THE WEEKEND has finally arrived and it is the perfect time to go out for a cup of coffee and a slice of cake.
There are so many cafes in Southampton to choose from, it can be hard to know where to go.
To help you whittle it down, here are five independent cafes in the city that need to be on your radar.
The Nest Coffee House
31 London Road, Southampton
If you're craving a delicious (and vegan) doughnut, The Nest is the place to go.
Located in London Road, this independently owned coffee shop is well-known for locally sourced coffee and fresh doughnuts which are made in-house daily.
The London Road shop opened in December 2020 and is a doughnut-filled addition to antiques and gift emporium Robins Nest at 129.
Robins Nest is home to the original Nest Coffee cafe, tucked away at the top of the former Natwest building in Southampton high street.
Both of the business' cafes are extremely popular and offer a wide range of hot drinks and sweet treats.
The cafe in Robins Nest also provides a variety of sweet and savoury snacks, including handmade vegan cakes.
To find out more, visit https://www.facebook.com/nestcoffeehouse
Muse Coffee Co.
14 The Broadway Portswood Road, Southampton
The eye-catching Portswood coffee shop opened last June and has since been wowing customers.
Muse has been praised for its "cute" decor, as well as its food and drink.
The coffee shop has a plethora of drinks on the menu, from coffee, different flavours of hot chocolate and tea to loaded milkshakes and smoothies.
Muse is the perfect place for those with a sweet tooth as it serves pancakes, loaded croissants and waffles.
Those who are more inclined to opt for something savoury are also catered for with tasty toasties.
Southampton town centre residents can also enjoy the delights of Muse as the shop opened the doors to their second location in London Road last month.
To keep up-to-date with Muse, follow @musecoffeecompany on Instagram.
Retro Cafe
34 Bedford Place, Southampton
Take a step back in time to enjoy your coffee at Retro Cafe, and expect your thirst to be quenched.
The cafe is renowned for its large cups of coffee, and a TripAdvisor review made in July this year mentioned a "bucket sized cappuccino."
Cooked breakfasts are also a speciality of the cafe, and with vegetarian and vegan options, you can't go wrong.
You can find the cafe on Facebook by searching Retro Cafe.
Cafe Thrive
18 Hanover Buildings, Southampton
Cafe Thrive is a popular vegan cafe in the city centre that serves nutritious and affordable plant-based food, along with organic coffee and smoothies.
Filled burgers, sandwiches and salad wraps are available to munch on, alongside ice cream sundaes and milkshakes, all of which are vegan friendly.
Sweet treats are always on offer, and the cafe frequently incorporates seasonal flavours into the menu.
Recent flavours have included Toffee Apple Cupcakes and Halloween doughnuts.
You can find Cafe Thrive on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cafethrive
Mettricks
8 Austen Heights Centenary Plaza, Southampton and 1 Guildhall Place, Cultural Quarter, Southampton
Described as "Southampton's original indie" Mettricks serves coffee, brunch, burgers and cocktails in both of its Woolston and city centre locations.
The coffee house has an emphasis on good quality products which have been locally sourced, where possible.
Mettricks' interiors are inspired by "Grandma Great's living room - homely, welcoming, full of charm."
Search Mettricks on Facebook to stay up-to-date with the cosy coffee house.
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