Exeter's cosiest cafes

We’ve had more than our fair share of rainy days of late. Fortunately, Exeter has an abundance of cosy cafés, from tucked-away hideouts to neighbourhood favourites, serving up warming hot beverages and tempting sweet treats. Here are some of the cosiest spots in the city to wait out a shower.

18g Coffee Roasters
A firm favourite in St Leonards, 18g Coffee Roasters on Magdalen Road is the kind of neighbourhood café that feels especially welcoming when the weather turns. It is especially popular with coffee lovers - the team make their own coffee, roasting the beans locally in Marsh Barton, with a new special roast available each month to enjoy in the café or take home.

The outlook is onto the neighbourhood of St Leonard's and the team there tell us it's a favourite jaunt for people who've walked up the hill and step inside to escape the endless rain! Warming treats include inventive sausage rolls in flavours such as teriyaki, apple and Seville orange, all served hot. For those with a sweet tooth, carrot cake or hazelnut coffee cake are also top choices. 

Open daily Monday - Friday 8am–4pm; Saturday - Sunday 9-3pm. 

The Tiny Tasting Room
True to its name, The Tiny Tasting Room is intimate, plant-filled and atmospheric. Tucked away on St Martin’s Lane, the passage just off the High Street, you feel hidden away despite being in the centre of town.

Their cinnamon bun latte is a seasonal favourite, available hot or iced, while the peanut butter breakfast smoothie offers a lighter option. For something more indulgent, try the toasted chocolate chip banana bread served with Greek yoghurt for an instant mood lifter on a drizzly day. 

Open 8am–4pm on weekdays and 9.30am–4pm at weekends.

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Hyde & Seek
Where Paul Street meets Queen Street, just opposite the RAMM, Hyde & Seek has long been a go-to place for buying birthday presents. In the last couple of years, it has extended its offering to include a café as well.

As you sip your coffee, you’re surrounded by vibrant artwork and carefully curated treasures. We love the upstairs seating area, complete with its glowing white tree - an especially snug spot to settle in while the rain taps against the windows.

There’s a daily selection of soups (always vegan and now gluten free), served with toasted sourdough from a local bakery, or paired as a half portion with a half toastie. The team tell us that the chai tea and hot chocolate are particularly popular at this time of year, and the chocolate chai comes highly recommended if you’re torn between the two! Menus change regularly, with recent additions including gluten-free quiches from a local bakery.

Open daily 9.30am–5.30pm (Sundays 9.30am–4pm).

The Press House
Down Fore Street, The Press House is a charming café, its window signage and awning giving it a chic yet old-fashioned feel. It's also larger than it first appears. Beyond the counter, cosy back rooms - where an actual press room used to be - open up, with soft seating and blankets ready for especially chilly days.

The latte menu is comforting and eclectic, with options like guarana cacao, charcoal coconut and rose. Food is equally inviting, with cosy choices including pancakes, French toast and rhubarb and ginger crumble, alongside cakes from local heroes Exploding Bakery and brownies from Cake or Death.

Open daily 9am–3.30pm.

The Glorious Art House Café
Also along Fore Street, The Glorious Art House Café offers a burst of colour against the grey. Stepping inside feels like you’ve arrived in sunny Mexico — walls alive with artwork, a cosy upstairs nook and a sweet courtyard ready for brighter days.

The menu spans coffee, teas and house blends, alongside lunches and cakes, all served in a setting that feels creative and full of soul. It’s an uplifting place to retreat when the rain shows no sign of stopping.

Open Wednesday to Monday, 10am–4pm (Saturdays 9.30am–5pm).