Coffee shops have inspired some of the most recognisable images in art and photography, from Van Gogh's illuminated café terrace to Brassai's couple cuddling up over a cup of coffee. Today, no café is complete without an artist or two creating masterpieces via their smartphones – and who can blame them? Be it expertly made latte art, flawlessly iced sweet treats or a collection of reclaimed furniture to make Frank Lloyd Wright swoon, coffee shops present the ideal backdrop for an Instagram snap.
The UK is littered with cafés that offer so much more than a caffeine fix and we've hunted down some of the most beautiful. Cameras at the ready...
Common Ground
Common Ground, Stroud Green, London
49 Stroud Green Road
London N4 3EF
Treves & Hyde
London
Treves & Hyde
15/17 Leman Street, Aldgate, London E18EN
020 3621 8900
Fitzbillies
Cambridge
Fitzbillies
51-52 Trumpington St, Cambridge CB2 1RG
Laynes Espresso
Leeds
Laynes Espresso
16 New Station St, Leeds LS1 5DL
07828 823189
Fink's Salt & Sweet
London
Fink's Salt & Sweet
70 Mountgrove Rd, London N5 2LT
Wild Frost
Ramsey
Wild Frost
18 Great Whyte, Ramsey, Cambridgeshire PE26 1HF
01487 813339
Modern Society
London
Modern Society
33 Redchurch St, London E2 7DJ
Foundation Coffee House
Manchester
Foundation Coffee House
Sevendale House, Lever St, Manchester M1 1JB
0161 238 8633
Steam Yard
Sheffield
Steam Yard
1-2 Aberdeen Court, 97 Division St, Sheffield S1 4GE
Jim's Cafe
London
Jim's Cafe
59 Chatsworth Rd, Clapton E5 0LH
020 3026 4465
Established Coffee
Belfast
Established Coffee
54 Hill St, Belfast BT1 2LB
Lily Vanilli
London
Lily Vanilli
6 The Courtyard, Ezra St, London E2 7RH
Pettigrew Tea Rooms
Cardiff
Pettigrew Tea Rooms
West Lodge, Bute Park & Arboretum, Castle Street, Cardiff CF10 1BJ
029 2023 5486
Lina Stores
London
Lina Stores
18 Brewer St, London W1F 0SH
020 7437 6482
General Merchants
Belfast
General Merchants
481 Upper Newtownards Rd, Belfast BT4 3LL
028 9065 2708
Look Mum No Hands
London
Look Mum No Hands
49 Old St, London EC1V 9HX
020 7253 1025
Café Marmalade
Brighton
Café Marmalade
237 Eastern Rd, Brighton BN2 5JJ
01273 606138
Violet Cakes
London
Violet Cakes
47 Wilton Way, London E8 3ED
020 7275 8360
Hatch
London
Hatch
Unit G2, 8 Mackintosh Ln, London E9 2AB
020 8533 5007
MILK
London
MILK
20 Bedford Hill, London SW12 9RG
020 8772 9085
Café Boscanova
Bournemouth
Café Boscanova
650 Christchurch Rd, Bournemouth BH1 4BP
01202 242831
North Tea Power
Manchester
North Tea Power
G22 Smithfield Building, 36 Tib St, Manchester M4 1LA
0161 833 3073
Bold Street Coffee
Liverpool
Bold Street Coffee
89 Bold St, Liverpool L1 4HF
0151 707 0760
Café Royal
Newcastle
Café Royal
8 Nelson St, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 5AW
0191 231 3000
Honey + Harvey
Woodbridge
Honey + Harvey
56 Thoroughfare, Woodbridge IP12 1AL
01394 548161
Workshop Coffee
London
Workshop Coffee
27 Clerkenwell Rd, London EC1M 5RN
020 7253 5754
The Marwood
Brighton
The Marwood
52 Ship St, Brighton BN1 1AF
01273 382063
Takk
Manchester
6 Tariff St, Manchester M1 2FF
@takkmcrChriskitch
London
7a Tetherdown, London N10 1ND
@chriskitchfood
The Plough
Birmingham
The Plough
21 High St, Harborne, Birmingham B17 9NT
0121 427 3678
Lion Coffee + Records
London
Lion Coffee + Records
118 Lower Clapton Rd, London E5 0QR
Attendant
London
Attendant
74 Great Eastern St, London EC2A 3JL
020 7729 0052
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