Best Coffee Shops and Cafes in Braintree Essex

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If you’re looking for cafes in Braintree, I share some of my favourite coffee shops, if you are just after a drink, as well as cafes that are great for breakfast or lunches! I have tried to avoid the larger chains, we do have Costas and Starbucks in Braintree but the ones listed here are mostly independents or local-based chains.

Cafes In Braintree

Good for Coffee/Hot Drinks

Coffee House In The Gardens

One of my favourite parks in Braintree is the Braintree and Bocking Public Gardens. They have a small coffee shop located just within the entrance called Coffee House In The Gardens. The cafe serves up a range of reasonably priced hot and cold drinks as well as food items such as sandwiches and paninis.

Coffee House In The Gardens is trying its best to be eco-friendly, with the takeaway cups and packaging being composable. They also use the leftover coffee grounds for compost within the gardens to help with the plants and flowers.

There’s a small outdoor seating area behind the cafe, or you’ll find plenty of benches around the gardens. It’s open Monday to Sunday from 10am until 2pm.

Toast

One of my go-tos for coffee in Braintree is Toast, located in the High Street. It was the very first location and they have since expanded to Colchester, Witham, Chelmsford, and Sudbury. They sell a wide range of hot and cold drinks including milkshakes and smoothies.

As the name suggests, they also have toasted sandwiches! I’ve had the Bacon Toastie before and it’s very yummy. You’ll also find cakes and sweet treats. There is a small seating area inside and then a few outdoor tables, which are always packed on a Saturday morning!

During the week Toast opens at 7.30am (slightly later on the weekends) and closes at 5pm (4pm on Sunday).

Something Scrummy

My sister absolutely raves about Something Scrummy! They are located next to Braintree Museum. Something Scrummy has a coffee/hot drink menu but then they also have a range of blended iced lattes and a big milkshake selection! Along with the drinks that serve cakes and sandwiches. Something Scrummy is open until 4pm and closed on Sundays.

Eatons

Eatons Tea Room in George Yard is a great place to go for coffee and homemade cakes! They have lots of benches outside which are popular with dog owners. They also make AWESOME afternoon tea boxes for 2 people which are packed full of cakes and sandwiches!

The Glass House Tearooms

The Glass House Tearooms are another good cafe in Braintree for coffee and homemade cake. They are located at ‘the fountain end’ of the High Street and have indoor seating. It is open from 10am until 3pm and is closed on Sundays and Mondays.

Mocha Tree

Mocha Tree has both indoor and outdoor seating. The cafe is a bit of a tardis, it looks small from the front but actually has quite a lot of seating inside! It has a good drinks menu, sandwiches, cakes, and ice cream.

(Coffee Shops in Braintree With Later Opening Hours)

I find that sometimes coffee shops do shut quite early. Sometimes I’d quite like to have the vibe of a coffee shop in the evening, rather than going to a pub or somewhere similar. The Phoenix is open until 11.30pm on Friday and Saturday nights. They have a focus on locally sourced products. Another alternative could be Mosaic Turkish restaurant which is open until late everyday and has a good coffee and tea menu.

Cafes Good For Breakfast/Lunch

Braintree Cafe

My favourite place to go for Breakfast in Braintree is the Braintree Cafe, located along Coggeshall Road next to Mr Kebab. The only downside is that it does only have a couple of parking spaces out the front. It’s slightly out of the town centre but it is best to walk.

They have a large breakfast and lunch menu, the portion sizes are huge and the costs are very reasonable. The tea comes in a proper big mug too…not a silly little teacup! My favourite breakfast is the Avacado Mash Meal which is avocado on toast with 2 poached eggs, hash browns, and beans (although I leave the beans off)!

You can also find them on Just Eat and Deliveroo, however, I’ve never used them for takeaway. They open at 7am (8am on Sundays) and close at 3pm.

Cafe CM7

A alternative to the Braintree Cafe, but in the town centre, is Cafe CM7. It opens at 8am and closes at 4pm (9am until 3pm on Sundays). They have a similar menu and prices.

Memhas

Another cafe in Braintree town centre that has the same opening hours as Cafe CM7 is Memhas in the Market Square. They have a very large breakfast/brunch menu as well as sandwiches and main meals.

I wish they were open a little later, because a large portion of the menu is more like dinner options, rather than lunch. But this may be a great option if you were looking for a larger midday meal. I’ve been there for brunch and was impressed.

Cafes in Braintree District

The Booking Hall Cafe

Another one of my favourite cafes in Braintree district, is The Booking Hall Cafe in Rayne. It makes for a great walk from Braintree. You can join the start of The Flitch Way next to Braintree train station and then walk approximately 45 minutes to Rayne Station.

Here you’ll find The Booking Hall Cafe which is located in an old train station. There’s even a train carriage alongside the old platform! The Booking Hall Cafes has a range of hot drinks, an amazing homemade cake selection, and doorstop sandwiches. The seating area is outside, however an area along the platform has a canopy over the top, but for the most part, it is open to the elements. Because of this, it’s also dog friendly.

Once you’ve had a rest, use the public toilets, you can then turn around and walk back to Braintree!