The Coffee Cellar — Restaurant in Exeter

I love this coffee shop. Incredibly cozy with a lovely aesthetic, really nice coffee and a beautiful location. I’ve seen who I can assume to be the owner a few times and has a lovely relationship with the staff and they have lots of smiles together etc. I’ve been here many times! I cannot speak for all staff here, because the times we have been in, they’ve seemed polite and happy.

However, today was an incredibly sad experience. Uninterested staff who don’t greet you when you walk in or even give you a smile, which is a shame to not feel welcomed into such a beautiful establishment. Even when the waitress came to the table, she seemed incredibly disinterested. I can only assume the staff are only like this when the manager isn’t present.

Sitting in with my friends, a staff member was behind the counter laughing about a “rude customer” who had mentioned about the “no prams” rule etc. whilst this is understandable due to fire hazards and it being a smaller building the comment from the staff member was not acceptable. I quote the lady said “id rather have a wheelchair user in here than a screaming baby.” I don’t think I need to explain more. I think the staff need to be more welcoming and understand they are in a professional environment where guests can hear them. It made us incredibly uncomfortable and left...

A charming little place: cosy in the winter amongst the quirky eclectic decor in a former quay warehouse; and wonderful views of the quay outside with shade in the summer. The coffee is delicious and the cakes are mouth-watering.

Some slight negatives: they have an erratic policy on when the café is open, and it is often hard to tell if it is open. One can turn up around 4pm, with lots of customers eating and drinking inside and out, and they will say abruptly to new arrivals that the café is closed. The brusqueness with which they announce this - as if you have offended them by turning up - is rude. Their opening hours have intermittently been indicated on the door, but they invariably ignored them and closed early.

The back of the café has recently been closed off to children's buggies - and presumably to wheelchair users too? - but it's not clear why.

Service is often slow, inefficient and without smiles or warmth. Be prepared for requests for non-dairy milk to be met with bafflement or an unapologetic No. However, I think this is just the natural manner of the server, so please try not to take it personally!

So the 4 stars are generous, but my affection for the place is what pushes...

I have only recently discovered this gem down on the Quay in Exeter. It's hidden away at the end of the row of cellars by the historical Quay, and they haven't made any effort to try and hide the fact is is an old cellar-like storage room - which is great!

The decor is similar to that of a soulful lounge with the armchairs, sofas, atmospheric lighting and overall chilled vibe, but with coffee and delicious looking food from cakes to cooked meals I believe.

As I said, I have only recently found this place and haven't been able to experience it fully, but the coffee was delicious (as you'd expect from somewhere called 'The Coffee Cellar') and would be a place I'd love to work in, both as a barista or working on my graphic designs.

When doing one of the many walks along the canal it is the number one stop for on your way back to grab a quick drink to go, or rest your legs.

Overall I am really impressed and so glad to find this place, and I look forward to visiting the Coffee Cellar again in the...