In all my years living in Scotland I may have been a frequent flier to London; however, rarely have I ventured out of the capital to its surrounding sights. I decided to change that when I discovered a conference held in Cambridge. 

I quickly realised why I had been such a London hermit – getting out to world-famous places like Oxbridge from Scotland was pretty time consuming, making for a day of planes, trains and/or automobiles – but was it worth it?

It was July, the month of Graduations, so this university city was buzzing with young people and their parents; but also tourists like myself absolutely loving the Med-grade temperatures accompanying walks along canals and among historic architecture (although most of it was off bounds, reserved for open days for prospective alumni). 

In the bare couple of days I had there, I found Cambridge a charming city with a so-so dining scene, but an abundance of cafés that looked more than inviting. 

I made my selection based on a semi-extensive Google search on my flight over, followed by a visual assessment of the location during one of my many circulars around this pretty compact city. 

At the end I’ve added a couple more I wish I had visited if I had more time. 

So – here’s a selection from the Cambridge café scene…

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Pages Coffee House

Ironically, my first coffee stop was not on my planned list, but I stumbled upon it exploring the historic city centre. 

I had just finished lunch and knew I was limited for café opening times, but as I walked past Pages, it grabbed me with its clean aesthetic and tranquil feel. I had decided to abandon my search for other (pinned) establishments in the vicinity, turned around, but rather than use the shop floor entrance, I followed the voices through to the back patio.

All the tables drenched in sun were free but through the side door into the narrow inner cafe area the place was packed, buzzing with young people who looked like they were having conversations beyond their years. 

I thought myself crazy ordering a hot mocha when everyone else was partaking in iced drinks, but needs must in the name of research!

While I did say I was sitting in, my beverage was served in a takeaway cup – not sure if this was because it was within an hour of closing or if that’s just their style.  

Under the lid, the mocha looked rich and expertly made. In taste, it was indeed rich in flavour and texture that made it very sippable. However, it was slightly on the bitter side – really good, but not as moreish as some of the top scorers.

Find out more about Pages on their website.

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Fitzbillies

Pre arrival I was made to believe this is a Cambridge institution, not to be missed. But once I explored the city I realised Fitzbillies is not a single destination, with three cafes in this local chain. 

Further research put more emphasis on their famous Chelsea buns rather than coffee; so I felt it would be a great destination for pre-conference breakfast. 

I headed for the Trumpington Street one which I understood to be the original. It certainly looks the part, with the venue split in two: a café and a restaurant. The latter was empty so while I was tempted, I followed the morning traffic into the café area. Upon making an order of a mocha and a blueberry cheesecake cinnamon bun, I took a nice, quiet seat at the back. My coffee was called for pickup soon after and I was ready to put it to the test. 

The mocha was a bit on the bitter side – maybe using dark cocoa, which could also explain the increasing acidity with following sips (it was very acidic at the end after trying the bun!). It was quite nice overall and drinkable, but I wouldn’t rush to reorder my coffee here. 

As for the bun – admittedly, I’m not an expert is soft sweet rolls, but this one was very soft – and moist (oh yes, I did!)

To find out more about Fitzbillies, visit their website.

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Bould Brothers

Following the previous experience, I was intent on finding something less touristy but highly rated for its coffee specifically. 

It looked a bit more chic on the outside than some other similarly recommended establishments, but on the inside the style was further elevated. I found myself in a reclaimed Georgian living room, with cool artwork and plenty of light – and people, confirming this was a popular destination. 

Unlike at Fitzbillies, where the server felt rushed, this place was chilled in all ways – no rush, no problem. And when the coffee was served soon after, I was in awe of the latte art on top. What was underneath didn’t disappoint. 

The mocha was perfectly blended – smooth and silky, with a lovely sweetness that was not overpowering. It was a well sized cup, but I did not struggle finishing it to the last drop.

Learn more about Bould Brothers on their website.

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Just before my departure, I managed to squeeze in one more coffee following a mediocre breakfast at my hotel. I had been eyeing Foy since day one, but it had limited opening hours. It was closed until Wednesday evening, when I would have been tempted to stop there for a light dinner if I had company, as it felt like that kind of place. It is just by the canal but tucked away from the high street, making for a perfect hang out spot, inside and out. 

They had plenty of shade set up so I decided to make the most of the outdoors while once again questioning my hot drink life choices in the 30ºC heat. The bubbly server did not seem to share in my concerns when she took my order; although I had to wait a bit longer than other places for the coffee to be served – understandably though, as we were firmly in lunch hour and the place was pretty full. 

Again, different presentation to the others but the colour and top finish of the drink set a positive expectation. True to the visuals, it was quite chocolatey, but not too sweet – it was a well balanced concoction, including the temperature, perfect for drinking despite the hot day. 

While it wasn’t as well blended as Bould’s, the froth on top had substance to it rather than just air and remained there smooth like a crema throughout the drink. 

Overall, extremely enjoyable for the flavour – and the location and super friendly staff too!

Find out more about Café Foy on their website.

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If I had more time…

Espresso Lane – my first destination, but I couldn’t find it! That’s when I stumbled upon Pages, so I never actually located it, even though it kept popping up in my search…

Michaelhouse Café in St Michael’s Church – the venue made it an intriguing destination, offering a reprieve from the heat outside as I did step in for a look. It’s worth a visit, if you don’t mind families with kids – the place was very busy.

Café Blue Sage – a bit out of the way for me (although in Cambridge that is not an excuse!) but a high scorer online and its own coffee roaster. The Turkish theme sounded promising, as did the photos of the pretty venue.

Trickle, Ulmann & Freunde – an unassuming soup and sandwich joint with simple (but unmissable blue) signage, on the side street leading up to Ftizbillies. Not my kind of place, but had great reviews, so I was curious!