coffee

Coffee Time in Canterbury at Turquoise Cafe

/ cathyp

The Turquoise Cafe in Butchery Lane  sells real Turkish coffee and backlava. It has a good range of delicious looking cakes and tarts and an extensive hot drink menu.

 

 

A nice upstairs room.

dessert
dessert
hot chocolate
earl grey
  • Excellent location near the cathedral.
  • The service was very offhand not sure they really wanted any customers that morning. We won’t be going back so I don’t know if that was just an off day.
  • Not cheap but reasonable for what we ordered.
  • Nice place upstairs to sit with comfortable chairs.
  • We didn’t try the Turkish coffee but had hot chocolate and a cup of Earl Grey, both very good.
  • The food we had was excellent, large slices and the option of cream on top.
  • The toilet is at the top of the spiral staircase!

 

upstairs at Turquoise cafe

Verdict

Looks nice and the selection of food and drink is good but I won’t go back to somewhere with such an off hand attitude to paying customers.

Shame as it could be a nice place.

Coffee Time in Canterbury at the Moat Tearooms

/ cathyp

The Moat Tea rooms are in Burgate.

Moat tea rooms

 

Downstairs there are many different teas available to buy.

There are a few tables but more up the very steep stairs. The floor is so steeply sloped in the front room upstairs that we moved to the back.

This cafe emphasises its traditional feel with cakes in the window and old fashioned tables and china.

There are small round tables with pretty cloths to look like an old fashioned tea room.

upstairs moat tea rooms
upstairs moat tea rooms
scones & cream
scones & cream
scones & cream

Tea Time

 

There are a variety of different teas on the menu. I had my favourite, an Earl Grey, the description on the menu was much better than the actual tea but maybe that is just down to personal taste.

The scones were warm and the cream and jam were both good quality.

 

  • Good location, near the cathedral.
  • The service was welcoming and the waitress was efficient.
  • There are plenty of tables upstairs.
  • We had tea so I can’t comment on the coffee!
  • The food was very nice.
  • the prices are reasonable.
  • The toilets are clean!

Moat tearooms

Verdict

This tea room is mainly  aimed at tourists but we really enjoyed our cream teas. Would be happy to go back.

 

 

Coffee Time in Canterbury at The Eatery

/ cathyp

This large cafe is on the second floor past the bathroom accessories  in Fenwick.

 

 

The Eatery

There is a menu at the door and you need to queue to order. Cakes, sandwiches and lunches are all available.

 This cafe seems to be quite popular even on a weekday.

coffee at the eatery
coffee at the eatery
The Eatery
lunch at the Eatery
lunch at the Eatery

 

  • Excellent location inside Fenwick.
  • The service was a bit slow but pleasant.
  • Lots of space and plenty of seating.
  • The coffee was very nice.
  • The lunch menu was good, the fish and chips were delicious.
  • The prices are reasonable.
  • The toilets are large and clean.

 

 

 

The Eatery

 

Verdict

Very pleasant cafe with a good menu. Worth another visit.

 

Coffee Time in Canterbury at Brownlee & Ivy

/ cathyp

Inside Waterstone’s book shop this cafe is surprisingly large.

 

Brownlee & Ivy

 

 

Up the stairs this book themed area is an attractive place for coffee.

It was quite busy but there was still room to move around easily and the queue wasn’t too long.

The wi-fi was fast and we didn’t have to wait long for our food

 

 

frittata
tuna & mayonnaise

 

  • Inside Waterstones is a good location in the middle of town.
  • The service was a bit offhand and the staff seemed very stressed. The card machine didn’t work but no one felt the need to apologise for the inconvenience.
  • Comfortable seating and a flower on the table was a nice touch.
  • Coffee was quite nice.
  • The food was very nice, the frittata wasn’t perfectly cooked but tasted good. Lots of choice on the menu.
  • The prices were reasonable but I think if you are spending over ten pounds anywhere you should expect to be able to use a bank card.
  • The toilets were a strange red/pink colour but clean!

 

 

 

coffee and lunch

Verdict

This is a nice place and we may give it another try.

We enjoyed the coffee and hope the staff were just having a bad day.

 

Update!

Waterstones has moved and the store has been taken over by Closs & Hamblin or C&H as we used to call it.

The cafe has been decorated and re branded as The Haberdasher’s Kitchen.  Apart from the decor changing, the toilets are now a more normal colour, nothing much has changed. The staff and menu are exactly the same. Still OK but not great, we probably wont go again.

Coffee Time in Canterbury at Boho

/ cathyp

Boho is in the High Street so a seat in the window as you drink your coffee lets you watch the world go by.

Bo Ho interior

But there’s plenty of room further back in the cafe if you prefer and a small outside area. The decor is unusual but fun.

Loved the brightly painted walls and chairs.

That apple tart was delicious just the right amount of sugar and spice. I’m told the breakfast was brilliant too.

The scrambled eggs were spread over a very large part of the floor by my granddaughter but the waitress kept smiling!

 

 

  • Perfect location for a shopper, right in the middle of the High Street
  • The service was excellent, fast and friendly.
  • A great place to sit for a while with quirky decor.
  • The coffee was excellent.
  • There is a large menu including all my favourites like roast veg and goats cheese.
  • Prices are reasonable.
  • The toilet was clean.

scrambled eggs

Verdict

Really liked this place and will definitely go again. There are several things on the menu I would like to try.

Coffee Time in Canterbury at The Local

/ cathyp

Not really in Canterbury and a pub not a coffee shop but worth a mention anyway.

coffee cups

No coffee choice, this is a pub not a cafe, but very nice and hot chocolate was available.

A nice place to stop on a long walk.

  • Good location if you are walking around the area.
  • The service was excellent, the landlord was welcoming and friendly.
  • There were plenty of comfortable seats.
  • The coffee was really good.
  • No elevenses but there is an extensive lunch menu with Indian food or more traditional items.
  • Good value for money.
  • Toilets were clean .

The Local pub sign

Verdict

This was a lucky find on a long walk and we got a good welcome.

Might make it back for lunch in the summer. Definitely have coffee or a drink if we are nearby again.

Coffee Time in Canterbury at Nadines

/ cathyp

Didn’t know Nadine’s Coffee House was here but it was a great find.

Its a really nice place and surprisingly big inside.

Nadines

 

There are sandwiches and an excellent range of homemade cakes, they had a Victoria sponge, chocolate cake , carrot cake and a couple of others when we were there.

The menu also has options for lunch and there is wi-fi.

All the staff were very friendly and helpful and there is a nice outside space at the back. There is even a marquee for the smokers.

 

outside at Nadines
outside at Nadines
outside at Nadines
Victoria sandwich

 

 

  • Nadine’s is in Ivy Lane but this is only a short walk from the high street  once you know it is there.
  • The service was outstanding , the staff were genuinely friendly
  • The seating was spacious and comfortable.
  • The coffee was delicious.
  • Best cake in a cafe for a long time and the others looked as good.
  • Very good value for money.
  • The toilets, like the rest of the cafe, were spotless.

 

 

 

Verdict

 

Absolutely loved this cafe.

I noticed a poster for afternoon tea and we will go back and try that sometime.

 

Gambia, Called the Smiling Coast

/ cathyp

Winter Sun in The Gambia

The cold wet  start of November makes you want to go somewhere warm. The obvious and cheapest option is a beach holiday. Great, but we don’t do beach holidays. I’ve never been able to spend any length of time lying in the sun. A quick paddle and I’m done. So last November we booked  week at the beach with plans to go to as many places in the country as we could.  As it’s only a six hour flight and there is no time difference The Gambia seemed a good bet. You need malaria tablets which isn’t great but nowadays you can get them for a reasonable price in a supermarket chemist. So when we   found an economical package holiday with  flights, transfers and hotel all included we booked it. Sorted!

The Beach and Beyond

Internet research showed several local tour operators providing one and two day tours around the country so the plan was to try to find something to do each day. Our hotel was OK, a standard tourist place with three different bars and several restaurants spread over quite a large area with gardens and a beach.

Outside the hotel grounds we found a supermarket, well that’s what they called it, cigarettes biscuits and soft drinks, if you needed anything else you were out of luck.

 

Gambian Fruit Lady
Gambian massage Ladies

Walking along the beach meant a great deal of hassle. You meet a fruit lady , a sewing lady, a massage lady, a tour man and, a boat man. Everyone can tell you have just arrived and their aim is to be the first to claim you as their customer. They will give you a business card, often a piece of torn paper with a name on it, sometimes a neat little laminated picture. Once you have these they are your protection from all the others. Tell everyone you have been in the country for a week and already have a fruit and massage lady. They will respect this and your peace is restored. Well mostly!

 

A visit to Serrekunda Market

 

[metaslider id=663]

 

Kachikally Crocodile Pool

Kachikally crocodile park Gambia

Then a visit to a crocodile farm, about a hundred crocs busy ignoring you. You get to stroke their heads!

We managed to leave with all our limbs still attached.

On to Lamin Lodge for Coffee

Lamin Lodge
monkey

coffee break – sharing donuts with the monkeys.

This wooden restaurant on stilts is in the middle of a mangrove swamp.

 

A Look Around the Countryside

Tree in Gambian country side
Gambian school
Gambian family

We had a lightening visit to a school to see the local education standards. The kids were a bit shy but smiled at us.

They must be used to being on parade in return for  pencils and the odd packet of sweets.

I found this a bit uncomfortable but its how things work in The Gambia.

beach
beach stall
paradise beach

 

Then at the end of our tour time to relax on Paradise Beach. It was surprisingly peaceful with few of the hassles we experienced at the hotel beach. Just a couple of bumsters, the young men who want to be your best friend and holiday guide, trying to sell us drinks and boat trips. Twenty minutes strolling on the sand and we were ready for the drive back to our hotel.

 Just in time for happy hour, two for one cocktails,  and a seat by the pool.

Maybe this sort of holiday isn’t so bad!

 

Coffee Time in Canterbury

/ cathyp

Sitting in Costa during  a regular shopping trip to Canterbury we had great coffee and toasted sandwiches. These are delicious and reasonably priced

Costa is the biggest coffee shop chain and you can get the same experience in any  city. I even had a Costa in Shanghai recently – exactly the same!

Reliability is good but the same as last week and the week before had  become boring.

It was time to try something else.

So the quest for the perfect coffee in great surroundings began.

We would try every coffee shop in Canterbury in a search for the best.

I have to say this idea formed before we considered how may coffees we would have to get through but once started we will carry on to the end!               

  First stop – Cafe Nero

Cafe Nero claim to provide a continental European coffee house atmosphere with an Italian based food menu.

Its a big chain with two branches in Canterbury city  centre so it seemed a good place to start.

 

  • In a good location at the top of the town.
  • There was a queue but  the service was fast and friendly.
  • Comfortable seats.
  • The coffee was nice although not very hot.
  • The toasted panettone was delicious.
  • Not too expensive.
  • The toilets were quite dirty. It looked like no had given them more than a quick wipe for a long time.

Verdict

Acceptable coffee and nice food but the dirty toilets are a major problem.

 This won’t be replacing our Costa visits any time soon.

In Defence of Maccie D’s

/ cathyp

 

Lately I have read several travel blogs knocking McDonalds and suggesting that you should eat “real food”

As someone who once thought going to a Wimpy Bar was cool I don’t know if I’m qualified to judge but I think McDonalds is OK. Years ago before I did much travelling and as they usurped Wimpy I thought their burgers were rubbish (really they still are) but I have come to recognise McDonalds charms.

  • They are in  nearly every country.
  • The toilets are clean(ish)  remember where you are!
  • The food may be slightly different from home but it is recognisable as food. After a few weeks of mysterious slimy objects on your plate  or an overload of curry for breakfast it begins to taste delicious.
  • Its cheap – everywhere. In the places it seems pricey nearly  everything else costs more!
  • Free Wi-fi – a big bonus in places where it is expensive or difficult to get online.
  • Coffee – they have coffee as you know it, not Turkish or Malaysian  or any other variety of disgusting just coffee!

 

Mcdonalds Chisinau

Mcdonalds Chisinau