A great ‘hidden’ find. Tucked away down a narrow footpath but make the effort. Welcoming, great grub and a very decent pot of tea. All of the cakes look inviting and the chocolate cake I selected didn’t disappoint. Stay away from the “chains” and seek out something else.
This place is a must on a visit to Durham.. Food to die for. Home made quiche, soup, scones, sandwiches, jacket potatoes and amazing cakes. Great atmosphere and efficient friendly staff.
We had lunch here yesterday, both had quiche it was wonderful so tasty. Would have loved to be able to sample once of the cakes but no room. We would highly recommend this wee gem of a place, definitely be back the next time we're in Durham
Quaint cafe tucked away from the main drag i.e. Market Square ... up a narrow alley ... good menu selection. Great service. Banoffee pie to die fir. Definitely worth a visit. Thanks for the experience.
It was amazing I had coffee and gluten free cake which was delicious. The staff where so welcoming and friendly could not do enough for you. We sat outside underneath the large parasol which had heaters all around. I would recommend everyone to try this beautiful cafe. X
Brilliant cafe, food amazing, the waitress let our three girls tie the seat pads to the outside chairs and rewarded them with a huge slice of chocolate cake, staff really friendly and dog friendly place too ����
Great cafe with lovely food and lovely courtyard seating area, great staff too.best in Durham for me as a visitor x
Had a fabulous catch up with a friend over tea and quiche suoer friendly staff lovely interior can’t rate it enough
Found this Lovely place tucked down side street in Durham and what a Gem it was!!! Great Fresh Home Made Food gorgeous Quiche. Lovely Friendly staff as well.
Definitely recommend a visit if your ever in Durham.
Lovely atmosphere, incredibly fast service, and very nice staff. The banoffie pie was to die for.
Fast and efficient service, friendly staff and lovely premises. All home made food, looked, smelled and tasted delicious; gluten free options options as well - bonus.
Paula Michelle Davison
+5
Vennels is one of the best cafes in durham and we have loads ! Staff are always friendly food delicious and tea bread best ever would love the recipe. A must if in durham is a visit here .
The food is always fresh and delicious, friendly staff, excellent service however I do think they are getting a bit pricey
Amazing food lots of choice nothing is ever a bother to the staff who are all so friendly and real asset to the business. Cakes are the best
have used this cafe for approximately 50 years, great coffee & food. can remember days when you could enter through bookshop. forget the rest, try the best.
Everytime we visit Durham we like to eat at Vennels, delicious cakes and sandwiches, there's something for everyone's tastes, will definitely be going again, only downside is they only take cash payments.
I love Vennels Cafe, the staff are lovely, I had delicious tomato soup and a salad and took a portion of Banoffie pie home. Tremendous. X x
Just discovered this place yesterday while supporting the launch of the Durham city 5k and 10k race. Very nice, hidden away and very friendly staff and customers. Will be back for a cake and coffee 👍👍
Lovely little cafe that we've been going to for years now. One of the best places in Durham. There's a true homely and welcoming atmosphere, the staff are wonderful and the outdoor seating area is fab too, well equipped for bringing your pooch! Highly recommended
This cafe is just the very best you can get. Good food, good coffee, fab atmosphere and excellent friendly and efficient staff. 100%
Superb, both food and staff, all home cooked and you could tell, it was delicious and the cafe was tucked away but what a find, highly recommended!
Excellent, I enjoyed a cup of tea and lemon cake. I also took a carry out for my supper which was tasty.
I love this place. Especially the pavlova! (Although the portions are rather large (not complaining!) also excellent coffee! On my last visit I didn’t quite have enough cash and they trusted me to pop out to a bank machine and pay after we had finished. I was impressed (but wouldn’t it be more practical to accept card payment?)
Best cafe in the whole world, their carrot cake is my favourite. Very friendly staff too. I'm a regular that's for sure!!
Lovely first visit friendly staff and pavlova to die for!
Great place for drink and snack
Was amazing food was delicious and very clean and very durham its amazing when you go dwn them little old lanes will definitely be going bck
I came across this lovely,cosy little cafe during a recent visit to Durham. It is tucked away down a quaint little alleyway just off the main shopping street leading up to the Cathedral. It has a nice courtyard with outdoor seating,perfect on a hot summers day, and ample seating inside.
The cafe only has a small menu and is high on the price side,but I think it is worth it for the coffee and the cakes as they are like nothing I've ever tasted!
The staff of lovely ladies were very friendly, and I was served after only a short wait despite the cafe being extremely busy for a Monday lunchtime.
Overall I had a lovely experience and would recommend this cafe to any Durham visitor,looking for a bite to eat.
What a fantastic find, could be easily missed as its located off of the main street but definitely recommend seeking out this cafe.
Staff are so friendly and food is wonderful, can absolutely recommend the chocolate cake too! Don't know what coffee they use but it was delicious. There was a small wait for a part of the meal but staff were really apologetic and even offered another slice of cake. The wait really wasn't an issue and we declined the cake but I was really surprised at just how attentive and thoughtful the staff were.
Amazing cake & great coffee! Quick and friendly service. Nice atmosphere!
Don't be put off by the entrance/vennel. Nice wee hidden gem. Really busy place, fair amount of seating. Well worth the wait in the queue. Menu not large but a good selection. Lots of cakes/scones on display. Prices reasonable apart from £3 for a pot of tea (just plain tea). Plenty of staff, tables cleaned quickly. No napkins given out is the only negative. Would definitely go back.
Lovely local cafe hidden up small alleyway with courtyard seating. Freshly made panini & quiches are excellent! All locally sourced food.
Loved it here 🙂 Had been recommended because it is dog friendly. We sat outside and queue for food was worth the wait - blankets on chairs were a nice touch for those who felt cold. Quiche was lovely and the cakes looked really delicious 😋. Such a lovely old building - nicely hidden away, don't tell anyone it's there or everyone will want to eat there!! 😄
The only place in County Durham I am giving a five star rating. This is my favourite haunt, if I'm in the city with time to spare I like to try and pop in even if just for a cup of tea. They also serve alcohol alongside lovely cakes and handmade sandwiches. Lovely food, wonderful atmosphere in a very old (16th Century) building. The vennels are the narrow alleyways around the city which is where this cafe gets it's name. A fabulous old feel inside, like visiting a Heritage property except you're having your lunch there. Exposed beams, original fireplaces, sometimes I feels like I'm on an old ship. Wonderful place.
Decided to grab some lunch while in Durham today, saw a sign for this place and the little tunnelled access was just too much to resist.
The place is spread over 3 floors, great decor and lovely facilities.
Food was amazing, I just opted for a toasted ciabbatta filled with Chicken, Brie, something and stuffing plus coleslaw (extra) and crisps. I thoroughly enjoyed it, washed down with a great decaf cappuccino (with the best chocolate topping I've had) 😋😋😋😋
The staff were really nice & the place was immaculately clean, everything's made in house, they certainly have their operation down.
Keep up the good work, I'll be back next time I'm in Durham 😋
Excellent little cafe tucked away. You access it via narrow alleyways, so it's easy to miss. Great bacon rolls, coffee very good, cakes look really attractive. It is self-service ordering, then delivered to your table, (this isn't obvious when you arrive).
The best jacket with Mediterranean veg and feta!
Best family and dog friendly café in Durham in my opinion.
Lovely atmosphere and always new items plus a discount for students :)
Lovely quiet cafe just behind the main shopping streets of Durham. Large selection of cakes and savouries along with a good selection of hot and cold drinks.
Very enjoyable afternoon tea.
The food is delightful, I enjoy their full English. Pastry and coffee are nice. The real treat is the atmosphere, either inside or in their courtyard seating. A nice little tucked away place to eat!
Nice spot to get a hot drink and a small bite. Cakes are homemade and do get snapped up rather quickly if you get to the cafe late in the day.
What a wonderful find on our first visit to Durham since a school trip aged 10.Beautiful homemade food and a warm welcome awaits.The festive panini was divine and homemade cakes and scones looked delicious.
Tables set out on various floors.All cosy and the outdoor area was perfect for dogwalkers
What a lovely spot for a coffee and cake. The place was really charming, the stuff were super friendly & the courtyard was cosy. We didn't have cash only card on us. They allowed us to have our coffee first before we went to a cash machine. Definitely would go back.
This is a must-visit restaurant in Durham for coffee, friendly cakes, and food. You may have to wait in line during busy dining hours, but it is a lovely space upstairs and outdoors.
Lovely breakfast with the family in the outdoor courtyard. Tasty food and great service.
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