Revival Cafe

The only word I have for this café is «magnificent». I don’t necessarily use that in reference to the food or coffee, which is very classic coffee house fare. I mean that the actual café, the building, is magnificent. Set over three storeys in a gorgeous old building on Corn Street, it’s really a very special venue.
Have a look at it from the other side of the road and you realise how incredibly vast it is. Inside, it’s easy to forget that; you just go up some stairs and choose a table and there you go. But, come here for the presence of the building, and the huge variety of seating. Bring a big group of friends, or just bring yourself and a book; it’s not too loud or busy at lunchtime because there’s enough space for everyone to spread out.
For those looking for something a bit stronger with their lunch, there are bottled beers and wines for sale here, along with the coffees.
One slight niggle: for a drink-​in cappuccino they added 40p to the takeaway price. 40p extra to sit in??! I suppose you’re paying, in part, for the magnificence of the building.

This café has a fantastic position in a fine old building just next to St Nicholas Market, so it’s no wonder it’s popular. The staff are perhaps a bit complacent as a result, however, which makes me mark it down — but despite that, the food’s pretty good and not badly priced.
You can buy take-​away sandwiches, paninis, baguettes and fattening Danish pastries, or you can sit in for something more substantial such as a jacket potato — and enjoy the comfort of their comfy seats. The interior is a lot bigger than you might think, with several floors including a big upstairs area decorated nicely with solid wooden furniture.
For lunch, personally I’d rather go to one of the more interesting (and friendly) food places in St Nicholas Market, such as Bab Mansour or the Caribbean Wrap — but if they’re too busy, or you just want a cup of coffee and a cake, this place offers pleasant surroundings and a good view of Corn Street from upstairs.

This is a wonderful café in which to enjoy really tasty cakes and treats and fair trade coffees in a lovely setting. You have probably seen their chalkboard advertising hot apple and ginger which will warm the coldest cockles on the most baltic of days. The building is tall and thin with cafes on two floors and seating scattered over three. The higher up the staircase you climb the more stunning the views over central Bristol’s bonniest quarter. I went here knowing they would have soya milk and enjoying the fact everything is fair trade. They do a fantastic range of cakes and flapjacks– including a delicious if odd-​sounding orange and polenta one which I sampled. Downstairs is more for take-​away with some lovely looking wraps and sandwiches stuffed full with food. Upstairs does more hearty food to eat in, from fry-​ups to tatties and quiches. The lay-​out is shabby vintage with soft cushions and sofas to perch on. And the vibe is very laid-​back so nobody will be tutting if you linger over your latte!

i’ve always passed this café, often opting to wander around the St Nicholas indoor market for my lunch instead. One day, however, St Nicks’ was closed, so I popped myself into this café, and I was pleasantly surprised!
They had paninis, wraps, sadnwiches and baguettes for me to choose from– all with hefty fillings! Prices averaged around £3.45. I had a goats cheese and roast vegetable panini, which had wonderfully thick slices of goats cheese and chunky vegetables. It was great to tuck into on that particular cold and windy day.
For desserts, they have an array of brownies, flapjacks, caramel shortbread but what is awesome is their cake counter; all homemade on the premises, and at £1.50, you get a big slice of tasty cake! The lemon drizzle cake that I had was light and fluffy. They also do a hot apple and ginger drink which brings joy to the senses no matter if it is a hot or a cold day!
What I particularly liked about this café is the décor, especially upstairs. There is a 1^st floor with its own food counter which you can order food from if downstairs is too busy, and it is decorated with lots of wooden homely furniture which makes it feels really snug.
One floor up from that is a lounge, which has similar décor, but is a tad bit more slick. I loved the wooden staircase and its banisters in this café which had nice olden features. I felt it really gave this café an identity!
Revival café is a café you should walk in and try! (and maybe you will see what I mean about the staircase!)

This café is on the corner just beyond St. Nichs Market. They offer a sandwich bar /​lighter food service to take-​away as you walk in or you can sit upstairs (it spreads over 3 levels) and choose from their great menu.
I have enjoyed a large English breakfast there, some delicious porridge with honey and a BLT. The seating area has a vintage feel, large wooden tables and chairs, corner seats with cushions and some sofas. It has a cosy feel and you risk wasting lots of time just sitting and relaxing up there!
My visits had one other thing in common: there were always items missing off the menu and the service was as relaxed as the surroundings, almost to the point of neglectful.
However, the food is great; Revival Café offers a wide range of foods on their menu to suit your every mood and it is very reasonably priced. I have there been more than once despite the downfalls, and will be going again.

From the outside, you’d be forgiven for thinking this is a tiny café perfect for a take away drink or snack but not a great place to kick back and relax in. Well, you’d be wrong. As well as a few outdoor seats and tables Revival has a spacious upstairs area with nice views down Corn Street. It’s a great place to catch up with a pal or two and does a delicious selection of cakes, biscuits and flap jacks. As well as the standard tea, coffee, espresso, hot choccies and cappuccinos the café does some more obscure teas, which include apple crumble tea and the lovely refreshing lemon and ginger tea. During the week (other than on market days and at breakfast time and lunchtime) the café is pretty quiet, which means you can always get a seat and a paper to read in peace.

Smack bang in the centre of the city’s centre, the Revival Café is just that — perfectly positioned for a quick caffeine boost for lagging shoppers. I was first tempted in, partly by the name, partly by the huge fair trade symbol they swing proudly above the door. The coffee itself is some of the richest and tastiest Bristol has to offer, and if I were judging it on that alone it’d get five out of five.
But I’ve got to mark it down a couple of notches for some minor over pricing and the pretentiousness of the staff. Yes, yes, you may not like me but I’m not asking you out — just smile when you pass me my cappuccino instead of looking like you hate the very bones of me.
Best enjoyed during the summer months when you can sit outside and people watch.

Just off St Nicks Market, this café offers really tasty sandwiches and good coffee. I’ve used the place a few times to grab a bite to eat for lunch, and I was really impressed with the food each time. The prices weren’t so appealing, with lunch setting me back about £4-£5 without a coffee, but still, this ignored the café is really nice.
There’s some indoor seating on the ground and first floor, but I think their focus is on the continental outdoor coffee drinking theme, as there’s many seats arranged outside. This isn’t so great in the winter, but it’s a really nice spot to sit and drink a coffee and definitely has something of a European feel about it.

In the bustling area on Corn Street and next to St Nicholas’ Market you come across Revival Café. Hardcore coffee and cigarette fans sit outside in all weathers, enjoying the general hubbub of the area whilst inside there are three levels to drink relax and munch on.
When entering the building I wasn’t too optimistic about the coffee experience I was about to have; the corridor looked very school like, reminding me of a community centre or similar, and I had visions of weak filter coffee and orange squash.
Instead I was greeted by moody lighting, pretty decorations and a deadlocked waitress. The coffee was the best I’ve had in a while. This is definitely a great place for city centre coffee.