Review: Charlie Fridays, Lynton
In the heart of the North Devon clifftop town of Lynton is a quirky, dog-friendly, family café serving banging brunches, seasonal soups and flavoursome Mexican dishes. Their bright yellow signage beckons their unique name: Charlie Fridays, which you can also find sewn onto pillows and handpainted onto mugs created by a local artist.
It’s a café you’d expect to find in boho areas of Bristol, Brighton, East London, Manchester and Margate. Perhaps indicative of the charm of Lynton, shared more in our soon-to-be-released City Girl Guide to Lynton and Lynmouth.
Charlie Fridays is a two floor cafe-by-day, mexican-bar-by-Friday-night. Community is at the heart of everything; immediately apparent from the “make a wish wall” with wishes written on gift tags and pinned to the right wall. And further emphasised by the local events and business flyers that are stuck to the wall on the left side of the door frame as you walk in.
I knew I’d like this place the moment I found it on Instagram. I knew I’d love it when I walked through the door to see a group of women sat on the sofas playing a game with cards stuck on their heads. And I knew I’d be talking about it endlessly to everyone who would listen when I went down the spiral staircase to the lower floor to see a music corner of pianos, guitars and a record player.
There was a sign in the music corner that read: “My Great Grandad, Harry Smith, a bus driver in Fulham, gave this record player to my mum for her 7th birthday! Please enjoy it and take good care of it!”
It’s no wonder they’re celebrating 10 years in business.
Food and Drink at Charlie Fridays
It’s my greatest pleasure to share that their menu is just as good as the place itself. My partner and I devoured our lunches in no time at all after a two hour hike from Lynton to Lynmouth via the Valley of the Rocks and back again via their famous Clifftop Railway.
My partner went for their seasonal special of Spiced Roast Pumpkin, Root Veg and Chipotle Soup with a Cheese Toasty. He reported that it was a well-balanced nourishing soup with earthy root vegetables and the cheese toasty was the perfect carby treat to dip into it.
I went for the gluten free and dairy free version of the Buddha Bowl with their Homemade Chilli Beef as an extra. I was mourning not being around for their Mexican Night and wanted to get a taste of what the food would be like. It made my FOMO worse, of course. The Chilli Beef was full-bodied, aromatic and deeply comforting, with the perfect mix of Mexican Rice, Salad, Pico de Gallo Salsa, Mex Slaw, Pumpkin Seeds and a spoonful of Houmous.
As a food allergy intolerance girl, I was delighted by the choice, flexibility and true care put into the menu to make sure it’s as inclusive as possible. They had a gluten free and vegan cake option (Date & Apricot Slice), for example, which I see as a sign of the best café ever.
To drink, we really leant into the autumnal vibes with a Pumpkin Spiced Oat Latte for my partner, and a Pumpkin Spice Oat Hot Chocolate for me. Both way better than the PSL’s you probably have in mind when reading this.
A special mention needs to be given to the extensive and creative nature of their drinks menu: spanning from Peanut + Caramel Milkshakes, Oat + Vanilla Matcha Lattes and Mexican Hot Chocolates, to Otter Brewery’s Ziggy Pop Lager, Exmoor Ale and Agua De Mezcal.
Breakfast can also be devoured as a Teacake Hash, Belgium Waffle, Breakfast Burrito or Exmoor Pesto, Mushroom + Spinach Toast. Plus the classic Full Englishes and numerous delicious sounding lunch options. You can take a look at their menu, but prepare to be hungry after you do so.
Charlie Friday’s is more than a café
Charlie Fridays is a reminder of why community spaces are so important. Over the spiral staircase reads a neon sign that reads “Hygge. The art of building sanctuary & community creating wellbeing, connection & warmth.”
We visited the day before Halloween; a holiday very clearly celebrated here. As it happens, Halloween lands on a Friday this year, making their weekly Mexican Night a full on ‘Day Of The Dead’ experience with cocktails like ‘Drunk Ghost’, ‘Witches Brew’, ‘Swamp Monster’ and ‘Pumpkin Spice Espresso Martini’ on the menu.
The whole café was decorated in furry spiders curling around chairs, ‘day of the dead’ designed pumpkins, and an imposing witch torso that greets you as you walk in. They clearly take Halloween very seriously here, and I’m here for it.
They also host events like psychic evenings, band nights and DJ sessions throughout the year.
A Little Bit More Charlie Fridays: The Coffee Shack By The Sea + The Snug
As living proof that creativity cannot be contained, Charlie Fridays also runs ‘The Coffee Shack By The Sea’ on Blacklands Beach in Lynmouth. This little takeaway shack serves hot drinks for your chilly beach walks, and chilled booze for your summer afternoons.
They also have transformed the space next door to their iconic Lynton cafe into an AirBnb aptly titled ‘Charlie Fridays Snug’. It’s a one bedroom open-plan apartment with a fully equipped kitchen, superking bed and large telly, decorated with the vibrancy of the café it was named after.
Book your visit to Charlie Fridays when you’re next in Lynton via their website, walk ins also accepted.
Reviewed by Pippa Moyle
Disclaimer: The lunch and hot drinks were gifted in exchange for an honest review.