This MK food guide was the first guide I wrote back in 2018, which feels like a long time ago now! Since then, thousands of people have read this guide so it’s time to revisit my recommended coffee shops and cafés in Milton Keynes for 2021. The MK food guide only features independent restaurants, eateries and vendors. As with most things in MK (or anywhere for that matter!), the indies truly do it better, and coffee is no exception. Keep reading this blog post to discover the best independent coffee shops in Milton Keynes.
Best Coffee Shops in Milton Keynes
- Bogota Coffee Company
- Canal Street Coffee
- Farthing Brothers Coffee House
- The Game Changer Kitchen
- Homeground MK
- Kiki’s Café
- Lilly Café
- MK Gallery Cafe
- New Day Café
- Out of Office Coffee
- Upper Regency Café
- Saints Coffee
- The Woodside Café
Every effort has been taken to ensure the information in this blog post is correct, however, I advise referring directly to the vendor websites and social media pages for the most up to date information. If you see an error or something is incorrect, please email blog@sophieetc.com.
Bogota Coffee Company, The Hub
In my opinion (also backed by many others!) Bogota does the best coffee in Milton Keynes. Founded by friends Paul, Andrea and Carlo in 2014, it’s been part of MK’s indie scene for some time. Despite being in a central location surrounded by chains, Bogota has thrived and is a key driver in MK’s café culture. They do sweet treats, savoury eats and of course plenty of caffeine juice. It’s also dog-friendly and you can expect to see lots of people you probably know stopping by.
Website: www.bogotacoffee.co.uk
Location: 4 Rillaton Walk, Milton Keynes MK9 2FZ
Opening hours: 9am – 3pm daily.
Price range: Coffees are around £3. Food is also available.
Dietaries: Caters for vegan.
Good to know: Dog friendly.
Read more: How Bogota became the best coffee shop in Milton Keynes
Canal Street Coffee, Campbell Wharf
The latest addition to Milton Keynes’ coffee scene is Canal Street Coffee. You might already be familiar with their Leighton Buzzard branch, but they have brought the London vibes to Campbell Wharf. This light and airy coffee shop is a fantastic place to work, sip coffee and watch the boats float by on the canal. The coffee is absolutely excellent – It’s by Doe and Fawn Coffee Roasters, and it’s soared straight up there with my favourite flat whites in the City.
If you’re a fan of sweet treats, MK’s Bake Off: The Professionals star, Tracey from T.Sweetmap, is now located at Canal Street Coffee, so you’ll find her beautiful cakes there every day, as well as tasty brunch and lunch options.
Location: 5 Campbell Wharf, Milton Keynes, MK9 4BG.
Opening Hours: Monday – Friday 8:00 – 15:00, Saturday and Sunday 09:00 – 16:00.
Price Range: £
Good to know: VERY dog friendly. Lots of outdoor seating is available. Parking is limited nearby.
Farthing Brothers Coffee House, Newport Pagnell
Farthing Brothers Coffee House is a very cute coffee kiosk in Newport Pagnell. It’s at the end of the high street opposite The Coachmaker’s Arms. It’s run by Jack and Joel – You might recognise Jack from Wooden Hill Coffee! Of course, they do use Wooden Hill Coffee which is locally roasted and makes a cracking cup of coffee. They have cakes and sweet treats available to takeaway.
Location: Window Kiosk, Newport Pagnell MK16 8HL
Opening hours: Mondays 9am-4pm, Tuesday – Friday 8am – 4pm, Saturday 9am – 3pm, Sunday 10am – 3pm.
Price range: Coffee is around £3.
Dietaries: Alternative milks available.
Good to know: No indoor seating. Limited outdoor seating.
The Game Changer Kitchen, Giffard Park
The Game Changer Kitchen is a great family-friendly coffee shop that sells delicious cakes, hot drinks and brunches and lunches. The interior is super ‘Instagrammable’ and the service is friendly. You’ll find special events like Princess and Superhero afternoon teas for kids too!
Website: www.thegamechangerkitchen.com
Location: Unit 3 Knebworth Gate, Giffard Park, Milton Keynes MK14 5QD
Opening hours: Closed on Mondays. Tuesday – Friday 8:30am – 3pm. Saturday and Sunday 9am – 3pm.
Dietaries: Vegetarian, vegan.
Good to know: No bookings (yet!) walk-ins only.
Homeground MK, Central Milton Keynes
You’ll find Homeground MK inside the YMCA building in Central Milton Keynes. This coffee shop is a fantastic way to support the work of YMCA which helps young people train professionally and learn new, employable skills for their future. It is a central, cosy spot with strong WiFi, great coffee supplied by Wooden Hill and delicious, great value food. Apologies for the slightly poor image of the coffee – I promise I’ll revisit and take a new shot!
Website: www.homegroundmk.com
Location: N Sixth St, Milton Keynes MK9
Opening hours: Monday – Friday 8am – 2:30pm
Price range: Food under £10.
Good to know: Great WiFi and spot for working (though take noise-cancelling headphones!)
Kiki’s Café
Kiki’s Café has quickly soared to the top of my list of go-to coffee shops. I really enjoy both the coffee and the lunch menu on offer here. There is ample place to sit so it’s perfect for larger groups or if you have buggies in tow. They serve speciality coffee and tea from Northamptonshire-based Tea Lab Co. The cakes are lovely and the food is great too.
Website: kikiscafe.co.uk
Location: 149 V6 Grafton Gate, Milton Keynes, MK9 1AE
Opening hours: Monday – Saturday 9:00 – 15:00, Sunday 10:00 – 15:00.
Dietaries: Plenty of vegan and vegetarian options. حلال Halal
Good to know: Good WiFi and plug sockets so it is great to work in BUT sometimes they have workshops/soft play sessions. If you have young children, these are worth knowing about but worth avoiding if you’re looking for somewhere quiet to work for the day. They usually announce these on social media.
Lilly Café, Whitehouse Park
If you’re looking for somewhere with a beautiful interior and a little bit different for brunch or lunch, Lilly Café is it. With a stunning flower wall and delicious middle eastern dishes, this is definitely worth a visit. They also use Wooden Hill Coffee, a local roaster, so you know you are getting a quality cup.
Website: lillycafe.com
Location: Dorset Way off Bramaham Way, Whitehouse Park, Milton Keynes MK8 1EQ
Opening hours: Sunday – Thursday 9am – 5pm, Friday and Saturday 9am – 6pm.
Dietatires: Caters for vegan and vegetarian. حلال Halal
Good to know: It’s the only café in Whitehouse Park at the moment! You’ll find it behind the doctor’s surgery.
MK Gallery Café, Central Milton Keynes
MK Gallery brings a lovely independent cafe to the city centre. Bright, bold and unapologetically MK, the interior makes this a welcoming place to be and the coffee isn’t half bad either. The cakes are also worth writing home about – try the carrot cake or lemon drizzle cake, you will not be disappointed. The coffee is supplied by Milk and Beans (formerly Carlo’s Coffee Kitchen) so it’s a great place to visit for locally roasted coffee.
Website: www.mkgallery.org
Location: 900 Midsummer Blvd, Milton Keynes MK9 3QA
Opening hours: Open from 10am. Last orders for food Tuesday, Friday Saturday is 6pm, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday is 3:30pm.
Dietaries: Please check with the café.
Good to know: Entry to MK Gallery is free. Exhibitions are FREE for exhibitions.
New Day Café, Silbury Boulevard
New Day Café is located in Ashton House in CMK and is run by Amy Alt of Lucky Spoon. This fresh, modern venue is a great place to set up a mobile office for the day as there are plug sockets and good WiFi! New Day serves delicious coffee and has plenty of freshly made food options made in the Lucky Spoon kitchen.
Location: Ashton House, Silbury Blvd, Milton Keynes MK9 2HG
Opening hours: Monday – Friday, 8am – 3pm.
Price range: Really good value coffee and cakes (can go for lunch and coffee for under £10)
Dietaries: Caters for vegan.
Good to know: Great spot to work.
Out of Office Coffee
Out of Office has a special place in my heart because it’s where Dan and I had our first date! The original shop opened in Stony Stratford in 2017, and since then more locations have opened in Newport Pagnell and Olney which testament to what a successful little shop this is. There is also a newer location in Witan Studios in the old Fourth & Fifth unit which serves a great breakfast menu.
Website: www.outofofficecoffee.co.uk
Location: Witan Studios, CMK | Newport Pagnell | Olney | Stony Stratford
Opening hours: 8am – 3pm daily.
Price range: Nearly everything is under £10.
Dietaries: Out of Office caters for vegetarian and vegan which are clearly marked on the menu. For other requirements please contact them directly.
Upper Regency Café, Central Milton Keynes
Upper Regency Café isn’t just a great spot for brunch, I think it’s a lovely destination for coffee too! You can find better coffee in my opinion, however, the location just in front of Fred Roche Gardens makes it an ideal location for a central spot if you work in central MK or want an escape from the centre.
Website: www.upperregency.co.uk
Location: 222 Upper Fifth St, Milton Keynes MK9 2HR
Opening hours: Monday – Wednesday, Friday 7:30am – 4pm. Thursday 7:30am – 7:30pm. Saturday 8:30am – 3pm. Closed on Mondays.
Price range: Can grab lunch and coffee for under £10.
Saints Coffee
Saints is a brand new addition to Stony Stratford high street. It’s located in the front section of The Bull Hotel. You may already be familiar with Saints as they have a shop on St. Giles Street in Northampton. This beautiful coffee shop should absolutely be on your hit list. Serving Doe & Fawn Coffee along with DELICIOUS brunch and lunches, this is the perfect spot to spend the day working or catching up with pals.
Website: www.saintscoffee.co.uk
Location: 64 High St, Stony Stratford, Milton Keynes MK11 1AQ
Opening hours: Monday – Sunday, 10am – 4pm.
Price range: Moderate. Most mains are under £10. The coffee is £2 – £3.
Dietaries: Caters for vegetarians, vegan.
The Woodside Café, Linford Wood
The Woodside Café is a new addition to Milton Keynes’ independent café scene. It’s a gorgeous family-run café on the outskirts of Linford Wood which makes it an ideal destination for a walk and a coffee. The exterior is wood-panelled and there is plenty of outdoor seating available when the sun is shining. The coffee is delicious and there are lots of great food choices on offer too that are excellent value.
A small word of warning for the time being – it is busy every day! So if you are in a hurry, it’s probably not the best place to go but if you’re willing to wait for good coffee and good food, you’ll love it.
Website: Follow The Woodside Café on Facebook.
Location: Unit 777, Milton Keynes Business Centre, Foxhunter Drive, Linford Wood, MK14 6GD
Opening hours: Monday – Thursday 7:30am – 3pm, Fridays 7:30am – 3pm, Saturday 9am – 1pmn.
Dietaries: Caters for vegetarians.
Good to know: It has a beautiful outdoor seating area, great for sunny days. It’s a good stop if you’re walking around Linford Wood.
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Where do you like to grab a coffee in Milton Keynes? Send some recommendations my way! I will keep adding to this post as I find more places to get your caffeine hit.
What is your favourite coffee shop in Milton Keynes? Check out my other MK Food Guides for more eating out inspiration!
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There’s a new cafe on Church Street in Stony Stratford called “No.8 Caffe”. It’s really excellent ! Loads of gluten free and vegan cake options, amazing coffee and a really nice guy running it.
Well worth a try!