Best Coffee Shops and Cafes in Sunderland

Sunderland's cafe scene splits neatly in two. Down at Roker and Seaburn, a run of seafront cafes along Marine Walk and the cliff top serve walkers, swimmers and anyone who fancies a coffee with a view of the North Sea. In the city centre, a newer set of independents has grown up around High Street West, Burdon Road and Keel Square, close to the shops, the Minster and Mowbray Park. This guide picks out the places worth knowing on both sides of the city, from a cafe that roasts its own beans to a tea room built around afternoon tea.

If you are planning a longer day out, our Roker and Seaburn seafront guide and our round-up of things to do in Sunderland pair well with this list.

Fausto Coffee, Roker

Fausto Coffee is the obvious starting point for anyone who cares about what is in the cup. The cafe sits on Marine Walk, the lower promenade at Roker, and its coffee is roasted by its sister business, FC Roast, about a mile away. That roasting connection shows in a menu of single-origin coffees alongside bagels, toasties, scones, pastries and cakes.

It opens from 8am every day, and stays open until 10pm from Thursday to Saturday, when pizza comes on from midday on Wednesday to Saturday. The same team runs cafes at Sunderland Aquatic Centre and the Silksworth pool, so a Fausto coffee is never far away if you are in the water first.

Best for: coffee lovers who want beans roasted down the road and a sea view to go with them.

Cafe Floriana, Burdon Road

On Burdon Road, a short walk from Mowbray Park and the Winter Gardens, Cafe Floriana brings a Mediterranean feel to the city centre. It is run by mother and daughter Kate and Emilia Ross, who previously ran The Front Parlour on Stockton Road, and it works as a cafe by day and a relaxed cafe bar later on.

Speciality coffee, tea and matcha sit alongside brunch, lunch and small plates, with wine and cocktails for anyone staying on. Gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian options are clearly marked, and dogs are welcome, which makes it a handy stop after a walk in the park.

Best for: a coffee and small plates after a stroll through Mowbray Park.

Sonny's at Pop Recs, High Street West

Pop Recs on High Street West began as a pop-up record shop in 2013 and has grown into one of the anchors of the Sunniside independent scene, a community-run music and arts venue in a restored Grade II listed row. Its coffee shop at number 173, renamed Sonny's in memory of co-founder Dave Harper, gives you a reason to linger before a gig or between city-centre errands.

It is a different kind of cafe from the seafront spots, with a creative, community feel, and it sits close to the new Culture House on Keel Square, so it fits easily into a city-centre afternoon.

Best for: a laid-back coffee with a side of vinyl and live music.

The Sweet Petite, Mackie's Corner

For something sweeter, The Sweet Petite is a family-run bakery and tea room at Mackie's Corner on High Street West. Afternoon tea is its speciality, and the counter is stacked with home bakes, with quiche for anyone after something savoury. Coffee, matcha and milkshakes cover the drinks.

It opens Wednesday to Sunday from 10.30am, so plan around the early-week closure. It is a good choice when the coffee is really an excuse for cake.

Best for: afternoon tea, cake and a catch-up in the heart of town.

Love Lily, Roker

At Pier Point on Marine Walk, Love Lily is a bright, family-friendly cafe best known for its brunches, pancakes and shakes. The counter cakes are a highlight in their own right, and the business also makes celebration cakes under the Love Lily Cakes name. There is a second Love Lily at Herrington Country Park if you are heading inland.

Best for: families and anyone who wants pancakes with their coffee by the pier.

1842 Cafe Bistro, Roker Hotel

Inside the Roker Hotel on Roker Terrace, 1842 Cafe Bistro runs as a cafe and patisserie by day and a bistro in the evening. It is open to non-residents, looks across to Roker beach and the pier, and is a comfortable, slightly smarter option for coffee and cake, and it also serves afternoon teas.

Best for: a more polished coffee and pastry stop facing the sea.

Yard Nine Cafe, Beacon of Light

Next to the Stadium of Light, the Beacon of Light has its own cafe, Yard Nine, with a shipyard theme that nods to the riverside's industrial past. It serves Ringtons tea and coffee with sandwiches and toasties, and it is a handy stop before or after a session in the building or a match day on the north bank of the Wear.

Best for: a coffee and a toastie at Stadium Park.

Elephant Rock Cafe Bar, Roker

Back on Marine Walk, Elephant Rock Cafe Bar occupies a converted beach shelter named after Roker's Holey Rock, and its big windows look straight out over the sand. It serves breakfasts, lunches and coffee through the day, and it is family and dog friendly. It is a good fallback on a busy weekend when the other Marine Walk cafes are full, and a pleasant place to sit with a hot drink after walking out to the lighthouse.

Best for: a seafront coffee after a walk along Roker pier.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I get speciality coffee in Sunderland? Fausto Coffee on Marine Walk at Roker serves coffee roasted by its sister business, FC Roast, about a mile away. In the city centre, Cafe Floriana on Burdon Road serves speciality coffee alongside brunch and small plates.

Are there good cafes in Sunderland city centre? Yes. Cafe Floriana on Burdon Road, Sonny's coffee shop at Pop Recs on High Street West and The Sweet Petite tea room at Mackie's Corner are all within a few minutes' walk of each other.

Which Sunderland cafes are on the seafront? Fausto Coffee, Love Lily and Elephant Rock Cafe Bar are all on Marine Walk at Roker, and 1842 Cafe Bistro is in the Roker Hotel on Roker Terrace, across the road from the beach.

Know a Sunderland cafe we have missed? Get in touch.