Beating the post-Christmas blues in Bath

I've been dying to go to Colonna and Hunter (@Colonna_Hunter) since it opened. Having spent Christmas in Somerset, we decided that Boxing Day was the perfect opportunity to visit the stunning city of Bath and combine some sale madness with coffee indulgence. The rain was pouring, Bath looked deserted compared to its usual vibrant self and Colonna and Hunter were on holidays. But if you think that discouraged us, you are very wrong. Deciding that a new year means new opportunities, we got on our bikes and rode to Bath in glorious winter sunshine, making the visit our first coffee bike trip of the year. And boy, was it worth it!

Colonna and Hunter is the kind of place you would take a long lost friend to catch up over a lazy afternoon. Tucked away in a modern boutique arcade to the north west of the busy shopping artery that throbs through the centre of historic Bath, it provides a breath of cool, crisp and sweet fresh air.

 

Colonna and Hunter serve coffee and craft beer (which, if it wasn't for the driving, we would've certainly indulged in!) marrying two great brewing arts. It is clear that these guys truly understand the ethos of the artisan: both the coffees as well as the beers are expertly chosen, paired with the food on offer and are served on a rotating basis. The beautiful airy space with its high ceilings and drawings on the walls, resembling the ones at the fabulous Colonna and Small's, was filled with people occupying private as well as communal tables. The staff made us trust them completely with our coffee choices even though they convinced us to try Ethiopian beans with very strong flavours of strawberries and cream! As bizarre as it sounds, our strawberry and cream flat whites were in fact a revelation. The avocados for our sourdough toasts were served in little jars with coarsely ground black pepper and flakes of sea salt to hand. It was perfect.

I have a good feeling about this year after such a wonderful start. You get a feeling that nothing at Colonna and Hunter is left to chance; the menu as well as the surroundings are well thought through and expertly executed. I'm loving the idea of speciality coffee room neighbouring a speciality beer room - Bath has just gained another gem, reinforcing its position as THE place to try mind-blowing coffee.