Dovecot Café by Stag Espresso

The 2012 edition of The List's Eating & Drinking Guide is out now – only £5.95 (+p&p).

This review is taken from the current (2012) edition.

Nestled at the bottom of Infirmary Street, Dovecot Studios has established itself as an innovative drop-in for those fond of tapestry and contemporary crafts – and last year it got better still with the arrival of Richard Conway’s bright, airy daytime café. A former Victorian bathhouse, the Dovecot building is the ideal spot for Conway’s relaxed approach to eating, with a simple menu of soups, sandwiches and salads, as well as an array of freshly baked cakes, from simple scones to cream-laden gateaux, on offer. The pastrami and highland brie sandwich arrives on deliciously bouncy, crisp-edged bloomer bread, with a spiced tomato and mixed bean soup adding a subtle chilli kick to proceedings. A semi-sweet chocolate tart boasts some perfectly turned-out short crust pastry and is rounded off nicely with a cup of Conway's finest coffee. Service is top notch and there’s a mixed clientele, from those nipping in for a quick lunchtime snack, to the students nursing a coffee or croissant before class.

• High point: Airy, relaxed space
• Low point: Slightly stingy sandwich fillings