From a vinyl store with a brew bar to a cafe that’s also a skate venue, Selena Young reveals a few quirky spots to sink a flat white this spring
Sunshine and Snow, Devon
Not just a fabulous store crammed full of items chosen with exquisite taste (it won Best Lifestyle Store in the UK in the Muddy Stilettos Awards 2025), this is also a must-visit for yoga sessions, life-drawing classes and speciality coffee. Brews come courtesy of Cornish coffee roastery Origin, while bakes are delivered direct from Exploding Bakery in Exeter.
Before placing your order, peruse Sunshine & Snow’s huge collection of lifestyle items and artisan food and drink sourced from small indie brands. Don’t miss the curated selection of vintage clothing, handmade ceramics, unique gifts and cards.
And, if all that wasn’t delicious enough, the team are also about to open a bar and restaurant.
Doubles, Wiltshire
On its A-side, this urban apartment-style space is a coffee shop. However, its B-side showcases a rare-vinyl store.
The laid-back venue is the brainchild of Al Richards and Matt Baila, who bring their unique experiences to the operation: Al has a background in architecture and cheffing, while Matt is a DJ and barista.
The duo complement speciality espresso from roastery royalty like Asylum, Dark Arts and Curve alongside bubbling house-made pizzas, brunch plates and bakes. Naturally, there’s always a top tune spinning on the turntable as guests slurp and scoff.
Outside, Devon
This multi-dimensional coffee shop in south Devon comprises (deep breath) a cafe, skate venue, pottery studio, surfboard-shaping bay and farm.
The space is built around a mega concrete skate bowl carved into two acres of picturesque land between Dartmoor and the South Hams coastline. All the goings-on are fuelled by devilishly good coffee (roasted in Cornwall by Yallah) and globetrotting dishes crafted from homegrown produce.
Situ, Cornwall
Discerning foodies make a beeline for Penryn’s stylish warehouse, Situ. The eatery, coffee shop and events space is built around a unique culinary offering: co-owner and chef Sham Mulji incorporates the flavours of his Gujarati heritage into produce-led dishes crafted in a modern Indian culinary style. Sham sources spices from India and ingredients from the Cornish coast and countryside to create authentic flavour-forward plates.
The elevated cafe food is paired with speciality coffee brewed in multiple ways (espresso, batch filter, Kalita Wave, Chemex and AeroPress) and steaming cups of traditional masala chai. Time your trip to join one of Situ’s regular supper clubs or free monthly cupping sessions.
Coffee Club, Bristol
Bristol flexes a lot of unusual coffee venues, but the converted Airstreams at Paintworks may be the funkiest. Coffee Club’s South Carolina campers have been fitted out as lively mobile cafes and serve coffee with a spot-on vinyl soundtrack.
The house coffee blend, Rocket Espresso, is provided by Bristol roastery Extract and supplemented by a knockout guest filter from Radical Roasters (another local hero). Regular socials with local breweries, DJs and street-food traders take the experience next level.
Brazier Coffee, Somerset
Of course all the beans at this Somerset cafe are fantastically fresh and full of flavour: they’re bronzed on-site by the Brazier roasting team. Coffee lovers can trial the crew’s freshest roasts at the cafe brew bar, where they’re crafted into exceptional espresso and Chemex pours by talented baristas.
More joy comes in the form of house-baked sourdough and beautiful surroundings – the late-1800s-era building features its original windows and a cast-iron spiral staircase.
Sweven, Bristol
Hit up this Bedminster cafe to sample its thrilling range of carefully bronzed coffees, served just as the roaster intended. A rotating list of rare and exclusive finds, along with a limited offering of unusual beans which have been frozen, makes this one for serious speciality coffee fans.
Like flipping to the other side of the pillow, the Sweven experience is refreshingly cool. Soak up the peaches-and-cream interior, swoon over the sleek brew bar and prepare to catch the baristas’ infectious enthusiasm for coffee.
Discover the best independent coffee shops and cafes
The new Indy Coffee Guide South No.9 reveals a selection of speciality coffee shops, cafes and roasteries, cherry-picked by industry experts. Food Lifestyle readers get an exclusive 25% discount with code: FL25. Get your copy here. The new Indy Coffee Guide London app is also available now.
Enjoyed our curation of curious coffee shop kicks? Find out five of our favourite coffee shops in Exeter.
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