The 30 Best Cafe & Coffee Shop & Pub in Bedford

“Adorable Tiny Café - the Owner and team so friendly. Secret Gem of Bedford!”

“I had the sopa da pedra, a sausage and bean soup, I’ve had it somewhere else before and loved it, and it was just as good here, and very reasonably priced too… I love Portuguese cafes, make you feel like you’re on holiday when you visit one! Also had a hot chocolate, which was lovely, so much better than mediocre ones you get most places. The lady who serves was very warm and friendly too, and they have newspapers which is great as that seems to be becoming like something from the past”

“Lovely staff who were very welcoming and the food was delicious. Great value for money and the portions were generous. Far better than big coffee shop chains. I recommend the grilled chicken and coffee frappe. Will definitely be returning!”

“Been here several times. Tonight we were served by the phenomenal Denisa. She was brilliant! Polite, attentive, good sense of humour and professional! The food as always beautifully presented and absolutely yummy. We brought our friends with us tonight and we were not disappointed! Everyone left happy and full.”

“Ordered 2 waffles, a biscoff and a chocolate one. They delivered the waffles within half an hour and they were absolutely delicious! The ice cream was lush and both waffles were amazing. I'll definitely be ordering again :) (They threw in a freebie sweets aswell, thank you.)”

“Me and my wife went for meal wednesday 10.12.2025 at 10.30 pm. It was very nice welcoming ,great and tasty food . Portion was good ,reasonable price .we will defently come back again soon. Good location we are from milton keynes ,stony startford. Thanks to waveed for serving us .”

“The food is outstanding! Vibes are great and the coffee is spot on! - This is one of Bedfords hidden Gems”

“I always have the brunch but take out tomatoes and mushrooms because I’m in the carnivore diet. I’ve designed this poster because I want everyone to pop in and enjoy the atmosphere and great food.”

“Can get very busy at the weekend. Check the facebook page for different themed events. Saturday 10-2pm typically is Pokémon time, where an army of kids trade and buy cards. They have a good selection of drinks and custom milkshakes. Aswell as food menu items. Good for kids and adults of all ages. Ps: they also have a free board game area with a wide selection of board games to play for free. (But also buy).”

“Absolutely recommend River Cafe if you want a great breakfast and outstanding service. Staff are always friendly and accommodating for kids and the food is spot on.”

“Really tasty food, very friendly staff.”

“Neat and clean cafe on Bedford high street. Prices are reasonable, food is amazing, variety of food and drinks to choose from and most importantly staff is really welcoming.”

“In truth, I don't really like cats. If I am close to them I tend to sneeze and get sore eyes, so I can't really enjoy cat based interactions. However, cats seem to like me so I am destined to sneeze through this life. Assuming you like cats, and you like cafes with cats in, you're quite likely to enjoy it here. Book in advance, and don't leave kids unattended. The cats might play, or they might ignore you. Cats are cats and do what they want, but you probably already know that.”

“Made us feel like part of the family, great food and personable service!”

“Great staff, with even better food in an excellent environment! Will definitely be coming back!”

“Wanted to try a new coffee shop after our swim in Flitwick and heard very good things about Surfin Cafe. It did not disappoint! Lovely setting, coffee, food. Amazing music too! Sipping my drink to realise I was listening to Pink Floyd and The Smiths, topped off an already excellent experience. Personally greeted by the owner or maybe manager, not too sure but a thick Scottish accent was a nice touch. I would thoroughly recommend!”

“We went to the Kings Arms to celebrate my daughter's birthday. My husband and I had never visited before; however, it is local to my daughter and her partner and they had highly recommended the food and cocktails. We all had a fabulous meal and delightful cocktails. I always choose a salad, if it is interesting and different, not just lettuce, cucumber and tomato. This did not disappoint, especially with the addition of two sea bass fillets. We left feeling extremely happy and very full, we will definitely return, thank you! ☺️”

“Had a really nice meal here. Good atmosphere, food choices were of good variety, something for everyone and reasonably priced. Service was very good and the wait times for food given it was a busy Friday evening weren’t an issue. It’s been a while since we have enjoyed a pub meal and will definitely return!”

“Lovely food. Would have been 5 stars for atmosphere if music had been quieter when sat down and if we didn't have to keep asking for it to be turned down, but after it was, the atmosphere was great (5 stars). We were particularly impressed with Jasmine, our waitress. Such a sweet, caring lady, she was very attentive to us and couldn't be more helpful! Nothing was too much trouble tor her, and she was very friendly, patient and cheerful and kept checking everything was ok. It made our visit very pleasurable and wanting to come back again.”

“Great atmosphere especially when sun is shining. The new sub menu was enjoyed by us all. Half the world away is one of the best Brewpoint beers, so that was a bonus.”

“After somehow never visiting this pub, it was recommended as a party venue. From the point of enquiring they were so friendly and helpful. Booked it for my nieces 21st and we all had an amazing time. The pizzas were 10/10 and so was the service! Will definitely be coming back and recommending to others.”

“From the moment we stepped into Slug and Lettuce, Pebbles made our dining experience truly exceptional. Her warm welcome and attentive service set the tone for a delightful evening. Pebbles' professionalism and attention to detail were evident in every aspect of our meal, from her recommendations to her timely check-ins to ensure our satisfaction. Her genuine enthusiasm for both the menu and ensuring our comfort made us feel valued and well-cared for throughout our visit. Without a doubt, Pebbles embodies the epitome of outstanding hospitality, making our time at Slug and Lettuce an unforgettable one. We can't wait to return, knowing that Pebbles will be there to elevate our dining experience once again.”

“Had an excellent Christmas Eve breakfast here today, Chels, our server, was exceptionally accommodating. I had many questions about the menu and she answered them all with confidence. I would definitely come here again! Thanks for making our morning special!”

“Everything was well seasoned and cooked to our taste. The service was kind, and the atmosphere very welcoming. While the higher prices make it more of an occasional treat than a regular spot, the quality certainly justifies the cost — and doesn't take away from the overall experience.”

“They offer a varied selection of Spanish tapas as starters and main courses such as paellas, croquettes, and other typical Spanish dishes. Recommended for family celebrations or gatherings with friends.”

“First visit but won’t be the last. Good service, great food and fabulous ice cream milk shakes. Exceptional crepe. Toilet clean. All in all a great place.”

“Excellent service and good food at a reasonable price”

“A really nice village pub located in Oakley, Beds. We had some tapas and drinks. The tapas were really delicious and good sized portions as well. Reasonably priced and a lovely garden too.”

“Fantastic authentic Indian food”

“I LOVE THIS PLACE!! It is hands down one of my favorite memories from visiting the UK in July 2023. I still think about the fries and scampi I had because they were so good. 10/10!”