. The service was so slow. I was disappointed to see that there were wasps on some of the cakes! We sat outside on the balcony overlooking the river - what a beautiful spot. Lovely views, the best in Stratford but the slow service and quality of food could be improved.

Amazing location, amazing building but cafe doesn’t meet RSC expectations. Really poor service. Stood waiting for my drinks to be made as 3 staff stood talking discussing shifts as the queue built up and up - not the time to chat and ignore customers. Most of the cakes were sold out and sandwiches that were there were average and not worth the price. Shame. Hot drinks were ok but will give it a miss next time.

This is a great place for a light bite, such as cake and coffee or a drink to cool down. My friend had the G&T cake, and there was a large selection of soft drinks.We sat outside as it was very hot, and the location on the river is perfect with shade too from the sun. The service was very friendly, and there is a water keg too so you can fill up your water bottle.Prices were reasonable for the area, and there was a large selection of baked goods too.

Coffee and drinks were OK, ice creams a bit pricey! Position by the Avon great (if you eat outside)!

The food is always really nice and the view from the outside looking out over the river is always so beautiful plus because we live in Stratford we can walk there easy as pie !!!!!The only bad thing is that the food is a bit over priced.

Met some friends here for coffee before having a day in the town. There is no atmosphere to speak of in the place. It would have been nice to try one of the cakes but as they were uncovered we thought better of it. Coffee OK but nothing special. The area where you order was busy but we did not have an issue finding seats.

Inside RSC and next to the Canal, this has to be a five star location. Could that explain the lacklustre cafe? A captive audience? Standard fare, top prices! Service is excellent, the staff are a credit to the RSC, such a shame the cafe has not been given the same treatment. For atmosphere have refreshments here, for value go across the road.

Es el lugar perfecto para tomar un refrigerio junto al río y no tiene que ir a un espectáculo para disfrutar del entorno. Encantadora variedad de comida y bebida para elegir: el pastel de polenta iba a morir por ayer. Siéntese en la terraza del río mirando los barcos y los cisnes al sol.

Great little cafe to visit before a performance if you need a drink or to keep hunger away. Good prices.

Excelente ubicación con la atmósfera del teatro RSC desbordándose. Sin embargo, el área de la cafetería realmente no capitaliza su patrimonio teatral y, aunque hacen un esfuerzo, el mostrador de servicios y las áreas de exhibición son pequeñas y poco atractivas. Siempre parece que hay una cola cuando solo puede haber algunas personas esperando para ser atendidas, lo que debe alejar a las personas. Las opciones habituales de comida y bebida están disponibles. Maravillosa terraza exterior con nuevas sombrillas impresionantes, pero sentarse en los bancos de la parada de autobús deja un poco que desear. Suficiente asientos en el interior. El servicio es lo suficientemente eficiente, aunque el personal siempre parece estar funcionando para mantenerse al día con los clientes y despejar las mesas. Es decepcionante que a la cafetería le falte un carácter propio. Un montón de potencial a la espera de ser explotado.

If you are looking for a quick lunch then this is great value good choice and pleasant ambience. Plenty of activity from the theatre area and good access to the rest of the theatre area.

Una hermosa y calurosa mañana, llevé al perro a pasear por el río Avon y decidí regalarme un almuerzo rápido.

The coffee is good. The cakes tempt, but on the last occasion disappointed us. We find it a convenient meeting place, usually with room to sit, unless immediately before a performance. We like the option to sit outside when weather permits.

This is a cafe with a wide range of sandwiches, cakes but also humus dips, fruit, etc. It is in the theatre so is convenient for theatre goers. it's also right by the River Avon. When weather permits the doors are opened.

Nice large spacey cafe by the river and a great choice if your watching a show. We came to climb the tower which was good and the coffee was just what we needed. I was slightly let down by the cake selection as I'm gluten free. However the coffee was good.

Lacks any of the ambience you might expect from the theatre. I'd go elsewhere for coffee. We had cake and tea. The cake was dry and the overall experience disappointing.

There is a really nice view of the river from this cafe. The food is good and the drinks too. It does get crowded just before a performance so try and avoid that

We’re sat outside the cafe at the moment. We’ve had a beef sandwich which promised horseradish but didn’t have any, it also promised beef but instead had old shoe leather. My wife returned it to utter indifference from the staff and instead we’ve had a £4 cheese sandwich with awful cheese and only one slice of bread buttered.

I’ve been here a few times due to nothing else being available - stratford cafes get busy!

We visited on a warm summer's day for coffee and cake. The location is excellent to view the comings and goings of the river. The restaurant is not the cheapest. But it is a nice place to sit.

Visitamos para ver la producción de Christmas Carol, que fue genial, véala si puede. Pero estoy comentando sobre la cafetería de Riverside en la que almorzamos antes de la sesión matinal. A pesar de estar allí a las 12 del mediodía, la sopa ya no estaba disponible, nos dijeron "puede haber algunos traídos de la cocina en 20 minutos". No es ideal en un día frío sin otra comida caliente disponible en la cafetería. Preparado para sándwiches - mala elección disponible - quería carne pero los únicos estaban en pan blanco, no marrón. El ambiente, la decoración y el ambiente de la cafetería son pésimos. Muy decepcionante y no es un buen comienzo para nuestra visita. Gracias a Dios la producción de Christmas Carol fue excelente.

We arrived to watch a play this eve and had lunch in this riverside cafe. Plenty of outside seating and lots indoors too. Simple sandwiches, soups and lovely cakes and drinks. Good service. Two soups!

Visitamos a última hora de la mañana un sábado cuando estaba muy lleno y había una larga cola para ser atendidos. Hay una terraza muy bonita exterior que tiene excelentes vistas del río. El precio del café parecía un poco extraño, era 2. 40 para un café con leche y 30 p extra para un blanco plano!

Had good coffee overlooking the river Avon. Great pictures inside the theatre and really good shop. Worth a visit

We had a lovely sandwich in beautiful surroundings. The coffee was excellent and it was so relaxing sitting on the terrace watching the boats sailing past.

Sábado lluvioso y oscuro de la casa principal, así que no hay mucha gente. Mi sándwich fue definitivamente duro. Sin embargo, el té de bayas era delicioso y volveré para eso. En general, sin embargo, el lugar estaba desordenado, no estaba claro y no se sentía amado. Todavía se siente así en un día soleado de verano. Caro también, por lo que está recibiendo.

Atmosphere is non existent, service is poor and the cakes are stale. I asked the lady how long the cakes had been out and she said they were fresh everyday. However, we know they were not. They ladies spent more time talking among themselves and seemed to see us as more of an inconvenience. As a world class venue, this element brings the place down and gives off an air of pure amateur. We returned later in the evening and visited the Swan bar instead of the cafe and was surprised to see how such a beautiful place could look so messy, and the bar staff looking so miserable due to under staffing. We come to see a play each season, and other than the last winter season (during Christmas), the cafe areas consistently let this venue down, both in terms of service, freshness of product and price. It is best to have food and drink elsewhere and only use the venue to see the performances.

We dropped in for a cup of tea and found the waterside seating very peaceful and comfortable if you nabbed a cushion for your bench. We went at a quiet time so service was speedy. Imagine it could get very busy!

A nice little cafe within the RSC in Stratford on Avon.

Understaffed in a space designed by a five year old. Be there well before the play begins else you will be in a rush to eat your indifferent food. The only thing that lets down an otherwise consistently superb night out.

We came here to enjoy the pleasant views and surroundings of this location.

This is the only reason to visit here - on the banks of the River Avon in the sunshine but on shared benches and tables. Self service cafe with very slow service- staff unable to cope. But once you have your coffee and a seat it is very pleasant.

After a fairly long walk around the town it was very pleasant to sit outside on the waterfront enjoying the views in the shade! The food and drinks were reasonably priced and all the staff that we encountered were very friendly.

We enjoy using this café when it’s not too busy...queues can be rather long when there’s a performance due. Coffee and cakes are good. On the latest occasion, although the place wasn’t busy, we found the service rather less-than-friendly.

Ok limited fayre,but why does that matter when you can sit on their terrace and overlook The River Avon sipping a diet coke!......can this get any better?

Great café with outdoor terrace with views over the river. Good selection of cakes and drinks and not bad prices considering the views

One of the nicest locations in Stratford upon Avon to enjoy a coffee. Set by the river, you can watch the boats on the river and watch the world go by! One quibble: over £3 for a slice of catering pack cake....not good.

Beautifully situated by the RSC and the river. Perfect to watch the swans and narrow boats go by..and lovely coffee

Visited Stratford for a show, and dropped in during the day for coffee and cake, wasn’t cheap but was fabulous and with a view of the river, lovely experience.

Excellent spot for river and people watching.A good choice of cakes including gluten free. Lovely coffee and lavender shortbread.

Well worth a visit if only for the views of Stratford and the river . The outside balcony is an excellent place for a coffee and a cake on a nice day.

Had quick lunch there. The shrimp salad was fresh and good size. This cafe is located at a good location. Felt relaxed to have lunch or snack by the river.

We had a drink at the cafe and sat outside on a comfortable bench and table. We had a wonderful view of the river as it run by the side of the building.

We visit here often and returned on a sunny, Sunday afternoon( also Mothering Sunday). Can’t fault the two lovely cheerful girls serving or the nice drinks & cakes but goodness RSC, sort your staffing out! Predictably busy, queue a mile long, discarded trays and dirty crockery everywhere ( blowing off the tables outside and littering) and one door partially open to the outside seating so we couldn’t get a wheelchair in and people were struggling to get out with trays to sit outside. Lost count of how many people came out saying they’d given up on waiting. We will come again but on a quieter day. Your staff are great! I wouldn’t have been smiling today....

We wanted a pre show cuppa but were enticed into having cakes with our drinks. Although a little more expensive than some local shops we were pleasantly surprised how tasty they were and the fact that there were some interesting flavour combinations to choose from, even a gluten-free cake wasn’t a brownie.

Was hoping to sit outside overlooking the river, but the weather wasn't on our side. It was virtually empty when we arrived, so we had the pick of seats and no wait for service at the counter. Coffee and cake was excellent and reasonably priced and well worth a visit if you are collecting tickets or visiting the gift shop

Great view of river Avon and swans Food selection is average at tourist prices Clean ,friendly staff but lacking in atmosphere

In the winter the limitations of this cafe show. In the absence of the outside seating by the river, the cafe has little atmosphere and the paucity of its offering is more apparent. There is little in the way of hot food except soup. It’s...

Lovely to sit in the theatre cafe with a coffe or tea and cake, soaking in the atmosphere of great actor's and Will's words.

Having been misinformed on the RSC website about the opening hours of The Rooftop Restaurant we decided to have a snack pre matinee performance in the Riverside Cafe. The standard was poor on every level. The choice of sandwiches was extremely limited, with only about one or two that did not contain onion, the service was painfully slow with members of staff getting in each other’s way behind the counter trying to make different coffees, serve soup, and take money all at the same time, tables were not cleared - in fact the whole place seemed chaotic. We opted for a beef and tomato sandwich which was tasteless, and the soup and crusty bread. The bread was dry and although probably not stale had been sliced, then left uncovered to dry out. The soup was actually quite nice. I do hope that any foreign tourists visiting the theatre did not think this catering establishment was representative of what we have to offer in the UK.

Have stroll around this fascinating town and would will end up walking along the river Avon...through the market and in front of you you will find the RSC riverside cafe..great views of the town from the rooftop. Enjoy!

As we live locally we use the cafe a lot because it's a great place to sit and people watch next to the river but the cafe could be so much better.

Visited on Sunday 24th September, was there when it opened.

When we visited the RSC theatre to book for the evening show we decided to have a refreshing cup of tea & cake.

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Went for afternoon tea with the girls. Got to say the scones were small and dry. Very very disappointed. I expect better. Have been to RST restaurant before for dinner and have to say I enjoyed it then but for this I was hugely disappointed. Not worth the money not even for the view -especially as I am a local and see the view a lot. Staff were fairly absent too. I won't be returning to RST café for afternoon tea -there are much nicer places in Stratford.

Went for a coffee and a cake. Lovely setting by the river but cakes and scones were dry and not nice. Sorry won't be visiting again

I think it's the best spot for seeing the Avon. So just stop for a coffee or tea if you are afraid the food might not be the best. In good weather it's a no-brainer.

Lovely location right by the river. The sandwiches and cakes are lovely, and they have 'proper' coffee. The outside seating could be improved by being more comfortable.

Good views of the river, the RSC and the Stratford Ferris wheel. Reasonable choice of cakes, sandwiches and drinks (although some alcoholic drinks are rather expensive). Pleasant friendly staff.

We stopped for afternoon tea as we were passing. Returned our caramel shortbread as it tasted stale though I was assured it had been freshly made that morning. I have had better cappuccinos.

I don't usually leave a review of a coffee shop but the young guy who served us on Saturday (19th) was very helpful and charming, the coffee was excellent too!

We stopped here for a cappacino, the prices were reasonable 7 pound 50 for 3 drinks.Staff were friendly.The location is excellent overlooking the river avon.

Located on the first floor of the theater the cafe was crowded. The food was OK, pretty much what you would expect from a "fast" cafe at the theater - basically sandwiches, cookies, drinks, etc. Seating is a problem, especially if the outside tables are being rained on - which they were. There are plenty of places to eat in Stratford, but if you are pressed for time, then this is doable.

Been twice, one in May, then July 2017. Excellent service/value/prices each visit. Wonderful food, well worth a visit.

Had a sandwich cake and coffee. All good, though the star of the show is seating overlooking the river.

Couldn't resist a visit here, everything looked delicious. Had a fine pot of tea & a lovely coffee for my friend. Cakes were mouthwatering and would visit again to try another tempting treat.

Sitting on the outside balcony of this café you can watch people in the park opposite or messing about on the river. There is a good selection of cakes, sweets and sandwiches which should please just about everyone. On a colder day sitting inside there is plenty of room too.

We had a snack here before going into the theatre and were pleasantly surprised at the wide variety of food and drink available here. We sat outside which is has beautiful views up and down the river and to the opposite bank.The sandwiches are fresh and filled with plenty of tasty fillings. The pots of nuts and fruits are really tasty and good value. Tea and coffee is good, strong and hot.The staff are all very friendly and I will definitely visit here again.

early evevning meal before theatre performance , food delicious and very helpful staff , only downside was they seeemed to want to get you served very quickly with each course straight after each other , and Im guessing the food must have been pre prepared at the speed at which it was served , great views over Stratford

We were at the RSC for a matinee performance so decided to go early and have a light lunch. The cafe was busy so the selection of sandwiches was somewhat limited. However there were plenty of cakes available and the coffee was good. Service was ok considering how busy the cafe was.

It is what it is a nice riverside cafe in the superb RSC Theatre. Sit outside by the river on the terrace or inside is just as good.We paid around £7 for a pot of tea for two which was a large pot (2 cups each) and a whoper slice of Victoria Sponge which was average tasting. Not the cheapest perhaps but it was enjoyable and as part of the RSC and on a day visit its just about worth it.

We had seen this cafe from the opposite side of the river. We were able to sit our under canopies, on padded seats right near the river. We had a sandwich, and cake (which we shared) and a coffee. All were fresh and good to eat.

Food is crap so is the service Don't bother plenty of better places to eat in Stratford upon Avon and much better value for money

It is the one disappointing part of the whole RSC experience. Queues are often long with poor quality food. The tea and coffee in the rooftop restaurant much better experience. Weather has never been good enough for me to sit out on the balcony which would at least have a good view, unlike the dreary setting inside. One to avoid.

Tea and coffee at the cafe. Sat outside great views up and Down the river. Drinks what you expect we would visit again.

I don't to pop in for a quick coffee before being seated for Antony & Cleopatra. The queue for beverages was quite substantial, so I waited for what seemed such a long time to be served. The cafe is small and seating is restricted, I did join another customer who was kind enough to let me share their table. The coffee was ok, I felt I had to rush and drink it fast so that I didn't miss the start of the play. I don't think I would visit the cafe again, I would choose one of the street cafes in the main part of town.

I was very disappointed by a light lunch we ate in the cafe. The choice was very poor and the quality of the sandwiches was of a ow standard. I can get better in Marks and Spencers and wish we had bought our lunch there instead.

Perfect for sitting outside by the river in warmer weather, plenty of tables, also for sitting inside with the theatre ambience. Delicious cakes! And teas, coffees, soups and sandwiches etc.

Nice range of teas and sandwiches plus scones and cakes are good value for £28.00 for two people. We were given a nice window table with lovely town views. The restaurant has a nice ambiance and service was fine - just a little frustrated that 10% service charge is automatically added by the management. We would have given this anyway. Poor show - drops from 5 to 4 star.