One of my favourite things to do on my travels is find cute cafes when visiting a new location. Lucky for me, there are plenty of cool independent cafes in Watford, my home of three years, so I can still get my cafe fix when not traveling.
So many people come to Watford every day for the Harry Potter studio tours but Watford has so much more to offer. If you decide to stick around for longer to explore some of the many awesome things to do in Watford you’ll also want to know which coffee shops to check out.
Here I’ve created this list of the best independent cafes in Watford. These are 14 cool cafes that are great for breakfast, brunch, lunch or just a place to sit down and enjoy a hot drink. And maybe a cake too! Plus, many of these coffee shops are extremely vegetarian and vegan friendly.
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14 Cool Cafes in Watford
d20 Board Cafe
One of the coolest cafes in Watford is also the geekiest and that’s why it had to make it into this list. If you’ve never been to a board game cafe they are like regular cafes, just with board games. Simply gather your friends, take a seat at one of the board game tables and pick something to play from the ‘game menu’ which has a selection of over 900 games.
The ‘cafe menu’ at d20 Board Cafe has a great selection of food and drinks available. From big dishes, to small plates and plenty of sweet treats. What’s great about them is they have plenty of vegan and vegetarian options available too. Plus they also have a variety of hot drinks, cold drinks, milkshakes and even alcohol.
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87 Queens Road, Watford, WD17 2QN – Website
LP Cafe
Another great unique cafe in Watford is the LP Cafe. Tucked away at the end of the High Street, not only is this cosy cafe a coffee shop, it’s also a record shop with a great selection of vinyls. You can come here for a coffee and a snack and also pick up a new LP. The staff are so friendly, the coffee is delicious and they have plenty of homemade food on offer. Plus the prices are very reasonable!
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173 The Parade, High Street, Watford, WD17 1NJ – Website
Ocean Bells Coffee
Situated on the High Street, Ocean Bells is a family run coffee shop specialising in artisan coffee and homemade cakes. They make incredible coffees including the delicious and colourful matcha latte, turmeric latte and beetroot latte. What I like is they have a variety of dairy free milks available so you can have your favourite. Plus vegans will be happy to know they have a whole vegan section on the food menu, as well as a gluten free section. And a good selection of their cakes are vegan friendly. Also, if you are a regular you can take advantage of the loyalty card and get your 8th coffee for free.
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133 High Street, Watford, WD17 2ER – Website
Flourish Craft Bakery
This family run bakery has a passion for sharing bread with the community and decided to open a cafe at the front of the bakery. You can taste their passion in the food which is why the cafe can get a little busy at peak times but it’s the perfect spot for a late breakfast. The staff are so warm and friendly and the food is delicious. Don’t forget to grab one of their sourdough breads on your way out to take home.
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Unit 2 Garnett Close, Watford, WD24 7GL – Website
The Cha Cafe
Situated in Watford’s beautiful Cassiobury Park, The Cha Cafe is a great place to stop at when visiting the park. It’s also the spot of the ‘post run coffee’ at the end of the Cassiobury Parkrun so can get a little busier on a Saturday morning. They offer a simple yet tasty menu with a great selection of sweet treats. Plus being in the park, they are also dog friendly.
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3 Cassiobury Park Avenue, Watford, WD18 7HY – Website
Fresh Shop
One of Watford’s more hidden cafes, Fresh Shop is located on Market Street and well worth a visit. A more European cafe style, they have a good selection of classic cafe foods such as sandwiches, bagels, crepes, omelettes and paninis but what makes them stand out is the impressive selection of hot dogs available. They also have an afternoon tea which is very unique for cafes in Watford. And in the evenings Fresh Shop converts into a wine bar that is also available to hire for private events.
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2 Market Street, Watford, WD18 0PD – Website
MOOD Cafe
One of Watford’s newer cafes, MOOD is a completely vegan cafe. Situated not far from the High Street, MOOD is still a bit of a hidden gem in Watford. If you are vegan or vegan curious, head over for some kick ass coffee, vegan cakes and plant-based chow.
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98 Queen’s Road, Watford, WD17 2NX – Website
Viento Coffee Company
If you’re a serious coffee snob and proud of it, head to Viento for some incredible artisan coffee. They are seriously passionate about coffee and happy to help guide you to finding the right tools and techniques to brew the perfect cup of coffee. They are only a 10 minute walk away from Watford Junction station and being away from the crowds makes it easier to find a seat.
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157 St Albans Road, Watford, WD24 4BD – Website
Bean Here Coffee Shop
The only cafe on this list that doesn’t have a central Watford location, Bean Here still needed to be included due to its close proximity to the Warner Brothers Studio Tour. A small cafe but the cakes are incredible. It’s a great place to visit if you’ve been exploring Whippendell Woods and fancy walking further along the canals.
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Hempstead Road, Hunton Bridge, Kings Langley, WD4 8QG – Website
GoKula Vegetarian Cafe
GoKula is a cute and cosy cafe that was actually Watford’s first vegetarian cafe. The staff are lovely and the food is reasonably priced. I love their buckwheat pancakes and the cakes do look delicious. Don’t worry vegans, they have plenty of options for you too!
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65 Market Street, Watford, WD18 0PR – Website
Rhubarb Cafe
Situated not far from Cassiobury park, Rhubarb Cafe is a great little cafe serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. The staff are very welcoming and the food is delicious. Plus on Thursdays through to Saturdays they offer ‘bring your own bottle’ so you can take your favourite wine and just pay a £3.50 corkage fee.
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168 Cassiobury Drive, Watford, WD17 3AJ – Website
Cafe in The Library
As the name would suggest, this is the cafe inside the Watford Library. If you love reading this is a great cafe to head to. The cafe is run by Watford Mencap to help provide support and services to people with learning disabilities. It’s a great place to go to if you want to grab a coffee and help the community at the same time.
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Watford Central Library, Hempstead Road, Watford WD17 3EU – Website
The Wellbeing Cafe
Situated in the Penfold Trading Estate, The Wellbeing Cafe is part of Feel Hot Yoga and a great little hidden gem for vegetarians and vegans. They believe what we eat is important for our bodies so serve up healthy yet delicious food. Everything is homemade and they have a great selection of cakes with plenty of vegan and gluten free options.
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Unit T, Penfold Trading Estate, Imperial Way, Watford, WD24 4YY – Website
Eats and Treats
I love how welcoming and friendly the staff are here. The food is delicious and prepared freshly. It’s a great place to come for a cooked breakfast at a reasonable price. One thing to note, if breakfast comes with free tea that doesn’t include speciality teas. These will cost extra.
241 St Albans Road, Watford, WD24 5BQ – Website
There you have it, 14 cool independent cafes in Watford, Hertfordshire. How many have you been to? Any cafes you feel are missing from the list? Let me know in the comments below!
GoKula looks awesome Claire. I love a good vegan dish; especially desserts.