The Settle Down Cafe

Coffees: Cappuccino, Milk Steamers, Baby-ccinos, Mochaccino, Espresso, Latte
Food: Homemade Pizza, Soup, Sandwiches, Vegie Salads, Cakes
Where: Thornton Street

The Settle Down Café offers arguably one of Newcastle Upon Tyne’s most chilled out and friendly café experiences and is situated in an area densely populated by great independent establishments.

Within 100 yards of the settle down is a variety of independent bars restaurants and cafes, including Tilly’s pub, a local gem, making the area a hotspot for Newcastle’s more switched on crowd.

The café, which particularly seems to attract the city’s cool, 20-something parent’s comes with a relaxed reggae and hip hop soundtrack, offers a variety of fair trade and organic food and drink and is more than accommodating for children.

The décor of the café is perfectly in line with this, with posters for local independent art and music events and artwork by local and aspiring artists sitting alongside pictures drawn by the many children who visit the café.

The inside of the Settle Down manages to tread the line between being relaxing and welcoming whilst avoiding the now clichéd patchy sofas and impractically low tables which populate many chain coffee shops seeking to ape the independent’s.

Instead, the Settle Down has opted for long wooden benches and wooden chairs, with a generous seating area outside for when the sun decides to grace Newcastle with its presence.

The food on offer at the Settle Down is a particular highlight, a selection of homemade organic food including soup sandwiches and pizza’s which change daily.

If you are in search of a very relaxed atmosphere, homecooked food and friendly staff and clientele in the heart of one of Newcastle’s coolest setting’s, get yourself along to the Settle Down.

Callum Mcglade

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Intermezzo

Coffees: Americano, Espresso, Ristretto, Latte, Cappuccino, Mocha.
Food: Paninis, Piadina, Pastries, Olives, Biscotti.

Where: Pilgrim Street

Like many other of Newcastle’s independent coffee shops, Intermezzo benefits from its location.

The café is neighbours with the Tyneside Cinema, a Newcastle institution, the Tyneside is the city’s most popular independent cinema and keeps Intermezzo busy with cinema-goers having a coffee before or a cocktail after watching the latest independent or international release.

Intermezzo is also a café which manages to transform itself throughout the day, supplying commuters into the city with their early morning dose of espresso, playing host to those who use the café as a place work, read or relax during the day time and then becoming a down-tempo cocktail bar in the evening.

Part of what makes Intermezzo such a popular inner city destination is the buzz which surrounds it. This is due almost entirely to its fiercely dedicated cast of regulars.

The café attracts a uniquely international crowd, regulars can often be heard speaking Italian, Spanish and even Romanian whilst enjoying a coffee and a cigarette outside sitting at one of the metallic tables which line the alleyway in which the café is set.

The distinctively European feel which intermezzo has managed to create is one of the driving forces behind its customer base, its coffee is imported from Italy, it serves piadina style sandwiches, Italian antipasto and it is staffed by people from all over the world who are ready to converse with customers in a variety of tongues.

Intermezzo is has become as much of a Newcastle staple as the cinema which neighbours it, partly because of the location, partly because of its great coffee but mainly because when you’re there you feel like you could be anywhere in the world.

Callum Mcglade

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9 Bar

Coffees: Espresso, Macchiato, Flat White, Latte, Cappuccino, Americano, Mocha and Brewed Coffee 
Where: Grey Street


Snuggled next to the Theatre Royal on Grey Street is the uber-cool and uber-friendly, 9 Bar.

Cosmopolitan clientele, alfresco eatery and quirky newspaper decor make this tiny coffee shop seem a world away from the Greggs-like cafes littered across the city.
The coffee is hit or miss depending on your taste.

On my first visit, I ordered a white americano and the coffee was burnt (one to two sweeteners were my only savoir)!

Upon my second visit, however, I have to say the cappuccino was absolutely perfect; its texture smooth, its decorated froth light, and its taste refreshing with a fruity twist. Not the most modest price at £2.40 for a regular sized coffee, but worth every penny.

9 Bar would likely please the music buffs out there –Bjork’s Icelandic wails were bounced around its walls for a good proportion of my latest visit – and the general feel is that it’s a coffee shop in which to have that age-old thing: good conversation.


This isn’t the place for bleary-eyed students huddled over their Macs (go to Starbucks for that please). This is a different but welcoming experience, and one that I would heartily recommend.

Charlotte Krol


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Flat Caps

Coffees: Speciality Coffees, Iced Coffee, Americano, Cappuccino, Espresso
Where: Ridley Place

Set in an alternative setting, underneath an indie jewellery shop just off Northumberland Street, Flat Caps coffee shop has a unique artisan character as well as an exceptional range of coffees that will please true coffee lovers.
The decoration and ambient music create a relaxing atmosphere, making Flat Caps the perfect retreat for a calm coffee break with friends.

It’s also a great spot for a study session with a free Wi-Fi service.

Benches with colourful silky cushions and wooden tables hidden in small corners create a sense of a secluded, well hidden urban treasure complimented with friendly service and locally sourced pastries.

Freshly made paninis, fruit scones, ‘devil’ chocolate cake and peanut butter fudge will please everyone’s sweet tooth, while tea enthusiasts can choose between fruit and herbal teas.

If you are aiming for a refreshing summer treat, why not try a cold filtered coffee served with ice, prepared with a traditional Taiwanese brewing machine: an ideal choice for bean junkies who enjoy strong, nutty flavours with an iced twist.

The place is characterised by owner Flat Cap Joe’s personal touch, whose commitment to quality and customer service enhances the coffee experience.

In comparison to other coffee shops, Joe takes the time to explain the brewing procedure and go through the various coffee beans making sure each customer finds a suitable beverage to match his or her taste.

For under a fiver, you can enjoy rich coffee flavours accompanied by a slice of cake or a mouth-watering caramel shortbread in a relaxing environment for those who truly appreciate the art of coffee.

Nelly Stavropoulou

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Blakes

Coffees: Vanilla Latte, Americano, Latte, Filter Coffee, Ristretto
Where: Grey Street


For a non -coffee connoisseur like myself, Blakes coffee house offers more than just great coffee.

If you like quirky, old style buildings with the sound of light American music, Blakes is the perfect place for you to taste one of their many coffee specials from around the world.  

Grab your coffee and settle down on wooden tables and chairs of all different shapes and sizes, make sure you find one that’s comfortable for you to relax in the low lighting. Log in to the free Wi-Fi or chose from one of their free newspapers.

So the choice of coffee for me was a vanilla latte. It was nicely finished off with a design on top. Most importantly, it wasn’t too hot. It was smooth and sweet, but I’m guessing the sweetness came from the sugar I added to my coffee.

Either way, it was still one of the best combinations I’ve ever tasted and milk was frothed perfectly to make the classic latte.

But if a latte doesn’t take your fancy then maybe try the Columbian filter coffee.

If you’re more the espresso type, then try their blends of Ristretto.

If you’re not a coffee person altogether, maybe you’ll like their loose leaf teas, ranging from peppermint and strawberries and cream, to the classic Earl Grey.

You can also tickle your taste buds with Blakes’ delicious food menu, including soups, jacket potatoes, paninis or traditional American breakfast options to get you right into that American coffee house feel.

Overall, a visit to Blakes is a unique and will please you if you’re a coffee lover or not.

Katrina Stevenson

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