One of the most specific questions I get in my DM’s, usually from girls planning a weekend away or hen do, is where are the cutest cafes in Newcastle? Specific requests include cafes that are instagramable, flower walls optional, good food and coffee. Perfectly reasonable request if you ask me, who doesn’t want aesthetic surroundings while sipping on your latte or flat white as long as it tastes good too? There’s such an ‘eye roll’ response to the whole ‘instagrammable’ thing but honestly I’m here for it especially if what these places actually offer is good quality too, so here are my suggestions for the cutest cafes in Newcastle.

This post was first shared in 2019, but has been updated in January 2024 as some places closed and new ones opened. Over the years we’ve really moved away from the neon but I’d still describe all these places as pretty cute for coffee.

We have everything from Newcastle city centre, and venturing to nearby neighbourhoods like Heaton, Jesmond and Gosforth. Not all are the typical pink neon and flower walls now, some are very unique places in old buildings or in quirky parts of the city.

The main thing is they all serve really good food and drinks, and most are run by local independents. The cutest cafes in Newcastle bring some of the best experiences from which to enjoy your flat white…

The Flower Cafe, Newcastle

If neon signs, flower installations, mirror walls and even pink coffee is what you’re looking for then the Flower Cafe has it all, it’s in the name really! Find them on Grainger Street and I’ve heard they are expanding at the coast in 2024, but the city centre cafe is pretty big inside.

The decor is colourful, with deep pinks and turquoises, lots of little tables and some bigger ones downstairs too. They don’t mind you working with your laptop, or it’s a great spot for a catch up. They’re also dog friendly so take them along too.

Menu wise, they have a really good selection of all sorts of coffees, including some healthier and colourful ones including turmeric and beetroot – I was actually pleasantly surprised when I tried them. They have pastries, and a brunch menu, as well as cold sandwiches and small plates for lunch.

Read my full review of the Flower Cafe in Newcastle here.

Laneway Coffee Co. High Bridge Street Newcastle

Recently expanded so bigger and better than before, Laneway & Co Coffee are on High Bridge Street, serving up great coffee and a counter of pastries, donuts, sandwiches, toasties and cakes. It’s a very simplistic modern decor inside, but it’s lovely and gets bustling and busy fast especially on a Saturday.

A great place to work with free Wi-Fi, or meet up for coffee with friends, and there’s some Geordie slang on the walls too.

The Canny Goat, Newcastle & Heaton

The Canny Goat is a specialty coffee shop with locations in Newcastle and in Heaton nearby – both worth a visit. They’re open in Heaton from 8-3:30pm and Newcastle from 10-4:30pm. One of the best bits about this place is they sell all their bright yellow merch. They also have a menu of toasties, and cake.

Photos of the Newcastle venue on my instagram here.

Burds, Jesmond

Burds is a really unique spot in Jesmond, in the Gatehouse building of the Fleming Business Centre. It’s beautiful decor inside and they have an outdoor terrace. They serve all day brunch as well as coffee, wine and cocktails, with their signature ‘Muff’ dish getting rave reviews – its a breakfast muffin FYI. The service is very friendly they’re lovely people, and they’re dog friendly too which is even better. 

Find Burds on Instagram here. 

Etto, Gosforth

Found in Gosforth shopping centre but also with an entrance from the park is Etto, a modern cute cafe with a neutrals themed interior and a little outside terrace which is nice in summer.

They stock Cake Stories cakes and huge pastries on the counter, as well as a really nice lunch menu – the portions are big! I often meet my friend for coffee on her lunch break here it’s one of our favourite spots in Gosforth.

More photos on my instagram post here.

Pink Lane Coffee, Pink Lane, Central Newcastle

Despite the name and the location, Pink Lane Coffee isn’t pink, but it’s still a gorgeous little rustic cafe not far from Central Station. A good one if you’re drinking solo or want to get some work done, as there are tiny little tables designed for one person. I like it early in the morning when everyone in there is on their own, but their own coffee roast called Colour Coffee is known across the North East and supplies many other places.

Newtons Coffee, Sandyford

Find Newtons on Benton Terrace in Sandyford and although they’re not the easiest place to visit they are really good! It’s cute inside and they do a great iced coffee. As well as this they’re dog friendly, and they have some very tasty sandwiches, salads, ciabattas and cakes on offer too.

Opening hours are quite limited from 8-3pm through the week and 10-3pm on Saturdays. Really worth a visit if you’re nearby!

See more pics on my instagram here

Pet Lamb Patisserie, Grainger Market

This tiny but colourful bakery has a huge selection of cupcakes and brownies, and although there is no room inside to sit, there are a couple of little tables outside where you can sit and enjoy your treat of choice. Being in the Grainger market you are still indoors even though you aren’t inside the cafe.

It’s run by two friends who set up and taught themselves how to bake, and they’re so nice and friendly every time you go in. It’s a very cute little cafe.

Follow them on Instagram here.

Tiny Tiny, formerly Flat Caps Coffee, Carliol Square

Making the list of top 50 independent coffee shops in England, Tiny Tiny formerly known as Flat Caps is a specialist coffee shop and is open daily from 9-4pm. They’re child and dog friendly, have a big space so even with reduced capacity at the moment, and serve a range of food too including vegan options. Think lots of plants, naked bulbs and comfy sofas, they also have a shop and gift range which you can order from online too.

Gosforth Traders, Gosforth

Gosforth Traders is a cafe, craft beer house and off license that sells specialist wine in Gosforth which is one of the neighbourhoods just outside of Newcastle city centre. It’s really cute inside with lovely rich turquoise and gold style. 

At face value it’s a coffee, cake and lunch food place with a cracking counter of cakes and treats. Tucked away inside is a whole section of different wines, beers and spirits. Cafe by day and cocktail spot by night. Dogs are welcome too and get given treats!

1901 Cafe Jesmond, and 1901 Deli Manors & Gosforth

The 1901 cafe and deli brand have three locations to choose from, New Bridge Street in Newcastle, St George’s Terrace in Jesmond, and Gosforth High Street. All are slightly different but equally creative with pastel walls, interesting decor and offer sociable spaces. Serving an attractive menu that includes vegetarian/vegan choice in each one, but it’s the ice creams that take my fancy as they look pretty good.

Societe Cafe & Bar, Grey Street 

Société is one of the newest cafe and bars to arrive in Newcastle city centre, opening in May 2022. They’re open daily serving coffee, pizza and cocktails in a cracking spot at the top of Grey Street. It is very much like a Parisian cafe, an Italian coffee house and a Spanish wine bar rolled into one, with a view of the prettiest street in Newcastle. 

Read my full post on Societe here. 

Baby Grey’s, Gosforth

Another little cafe in Gosforth on the High Street, and only open Thursday – Sunday is Baby Grey’s. It’s quite expensive but it’s good food and my work friends absolutely love the brownies. It’s a cute little spot.

Pitcher & Piano. The Quayside, Newcastle

Hear me out with this one because I know Pitcher & Piano are a chain, and they are popular everywhere, but the Newcastle Pitcher has done up a little section on the ground floor recently. The little corner is just a bit different to the rest of the bar – and there’s your neon sign girls.

Again another good spot on the Quayside for a weekend morning coffee, and it’s dog friendly too.

The Biscuit Factory Kitchen. Stoddart Street, Newcastle

A rooftop cafe with a terrace on top of my favourite gallery in Newcastle. The Biscuit Factory art gallery and shop is worth a visit in itself, but the cafe is clean and fresh with white decor and a rooftop terrace with a view. They offer all sort of things on the menu, I’ve heard their brunch is very good and you can enjoy it even if it’s raining with the glass house covered area on the terrace.

See more on the Biscuit Factory Kitchen here.

Kiln. Hume Street, Ouseburn

Being in Ouseburn Kiln is a bit different, like most places along there. It’s a cafe combined with a ceramic pottery studio, in an old disused garage. It’s a bit rustic with barrels and wooden benches forming seating outside, but it has a lovely character inside too. They serve sandwiches, salads, soups and a big selection of cakes too, which you can enjoy before browsing some of the ceramics for sale.

Visit as part of a day out exploring Ouseburn, one of the most creative quarters in Newcastle with lots to offer.

Butterfly Cabinet. Heaton Road, Heaton.

There is always a massive queue outside this place, especially at weekends for brunch when it usually goes down the street. It feels a bit like someone’s front room with bookshelves filled with trinkets and home accessories, but it’s cosy and always busy. The food is comfort food, with a big breakfast menu and a board filled with specials. I really enjoy their smoothies. Once you’re done wander up the street to Clough’s, the old fashioned sweet shop that’s been around over 100 years.

Fork in the Rose, Heaton 

Another on Heaton Road, Fork in the Rose is both a cafe and a florist, so it’s filled with plants and flowers to enjoy while you’re having your coffee or food. 

Arlo. Brentwood Avenue, Jesmond

I have enjoyed many a weekend breakfast and brunch here, Arlo is one of my favourites in Jesmond. It’s one of the bigger ones with lots of tables, and I just love the giant antler chandelier. They’ve recently done it up a bit and there’s a lovely bar in the corner if you want to sit up there for a drink later in the day, but I love their brunch menu. You can also sit outside under the heaters and they provide blankets too.

Cake Stories. Brentwood Avenue, Jesmond, and Hoult’s Yard, Byker

I think this is one of the cosiest cafes in Newcastle, it’s just so lovely inside at both locations. At the one in Jesmond there are sofas and table seating, a huge wall of flavoured teas, an old piano and it’s just the cutest little environment to enjoy coffee and a cake. A great meeting spot for a catch up, or to do some work if you’re on your own. They open late in winter and I love sitting in when it’s raining outside. Try their lemon cake it’s amazing.

The Hoult’s Yard venue is newer and has a bigger outside area, but inside is lovely and with bright coloured lanterns and a unique building. Get the brownios they’re so good!

I hope this gives some inspiration for some of the cutest cafes in Newcastle. As I mentioned at the beginning don’t assume that flower walls and neon signs are just gimmicks to attract people in, they add something but the main thing that makes all of these places attractive is how nice the food and drinks are.

So if you’re heading to Newcastle then make sure you visit one or two of them as part of your trip!

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