I spend a lot of my time in cafés. Humanities PhD students in Cambridge generally don’t have office space, you can’t drink coffee in libraries here (a rule that definitely needs changing), and while I like to think I’m productive in my flat I absolutely am not. That leaves cafés as a workspace, but luckily there are some truly brilliant ones in Cambridge.

I’ll preface this post by saying I live west of the Cam and don’t venture much further than the centre of Cambridge, so this list isn’t comprehensive. I know there are some well-loved cafés out by Mill Road (e.g. Relevant Record and Espresso Library), but I don’t go there often enough to write about them.

The Locker

The Locker (54 King Street) is my all-time favorite café - in my opinion the best in any city I’ve ever lived in. The coffee is great, the food menu is large, and the specials change often. There’s always enough seating and tourists generally don’t wander by so it’s a haven in the busy summer months. Grab a table downstairs if you want to see lots of cute dogs and babies or head upstairs for a more quiet work experience.

The owner makes all of the ceramic mugs (and sells them in shop too!) and the staff are very friendly and never make you feel like you’re overstaying your welcome. They also have a 10% student discount and a stamp card for drinks, which makes a huge difference if you’re a regular like I am.

Fitzbillies

Fitzbillies (51-52 Trumpington Street, 36 Bridge Street) is the classic Cambridge café - a must if you’re visiting the city or have family in town. Their Trumpington Street location is my favorite and has two sections - one is a full-service restaurant (good for breakfast and brunch), and the other has more of a classic coffee shop vibe. The café side has pastries and sandwiches and was recently renovated so it now has a decent amount of seating. In the summer months Fitzbillies will get overwhelmingly busy, so go at an off time or be prepared for a wait. They also sell mugs with an illustration of the classic Fitzbillies shop front, and I buy one for basically everyone who visits me in Cambridge.

Bould Brothers

Bould Brothers (16 Round Church Street) is the place for serious coffee lovers. My coffee taste is like my wine taste (fancy but not very discerning), so I probably can’t appreciate all the brilliance of what Bould Brothers have to offer, but I do know it’s seriously good coffee. Their website even breaks down how they texture their milk at the perfect temperature and double-filter and re-mineralize their water, so they definitely know what they’re doing.

The café itself is small, but it’s interesting and isn’t your typical café decor. I’d recommend Bould Brothers especially if you’re getting a coffee to walk around the city or on your way to work, but if you do sit in you can enjoy the lampshades (I think they look a bit like Reese’s peanut butter cups). They also sell their own branded bags of coffee which make for a great gift.

Hot Numbers

Hot Numbers (4 Trumpington Street, 5-6 Gwydir Street) has great food and drink and a larger proportion of locals to tourists than Fitzbillies. If you’re going to the Fitzwilliam Museum, the Hot Numbers on Trumpington Street is very close by and a great place to stop for lunch. I think it’s a bit ridiculous to go to a place specifically to take Instagram pictures, but you should go for the delicious food and in the process enjoy its beautiful presentation.

If I’ve missed any cafés you think I should try let me know! I’m always on the hunt for a good coffee and a nice place to study.