
Quick info
About Shirley Cafe
Breakfast anchors the menu at Shirley Cafe, a café on Wickham Road in the Shirley area of Croydon, where the full English comes in several sizes and builds up to the largest version, the Shirley Big Boy, for anyone arriving with a serious appetite. Diners can swap an item within a breakfast, and the kitchen also turns out omelettes, burgers, baguettes, bacon and egg rolls and lighter morning plates, with the smashed chilli avocado on the brunch side. Cakes are made on site, including a peanut butter one, and coffee, lattes and tea are ordered alongside food. The café runs Monday to Saturday in the daytime and closes on Sundays, and booking ahead is advised. High chairs make room for families with young children, while a step-free entrance suits visitors with mobility needs. Tables outside allow for eating in the open air, and dogs are welcome. Food can also be ordered to take away.
Good to know
- ReservationsAccepts reservations
- ParkingFree of charge street parking · Paid street parking
- AccessibilityWheelchair-accessible entrance · Wheelchair-accessible seating · Wheelchair-accessible toilet
- Good for kidsGood for kids · High chairs · Kids' menu
- DietaryVegetarian options
Menu & Prices
74 dishes · mains £3–12- Cheese Burger£3.20
- Quarter Pounder£5.90
- Half Pounder£6.90
- Chicken Burger£5.80
- Halloumi Burger£5.40
- Grilled Mediterranean Chicken£11.95
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention smashed chilli avocado, homemade cakes, full english breakfast and bacon and egg roll.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention smashed chilli avocado, homemade cakes, full english breakfast and bacon and egg roll.
Customer Review Summary
Breakfast dominates the praise here, with reviewers singling out the full English in its largest form, the "Shirley Big Boy", and one pair pleased to find Cumberland sausage listed on the menu alongside the option to swap an item out. Close behind come the homemade cakes, described as fresh and seriously good, with a giant slice of peanut butter cake winning over one brunch visitor. The smashed chilli avocado draws repeat mentions, and others name a well brewed tea and a tasty bacon and egg roll. Staff are repeatedly called friendly, accommodating and quick, and several describe the room as clean, spacious and relaxed enough for solo coffee or a family outing. The dissent comes on value: one reviewer found the portions stingy, citing a tiny baguette and a very small cheeseburger that together made a lunch they felt left them hungry, though most others call the prices fair and the portions generous. One asked for chilli sauce and had two options brought out.
Customer Review Summary
Breakfast dominates the praise here, with reviewers singling out the full English in its largest form, the "Shirley Big Boy", and one pair pleased to find Cumberland sausage listed on the menu alongside the option to swap an item out. Close behind come the homemade cakes, described as fresh and seriously good, with a giant slice of peanut butter cake winning over one brunch visitor. The smashed chilli avocado draws repeat mentions, and others name a well brewed tea and a tasty bacon and egg roll. Staff are repeatedly called friendly, accommodating and quick, and several describe the room as clean, spacious and relaxed enough for solo coffee or a family outing. The dissent comes on value: one reviewer found the portions stingy, citing a tiny baguette and a very small cheeseburger that together made a lunch they felt left them hungry, though most others call the prices fair and the portions generous. One asked for chilli sauce and had two options brought out.
Featured reviews
- Phillip James
“I've been to quite a few cafés in the area, and this is definitely one of the best. The food is consistently fresh, well cooked and served in generous portions, all at very reasonable prices. The menu has something for everyone, whether you're after a traditional full English, omelettes, burgers or a lighter breakfast. The homemade delicious cakes and coffee are excellent too. What really makes this place stand out is the staff. They're welcoming, attentive and work incredibly hard to keep everything running smoothly, even when the café is packed. Service is always efficient without making you feel rushed. The café itself is clean, spacious and has a relaxed atmosphere that's great for meeting friends, taking the family out or just enjoying a coffee on your own. It's easy to see why this place is so popular. If you're looking for quality food, friendly service and great value for money, I'd highly recommend giving it a try. I'll certainly be back.”
- Randeep Kaur
“I know we're living through the cost of living crisis, but this cafe is the epitome of harsh times. The food is served in the most stingiest of manners for the price of a worth while lunch. A tiny baguette for £5.50 and a most tiniest cheese burger for £3.50. In all £9.00 for absolutely nothing to quench your lunch time hunger! I suppose times are hard.”
- Howard Stephens
“Good food, great value and nice environment.”
- Leigh Smith
“I met my friend at Shirley cafe today, found on Google as a halfway point. And what a find it was….We had the loveliest brunch. I had the smashed chilli avocado as I saw that someone had recommended it and it did not disappoint. And then……when ordering my second latte…. I noticed homemade cakes. Before I knew it I was ordering a giant slice of peanut butter cake 🍰. This was a seriously good cake. My son works in Shirley a lot and have recommended Shirley cafe to him. Apparently it’s his go to already. Thoroughly recommended and we’ll be back again soon.”
- Emily McCann
“Shirley cafe is one of my all time favourite cafes. They have excellent service and the food is 10/10 all the time!”
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 dinner
Amenities
- Wheelchair-accessible entrance
- Free of charge street parking
- Accepts reservations
- Outdoor seating
- Dogs allowed outside
- Takeaway
Show more amenities
- Dine-in
- Family friendly
- Vegetarian options
- Casual
- On-site services
- Coffee
- Dining options· 8
- Breakfast
- Brunch
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Catering
- Dessert
- Seating
- Table service
- Parking· 1
- Paid street parking
- Offerings· 4
- Healthy options
- Prepared foods
- Quick bite
- Small plates
- Popular for· 2
- Solo dining
- Good for working on laptop
- Facilities· 1
- Toilet
- Atmosphere· 1
- Cosy
- Highlights· 2
- Great dessert
- Great tea selection
- Crowd· 1
- Groups
- Accessibility· 2
- Wheelchair-accessible seating
- Wheelchair-accessible toilet
- Family-friendly· 3
- Good for kids
- High chairs
- Kids' menu
Location
Cafes near Shirley Cafe
- Q Cafe4.44010.1 mi£1–15Outdoor seatingVegetarian optionsVegan options
pancakes, free christmas dinner, full breakfast
- Eddie's Cafe4.62470.8 mi£1–10
breakfast, coffee, poached eggs
- The Tram Stop4.33721.2 mi£15–30Outdoor seatingVegetarian optionsVegan options
homemade salads, full English breakfast, coffee and cake
| Place | Rating | Distance | Price | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shirley CafeOutdoor seating · Vegetarian options · Reservations | 4.6331 | — | £1–15 | smashed chilli avocado, homemade cakes, full english breakfast |
| Q CafeOutdoor seating · Vegetarian options · Vegan options | 4.4401 | 0.1 mi | £1–15 | pancakes, free christmas dinner, full breakfast |
| Eddie's Cafe | 4.6247 | 0.8 mi | £1–10 | breakfast, coffee, poached eggs |
| The Tram StopOutdoor seating · Vegetarian options · Vegan options | 4.3372 | 1.2 mi | £15–30 | homemade salads, full English breakfast, coffee and cake |
The 3 nearest cafes by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
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