Norwich is awash with great cafés, so choosing where to stop for a coffee isn’t always easy. To help narrow it down, this is my guide to some of my favourite coffee shops in Norwich.
I’ve focused on places where you can sit down for a while, whether you want to read, catch up with a friend or simply enjoy your coffee without rushing off.
Bread Source, Bridewell Alley
Bread Source on Bridewell Alley has long been a favourite haunt of mine, whether I’m meeting a friend or fancy some time away from my laptop.
Tucked away from the bustle of Norwich Market, it serves great coffee alongside a fantastic selection of sandwiches, cakes and pastries. It’s also a handy spot if you want to sit with a book or get a little work done.
The Yard
Also just a few minutes’ walk from Norwich Market, The Yard is tucked away from the main street and feels surprisingly calm considering its city-centre location.
It’s a lovely place to stop for a coffee, catch up with friends, answer a few emails or spend an hour or two studying. People working on laptops seem very much at home here, but it still feels relaxed rather than like a coworking space.
Wright’s Café
Wright’s in Norwich is a livelier affair, with a little more noise and chatter than the previous two coffee shops, so I probably wouldn’t try to work here.
The coffee is always strong and hot and the food is delicious, which makes it a fantastic lunch spot near Norwich Cathedral. There are tables outside too, which are lovely when the weather behaves, although you are sat on one of the main streets through the city, so it can get pretty noisy!
Read more about Wright’s Café, Norwich.
Café Marzano
I’ve been visiting Café Marzano for coffee for more than 20 years, so it definitely earns a place on this list.
Set inside The Forum in the heart of Norwich, it’s a bright, busy spot that’s particularly good for meeting people and watching the world go by. There are plenty of tables outside for warmer days too.
As well as coffee and food, Marzano serves beer and wine, so it also works well if your coffee catch-up stretches into the evening.
OP’s at St George’s Works
Handily situated inside St George’s Works, OP’s is a friendly little pitstop if you need a cup of joe in NR3.
They serve rich, hot coffee alongside bagels, cakes and pastries. The pastrami bagel is my go-to when I fail to bring lunch.
There’s also a table where you can work or have an informal meeting, and St George’s Works tenants get a discount.
Waterloo Park Café
Waterloo Park Café isn’t in the centre of Norwich, but I felt it deserved a place on this list.
Located in the pavilion in Waterloo Park, it’s a lovely spot for meeting friends over coffee and cake. You can sit outside when the weather is good or take your drinks with you for a wander around the park.
The café is run by The Feed, a Norwich social enterprise that supports people into employment.
Which coffee shop or café should I try next?
I’ll keep adding to this article as I visit more Norwich coffee shops and take more photos.
So, if there’s somewhere you think deserves a place on the list, send me your recommendation and I’ll check it out.
