We LOVE coffee! Something we enjoy doing is grabbing a coffee from a favourite cafe, and heading out on a walk! Having tried quite an array, these are, in our opinion, the BEST independent coffee places to try in Swansea!
If you’re heading to Swansea, check out our other related posts:
Read on to the end of the post to see my absolute favourite coffee place in Swansea!
1. The Touring Tearoom
Location: Clyne Gardens, Blackpill
Opening times: 9am – 4.30pm every day!
Accessibility: It’s in the Great Outdoors along a paved footpath so completely accessible! There are also accessible toilets just down the pathway.
This is my absolute favourite place to stop for a coffee and homemade cake! Situated in Clyne Gardens, you can enjoy the gorgeous botanical gardens, then hang out at the picnic benches and people (and dog!) watch. I love an iced oat latte with a hazelnut shot, and a choice of homemade bakes! The adorable converted caravan is decorated with bunting and plant pots, and really is the perfect place to enjoy a beverage! As far as independent coffee shops go in Swansea, this is, in our opinion, one of the best!
2. The Green Room
Location: Swansea Arena, SA1 3BX
Opening times: 9am – 4pm Wednesday-Sunday
Accessibility: It is accessible, however the inside of the restaurant gets quite crowded. We’ve found that it’s better for us to sit outside with Pebble!
This is a relatively new place, and is in the loveliest urban garden at the top of the new Swansea Arena! The cafe is quite small, so if you have a pushchair I recommend sitting outside. From there you can breathe in the scent of lavender, and watch children playing in the musical playpark that surrounds it. The restaurant also has sustainability at its heart, which is an added bonus in my opinion!
3. Founders & Co: The Little Man Coffee
Location: Wind Street, SA1 1DY
Opening times: Sunday – Thursday, 9am to midnight / Friday & Saturday, 9am-1am (but Little Man Coffee specifically serves from 9am to 4pm everyday!)
Accessibility: Accessible to all. There are ramps inside and an array of toilets to choose from.
Founders & Co is such a cool, creative space! Whether you’re a digital worker looking for somewhere with reliable wifi and coffee, or a family of 4 with prams and highchairs, this is the place to go! A kind of community hub, various events and social activities go on here (including Baby Love classes!). The food is street food style. You pick a table, scan a QR code, and pick from the different food venues inside the restaurant. From pizza to Indian food, Mexican burritos to burgers, Founders is really to experience! As for coffee, you can order from a vast menu at the Little Man Coffee, and enjoy the funky vibe on offer! We both really like Founders and highly recommend it!
4. Coast Cafe
Location: Maritime Quarter in Swansea Marina, SA1 1XA
Opening times: Every day, 9am-4pm
Accessibility: Ramps leading up to the cafe, and the bottom floor is flat. There is a flight of stairs onto the second floor where the additional seating is.
This is an adorable cafe that is exactly the sort of place I love frequenting. Stylishly decorated, and VERY pink (LOVE THIS!), the Coast Cafe sells an array of hot and iced drinks, and delicious baked goods. The best bit for me was that most of the cakes on offer were vegan! Even when you’re not vegan and simply lactose intolerant, vegan options are so fabulous! I had the most delicious brownie, and my standard iced oat latte with hazelnut syrup, and knew I would return!
I also find this cafe pretty unique in that they have no wifi available. There is actually a sign by the menu on the wall stating this, and I loved it. I chatted with the barista about it, and she said they really want to encourage people to chat together, to pay attention and enjoy the moment. And also to enjoy the views on offer from upstairs! In these modern times of ours, I’ve never seen this, and think it’s a wonderful sentiment. So if you want to really switch off and enjoy being in the moment, head on down to the Coast Cafe. It’s definitely one of the best independent coffee places in Swansea!
5. The Observatory
Location: Marine Quarter, SA1 1YB
Opening times: Every day 10am-10pm (Fri and Sat 10am-11pm)
Accessibility: Not the most accessible to be honest. The entranceway is flat though a bit bumpy, but inside is hard to get around. Lots of tables and sofas and plantpots. Still possible with a pram at least (not sure in regards to a wheelchair), but it’s a squeeze and I felt like we were in the way. It is dog friendly!
This place is a vibe! Right on the seafront, this observatory is charm personified. The restaurant is a chaotic blend of boho and history with a modernish style. There are plants absolutely everywhere, along with wooden tables and chairs, squashy leather sofas, intriguing signs over the walls, and board games to play. There is balcony with seating and lovely views across the beach too. It is certainly quirky, and there were all kinds of people enjoying the space!
I wanted to visit The Observatory for a long time, and I’m glad I did! It is the priciest place on this list, but it’s a relaxed space that can really be enjoyed. Again, I had my usual coffee, and a vegan chocolate Jaffa cake too, and both were delicious!
And my personal favourite best independent coffee place in Swansea is…
6. Hello Asia
Location: Princess Way, SA1 5HF
Opening times: Every day, 10am-8pm
Accessibility: There is a step to get into the cafe, and it’s pretty small inside with limited seating available. We can get around with our pram, but I’m uncertain if it could be called accessible for wheelchair users.
If you’re on the hunt for somewhere truly unique, then Hello Asia is the new hangout for you! It’s new to Swansea, and I adore it! It’s basically a noodle store as well as a cafe! All kinds of Korean and Chinese noodle pots are available, and if you want to eat in store, they can prepare it for you with various toppings. The coffee menu is great, offering milk alternatives and lots of syrups. Also if you’re a matcha lover, this is the place to come! I admit to not being a matcha fan, but I love trying different syrups in my coffee! It’s a super cute, friendly place, with lots of stuffed pandas, and Japanese artwork adorning the walls.
The only slight downside for us is that it is a small shop. Already it’s really popular, which is fabulous to see, so on the weekends it gets really busy. If you do have a little one in a pram, I definitely recommend visiting during the week when it’s a bit quieter, or before/after lunch on the weekends!
We always feel so welcome here, including Pebble. It’s a super nice place to chill out for a bit, with some fun noodles and a nice coffee (or matcha), and I highly recommend checking it out if you’re in Swansea.
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So there you have it! Our list of 6 of the best independent coffee places to try in Swansea! This is not a comprehensive list of all the independent coffee shops in the city – there are so so many. These are our favourites, and places we keep returning to over and over again.
Also, you can check out Swansea Bay’s website for a full list of places to eat and drink in and around Swansea!
Are there any others you would recommend? Let us know in the comments!
