2022 Awards – Best Outdoor Seating

One of the cabins, known as Cwch Gwenyn (The Hive), in the garden at the back of Caffi Caban.Next up in the 2022 Coffee Spot Awards is the shortlist for the “Coffee Spot with the Best Outdoor Seating” Award. Celebrating all those wonderful Coffee Spots with excellent outdoor seating, this was won last year by Caffi Caban.

To qualify for this award, it’s not just a case of sticking a couple of tables or chairs on the pavement outside your coffee shop. Too often, what could be a lovely spot is marred by traffic noise, or cramped conditions, or just being in the wrong place. The best outside seating is often away from the road and passing pedestrians and offers shelter from the wind, rain and/or sun (although rarely all three at once!). Fortunately, there are plenty of Coffee Spots which do exactly that and this is one award I could have filled many times over!

You can see the shortlist after the gallery.

  • First up is Tattam's, with seating on the pedestrianised street and on the back terrace.
  • Betty Berkins' extensive outside seating includes a terrace overlooking the Dee Estuary.
  • Moving to Berlin, I loved the shaded tables outside Five Elephant in Kreuzberg.
  • Staying in Berlin, I also loved the hidden courtyard at Bonanza Gendarmenmarkt.
  • Talking of hidden Berlin courtyards, the one at Father Carpenter is just as beautiful.
  • Our third Berlin courtyard is home to Ben Rahim, part of the Hackesche Höfe complex.
  • Moving to Saint Frank Coffee in Menlo Park, where I sat under a tree to drink my coffee.
  • Staying in the Bay Area, Devout Coffee has an amazing patio.
  • Another Bay Area coffee shop, Coffeebar in Redwood City has more shaded tables.
  • Our last Bay Area entry is Linea Coffee Roasting + Caffe with its neat stepped terrace.
  • Back in the UK with CSONS Shrewsbury, another one with a lovely, sheltered courtyard.
  • Niedlov's Cafe & Bakery has a lovely, shaded garden, complete with its own water feature.
  • The Barn - Cafe Kanzler in Berlin has a 360° wrap-around balcony and rooftop terrace.
  • I loved the hidden patio at Flat Track Coffee, as well as the terrace out front.
  • Finally, there's Fleet Coffee, making the most of Austin's climate with only outdoor seating.
First up is Tattam's, with seating on the pedestrianised street and on the back terrace.1 Betty Berkins' extensive outside seating includes a terrace overlooking the Dee Estuary.2 Moving to Berlin, I loved the shaded tables outside Five Elephant in Kreuzberg.3 Staying in Berlin, I also loved the hidden courtyard at Bonanza Gendarmenmarkt.4 Talking of hidden Berlin courtyards, the one at Father Carpenter is just as beautiful.5 Our third Berlin courtyard is home to Ben Rahim, part of the Hackesche Höfe complex.6 Moving to Saint Frank Coffee in Menlo Park, where I sat under a tree to drink my coffee.7 Staying in the Bay Area, Devout Coffee has an amazing patio.8 Another Bay Area coffee shop, Coffeebar in Redwood City has more shaded tables.9 Our last Bay Area entry is Linea Coffee Roasting + Caffe with its neat stepped terrace.10 Back in the UK with CSONS Shrewsbury, another one with a lovely, sheltered courtyard.11 Niedlov's Cafe & Bakery has a lovely, shaded garden, complete with its own water feature.12 The Barn - Cafe Kanzler in Berlin has a 360° wrap-around balcony and rooftop terrace.13 I loved the hidden patio at Flat Track Coffee, as well as the terrace out front.14 Finally, there's Fleet Coffee, making the most of Austin's climate with only outdoor seating.15
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There are 15 Coffee Spots on the shortlist this year, all listed in order of publication.

Some fabulous latte art in the form of a swan in my flat white at Tattam's.Tattam’s

We start off in my old home town of Guildford with relative newcomer Tattam’s. As well as a large interior, spread over two floors, Tattam’s has a number of tables which spill out onto the pedestrianised street. Even better is the sheltered terrace at the back, where you’ll find a gazebo which helps keeps the elements off and, in the winter, the heat in. Tattam’s has also been shortlisted for the Best Cake Award.

A commendably short cortado, served in a glass, and presented on a tray with a slice of orange and a glass of tap water.Betty Berkins

Betty Berkins has a wonderful setting in the hills of Northeast Wales. There’s an extensive outdoor seating area, including a large, partially-covered terrace, with views across the Dee Estuary, more outdoor seating in front of Betty Berkins itself, plus plans for another terrace at the rear (with more excellent views). Betty Berkins has also been shortlisted for the Most Unlikely Place to Find a Coffee Spot and Best Cake Awards.

A lovely espresso, served in a classic white cup, at Five Elephant Kreuzberg, sitting outside in the early evening sunshine.Five Elephant Kreuzberg

Our shortlist moves to Berlin and the original Five Elephant in Kreuzberg, which opened 10 years ago on the leafy Reichenberger Straße. Occupying two rooms on the ground floor of a lovely old Kreuzberg tenement , there’s as much seating inside as there is outside on the broad pavement, where you enjoy the shade of some magnificent, mature trees.

 

My espresso, the Sasaba, a naturally-processed single-origin from Ethiopia, seen from above, along with a glass of water and a piece of shortbread, all enjoyed while sitting out in the courtyard at Bonanza Gendarmenmarkt in Berlin.Bonanza Gendarmenmarkt

Staying in Berlin, Bonanza has two neat outside seating areas. The first is on the busy street at the front of the shop, while the second, and arguably the best, is tucked away in a hidden inner courtyard, providing respite from the bustle of the nearby Gendarmenmarkt. Bonanza has also been shortlisted for this year’s Best Filter Coffee and Best Espresso Awards.

The name board for Father Carpenter, Coffee Brewers, in Berlin.Father Carpenter

There’s clearly something about Berlin and excellent outdoor seating. Father Carpenter is the third of five Berlin entries on this year’s shortlist, making the cut thanks to its magnificent courtyard setting, this time in the heart of Mitte. The interior’s not too bad either, while the coffee and food are outstanding.

 

The Ben Rahim logo, a stylised two-dimensional drawing of a tree with the words "BEN RAHIM" underneath.Ben Rahim, Berlin

Next in the parade of Berlin entries is Ben Rahim with another courtyard setting, this time in the famous Hackesche Höfe, a series of interconnected Art Nouveau courtyards dating from 1906. There’s as much seating on the cobbled courtyard as there is inside, with benches delineating a neat seating area full of tile-topped tables and low, wooden stools.

A cappuccino, made with Saint Frank Coffee's Little Brother house blend, served in a proper cup with some lovely latte art.Saint Frank Coffee, Menlo Park

Leaving Berlin, we come to the Bay Area in California and Saint Frank Coffee which is opposite the Caltrain Station (which earned Saint Frank a place on the shortlist for the Best Coffee Spot near a Railway Station Award). Making the most of the area’s mild climate, all the seating is outside on a large, shady terrace, the tables nestling under several trees and parasols.

My espresso, a single-origin from East Timor, roasted by Devout Coffee and served at the coffee shop in Niles, along with a glass of water, presented on a square, metal tray, with a spoon laid diagonally between espresso and glass.Devout Coffee, Niles

Staying in the Bay Area but moving across to the East Bay, we have Devout Coffee and its awesome patio space. This is tucked in between the coffee shop (on the left) and the roastery (on the right), he two buildings taking turns to provide shade at various times of the day. Devout Coffee has also been shortlisted for the Best Neighbourhood Coffee Spot and Best Cake Awards.

The circular sign from outside Coffeebar, a stylised lion's head with flowing mane, the words "Coffeebar" at the top and "Redwood City" at the bottom, flanked by the letters NV (Nevada, left) and CA (California, right)Coffeebar, Redwood City

Back on the Peninsular, Coffeebar in Redwood City occupies the Fitzpatrick Building on the pedestrianised part of Broadway. This allows it to have an extensive outdoor seating area, which spills out onto the street, the tables nestling under the shade of two tall, mature trees.

 

A lovely cortado in my HuskeeCup, which I enjoyed sitting in the sun outside Linea Coffee Roasting + Caffe in San Francisco.Linea Coffee Roasting + Caffe

The final Bay Area entry is from San Francisco, where Linea Coffee Roasting + Caffe occupies the old Intelligentsia roasting facility on Mariposa Street in Potrero Hill. There’s no indoor seating (due to the on-going COVID-19 pandemic), with Linea taking advantage of the area’s mild climate with a neat stepped terrace outside on Mariposa Street.

 

The CSONS logo, the letters "CSONS" written in blue (with the C in yellow) inside two concentric blue circles.CSONS Shrewsbury

Coming briefly back to the UK, the original CSONS in Shrewsbury occupies the ground floor of an old building on Milk Street. The seating is spread across multiple rooms, but it’s the large, sheltered courtyard at the back that has earned CSONS a place on this shortlist.

 

A lovely espresso, served in a classic black cup at Niedlov's Cafe & Bakery and made with the Monarch, from Onyx Coffee Lab.Niedlov’s Cafe & Bakery

Back in the USA, Niedlov’s Cafe & Bakery has a pair of tables on the pavement on the busy Main Street. A better option is the sheltered, leafy garden that’s tucked away down the side of Niedlov’s. Fenced off from the street/parking lot by waist-high railings, this features plenty of trees and shrubs to provide shade, along with its own water feature. Niedlov’s is also on the Most Unlikely Place to Find a Coffee Spot and Best Cake Awards shortlists.

Two rolled into one, the minimalist logo of The Barn overlaid on the red and white stripped awning of Café Kanzler.The Barn – Café Kanzler

Our fifth and final Berlin entry is The Barn in Café Kanzler. This Berlin institution can trace its roots back to 1825 and is easily recognisable in its current incarnation, a rotunda on top of Kurfürstendamm’s Kranzler-Eck shopping complex. While you can sit in the rotunda itself, there’s also a 360° wrap-around balcony and a rooftop terrace. The Barn has also made it onto the shortlist for the Best Cake Award.

Pointing the way to good coffee, the sign outside Flat Track Coffee in Austin.Flat Track Coffee

Our last two entries are from Austin, Texas, starting with Flat Track Coffee, which shares space with bike shop, Cycleast, on Cesar Chavez Street. This is another coffee shop with two outside seating areas. The first is a neat terrace in front of the store, while the other is a gorgeous hidden patio, tucked along the building’s left-hand side. Flat Track has also been shortlisted for the Best Neighbourhood Coffee Spot and Best Flat White Awards.

A lovely cortado served in a glass at Fleet Coffee in Austin.Fleet Coffee

Staying in Austin, Fleet Coffee is another which takes advantage of the mild climate and only provides outdoor seating. In this case it’s a table and bar in front of the store, with a small, shaded seating area off to the left. Like Flat Track Coffee, Fleet Coffee has also made it onto this year’s shortlist for the Best Neighbourhood Coffee Spot Award.


A special mention needs to go to the following:

Kōhi Coffee Co.
Kaffeekommune
The Coffee Movement
Spro – Mission Bay/SOMA
19grams Alex – Roastery & Lab
Sump Coffee, Nashville

The winner will be announced on Monday, 2nd January. In the meantime, don’t forget to check out the other 19 Coffee Spot Awards for 2022.


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7 thoughts on “2022 Awards – Best Outdoor Seating

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