Cafes / Reviews
Ceres – cafe review
“This china reminds me of being in Melbourne,” squeals a heavily-tattooed, bald gentleman sipping a flat white out of a small teacup.
The newly opened Ceres cafe on Stokes Croft combines speciality coffee with a laid back atmosphere.
Upon entering, you’re faced with tables that look like they’ve been made out of railway sleepers, topped with plants in glass-bottle vases.
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Sitting down on a surprisingly comfortable chair comprised of a plastic crate and a hessian coffee bag, the vibe is relaxed. White walls and simple decorations help to keep it bright and spacious.
The menu has an up-market feel, with dishes such as braised puy lentils with fire cracked sausage and cavolo nero (£7.50) and sweet corn fritters, smashed avocado, grilled halloumi, kasundi and poached egg (£8.50).
The portions are generous, with meals served in big, hearty dishes.
Ceres’ owner is chef Dan, who in the past has worked with the likes of Heston Blumenthal. After living in Melbourne for a number of years, he wanted to bring a part of the city’s cafe culture to Bristol, having previously tried and failed to find a suitable location in London.
“Going out for breakfast and brunch is much more of a thing over there” he explains, “I want this to be a young, fun place where people can do that”
Another key aspect of Melbourne’s culture is speciality coffee, and Dan sources his from Square Mile Coffee Roasters in London.
All of the ingredients are free-range too, which is in keeping with the sustainable ethos behind the cafe. Dan named the venture after his “happy place”, a sustainability centre and urban farm in Melbourne.
Looking out of the window at a rainy Bristol, the cafe seems a long way from sunny Australia. But despite the weather, it succeeds in transporting the relaxed, Melbourne vibe to this corner of Stokes Croft.
Ceres, 32 Stokes Croft, Bristol, BS1 3PR
Read more: Emmeline – cafe review
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