Tesco’s newly refurbished cafes are exceeding expectations with comfortable seating, decent food, and unbeatable family prices starting from just £3.50
There’s nothing quite like settling into a cracking cafe—soaking up the buzz, savouring the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee, and simply people-watching as life unfolds around you.
However, for WalesOnline Audience Editor Tyler Mears, one thing she loves even more than a lovely cafe, it’s nabbing a proper bargain! She is all for supporting independent spots but has discovered there’s one surprising contender that’s been winning her over lately.
Typically, supermarket cafes just don’t do it for Tyler as she often finds the grub tastes like a budget microwave meal, the coffee falls flat, and the vibe is anything but welcoming or warm. Yet, she believes Tesco is genuinely shaking things up.
The supermarket giant invested millions last year in revamping numerous cafes across its stores, and the transformation is striking. Out went the plastic seating, uninviting tables and glaring overhead lights.
Tesco’s revamped cafes now boast plush leather armchairs, greenery, ambient lighting and chic decor. Tyler says it feels more like you’ve stepped into a trendy coffee house than a supermarket and has laid out why…
Since welcoming a baby into the world, I’ve found myself spending considerable time in cafes over the last year or so. Partly because new motherhood can feel isolating—so sitting amongst the hustle and bustle, striking up warm chats with strangers, has been a real lifeline.
But it’s also a budget-friendly and bearable way to keep the little one entertained without being trapped in a ball pit! Being on maternity leave also means I’ve been budgeting, so I’d say I’ve become a bit of a pro at bargain hunting.
And let me tell you – there are some proper bargains to be had in the Tesco cafe. On a recent trip to our local store in west Wales, me, my partner and our one year old daughter sat down for a bit of breakfast.
For the little one, there was plenty of choice – pancakes, yoghurt, fruit and toast. We went for the full kids brecky, which cost just £3.50. That’s less than a packet of nappies!
There were also plenty of lunch options, and if it was later in the day she could have had pasta, fish fingers and pizza with two sides and a drink for just four quid. At certain times of the year, the kids’ food will also cost you absolutely nothing with the ‘Kids Eat Free’ offer (which is valid when you buy an adult meal).
Then it was my turn. There were the usual choices – a full breakfast for £6.25, eggs on toast for £3.95 and a sausage bap for the same price. But Tesco has also upped its breakfast game. It now offers (what I would call) ‘posh brecky options’.
You can get Turkish-style eggs, bacon and chilli brioche, granola bowls and toasted banana bread. I went for the sourdough toast with avocado, feta cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, eggs, and drizzled with balsamic vinegar – washed down with a regular cappuccino.
My partner opted for the Turkish Eggs, which comes with lemon yoghurt, fried eggs, spices, crispy onions and toasted sourdough. Our entire breakfast for three—including two coffees and two bottles of water—set us back just over £25.
To be fair, there was a bit of a wait before our meals appeared, but we didn’t mind spending that extra time together as a family. As someone who loves watching people, I found myself quite entertained—Tesco is basically a people-watcher’s dream spot.
Not many cafés offer a vista quite like this one at my local branch. Positioned right in front of the armchairs is a long glass balustrade overlooking the whole shop floor.
You can genuinely settle into a cosy seat with your brew and observe the hustle and bustle below… Perhaps that lengthy food wait isn’t such a downside after all.
When our order finally turned up, the grub was solid. I wouldn’t stretch to calling it ‘incredible,’ but it certainly hit the mark. Let’s be realistic—you’re hardly expecting Michelin-starred cuisine at that price point. Yet for supermarket fare, it genuinely delivered.
The poached eggs had that perfect runny yolk, the avocado was pleasantly fresh, and the balsamic vinegar brought a lovely tang. My daughter’s plate was also a generous portion for just over three quid—and she demolished it.
The Turkish Eggs proved quite the curiosity. Eggs paired with yoghurt—who’d have thought? Yet somehow, it absolutely worked. The coffee packed a proper punch and, crucially, arrived piping hot. Served in a smart blue ceramic mug too.
Call me fussy, but coffee simply tastes superior in a proper mug rather than one of those generic white cups with dodgy brown rings round the rim. We polished off our meal and wrapped up our trip with a quick browse through the bargain section to scope out any other deals worth snagging. All things considered, it proved a delightful way to pass a couple of hours – without breaking the bank!
