Our favourite top 5 cafes North of the River Cam
The ward of Chesterton is situated northeast of Cambridge city centre and is often missed by visitors to Cambridge. It is a quiet neighbourhood north of the River Camb, famous for the boat houses along the river. Recently, it has become one of the upcoming foodie areas in Cambridge, with quirky bars and coffee shops.
Stir Cafe on Chesterton Road
Stir Cambridge is a household name in Cambridge these days. In 2015, it opened its doors as the owner wanted to create a cool community cafe, which has certainly been successful. Two years later, they opened their bakery next door, and over the last few years, they have been opening cafes in and around Cambridge.
Ellimata on Victoria Avenue
Amanda and Shawn have brought Australian sandwiches to Cambridge in 2024. They opened their cafe, Ellimatta, on Victoria Avenue in Chesterton, in a previous farm shop, a stone’s throw away from Midsummer Common. Their sandwiches and bowls are certainly worth the track from Cambridge City, which is actually on a 5 minute walk from the Round Church! The serve a good cup of coffee and whilst you’re there you can listen to the tunes of vinyl of your choice!
Cofe_in on Chesterton Road
The latest addition to the Chesterton coffee scene is this quirky cafe. Cofe_in serves a delicious selection of sandwiches, croissants, soups and All Day Brunch. They’ve made a name (already) for their breakfast croissants piled with scrambled eggs and toppings!
The following two cafes aren’t technically in Chesterton, but they are so close by that they couldn’t be missed out…
The Cherry Pit on King Street
The Cherry Pit Cafe only opened its doors on the 2nd of January 2025. This American style microbakery and record store is only a stone’s throw away from Cambridge Market. The owner, Ellis, loves sweet pies. So there’ll be plenty of those, and other buttery bakes and savoury bites to tuck into soon too. Wash it down with a coffee or pop, and check out the music racks while you’re here. Ellis sells new and used vinyl records from popular genres.
Kerb Kollective on the Riverside
There are not many places in Cambridge where you can sip a fine cup of coffee overlooking the River Cam and watch the rowers compete. This quirky cafe is located at the Engineer Museum on the River Cam. Outside seating only, away from the crowds in Cambridge city centre. Delicious bakes and savoury food, too.
Check out the other favourite top 5 places in Cambridge
Are you visiting Cambridge or a local and not sure where to find the best places to eat, hang out, shop or where to go for the best fun or walks in Cambridge? We’ve done the hard work for you.
