Cherrybean

This review appears in the The List's Eating & Drinking Guide 2008 – in the shops now or buy online.

Comfy sofas, cheerful vintage-chic décor and a relaxed ambience help make Cherrybean a great spot to while away the time with a coffee or rose tea and one or two magazines from the large stack that sits on the counter. Or you could surf the web as Cherrybean recently installed wi-fi. The walls are cheerfully decorated with work by a local artist, which is also for sale. If you fancy brushing up your craft skills, you might be lucky and run into the local knitting group that sometimes congregates here. Although the menu is small, the rolls, sandwiches, ciabattas and panini are generously stuffed with fresh fillings. The hummus and salad combo is hearty and filling, while a bacon and brie panini oozes enough of the latter to give your fingers a good coating. The soup is thick and chunky, served with bread and real butter in a pretty, domed butter dish. The drinks cabinet is a cola-free zone, as Cherrybean eschews all branded drinks in favour of more natural and organic options. If you want to introduce your children to laid-back café-culture, why not treat them to Cherrybean's bambicino – steamed milk served in an espresso cup.

• High point: Conducive to lingering
• Low point: A bit chilly on cold days