Bayleaf Cafe

Bayleaf Cafe sits on the Strand in Exmouth, with outdoor seating that catches the passing seafront traffic on a sunny day. It is independently run rather than part of a chain, and the coffee is Devon Roasted, ground and served on site rather than trucked in from a national supplier. The cafe holds a strong Tripadvisor rating and a regular ranking among the better-reviewed spots to eat in Exmouth, largely on the strength of friendly service and consistent food rather than anything flashy.

The menu covers breakfast and light lunches - burgers, wraps, paninis and toasted sandwiches - alongside cakes and tray bakes made for the counter, smoothies and milkshakes, and a short list of wine, beer and spirits for anyone stretching a coffee into something longer. It is dog-friendly, which matters on a stretch of seafront that gets a lot of dog walkers, and the pricing sits on the affordable side rather than tourist-rate. It is the kind of cafe locals default to rather than one built purely for passing visitors.