As this simple cafe sits in a prime position it's always full of students and tourists enjoying a break.

The Venue
On the historic cobbled St John's Street in a sweet courtyard area directly opposite beautiful St John's College building sits Le Patissier, a basic cafe with lots of variety.

The space inside is very small, with only a couple of tables and chairs as most of the room is taken up by various food counters.

Outside there’s plenty of seating, complete with umbrellas to shelter from the unpredictable British weather.

Furniture is simple but functional and, with the beauty of the college green, the architecture of the buildings and the mix of people wandering around, there’s not much need for anything else.

The People
As it’s in a busy yet charming area of Cambridge there is always life in this cafe, but it’s never too overwhelming.

Lively students pile in here for a hearty jacket potato or an energising smoothie, and their chatter buzzes around the cafe making it feel friendly. Sometimes there's a communal 'let's get over our hangovers' vibe about it.

Most of the customers are tourists and you'll often see a gaggle of crumpled-looking people sitting outside with cameras dangling around their necks.

It's an ideal place to rest as you can people-watch, take in the Cambridge sights and relax over a coffee.

The Food
The usual cafe menu is offered at Le Patissier, with salads, sandwiches and jacket potatoes all topping the student favourites list for under £5.

Sweet goodies include Smarties cookies and the indulgent marshmallow brownie for around £1.40. The food is fresh and well-made, which isn’t a big deal considering that everything sold is relatively simple.

The Drink
The usual hot and soft drinks are served, for reasonable prices. But if you want something special try their fresh smoothies. Made in front of your eyes, you can chose from the Fresh Smoothie list for £2.49 or the Yoggie list for £2.99.

Some delicious choices are the Cleanser (strawberry, banana and orange) and D-Tox World (pineapple strawberry and apple) both of which are great for revitalising your insides or, for something creamier, try Raspberry Ripple (raspberry, apple, mango and yogurt).

The Last Word
A cafe offering reliably good food and drink in a quaint area of Cambridge.

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