Fitzbillies

52A Trumpington Street

A Cambridge institution in its own right – famous for its sickeningly sticky Chelsea buns – it has also started offering up dinner of late. Be aware: with great status, comes greater belief in your own importance and Fitzbillies has been known to think quite highly of itself (and not just with regards to its prices). Service has known to be a little abrupt if you look set to dawdle and they certainly won’t take kindly to you and your chums setting up camp in a corner. It’s potentially more enjoyable when patronised alongside those who don’t object to spending three quid on what is essentially golden syrup in pastry form, but as much of a Cambridge tradition as punting – although arguably as over-hyped.

Aromi

1 Benet St

New to the Cambridge scene, this authentic Sicilian joint gives you more than just coffee and cake for your money.  The owners previously ran the Caffe Cipriani in Acireale, Sicily, which has been in the same family since 1957. Here mouth-watering pizza slices topped with prosciutto lure you in, and the arancini – fried rice balls – are a speciality well-worth trying. Delicious homemade pastries include fruit tarts and cannoli (not to be confused with cannelloni), while the pistachio latte will give you your caff eine kick. Don’t be put off if it looks full: there’s extra seating downstairs.

Savino’s

3 Emmanuel Street

The only place to go for proper Italian coffee, you’ll fi nd it packed by businessmen and students each morning alike, as they jostle for a real shot of caffeine.  Here’s also an unchallenged selection of paninis, baguettes and ciabatta – all stuff ed with melting mozzarella and the like. Worth dragging yourself out of bed for: hungover lectures are not to be tackled without a supply of strong espresso and bacon rolls.

Benet’s

21 King’s Parade

The nearest coffee shop to King’s and the Senate House, the downstairs of Benet’s often fills up. Hidden away upstairs however, there is ample seating leaving you free to take in the view. Once there gorge yourself on freshly cooked pancakes, with a range of fillings to suit every taste. Or, if the Indian summer lasts, pop in for one of their ice creams, wander along King’s Parade and pretend it’s May Week.

Trockel, Ulman & Freunde

13 Pembroke Street

Known by some, more colloquially - if slightly incorrectly - the German Cafe, Trockel, Ulman and Freunde might be a mouthful but their major selling pointis simplicity. A soup or two a day, served with warm wedges of bread, and large glasses of fresh juice make for ideal brain food. They might be small, but what they lack in size, they make up for with a plethora of fairy lights and walls in a jolly rainbow of colours. As for their cakes, lots of scrumptious fruit-based baking, whose lack of icing makes them seem all the more wholesome. Make sure you get there early if you want to pick up a baguette, as their choices go down considerably as the day progresses. Located between New Museums and Lensfield road, it’s the perfect stop off point for Nat Scis dashing between lectures every morning. Just make sure you get somebody to save you a seat.

Indigo

8 St Edward’s Passage

A tiny cafe tucked away off King’s Parade, Indigo has perfected the art of cramming their customers in to as small a space as possible. What it lacks in size however, Indigo more than makes up for elsewhere providing the perfect coffee hang-out with an artsy vibe. Smoked salmon and cream cheese bagels make an easy lunch. Chai lattes cater for the hispter crowd. Conversations about the merits of Zen Buddhism are to be expected. So if you want an easy ‘Overheard in Cambridge’ quote then grab yourself a table, if you can, and make yourself at home.

Stickybeaks

42 Hobson Street

Always heaving so attempt to get a seat at your peril on weekends, but otherwise Cambridge’s coffee shops don’t get more sleek than this. Distinctly sophisticated and forgoing the shabby student-chic that others have capitalised on, Stickybeaks is all glass and oversized ceramic tea cups. Its salad bar is the closest thing you’re going to get to Ottolenghi this side of Islington, while the mind-boggling library of herbal teas and delightfully inventive spread of cakes should satisfy the sweeter tooth.  Though hovering amongst the higher price ranges, there’s no better place for a fix of squash and spinach frittata - guaranteed to make you feel grown up.