Cacao Bean in Moreton in Marsh

Just north of Stow on the Wold is the town of Moreton in Marsh. There are several coffee houses  and tearooms and today we visited the Cacao Bean.

It is situated on the right hand side of the road as you drive through Moreton from Stow. Inside is cosy and comfortable and the teatime treats are aplenty from biscuits to cakes and delicious looking mini fruit tarts.

 

We enjoyed cappuccinos and hot chocolates as well as a nut slice, apple cake and shortbread biscuits. We all found the teatime treats delicious even though the shortbread was a bit chalky.

 

 

If you ever pop into Moreton, it is worth giving the Cacao Bean a try!

 

 

 

Sue's Coffee Rating:

7/10 


The Coffee House in Stow on the Wold

Summer holidays are here and we are having a mixed bag as far as the weather is concerned. This does not detract from this beautiful area of England. Come rain or shine, the Cotswolds is a tourist magnet, especially during the Summer holidays.

Last month I visited Huffkins in Stow and today we had cappucinos and tea treats at The Coffee House. It is neatly tucked away up one of the side streets and offers a wide selection of coffees, tea treats and a good lunch menu. The staff was friendly and helpful too.



The Coffee House in Stow 

 

The doors leading to an outside eating section.

Inside it is relaxed and comfortable.

Comfy couches in the front area.



 

 The Coffee House has several sections which makes it cosy and more intimate.

We had a super morning at The Coffee House and I would recommend it to anyone who wants a good cup of coffee and a delicious treat for tea.



Sue's Coffee Rating:

8/10 



Huffkins in Stow on the Wold

We are just having the most incredible weather in the Cotswolds at the moment. After a very cold Spring, we are all enjoying this warm Summer weather.
Stow on the Wold is a very popular Cotswold market town.

Huffkins in Stow

A closer view of the tearoom.

We enjoyed a lovely birthday "tea" there on Saturday morning. I say "tea" as we had cappuccinos with our tasty treats. Huffkins is a very popular tearoom and has an awesome bakery too. It was very difficult to decide what to have. We settled in the end, with an Almond Croissant and their famous Lardy Cake, both of which were delicious.

It is worth mentioning that Huffkins is a family-owned business and also has tearooms in Burford and Witney. The food is delicious and you really feel like it has been made with love.

If you are looking for a tearoom with a large variety of baked treats, breakfast and lunch menus, this is well worth a visit in the lovely town of Stow.

Sue's Coffee Rating: 8/10

Burford and Maison Blanc for lunch............

Burford is truly a very good example of a typical Cotswold town. The beauty of the town shines through, even on a cloudy day. There is a large public car park at the lower end of the town and walking from there gives you a lovely feel of the streets, houses and buildings.

 

Burford High Street

 There are many restaurants, pubs and coffee shops to choose from. Today we chose Maison Blanc.

Their opening hours are: Monday - Friday          8.30am - 5.00pm
                                    Saturday and Sunday   8.30am -  5.30pm

A view of the entrance.

There was a warm and welcoming feeling from the staff as soon as we entered through the doors. They were helpful, polite and very efficient. Nothing was a bother for them. We tried the open sandwiches, the Tartines, with chicken, avo and dried cured bacon. In one word, delicious!! The menu is large and varied and there is definitely something for everyone.

A warm and inviting interior.



 

We were very tempted by the delicious cakes and desserts but opted for Lattes instead. There will have to be a next time.......

Café latte

 

We arrived early and spent over two hours chatting and eating, and in that time the café filled up quickly over the lunch period. At no time did we feel rushed or feel that we needed to vacate our table.

The staff were excellent.

On your way out, you pass all the delicious cakes and breads and only a strong-willed person will be able to resist!!

 



	Sue's Coffee Rating: 8/10

Garden Terrace Cafe at Batsford Arboretum

We had a lovely lunch at The Garden Terrace Cafe at Batsford Arboretum last Friday. The weather was mixed but the sun came out around lunchtime and the outside terrace filled up quickly. The sandwiches were filled with delicious fillings and there were several options to choose from.

The outside terrace

Batsford Arboretum and Garden Centre is close to the beautiful village of Bourton on the Hill. It is also about 3 miles from Moreton in Marsh.

Sue's Coffee Rating:

7/10 

Next time I will be returning to Burford...........

Chipping Campden ...... and a trip to Lapstones and Meg Rivers' Cafe

Chipping Campden is a beautiful Cotswold town in Gloucestershire. Chipping Campden is rich in history and the famous Cotswold Way walk starts here and ends a 104 miles away in Bath.

Typical Cotswold stone houses can be found in Chipping Campden.

 

Chipping Campden was a wool merchant's town and is a central location in the Cotswolds to visit many popular towns and villages. Some worth mentioning are Broadway, Moreton in Marsh and Blockley. Stratford upon Avon and Warwick are both less than an hour away.

Walking around the town.

There are, as usual, many places for a coffee or tea, but today I visited Meg Rivers' Café which is situated just out of town in a barn conversion called Lapstones. Here you will find an upmarket shop, selling women's clothing and home décor.

At the back of the shop is a cosy café where the coffee is delicious and the cakes are to die for. This is the first Meg Rivers' Café and it opened in June 2010.

Lapstones and Meg River's Cafe

After browsing through the shop, you enter the warm and inviting café.

As we arrived before the lunch service my son ordered a chocolate brownie slice and said it was by far the best he had ever tasted. The chocolate and beetroot cake also looked delicious.

The menu is varied, both in the sweet and savoury department and the café caters for all. There is also a tea and play area outside, making it child friendly too.

The Meg Rivers' baking book is also available to buy at the café. A perfect way to be inspired to bake for your friends.

It was a lovely way to spend a sunny Spring morning in the Cotswolds.
Enjoy your weekend.......



Sue's Coffee Rating:

8/10 

Burford ....... and a Bank Holiday Weekend.

The Cotswolds is always a beautiful place to visit but when the sun is shining, the beauty is magnified and the colours more vibrant. Burford is known as one of England's prettiest small medieval towns. There are many independent shops that offer good service and quality items.

 

 

 

Burford has a large choice of Coffee Shops and Tea Rooms. Today we tried Hacketts, which is a small Coffee Shop on the right hand side of the town. There is a larger Hacketts Restaurant in Witney which is very popular with locals.

Hacketts in Burford

 



 

Having arrived early, just after opening, we were greeted warmly by the attentive staff and enjoyed Lattes and breakfast cooked to perfection. Prices were reasonable and a takeaway menu is available for those in a rush.

 

 

 

Warm and inviting

 



A great place to stop off at while you spend your morning ( or afternoon ) exploring the lovely town of Burford.



 

 

A delicious Latte

 



Sue's Coffee Rating:

7/10 

It's half term next week so we will have to see where we land up for a coffee.............