Student life can be overwhelming and hectic, especially during exam season. If you want to escape overcrowded libraries or the monotony of your home, coffee shops are perfect. Bristol is home to dozens of coffee shops, each offering an escape from the chaos and solace with smooth coffee and divine cakes. Check out the list below to find your new favourite café in Bristol!
1. Mocha Mocha
If you often have your lectures or seminars near Woodland Road, this cosy café is superbly located. Mocha Mocha, nestled on St Michael’s Hill, is only a 5-minute walk from the University of Bristol’s Senate House and Sports Centre. This café not only offers exquisite coffee but also serves a wide variety of delicious food. They have delicious toasted focaccia sandwiches, stuffed jacket potatoes, and scrumptious omelettes. The Mocha Mocha on St Michael’s Hill is quite small with limited seating, so you may struggle to find seating inside if you go during busy hours. Even then, simply order to go and enjoy the tasty food, admiring Bristol’s gorgeous scenery!
2. The Bristolian Café
Packed plants and filled with warm lighting, The Bristolian is a vibrant café located near Stokes Croft. Alongside delicious coffee, the Bristolian also has smoothies, cocktails, and matcha lattes! Bristolian offers a wide variety of brunch and lunch options, too! There are homemade burgers and quesadillas for lunch and fried potatoes and tostadas for brunch. The Bristolian is on Picton Street, so you can go shopping in Stokes Croft after you enjoy a delicious meal!
3. Bakesmiths
Located on Whiteladies Road, Bakesmiths is an independent and artisanal bakery renowned for its exceptional sourdough bread and cakes. The coffee shop has an on-site bakery and kitchen where they make all of their bread and treats! Bakesmiths also has a sister company called Cakesmiths, who supply coffee shops with traybakes and cakes. You can find some of their unique and award-winning cakes in Bakesmiths, perfect to pair with a coffee! This coffee shop features two floors with ample seating options, suitable for working in groups or solo. They also serve homemade sourdough toast with a variety of mouth-watering toppings, including sausage, mushrooms, and smoked salmon!
4. Flour House
Situated near Woodland Road, Flour House is a perfect brunch spot for those looking to escape dreary British weather. The aesthetic and tasty food complement the colourful interior with tables decorated with beautiful fresh flowers perfectly complement the colourful interior with beautiful fresh flowers perfectly complement. While enjoying a cup of coffee, indulge in their brioche baps, overnight oats, or pancakes. Their diverse menu caters to gluten-free and vegan diets as well! So if you fancy a warm, filling meal, they offer a full English breakfast with vegan and vegetarian alternatives for the bacon, sausages, and eggs and gluten-free sourdough.
5. Crafty Beans Cakes and Café
Whenever I walked past Crafty Beans Café, I would always notice the gorgeous cake in the window. And the cakes are as delicious as they look! Situated on Park Street, Crafty Beans serve fantastic cakes alongside rich and luscious coffee. They have classic cakes, including Victoria Sponge and Carrot, and unique flavours, such as Guinness and Apple Cinnamon, ensuring that everyone can find their perfect cake. They also offer breakfast rolls and toasties for breakfast, which you can order home on Deliveroo. However, when the sun is shining, walk for 2 minutes to the greenery outside Bristol City Council, to enjoy the delightful treats in nature!
6. Primrose Café
Featuring locally sourced produce, Primrose Café is situated right next to the Clifton Arcade, making it perfect for anyone preparing for a shopping spree! You can replenish in the sunlight with the outside seating, catch up in the cosy interior, or hide away in their private garden roof, all while enjoying excellent food. The café-bistro has a large variety of dishes, including grilled goat’s cheese, waffles, and kimchi bagels. After finishing your food, you can wander around the beautiful Clifton scenery.
7. Mrs Potts Chocolate House
Another café located on Park Street, Mrs Potts is sure to satisfy any chocoholic’s fantasies! All of their desserts, which include Snickers and Matilda-inspired cakes, can be topped with a white, milk, or dark chocolate drizzle! Their other sweet treats, such as their pumpkin spice pumpkins and Nutella-stuffed cookies, pair perfectly with their tasty hot chocolate and coffee! The chocolate house’s location is also extremely convenient for students. It’s a short walk away from the Wills Memorial building and library, so their desserts can be a brilliant post-study session pick-me-up and reward.
8. Society Café
Found in the city centre and by the harbourside, the trendy Society Café serve speciality coffee, a term used to refer to the highest grade of coffee available. Other than their wonderful, smooth coffee, they have vegan treats such as Victoria Sponge cake and cinnamon buns. The harbourside shop has an amazing view across the harbour, perfect for unwinding after a hectic day of studying. The Baldwin Street location is close to many of the University of Bristol’s student accommodations, so if you’re looking to explore the coffee scene in Bristol, Society Café is a great place to start.
9. Boston Tea Party
With several locations found around Bristol and Bath, Boston Tea Party is one of the more popular coffee shops in West England. This brunch institution can be found on Park Street, Gloucester Road, Whiteladies Road, and Cheswick Village. All of these locations have free WiFI and seating for large groups, ideal for working on group projects. The menu can vary from location to location, but you will always be spoilt for choice! From burgers to shawarmas to hash browns, Boston Tea Party ensures that their produce is from suppliers who are Making Things Better.
10. Playground Coffee and Bar
If you’re craving excellent drinks and a good time, look no further than Playground Coffee and Bar. You can find the coffee shop in the city centre on St Nicholas Street. Their homemade cakes perfectly accompany their drinks, whether you want to try their coffee cocktails. Other than great coffee and creative cocktails, the coffee shop and bar also has over 200 board games for you to choose from! They also host a monthly Dungeons & Dragons evening, which is accessible for everyone, even if you are not familiar with the game.
Once you have energised yourself with a cup of coffee and delicious food, you can begin your day in Bristol! If you need inspiration, check out these filming locations or choose an activity from this list to explore the wonders of Bristol!
FAQs about study-friendly coffee shops in Bristol
Look for spacious seating, stable Wi-Fi and wall sockets by larger tables. Window bars are great for solo work; big communal tables suit group projects. Natural light and low music levels help you power through reading lists comfortably.
Weekday mornings and late afternoons are typically calm. Weekends peak mid-morning. If you need to jump on a call, take it briefly outside or pick a corner seat and keep your voice low — considerate laptop etiquette keeps everyone welcome.
Some do at peak brunch. Check signs or ask. Buy something on arrival and top up every 60–90 minutes if you’re staying; it shows you’re supporting the space, not just the sockets!
Yes — oat/soy/almond are common, plus teas, hot chocolate and iced drinks. Alternate caffeine with water or decaf to avoid jitters, and add a protein snack to stay focused through afternoon seminars.
Use loyalty cards, reusable-cup discounts and midweek offers. Sitting a couple of streets from the main drag usually means quieter rooms and softer prices with the same latte art energy.
Hi, I’m Kirstie! I’m a BA English student at the University of Bristol, with a passion for creative writing. In my free time, I enjoy baking, sewing, and playing the flute.
