Cafes / Reviews
No. 46 – cafe review
It wasn’t long ago that you couldn’t imagine a business like No. 46 opening in Old Market.
But here it is, sandwiched between a beauty parlour and a Hungarian deli; a family-run cafe serving macchiatos, toasted tea cakes and scones.
The wooden counter and oversize skirting board are painted in a Farrow & Ball-style shade of grey, matched by a few of the reclaimed wooden chairs.
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There is also exposed brickwork on two walls of this small high-ceilinged room that only seats some dozen customers – but look more closely and you’ll discover this is wallpaper.
On a recent Tuesday, the special was a homemade quiche and a side salad for £3, with soup of the day butternut squash.
Kellogg’s variety packs sit in a wicker basket on the counter – a hint of zeitgeist with the new menu at Heston Blumenthal’s Fat Duck also featuring this childhood treat.
The food options here are split into hot and cold, the former including all-day breakfast (£3.50 for small and £5.50 for large) and jacket potatoes (£3.50), with cold food sandwiches, baguettes and paninis from £2.50.
If you’re feeling community-spirited, you can hand over £3 in order to sponsor a meal for somebody who might not be able to afford a nutritional lunch. This also pays for a hot drink.
My own flat white was more like a latte, but it did come with a caramelised biscuit.
A large map on the wall behind the counter saw me daydreaming of warmer climes as the cold September weather enveloped this corner of Bristol.
A corner of Bristol that doesn’t blink an eye any longer when a business like No. 46 opens in its midst.
No. 46, 46 Old Market Street, Bristol, BS2 0EX
07400 184842