The Top Cafe — Restaurant in England

Around a thousand people live in the well kept secret of Alston. Its cobbled main street runs through an ancient market place. Rat race traffic always chasing a dream of perfection gravitates West toward Cumbria or east toward Durham, leaving Alston quietly living a life of 'good enough'.

The owners of The Top Café came and stayed because they understood 'good enough' is good and enough. The locals called this one the top Café to distinguish it from the others down the hill.

When you go, pay attention. Everything in this understated, everyday premises has been selected with care. The rundown telephone box in the yard was rescued from the main street. You'll have to look on the café notice board to find how it's number (Alston 201) benefits customers today.

Tea is served in teapots from a next door shop and they get the meat for their excellent sausage stottie from the butcher a couple of doors down. I was particularly impressed by the select range of ice creams they stock. And that their coffees and cakes are excellent goes without saying.

So take a ride out to the Top Café and visit Alston, or drive to Alston and try out the Top Café. (Just make sure there's still enough...

Visited The Top Café for the first time today and will definitely be back. Cycle friendly with space to store bikes at rear. All food homemade and excellent coffee. Had delicious lentil, chickpea and chilli soup with a warm roll and butter, and a fruit scone with jam and clotted cream. Can't believe I haven't been before! Best café...

Excellent cafe. Four cyclists arrived hungary and ready for coffee. The staff were very helpfull with bike storage and we were served with bacon maple syrup pancake stacks, sausage bacon and black pudding muffins, tea and excellnt coffee. The range of cakes and particully the cherry latice pie looked wondeful. Thank you, you...