Known for its sandy beaches and thriving art community, the city of Margate—on England’s southeastern shore—has become a haven for Londoners tired of the daily commute. Affordable rent, milder weather, and proximity to the capital city mean that residents can focus on their passions and live a simpler life. This has led to a migration of musicians and artists who have made this seaside town in Kent home, and today what used to be one of the UK’s most financially deprived areas is enjoying a marked resurgence.
Art, culture, and coffee tend to go hand in hand, and Margate has a promising third-wave scene. What makes it an exciting coffee destination is not only the quality of the drinks but the relaxed atmosphere. Time is not the ultimate commodity here, and barista’s are more than happy to fill you in on a little local gossip or recommend places to eat (the fish and chips at Peters).
Being a tourist town, many here are reliant on the summer months to fill the coffers and hibernate during the winter, but when it comes to the coffee scene there are more than enough passionate locals to keep the burrs grinding through the fallow months. No matter what time of year you happen to visit, you’ll always find a fantastic cup.
Below are six coffee shops offering different variations of a theme. From the passionate roasters to the quintessential neighborhood cafe, a legendary brunch spot and a shop specializing in experimental beverages. Each one is worthy of your patronage.
Skinny Dip
Next door to the famous WonderWorks toy museum, Skinny Dip benefits from a steady stream of visitors to the area. At first glance this wouldn’t be the optimal location for a coffee shop—hidden in an old factory building a 30-minute walk from the beach—however, when you prepare coffee as well as these lads do, the crowds will come to you.
Dean Mercer and Ben Meadowcroft oversee the operations, brewing and roasting the coffee in-house. Philosophically, they are advocates of supporting female-owned farms and producers, going to great lengths to protect the supply chain. To help stay sustainable, they ingeniously sell beans that didn’t quite make the final grade in “Test Roast” bags, which punters can pick up for affordable prices.
Serving everything from natural process Red Bourbon to thermal-shock washed Gesha, Skinny Dip functions more as a take-away spot, but there is some seating by the window. Both Mercer and Meadowcroft are coffee-obsessed and half the fun of being there is talking shop and tasting their excellent cups.
Curve Coffee Bar
Curve was instrumental in revitalizing the old shopping arcade—a dilapidated area of Margate that had fallen into despondency. Sensing a positive shift, a few more independent businesses moved in, giving the entire marketplace a much-needed lift. Snagging the corner unit afforded them the luxury of natural light on two sides.
Apart from the excellent coffee (which they roast themselves), Curve are known for their food (their Turkish eggs and grilled bread are legendary), as well as a collection of pastries and cakes. Inside is a sleek, bright cafe, buzzing with conversation. The tables outside are perfect for topping up your tan on spring mornings.
Curve offers workshops, barista training courses, and cupping sessions for those interested in a career in coffee and sells various filter papers, brewers, and beans. Their profile is a mix of natural and washed coffee, predominantly roasted on the lighter end of the spectrum.
Doubloons
A relative newcomer to the Margate coffee scene, Doubloons is where a cafe and living room intersect. Owners Michaela Christofi and Britton Logan set out to create a homely style coffee bar, full of brightly colored objects and quirky furniture. They pride themselves on making everything from scratch, including the syrups for their drinks and their home-baked cakes and cookies.
Iced coffees and inventive beverages are the thing to order here, and the menu reads as bemusing as it is beguiling. Lemon biscuit cappuccino, toasted coconut chocolate cold brew, and carrot matcha soda are sure to astound some, but despite the unusual sounding combinations, they work. For non-coffee options they offer a delightful tea menu and a couple of boozy cocktails.
As is the case with most coffee shops in Margate, they are pet-friendly, so don’t hesitate to bring yours.
Forts Cafe
Be prepared to wait for a table at Forts, whether in Margate or their Broadstairs branch. This cafe is perpetually rammed to the rafters. Their food menu combines Middle Eastern and Asian flavors into breakfast/brunch staples (their Korean fried chicken is dynamite). Table reservations are a no-no, so you’ll have to form an orderly queue.
For most cafes that serve food, coffee is an after-thought, but this is where Forts triumphs. For conventional tastes they offer standard coffees but also have an aptly titled “Special Guest” menu. Choose between a pour-over coffee or their guest espresso, which is based on whatever coffee they currently love. If you’re not hungry, the proximity to the beach is a great excuse to get a take-away brew and enjoy it with the waves.
Giant Coffee
Smiles are free, and you couldn’t get more welcoming than Giant Coffee. This little brick building no wider than a Mini caters mostly to grab-and-go customers, offering well prepared espresso drinks, matcha lattes, hot chocolate, and flavored seltzers. The coffee is ROC certified (Regenerative Organic Certified), and roasted by Bella Barista. This ensures fair farmer wages, proper treatment of soil to help mitigate future climate change, and improves animal welfare.
Giant’s kitchen is all plant-based, and apart from the fan favorite “sausage rolls,” they serve pastries, biscuits, and cookies. On sunny days the front window opens out, so you can have a chinwag with a stranger. Known to occasionally host pop-ups from other local roasters, there is a genuine feeling of inclusion at this charming little cafe. If you have a dog, you’ll be pleased to know the cafe is pet-friendly, in fact they are encouraged (just check their Instagram page).
NB: Rumor has it they are in the process of opening a new branch in Broadstairs!
Big Shot
Big Shot offers visitors what they came to Margate for: views of the sea. Long outdoor communal tables add to the mingling potential, seagulls fly overhead looking for a lapse in concentration when they can swoop down and snag a biscuit, and fishing boats bob gently on the water like an impressionist painting backdrop. This is what British summers are for, until a stray rain cloud ruins the party.
There is an extensive drinks list for those who imbibe, and their all-day breakfasts and grilled cheese sandwiches are a local favorite. If you don’t have work the next day, they do a Bottomless Brunch, which combines food, Mimosas, and Bloody Marys. Granola bowls are on offer for the more health conscious. Not strictly a specialist coffee place per se, Big Shot is the perfect template for a town that accepts people as they are and wants them to have a good time. Their Americanos, it must be noted, are nothing to sniff at.
Benjamin Sand is a freelance journalist and the creator of The Mouth. Read more Benjamin Sand for Sprudge.
All photos by the author unless otherwise noted
