SOCIETY CITY GUIDES- BATH
The city of Bath, where Society Cafe began, is a hub for wonderful independent shops, bars, restaurants and cafes. With the upcoming famous Bath Christmas Market, we wanted to share some of our favourite spots in the city that are an absolute must visit during your trip.
First off, we can't leave out ourselves, even if we are a bit bias. We have two spots in the city, one on Kingsmead Square with lots of seating indoors and outdoors, and one on the High street, right at the end of the Corridor arcade. A great spot right in the centre for a quick stop while you mooch around the market.
Now onto our favourites. I asked the team to let me know who they'd like me to include to give a locals insight and they didn't disappoint!
SHOPS: Great spots for gift buying.
BOTANICA STUDIO
17 Union Passage, Bath
BA1 1RE
Botanica Studio, owned by Alice who started her business selling houseplants at the market in Green Park every Saturday whilst working with Society part time! Now owning her own incredible shop in the heart of the city, you can find a gorgeous range of house plants, pots, terrariums and kits to make your own and other plant lover accessories. Follow Botanica Studio here
MAGALLERIA
5 Upper Borough Walls, Bath BA1 1RG
Our good friends at Magalleria have been our go to for buying magazines to have on display to read in all our cafes. Their huge collection is always one of the best and we have found some of our all time favourite magazines here, from photography, to lifestyle to sport, you name it, they have it. Check out their collection here
TOPPING & COMPANY BOOKSELLERS
York St, Bath BA1 1NG
Independently owned Topping & Company is a huge bookshop in the city, located near the Abbey and is perfect for readers. They have an incredible selection of books of all genres, and you can even sit and have a brew while you browse and flick through their incredible collection. Follow Toppings here
THE YELLOW SHOP
72 Walcot St, Bath BA1 5BD
The Yellow Shop is hard to miss on Walcot Street. Living up to their name, this beautiful bright yellow shop is one to visit. They have a huge collection of vintage clothing in all styles. Check out their stock
WHERE TO EAT
We're so lucky to have some incredible eateries in Bath, we're spoiled for choice! Here's just a few of our favourites:
GREEN STREET BUTCHERS
10 Green St, Bath BA1 2JZ
Both butchers and deli, Green Street offers some delicious choices both to take home and cook, but also sandwiches and breakfast muffins to take away with you and eat on the go. Providing purely local, slow-grown meat so you know exactly where your food came from. They are also the owners of The Walcot restaurant on Walcot Street (They do a great Sunday roast) and Mother and Wild in Corsham.
LANDRACE BAKERY
59 Walcot St, Bath BA1 5BN
Just recently expanded into the building next door to them, Landrace is the place to go for fresh bread, produce and THE best cinnamon bun you will ever have (no exaggeration). They also have a restaurant upstairs with a daily changing menu, and a flour mill, focusing on speciality grains and beautifully fresh, local ingredients.
BATH PIZZA CO.
Green Park Station, 2-3 Westmoreland Station Rd, Bath BA1 1JB
Named the 'best pizza in Bath' by multiple members of our team, they're a tough one to beat! Based in Green Park Station, winning multiple awards. Offering a huge variety of toppings on fresh dough, there's an option for everyone.
SOLINA PASTA
Grand Parade, Bath BA2 4DF
The new kid on the block, Solina pasta opened a couple months ago and made an incredible first impression on the city. Making fresh pasta daily, their pasta menu offers a lot of options for both veggie and meat eaters, with meat supplied from the Walcot Group, as mentioned earlier above! They don't take bookings so just pop in.
OAK RESTAURANT
2 N Parade, Bath BA1 1NX
Offering a purely veggie and vegan menu, this restaurant is perfect for eating plant based! Their menu is regularly changing, offering lots of delicious small plates to pick and choose from and share around the table.
WILD CAFE
10a Queen St, Bath BA1 1HE
A great option for brunch, Wild Cafe has been a firm favourite for years, offering lots of all day breakfast options and lunch. Their hash browns are to die for!
THE CIRCUS RESTAURANT
34 Brock St, Bath BA1 2LN
The hosts of our Bath team christmas parties last year and this year! Their food is exceptional, as is their service and they always take good care of us. Located right by the circus (hence the name), it's a good spot to go somewhere to take in the cities atmosphere, and the area is beautiful at night.
BARS/PUBS
The team and I feel we are experts in the art of 'having a pint', and here are some of our favourites for a post-work drink.
KINGSMEAD STREET BOTTLE
2 Kingsmead St, Bath BA1 2AA
Our neighbours, just off Kingsmead square. We often stop here after our shifts to have a good recharge. They have a huge menu of wines and craft beers to choose from, and the team are always up for helping you choose what to drink based on your preferences.
THE GRAPES
14 Westgate St, Bath BA1 1EQ
One of the coolest pubs in the city, The Grapes is just off Kingsmead square on Westgate street. It's super cosy and they have plenty of drinks on the bar to choose from. A big part of The Grapes is their live music, from jazz to trad folk sessions during the week, to vinyl DJs on the weekend, and live acts on Sunday afternoons. They've created an amazing space for the music scene in Bath, conveniently located opposite the venue, Komedia.
THE BELL INN
103 Walcot St, Bath BA1 5BW
Another classic in the city for the live music lovers, The Bell Inn hosts live music three times a week ranging in jazz, blues, DJs and folk music. They also serve pizzas outside made by The Pizza Bike every Sunday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.
Their website and upcoming events.
THE DARK HORSE
7A Kingsmead Square, Bath BA1 2AB
Our cosy next door neighbours on Kingsmead Square! This is the place to go for an incredible cocktail. Their menu changes seasonally and the bartenders really know their stuff. They've won multiple awards and it doesn't surprise us!
We've probably missed a few, as you can probably tell we're spoiled for choice in Bath. Let us know if you end up visiting any of them from this post and don't forget to tag us on Instagram when you visit!
Written by Maisie Walker.
