Life is beginnig to resemble something a little like normal with businesses across the country opening their doors to customers again as of this week.
With that in mind we've taken a look at a sample of the best coffee shops and teahouses in the area that are welcoming customers back, after all, what is life without caffeine?
Boswell's Coach House
The Coffee House at Boswell's is set in the heart of Ayrshire, close to Auchinleck and the village of Ochiltree.
They offer a delightful range of hot and cold food as well as delicious Matthew Algie coffee and Suki Speciality teas.
Visitors to the Coffe House can also have a browse of the farm shop just next door, where they have a wide variety of fresh food and baked goods.
The visit doesn't have to be for the coffe alone though, the stunning Ayrshire countryside, dramatic wooded gorges, caves and cliffs can all be accessed via one of their Woodland walkways and cycle paths.
Poet's Corner
This charming café in the heart of Alloway is Scottish hospitality at its best.
With foodie favourites from home-baking to savoury treats and from filled sandwiches to hearty meals, the Poet’s Corner is family friendly and well-loved.
With Burns’ Cottage and Burns’ Heritage Museum and Visitors Centre nearby, this small café caters for tourists and locals alike but does not compromise on authenticity, atmosphere or heart to provide great service and excellent quality produce to whoever comes through its door.
Winner of Best Ayr Business at the 2018 Ayrshire Retail Business Awards, treat yourself to a bite to eat and a coffee at this poet’s paradise.
Bhaile Craft Bakery
This artisan coffee shop has been open for less than two years, but Bhaile Bakery has already established itself as one of the best in Ayrshire.
Winner of Best New Food Business of Ayrshire at the Scottish Business Awards 2019, the bakery is going from strength to strength, and so is its selection of freshly-baked goods and mouth-watering sandwiches.
The smell of fresh bread is guaranteed to greet you on the way in, and with a sister shop in Troon, it seems South Ayrshire is the place to be for thriving small businesses.
Gaelic for ‘village’, Bhaile definitely achieves the snug, homey vibes typical of an Ayrshire village.
So stop in and enjoy some of its warm hospitality.
Buckley’s
Voted the best café in Ayrshire in 2018, Buckley’s is a small business with loads to offer.
Everything is local, from their produce to their staff, meaning employees are knowledgeable and passionate about what they serve, and menus are gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan conscious.
For breakfast and brunch, Buckley’s is poached eggs heaven.
For a sweeter alternative, there are pancakes and French toast with a range of tasty toppings, from Nutella to maple syrup.
If you want true independence from your independent coffee shop, you don’t need to eat in-house, either.
Buckley’s offer an extensive takeaway menu with many options for under a fiver.
Their strapline is ‘good food, good people, good times’ and Buckley’s certainly lives up to it.
Small Talk
Whether you are a fan of a coffee and cake or soup and a sandwich, this bustling tea room is an Irvine gem waiting to be discovered.
Combine a lunch date with a spot of retail therapy in Small Talk’s adjoining gift shop which stocks everything from cute mugs to chic purses, then indulge in a pavlova, pancake or French fancy; just a few of the options Small Talk offers to satisfy your sweet tooth.
With lovely surroundings and superb service, this is an independent coffee shop that lives up to the hype.
If you find yourself being billowed by the breeze on Harbour Street, shelter here.
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