Coffee & Fandisha

Tucked away down a small side street in the heart of the Baltic Triangle, Coffee & Fandisha is the place to hide away from everything else going on. Quiet, calm and simple (thanks in part to the limitations of size), yet cosy. This modest little cafe on Brick Street sums up the best of the Baltic Quarter, a buzzing area of Liverpool that’s up there with Manchester’s Northern Quarter as one of the coolest neighbourhoods in the UK.

Coffee & Fandisha sits within a grand design that would make Kevin McCloud proud; classic industrial red brick walls with a hip modern decor. As well as housing one of the city’s coolest coffee shops, the building is also home to one of the finest examples of artwork by local artist Paul Curtis. Paul became famous in Merseyside for his much-photographed design ‘For All Liverpool’s Liver Birds’ (otherwise known as ‘The Wings) which you’ll find just round the corner on Jamaica Street.

The owners of Coffee & Fandisha wanted to jazz up the outside of their building and Paul’s colourful coffee plant branch definitely has the ‘wow’ factor. It’s well worth seeing if you’re a fan of street art, but even if you’re not then there’s always the excellent coffee. The principle behind C&F stems from the traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony of serving freshly brewed coffee alongside popcorn and other small bowls of food. Expect rich, dark, delicious flavours that can only be savoured.

For the less caffeine-addicted, the hot chocolate is also unbeatable, with options to choose not only between the type of chocolate, but also the strength. The same loving care and detailed attention also extends to the food, with a locally sourced, seasonal menu inspired by the founders’ travels. Alongside grilled sandwiches and salads you’ll find homemade pies, cakes and brownies, as well as regularly changing lunch specials and guest brews.

Also check out the ‘yellow wall’; a dedicated space solely for local creatives to display and exhibit their work.