The Best Cafes & Coffee Shops in Durham

Durham's compact centre is packed with places to stop for a coffee, from tucked-away cafes in the medieval vennels to riverside kitchens and independent coffee bars. Here are the ones worth seeking out.

With a view

Cafédral has one of the best outlooks in the city, its terrace looking straight across Palace Green to the cathedral's west towers. It is an easy place to pause between the castle and the cloister with a good coffee and a slice of cake.

In the old town

Vennels Café is a long-standing favourite, hidden down a narrow passage off Saddler Street in a Tudor-era building, all beams and quiet corners. Nearby, Flat White Café on Elvet Bridge is a small, serious coffee spot from a respected local name, and just up the hill Leonard's Coffee House in Fowler's Yard roasts and brews with real care in a courtyard of makers and studios.

All-day kitchens

Flat White Kitchen on Saddler Street is the larger sibling of the Elvet Bridge café, an airy spot for speciality coffee alongside a full brunch and lunch menu. On Claypath, the Claypath Delicatessen pairs its coffee with a deli counter and a short, changing kitchen menu, while Treats Café on Silver Street is a reliable, friendly stop for a coffee and a homemade bake in the middle of the shops.

Coffee chains in Durham

The city's independents are the real strength here, but the chains are dependable when you just want a familiar cup on the go. Costa Coffee sits in the Prince Bishops Shopping Centre and Caffè Nero holds a prime spot on Silver Street, while Starbucks is handy by Framwellgate Bridge on North Road. For food to go, Greggs on North Road flies the flag for the Newcastle-founded bakery that remains a North East institution.

Coffee to take away

Most of these do takeaway, which is handy given how walkable Durham is. Grab a cup and carry it down to the riverbanks or up onto Palace Green. For more places to eat and drink in the city, browse our full directory.