Poquito Coffee: a proper Montpelier neighbourhood spot

There is a particular kind of coffee shop that only really works in a neighbourhood like Montpelier, and Poquito Coffee fits the bill. Tucked away at 116 Cheltenham Road, about a mile north of Bristol city centre, it is a small, intimate space that has earned its reputation as a proper local spot rather than a destination you travel across town for. The appeal is simple: good espresso, a friendly team, and a relaxed atmosphere where regulars are known by name.

The coffee is the obvious starting point. Poquito takes its beans seriously, and that comes through in the roast choices. The Espresso Suspension Brazil carries notes of peanut butter, bakers chocolate and maple, while the Decaf Colombia leans towards toffee, cashew nuts and a touch of citric acidity. Whether you go for a straight espresso or one of the milk-based coffees, the staff are knowledgeable enough to talk you through it, which is half the pleasure of a place like this.

It is not just about the caffeine, though. The counter fills with pastries and bagels, and the vegan bakes are worth a mention: a choc brownie infused with mulled spice and biscoff, and a double choc cookie for when you want something sweet. If you are visiting on a warmer day, the iced menu is surprisingly long, running from an iced latte and an iced dirty chai to an iced matcha latte, an iced mocha, an iced chai and an iced americano, with more colourful options like a blueberry matcha latte, a white chocolate matcha latte, a strawberry matcha latte, a strawberries and cream latte and a shaken brown sugar cinnamon iced americano. A few soft drinks round things out, from orange juice and lemonade to a can of Coke and still or sparkling water, and there are bags of beans to take home if you want to brew the same coffee at your own place.

That neighbourhood feel is what really defines the place. It is the kind of shop where the staff know your order before you have finished asking for it, and where the relaxed pace is part of the charm. It is not a place to rush in and out of, but rather to settle into for half an hour with a coffee and a pastry.

Of course, no place is without its quirks, and Poquito is no exception. The feedback from regulars is a mix of genuine affection and a few frustrations, which is almost part of the character of a truly independent spot. Some people rave about the service and specific treats like the iced white chocolate matcha with a coffee shot or the pistachio croissant, while others have pointed out a tendency for the shop to close unexpectedly even when the opening hours say otherwise, or the occasional mix-up with milk. It is the sort of thing you tend to forgive at a place this small and friendly, and it only adds to the sense that this is a real, working neighbourhood cafe rather than a polished chain.

Whether you are local to Montpelier or just passing through the area, Poquito Coffee is worth a stop for a quiet coffee and a pastry. It is a small, unpretentious spot that does one thing well, and in a city with no shortage of coffee shops, that is often exactly what you are looking for.