The Best Cafes in Lincoln, Lincolnshire, United Kingdom (2025)

This place doesn't disappoint! Every time I come here I make an effort to try something different and it's no exaggeration to say all of the food is incredible. What started as a one time coffee and lunch a while ago has turned into a very regular routine. Very friendly staff with an excellent and personable chef. All cooked in house with an obvious amount of care and attention. I would recommend this to anyone with a love of food and quality!

Well, a lucky find, a short walk away from the shopping area, we had a great breakfast, all good quality produce, which is hard to find these days, staff are fantastic, the chef came out to meet our dog and also brought some bacon pieces for him, a nice touch. Overall, it was a great experience, and we will be back next time we are Lincoln. On the way out, we purchased 2 ham cheese pies, had one last night, lovely.

Superlative café , warm , friendly, good ebb and flow of folks and local characters. Good part of town, near the bus and train stations. Harry was front of house working hard. His father popped up to help clear, to check his creations were to standard, which they certainly were. I had a hot chocolate large which was great, I had a sweet goats cheese pastry, and a spinach and cheese spiral pastry. The spiral was a little disappointing and I might suggest a home made chutney or relish red onion perhaps. Or even a small salad, garnish. The pastry is fine but combining it with a cherry tomato salad, pine nuts meh would take it to a higher level. That said 2 pastries and a hot drink for £8 is a brilliant price..... Excellent VFM. Later I had a flat white coffee and a wonderful ham cheese and onion Crete take on pizza..wow great combo. Again for just under £10. That's splendid news and worth advertising. Well curated music , none of which I knew , says more about me than the café. Thanks for a leisurely lunch on a lovely day in autumn Lincoln. Just nearby is the walk n ride bus stop that takes you back to the station. Or onwards and upwards to the cathedral.

As a man with complex neurodiversity and disability, I was so very impressed by this restaurant. I find it very difficult, to find suitable venues that tick all my sensory boxes, but The Bread Vault has succeeded. From the moment I entered, I was struck by the bright and welcoming environment, and the calming sensory outlay of the place. The location is great, sited just off the main road and close to hotels, train and coach station. The dining area is open-plan, and easily accessible for wheelchair users. It is a clean, bright and comforting space, with large windows and soft modern ambient classical music, played at just the right volume. The seating is varied, ranging from small bistro tables, to larger couches and tables. It is an accommodating space for children, adults and those with disability. The owners and service staff made me feel so very welcomed, and I felt no social anxiety whatsoever, even surrounded by other customers. The food is excellent, and so abundant, for such a small price. For just £10.80, I got the tastiest and largest breakfast I've ever had. It was presented beautifully, and included coffee, several slices of toast, and choice of condiments. Dietary restrictions are catered for, and the menu seems extensive. It is clear that the owners are seasoned hospitality professionals, as well as genuinely warm, friendly people. I include the service staff, also, who do a fantastic job. All in all, I feel this is the best café in Lincoln, and I do not give these type of reviews lightly. I will only ever come here from now on. Well done, guys. Keep up the excellent work! Five stars is not enough!

Coffee Depot - 5/5 Stars We would gladly give Coffee Depot maximum stars. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, with friendly staff who make you feel right at home. The music is carefully chosen and the acoustics are spot on, allowing for comfortable conversation without any unwanted noise. What more could you ask for in a café? What we truly appreciate about Coffee Depot is that it's not part of the endless chain cafés that are so common nowadays—those lacking soul and charm. Instead, this café exudes character and personality, making it a standout in the world of coffee shops. Highly recommended!

Really nice place to sit down and have a coffee and cake/sandwich. Wide range of coffee/tea based drinks. Although small the layout does not make it feel claustrophobic. Staff very friendly and much quicker than ithe (larger) chains. Access for those confined to a wheelchair is good. I have no doubt the staff would be more than happy to help. Well worth a visit.

The best coffee shop in Lincoln. Stop in regularly as I work just around the corner. The drinks are always a spot on and they have a changing seasonal menu with exciting new options to try. Fresh sandwiches and cakes available. All food and drinks really reasonably priced. Vibe inside is great with welcoming and friendly staff. They even have games and interesting books dotted around.

Great Coffee - what else do you need to know?? Service was also great on both visits, very cozy and relaxed. Makes a great change from all of the franchises, and the coffee is better….

I’m not from Lincoln and I decided to visit take 5 as it was highly suggested. The visit began with a warm welcome as we sat down and were greeted with a polite service and a respectful tone of voice. After our drinks arrived we placed our food orders and the time waiting between ordering and receiving was fast and the quality of food lived up the expectations I had. I ordered the jacket potato with tuna and cheese and what I got did not disappoint. The taste was amazing, the tuna was fresh. The potato was hot and soft which made it more enjoyable. Was happy that the dish also came with coleslaw, lettuce and some tomatoes. I will definitely be coming back to take 5 when I am next back in Lincoln for another visit. Maybe to try the breakfast challenge!

Best breakfast in Lincoln! High quality ingredients and delicious.

We booked Take 5 for my best friend's baby shower and had the best experience! Great value for money, the sandwiches and cakes were delicious and staff were very accommodating. Thank you so much for a lovely time!

My absolute fave coffee place. Good atmosphere, lovely staff and delicious coffee. Couldn't recommend more!

Comfy homely vibes, friendly cheerful staff and wide menu of drinks. Particularly enjoy the Apple and Cinnamon tea and hot chocolate with smore syrup :D.

Kind-hearted staff with the smoothest coffee I've ever had in a cafe! Low prices on delicious drinks and welcoming to everyone, they're the definition of inclusive here ❤️

Lovely vegan café, quiet atmosphere during the week

Beautiful hidden spot in the Bailgate area of Lincoln. Delicious food, reasonably priced cocktails and a great diverse menu! I will be back to try the Sunday roast 😍

Very nice and chic place. Sunday roast could've been better with a bit of seasoning on the vegetables. The skin on fries and sourdough bread with dips were lovely though 😋

Part of me doesn’t want to share a review of St Paul’s as I would love to have the place to myself as it’s just amazing! Perhaps when I win the lottery. The food at St Paul’s is just perfection, and I love trying their new plates. We’ve had their breakfasts, small plates and Sunday roasts, and all have been faultless. The staff are always great, the owners are beyond wonderful, and the atmosphere is always just right. I cannot recommend St Paul’s enough!

This hidden gem is probably one of the best dining experiences I've had in lincoln so far. Intimate place, excellent small plates, good selection of wines, and they have ABK on tap. Overall, lovely place and recommend going here for anything from small functions to date nights.

Vegan food was amazing. The small plates to share were delicious! We did wait a while for our food but it was well worth the wait. One waitress explained to us the story behind the volunteers that work there and I felt like they should advertise this part more. Absolutely delicious and I will be back!

Such a lovely cafe. The decorations and atmosphere is amazing. The coffee is one of the best I’ve ever tasted and the staff are lovely. The food is also amazing! 10/10

Lovely, clean, light and airy decor with the odd quirky twists. Greeted quickly by friendly staff. Ordered "The Ross" and was surprised at the size of the meal but were assured that they could arrange for us to take away any leftovers. Served in a timely manner. Food very tasty and hot. Excellent value for money. All staff helpful and approachable. Great relaxed experience and they even had festive toilet paper!

Central and dog friendly. Spacious and cool deco. Staff were lovely. We had two mains. One was the chicken burger which was well cooked and just what was needed. The other main was the Mac cheese sandwich. It was a mighty sandwich which was more bread than Mac cheese but still tasty and certainly did more than just filled a gap. Would recommend but food choice is a little limited.

A little review for the best cafe in Lincoln. Food is always 10/10 I don’t think I’ve ever had a bad meal there! So incredibly fresh and full of flavour. I don’t know how Anna does it but it’s incredible! The service from Anna and all her family/staff is so friendly and kind! There is always such a happy atmosphere and positive vibes! ABSOLUTELY obsessed with this little spot!

Thank you so much for having us yesterday we had an absolutely wonderful breakfast. Your restaurant was so wonderful and inviting

Visited Lincoln for the day and this place was number 1 for breakfast on trip advisor. It wasn’t wrong. One of the best breakfasts I have had for a long time. Small cosy cafe with chairs outside and about 12 seats inside but more than worth the effort to go there. Had full English and the photo doesn’t do the food justice. Great service and will definitely be coming back for more when next in Lincoln.

I’ve been wanting to come to Anna’s for ages but my work hours haven’t permitted! To say I was thrilled she opened up this Sunday was an understatement!! I had the best breakfast I have ever had it was unbelievably scrumptious! The coffee was perfect too! The ambience and decor is simply stunning and I can’t wait to return! Thank you Anna for looking after me so beautifully today, your customer service is FIVE STAR PLUS!! Me and the hubby can’t wait to come back xx

We had a lovely afternoon tea & craft session for a friend's baby shower today. The sandwiches and cakes were all delicious, lots of different tea/coffee to choose from, the vegan options for food/drink just as nice as the omni! The craft idea to fit with the theme was perfect, and the staff were so helpful and friendly. Really thankful for all their help and going out of their way to make it a special afternoon. Not forgetting the brilliant celebration cake made too. Highly recommend!

went for their queer crafting event and had a lovely little time, very good food and a really nice space full of cool people! cosy cafe yay go give them all your patronage immediately

Lovely little cafe with very tasty food and great service. Definitely save room for a handmade cake!

food was delicious,very calm atmosphere and service was polite and lovely. definitely recommend,especially if you're into crafts :)

I recently visited Lincoln from the USA. Before my trip I did a bit of reading up on the local coffee houses and marked a few as "must visit." Oddly, a not-so-flattering review of Coffee Aroma is what made me decide I *must* visit. The reviewer sounded entitled, self-centered and unctuous...they had no problem with the coffee, the service or the ambiance. Apparently, they didn't like the music and kept turning it off so they could listen to their own. Anyone who has the audacity to walk into someone's place of business (or home!) and think it's OK to take control of the playlist or mess with the sound equipment shouldn't be allowed out in public. I found the music at Coffee Aroma to be absolutely perfect. As was the coffee, the tea, the hot chocolate, and all the cakes, croissants and toasties I consumed over the course of two weeks while I was in town. My only regret was not asking if the playlist is available on Spotify (if it's not, please consider it!) I will definitely be coming back--every day-- when I'm back in Lincoln this summer. I will miss not coming here every day!

Great little coffee shop and the cakes were amazing. I liked the quirky style the cafe was set out and it gave it lots of character. Great coffee too.

It was a lovely break from Christmas shopping, although they have VERY steep stairs to navigate if you've got achy feet and lots of bags. The staff are lovely and made a great coffee recommendation 💕 . The outside doesn't look great, and I nearly walked on by, but it's certainly worth it!

Quirky little coffee shop. Had a mocha which was excellent and really enjoyed it. Packed into a small space with steep stairs. With seating on the two floors above.

We enjoyed an impromptu family get together at the Seven Districts coffee house after a long dog walk in local area. The quality of the food, great coffee and excellent service will mean that we will make it a regular venue. The venue allows dogs and is located in an ideal place should you want to go for a walk in the local area. The menu was varied and suited our requirements (vegan cakes were absolutely superb!!!) and the sharing platter was perfect and the quality was tip-top. The staff were very friendly and helpful. There is plenty of parking and the facilities were clean. In summary, I would highly recommend this venue to be added to the “must visit” in the Welton area.

Great coffee and equally great food. Friendly service staff and a very cozy vibe from the inside cafe space. The coffee garden out back is amazing. It over looks the fields and there is plenty of seating.

Wow this place looked amazing I loved it immediately. The service was great, they even had Matcha on the menu which I couldn’t resist. I loved the decor and the location. It really is well worth a visit

What a lovely coffee shop. The staff were so friendly. We took one of our dogs with us which was nice. We has the waffles with poached egg bacon and maple butter, totally to die for, and eggs on sourdough, will definetly be back. Lovely quirky decor and a nice outside coffee garden too :)