Blue Train Café & Depot
About Blue Train Café & Depot
Coffee and a shop share the same room at Blue Train Café & Depot, a coffee shop on University Street in Belfast where handmade jewellery, scarves, bags and rugs sit alongside the counter, so a visit can cover both a flat white and a gift. Baking happens on site behind the scenes, and the counter turns out scones, including raspberry, plus pastries, cakes and tarts such as the Almond Bakewell. Coffee anchors the drinks list, with milk options including oat, and tea is served too. Customers come in to work or meet up, and wifi is available for anyone settling in for a while. The space carries plenty of natural light and decor throughout. A step-free entrance keeps the room reachable for visitors with mobility needs, and dogs are welcome inside. No booking is taken, so seats go to walk-ins as they arrive. Opening runs Monday to Saturday during the daytime, with the doors closed on Sundays.
Good to know
- ParkingFree of charge street parking · Paid street parking
- AccessibilityWheelchair-accessible entrance · Wheelchair-accessible toilet
- Good for kidsGood for kids
Menu & Prices
5 dishes- Scone
- Latte and Almond Croissant
- Brioche
- Carrot Cake
- Cappuccino
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention scones, almond croissant, oat milk flat white and handmade jewelry and rugs.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention scones, almond croissant, oat milk flat white and handmade jewelry and rugs.
Customer Review Summary
Scones draw the most praise, with reviewers calling a raspberry scone and an oat milk flat white with a scone the best they have had, often visitors on short stays in Belfast. Coffee comes close behind, described as brilliant and nice, alongside homemade pastries such as an almond croissant, a vanilla bread one diner calls the best thing they have tasted, and a large piece of almond Bakewell tart. Another reviewer enjoyed a chicken sandwich and tea. The cafe is described as cozy and quaint, full of natural light and character, with friendly, welcoming staff and a warm lady owner. Reviewers also mention fast wifi and a good playlist while working, and long chats with friends. The main complaint comes from one gluten intolerant reviewer who found no gluten free options, was told outside food was not allowed, and says a staff member repeatedly checked that the packed lunch stayed away, so they have not been back. A couple of reviewers also note handmade Turkish jewelry, Afghan rugs, and silk scarves for sale in the shop.
Customer Review Summary
Scones draw the most praise, with reviewers calling a raspberry scone and an oat milk flat white with a scone the best they have had, often visitors on short stays in Belfast. Coffee comes close behind, described as brilliant and nice, alongside homemade pastries such as an almond croissant, a vanilla bread one diner calls the best thing they have tasted, and a large piece of almond Bakewell tart. Another reviewer enjoyed a chicken sandwich and tea. The cafe is described as cozy and quaint, full of natural light and character, with friendly, welcoming staff and a warm lady owner. Reviewers also mention fast wifi and a good playlist while working, and long chats with friends. The main complaint comes from one gluten intolerant reviewer who found no gluten free options, was told outside food was not allowed, and says a staff member repeatedly checked that the packed lunch stayed away, so they have not been back. A couple of reviewers also note handmade Turkish jewelry, Afghan rugs, and silk scarves for sale in the shop.
Featured reviews
- Shah Fathil
“Nice coffee in a quaint cafe. The lady owner was very warm and hospitable”
- Danielle Millington
“I love blue train, however I have been made feel un comfortable a couple of times by a blonde curly haired female member of staff. I went in on my lunch in work to get some food but they had no gluten free options and I was starving so I ordered a drink and found a seat, I remembered I had a packed lunch with me so I got my drink and opened my lunch to eat something. I was approached by this staff member and told that no outside food is allowed in the cafe, however they had not a single option that I could eat because I am gluten. Intolerant and I had just paid for a drink and was really hungry on my lunch, I put my lunch away even though I wa starving and she came down to check that I wasn’t eating it literally 4 times. I haven’t been back since because it annoyed me so much. Please cater for people with dietary restrictions if you aren’t going to allow them to eat food from outside the cafe. Thanks”
- Maria Kemp
“What a find! My friends and I had breakfast here twice during our recent short stay in Belfast. In all honesty, I had the best oat milk flat white and scone I have ever had (and I love my coffee). Staff were so lovely and catered to three oldish ladies' every whim, great also to chat to mum behind the scenes while she was baking the cakes. To round it off I bought myself a beautiful silk scarf and a purse, hard to choose from the array of eye catching jewellery, bags, scarves etc for sale. Come here, this place deserves your business!”
- Dawn Jones
“Lovely comfortable cafe. The staff were so welcoming & helpful. I had tea and a large piece of Almond Bakewell tart”
- Clare McGinn
“New discovery even though they’ve been here for two years. Brilliant coffee. Full or character and natural light. Great for catch ups.”
Hours
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
- Closed
Highlights
- Great coffee
- Great dessert
- Great tea selection
- Popular for breakfast
- Popular for lunch
- Popular for solo dining
Amenities
- Wheelchair-accessible entrance
- Free of charge street parking
- Dogs allowed inside
- Takeaway
- Dine-in
- Good for kids
Show more amenities
- Casual
- On-site services
- Coffee
- Quick bite
- Dessert
- Solo dining
- Dining options· 3
- Breakfast
- Brunch
- Lunch
- Parking· 1
- Paid street parking
- Atmosphere· 1
- Cosy
- Crowd· 2
- Groups
- Tourists
- Pet-friendly· 1
- Dogs allowed outside
- Highlights· 1
- Great tea selection
- Facilities· 1
- Toilet
- Accessibility· 1
- Wheelchair-accessible toilet
Location
Coffee shops near Blue Train Café & Depot
- Dream Coffee Belfast4.9400.4 mi
cappuccino, toasties, artisan pastries
- Sinnamon Coffee4.45360.5 mi
americano, bacon bagel, bacon pancakes
- Caffè Nero4.28510.6 mi
italian coffee, vanilla cappuccino, panini
| Place | Rating | Distance | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Train Café & Depot | 4.894 | — | scones, almond croissant, oat milk flat white |
| Dream Coffee Belfast | 4.940 | 0.4 mi | cappuccino, toasties, artisan pastries |
| Sinnamon Coffee | 4.4536 | 0.5 mi | americano, bacon bagel, bacon pancakes |
| Caffè Nero | 4.2851 | 0.6 mi | italian coffee, vanilla cappuccino, panini |
The 3 nearest coffee shops by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
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