Best Coffee Shops at Westquay

Carluccio's, Best for a Relaxed Breakfast or Coffee with Friends

Some coffee stops are planned before you even arrive at Westquay. Carluccio's is one of them.

Its comfortable restaurant and deli setting makes it a popular place to meet before a day of shopping, particularly if you're catching up with friends or family who haven't seen each other in a while. Instead of rushing straight into the centre, you can settle in over breakfast, brunch or a coffee and ease into the day before deciding where to browse first.

That slower pace also makes Carluccio's a good option if your visit isn't built around shopping alone. Perhaps you're celebrating a birthday, enjoying a morning together or simply looking for somewhere to chat without feeling hurried. Table service encourages you to relax without keeping one eye on the clock.

Unlike cafés designed for people passing through, Carluccio's rewards lingering a little longer. By the time you leave, you've already had the chance to catch up, plan the rest of your visit and step into Westquay feeling refreshed instead of rushing from one shop to the next.

Sometimes you're not simply looking for coffee. You're looking for good coffee.

That's where Mettricks stands apart. As one of Southampton's best-known independent coffee companies, it's the place to head if the quality of what's in your cup matters just as much as taking a break from shopping. Instead of choosing the closest café, many visitors make a point of stopping here because they appreciate carefully sourced beans and expertly prepared drinks.

Mettricks often attracts a different crowd from the larger chains around the centre. You'll see people taking a few minutes to answer emails, reading a book or enjoying a quieter moment before heading back into the shops. The atmosphere feels unhurried, making it easy to escape the busiest parts of Westquay for a while.

If you've spent the morning browsing fashion stores or picking up gifts, this is the kind of café where you can properly reset before carrying on. It's less about grabbing a takeaway coffee on the move and more about enjoying the experience of sitting down with a drink that's been prepared with care.

Shopping at John Lewis rarely feels like a quick stop. Whether you're choosing home accessories, browsing furniture or searching for the right gift, it's the kind of store where time passes almost without noticing.

Ori Caffè fits naturally into that experience. Located inside John Lewis, it offers a quieter place to pause without stepping back into the busier walkways of Westquay. If you've spent an hour comparing kitchen appliances, looking at home décor or ticking off a gift list, a coffee break here feels like a welcome change of pace.

Many visitors choose Ori Caffè because it allows them to stay within the rhythm of their John Lewis visit. There's no need to leave the department store, find another café and then retrace your steps. Instead, you can relax for a while before returning to finish browsing the departments you haven't yet explored.

It's also a practical option if you're shopping with someone whose interests differ from yours. One person can continue browsing while the other enjoys a coffee, making it an easy meeting point before carrying on together.

For many people, a visit to Marks & Spencer doesn't end with clothing or homeware. It's often the final stop before picking up food for the week, choosing something for dinner or treating yourself to a few favourite groceries.

M&S Café complements that routine perfectly. It's a comfortable place to enjoy lunch, a slice of cake or an afternoon coffee before finishing the last few errands. If you've already spent several hours walking around Westquay, sitting down here can be a welcome way to round off the day.

Its appeal is also practical. Families, couples and solo shoppers often find themselves naturally ending their visit at Marks & Spencer, making the café an easy choice without needing to walk back across the centre. You can take stock of your purchases, recharge for a while and leave feeling less like you've been racing from one shop to another.

For anyone who prefers turning a shopping trip into a more relaxed outing, M&S Café offers a comfortable final chapter before it's time to head home.

Shopping trips rarely go exactly to plan. You pop into one store for a quick look, find a few things worth trying on and suddenly realise you've been walking around Westquay for hours. That's where the Costa Coffee inside Next comes into its own.

Unlike cafés that become destinations in their own right, this Costa is all about convenience. If you're spending time browsing fashion, homeware or children's clothing in Next, you don't have to leave the store to enjoy a proper break. Instead, you can put your shopping bags down, take the weight off your feet and enjoy a coffee before carrying on with the rest of your list.

It also works well if you're shopping with family or friends who move at different speeds. While one person continues browsing, someone else can take a few minutes to recharge before meeting up again. That flexibility makes the café feel like a natural part of the shopping experience; not an interruption.

Sometimes, twenty minutes with a coffee is all it takes to turn an exhausting afternoon into one you're happy to continue. If you're planning a full day at Westquay, the Costa inside Next is perfectly placed for that well-earned pause.

Although it serves the same familiar Costa Coffee favourites, the café beside Showcase Cinema de Lux feels completely different from the one inside Next because people visit with a different purpose in mind.

If you've arrived early for a film, it's an easy place to relax without aimlessly waiting around outside the screens. A coffee gives you time to settle into the evening, catch up with friends or simply enjoy a quieter moment before the lights go down. It creates a more relaxed start to the cinema experience than rushing through the centre at the last minute.

The café also comes into its own after the credits roll. If you're not quite ready to head home, it's a comfortable spot to chat about the film over a hot drink before making your way out of Westquay. That slower finish can be especially appealing after an evening showing, when the busiest shopping crowds have already disappeared.

Whether your cinema visit is the main event or the perfect way to end a day of shopping, this Costa fits naturally into that part of the journey.

Not every coffee break is about recharging. Sometimes it's about treating yourself.

Krispy Kreme has long been a favourite for its iconic doughnuts, making it a popular stop for anyone looking to add something sweet to their visit. While coffee is certainly on the menu, most people come here because they fancy pairing it with a freshly made doughnut or picking up a box to enjoy later with family, friends or colleagues.

It's an easy choice if you're shopping with children or looking for a small reward after ticking everything off your list. Rather than sitting down for a full meal, you can enjoy a quick coffee and a sweet treat before continuing your visit or heading home.

Many shoppers also stop by on their way out of Westquay, making Krispy Kreme the final purchase of the day. Whether you're taking home a dozen doughnuts to share or simply enjoying one with your coffee, it adds a satisfying finish to a successful shopping trip.

Every café at Westquay offers something a little different, so the best choice depends on what your day looks like.

If you're meeting friends for breakfast or want somewhere to sit and catch up before shopping, Carluccio's offers the most relaxed setting. Visitors who appreciate expertly prepared speciality coffee will feel most at home at Mettricks, while Ori Caffè at John Lewis provides a quieter place to pause during a longer browse through one of the centre's largest stores.

For shoppers looking to break up a busy afternoon, the Costa Coffee inside Next is perfectly positioned for a quick recharge before carrying on. If your visit includes a trip to Showcase Cinema de Lux, the Costa Coffee by the cinema makes far more sense, giving you somewhere to unwind before the trailers begin or after the film has finished.

If you're ready for lunch before heading home, M&S Café combines light meals and coffee in a comfortable setting. And when only something sweet will do, Krispy Kreme rounds off the day with coffee and one of its signature doughnuts.

The good news is there's no single "best" coffee shop at Westquay. Each one fits a different moment, whether you're starting your day, taking a break or enjoying the last stop before heading home.

A visit to Westquay is rarely just about ticking items off a shopping list. It's somewhere to spend time with friends, browse your favourite stores, enjoy a meal or catch the latest film, and a good coffee often becomes part of that experience.

Whether you're looking for expertly brewed speciality coffee at Mettricks, a leisurely breakfast at Carluccio's, a quiet break inside John Lewis or a convenient stop during a busy shopping trip, Westquay offers a café to match the pace of your day. By choosing the one that suits your plans, you can turn a simple coffee break into one of the most enjoyable parts of your visit.