Whilst I don't normally compose these lists in order of price, quality or preference. I think in all of these cafes, a coffee and cake for two people will be around £14-16. I'll make no secret on this occasion which one's of these are currently the best all round for quality coffee and cake.
.jfif)
No 1- Salthouse Stores - Salthouse
Over 2025 we've made countless visits to Blakeney, taking stock we've made for Seagull's Gallery, to check what we've sold, or do our twice monthly voluntary manning of the shop. Nine times out of ten we'll go early in order to stop off in Salthouse to have coffee and cake in the Stores there. Because it is by a long way the best made coffee in our bit of North Norfolk, and its never 'barista dependent' either. The coffee is always made to a reliable standard. They also have a consistent range of sweet and savoury bakes. People literally fight over their Cinnamon Buns, because they are simply the best when they have them in, ditto their Cruffin. Plus they do an excellent Banana Loaf and Vegan Roll too. Their interior seating is limited. This becomes crucial in the Winter months. Also the local Ladies Morning Walking group has been known to take over the entire spaces available, should your timing be a fraction out. The local store and giftware sections are very well stocked and contain a nice interesting range of items. But for us, these are generally on the far too pricey end of retailing.
Over 2025 we've made countless visits to Blakeney, taking stock we've made for Seagull's Gallery, to check what we've sold, or do our twice monthly voluntary manning of the shop. Nine times out of ten we'll go early in order to stop off in Salthouse to have coffee and cake in the Stores there. Because it is by a long way the best made coffee in our bit of North Norfolk, and its never 'barista dependent' either. The coffee is always made to a reliable standard. They also have a consistent range of sweet and savoury bakes. People literally fight over their Cinnamon Buns, because they are simply the best when they have them in, ditto their Cruffin. Plus they do an excellent Banana Loaf and Vegan Roll too. Their interior seating is limited. This becomes crucial in the Winter months. Also the local Ladies Morning Walking group has been known to take over the entire spaces available, should your timing be a fraction out. The local store and giftware sections are very well stocked and contain a nice interesting range of items. But for us, these are generally on the far too pricey end of retailing.
No 2 -Folks - Holt & Blakeney
If we don't go to Salthouse Stores on our way to Blakeney, then we pop into Holt instead to frequent Folks. Folks is the best coffee shop in Holt, the coffee there is also consistently good, and they generally have a fine range of cake bakes to choose from. The Orange and Carrot Bake being worthy of note. It's also light and spacious with loads of tables to choose from. Its minimalist aesthetic is beautifully executed, with a thoughtfully chosen range of wooden seating and tables. However, if you should have an adult with a loud or penetrating voice or a screeching complaining child, the acoustic can be quite unforgivingly harsh and echoey. There is nothing there to act as a sound absorber.
They used to do what I describe as a knotted fist of a Cinnamon Bun, which I rather liked, but it only very infrequently appeared. Recently Folks announced they were now stocking Cinnamon Buns by a company called Swirl, and I got prematurely excited. These turned out to be doughy and too sickly sweet for my liking, and I had acid reflux and an upset stomach after. So you can't win them all. Folks in Blakeney is petite by comparison, but is also good. though its cake range can be minimal and its opening times in Winter can become a bit erratic.
.jfif)
No 3 - Stiffkey Stores - Stiffkey
Like Salthouse, Stiffkey Stores is a mixture of local store, and a posh interiors, card and gift shop for the well off middle classes. Whenever we are heading Walsingham or Wells Next The Sea way, we will definitely stop over here. One, because, once again, the quality of the coffee is consistently excellent, and two, because they make a Peanut Blondie that is simply the best ever. So we never try anything else, unless they've sold out, which is a very rare occurrence. They only have outdoor sheds, tables and benches, so when the easterly winter wind is blowing hard, you are unlikely to visit, or stay for long. In the summer its worth getting there early, before every rambler, twitcher, second home owner and hurray henry hipster yummy mummy family quickly fill the place to the brim.
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If we don't go to Salthouse Stores on our way to Blakeney, then we pop into Holt instead to frequent Folks. Folks is the best coffee shop in Holt, the coffee there is also consistently good, and they generally have a fine range of cake bakes to choose from. The Orange and Carrot Bake being worthy of note. It's also light and spacious with loads of tables to choose from. Its minimalist aesthetic is beautifully executed, with a thoughtfully chosen range of wooden seating and tables. However, if you should have an adult with a loud or penetrating voice or a screeching complaining child, the acoustic can be quite unforgivingly harsh and echoey. There is nothing there to act as a sound absorber.
They used to do what I describe as a knotted fist of a Cinnamon Bun, which I rather liked, but it only very infrequently appeared. Recently Folks announced they were now stocking Cinnamon Buns by a company called Swirl, and I got prematurely excited. These turned out to be doughy and too sickly sweet for my liking, and I had acid reflux and an upset stomach after. So you can't win them all. Folks in Blakeney is petite by comparison, but is also good. though its cake range can be minimal and its opening times in Winter can become a bit erratic.
Like Salthouse, Stiffkey Stores is a mixture of local store, and a posh interiors, card and gift shop for the well off middle classes. Whenever we are heading Walsingham or Wells Next The Sea way, we will definitely stop over here. One, because, once again, the quality of the coffee is consistently excellent, and two, because they make a Peanut Blondie that is simply the best ever. So we never try anything else, unless they've sold out, which is a very rare occurrence. They only have outdoor sheds, tables and benches, so when the easterly winter wind is blowing hard, you are unlikely to visit, or stay for long. In the summer its worth getting there early, before every rambler, twitcher, second home owner and hurray henry hipster yummy mummy family quickly fill the place to the brim.
No 4 - Cornish Bakery - Southwold, Norwich & Bury St Edmunds.
On one of our twice yearly jaunts to Southwold, we first tried out Cornish Bakery, and experienced the taste of their sublime Cornish Pudding. The latter is a mash-up of yesterday's danish pastries with chocolate and raspberries, this is so delicious it almost touches on divinity. Since then if we see a Cornish Bakery anywhere we'll have 'The Pudding'. East Anglia now has two more branches, one in Norwich, the other in Bury St Edmunds. The coffee is consistent, but not particularly superlative. Their newer branches are noticeably more spacious and very baby buggy friendly. They are rapidly becoming a national chain.
On one of our twice yearly jaunts to Southwold, we first tried out Cornish Bakery, and experienced the taste of their sublime Cornish Pudding. The latter is a mash-up of yesterday's danish pastries with chocolate and raspberries, this is so delicious it almost touches on divinity. Since then if we see a Cornish Bakery anywhere we'll have 'The Pudding'. East Anglia now has two more branches, one in Norwich, the other in Bury St Edmunds. The coffee is consistent, but not particularly superlative. Their newer branches are noticeably more spacious and very baby buggy friendly. They are rapidly becoming a national chain.
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No 5 - Bread Source - Norwich Cathedral & Alysham
Bread Source are very much a Norfolk phenomena at present, installing pop up cafes in stately homes all over the county. They took over the Norwich Cathedral Cafe and have made it the best place to rendezvous in the city for lunch. Not too noisy, quite spacious, with plenty of tables, a good range of bakes, savoury options and superb bread range. Coffee, is again consistent, but not that notable. Their Cinnamon Buns can be variable in size and quality, but if you get to pick the properly risen ones, they are lovingly slathered in cinnamon dust and are gently sweetened. They also have a pre-prepared vegan salad in a box that can be quite a wonderful taste sensation. The branch in Aylsham, has all the above, though it has the same problem as Folks in Holt, with a harsh echoey acoustic, which at its worst you can hardly hear yourself think in.
.jfif)
Bread Source are very much a Norfolk phenomena at present, installing pop up cafes in stately homes all over the county. They took over the Norwich Cathedral Cafe and have made it the best place to rendezvous in the city for lunch. Not too noisy, quite spacious, with plenty of tables, a good range of bakes, savoury options and superb bread range. Coffee, is again consistent, but not that notable. Their Cinnamon Buns can be variable in size and quality, but if you get to pick the properly risen ones, they are lovingly slathered in cinnamon dust and are gently sweetened. They also have a pre-prepared vegan salad in a box that can be quite a wonderful taste sensation. The branch in Aylsham, has all the above, though it has the same problem as Folks in Holt, with a harsh echoey acoustic, which at its worst you can hardly hear yourself think in.
No 6 - Grey Seal Cafe -Sheringham & Cromer
Grey Seal once had ambitions to be a chain across North Norfolk, but has now concentrated on it's two sites in Sheringham and Cromer. They do a rather fine Cinnamon Bun, which I've only ever encountered in the Sheringham branch, where they will warm it up if you wish, and this is just spot on. Second only to Salthouse Store's. Inside seating is a bit at a premium, particularly in the Winter months. They could do with having more adaptable two person smaller tables. Instead they have a pair of rather substantial four seaters, that tend to get half used. The general ambiance in Sheringham is really relaxed and friendly.
The Cromer branch can be a rather more inconsistent experience. Their opening time can be a moveable feast. the cake range can often be sparse. Its quite a large cafe with plenty of seating both inside and out. The coffee quality has been known to be 'barista dependent'. I drink Oat Latte's generally these days, and it seems, these are the ultimate test for how good a barista is or isn't. In the well trained hands of a good barista an Oat Latte turns out creamy with a rich depth of flavour. In a badly trained one, they'll invariably burn the coffee, or the oat milk, or both, and you'll wonder quite what it is that is delaminating the roof of your mouth lining.
Grey Seal once had ambitions to be a chain across North Norfolk, but has now concentrated on it's two sites in Sheringham and Cromer. They do a rather fine Cinnamon Bun, which I've only ever encountered in the Sheringham branch, where they will warm it up if you wish, and this is just spot on. Second only to Salthouse Store's. Inside seating is a bit at a premium, particularly in the Winter months. They could do with having more adaptable two person smaller tables. Instead they have a pair of rather substantial four seaters, that tend to get half used. The general ambiance in Sheringham is really relaxed and friendly.
The Cromer branch can be a rather more inconsistent experience. Their opening time can be a moveable feast. the cake range can often be sparse. Its quite a large cafe with plenty of seating both inside and out. The coffee quality has been known to be 'barista dependent'. I drink Oat Latte's generally these days, and it seems, these are the ultimate test for how good a barista is or isn't. In the well trained hands of a good barista an Oat Latte turns out creamy with a rich depth of flavour. In a badly trained one, they'll invariably burn the coffee, or the oat milk, or both, and you'll wonder quite what it is that is delaminating the roof of your mouth lining.
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