I have been here four times in the last year. It's a fabulous old building, in a wonderful location in town and with a lovely little outside terrace, pretty and cosy, with efficient heating, overlooking the church. So far so good. Here's the rub: one two occasions, it was a brilliant experience - quick, efficient and very friendly service. On two others, however, rather the reverse. Once, we were left waiting for over 30 minutes for just a coffee order, when the place was virtually empty, and another when what was requested turned out to be completely different and with no understanding of what had been ordered. I will not go into details as the young lady who served us was not at fault, as she was presumably limited into what she was able to provide. However, this place gives very mixed messages - it could be absolutely wonderful, if there were properly trained staff, with better support from the management. Bear Steps should be a treasure; it just needs to up its game a bit.
Peter J
Great location and food, staff are friendly and service is good. The Panini's are very tasty - highly recommended
Jam4toast
I went in for elevenses expecting there to be a choice of biscuits, maybe mince pies, toasted teacake, shortbread, scone, maybe toast and butter/jam. There were lunch snacks but it was about 11am and I wanted something to go with a morning cuppa. All they had on offer were three cakes: chocolate fudge cake, chocolate brownie and chocolate orange cake. All cakes and all large, and all chocolate. When I chose, it came with a huge dollop of whipped cream which I hadn't been consulted about. No wonder these is an obesity crisis. I'll go somewhere else next time for a nice toast and butter or shortbread biscuit. There was virtually no variety, no choice!
Brenda Winstanley
Haven't been here for a while,glad to see it's much the same. Lovely hidden away location with some seating outside as well as in.Yummy chocolate fudge cake served with cream and strawberry on the side. And good decaf mocha and pots of tea.Small snack menu available and always a choice of a few nice cakes.Worth a visit.
Emma Timmins
Cute place. Good value. Tasty food. Hot tea. Good service.Vegetarian options: Jacket with roasted vegetables
Ed Rocksteady
Lovely spot for a cup of tea and cake,Friendly service, good variety and price
Alan P
This spot is great for a relaxed, satisfying, atmospheric lunch in a quiet period building just off the main street. And away from the madness of the fooderis in Shrewsbury Market Hall
Andrew Clark
Lovely little cafe serving great coffee, cake and small but good menu. A quiet spot at the top of bear steps you wouldn't think you were in a town centre.
Christopher Watkins
Beat Steps Cafe in the centre of Shrewsbury, is attractive cafe. It is small inside with low coils. Nice range of cake.
Emma Neale
Beautiful café in a tranquil setting. Excellent service by friendly staff. I would highly recommend the quesadillas they were delicious and came with great tasting guacamole and sour cream!
Coffee, cake experience in the shade. This area is packed with history. The church gsound was a mass burial durring the plauge.
Sue Hughes
Lovely, friendly welcome. Only stopped for drinks but delightful all the same.
Matilda Dempster Ashworth
Such a sweet little cafe! Feel like stepping back in time with the low beams and sloping floors. Friendly staff.
Rebecca Taylor
A really, cute, quaint little place in a very crooked old building. It's a bit of a squash inside so you may prefer to sit outside if you don't like enclosed spaces. Menu was very varied with plenty of interesting sounding dishes as well as the usual sandwich fillings etc. Our daughter declared her panini the best she has had! The staff were very friendly but as with many places these days, service was a bit on the slow side.
Sophia Barker
I had such a terrible experience with the rude man who I assume was the owner.I ordered a vegetarian sandwich. It came with Parmesan on top. Parmesan cheese is not a vegetarian cheese. It contains meat rennet (an enzyme from a calf’s stomach).This is an easy mistake to make. I was polite about the situation but since it did say vegetarian on the menu I explained the situation and asked for another sandwich. Then I could hear the owner going off in the kitchen saying cheese is only milk and making rude comments about the situation.While this is an easy mistake, if you work in the food industry and are going to have vegetarian items on the menu you should be aware of this. If not, when a customer explains this, there is no need to berate them for the whole cafe to hear.Altogether this was an unpleasant experience.
I have been here four times in the last year. It's a fabulous old building, in a wonderful location in town and with a lovely little outside terrace, pretty and cosy, with efficient heating, overlooking the church. So far so good. Here's the rub: one two occasions, it was a brilliant experience - quick, efficient and very friendly service. On two others, however, rather the reverse. Once, we were left waiting for over 30 minutes for just a coffee order, when the place was virtually empty, and another when what was requested turned out to be completely different and with no understanding of what had been ordered. I will not go into details as the young lady who served us was not at fault, as she was presumably limited into what she was able to provide. However, this place gives very mixed messages - it could be absolutely wonderful, if there were properly trained staff, with better support from the management. Bear Steps should be a treasure; it just needs to up its game a bit.
Great location and food, staff are friendly and service is good. The Panini's are very tasty - highly recommended
I went in for elevenses expecting there to be a choice of biscuits, maybe mince pies, toasted teacake, shortbread, scone, maybe toast and butter/jam. There were lunch snacks but it was about 11am and I wanted something to go with a morning cuppa. All they had on offer were three cakes: chocolate fudge cake, chocolate brownie and chocolate orange cake. All cakes and all large, and all chocolate. When I chose, it came with a huge dollop of whipped cream which I hadn't been consulted about. No wonder these is an obesity crisis. I'll go somewhere else next time for a nice toast and butter or shortbread biscuit. There was virtually no variety, no choice!
Haven't been here for a while,glad to see it's much the same. Lovely hidden away location with some seating outside as well as in.Yummy chocolate fudge cake served with cream and strawberry on the side. And good decaf mocha and pots of tea.Small snack menu available and always a choice of a few nice cakes.Worth a visit.
Cute place. Good value. Tasty food. Hot tea. Good service.Vegetarian options: Jacket with roasted vegetables
Lovely spot for a cup of tea and cake,Friendly service, good variety and price
This spot is great for a relaxed, satisfying, atmospheric lunch in a quiet period building just off the main street. And away from the madness of the fooderis in Shrewsbury Market Hall
Lovely little cafe serving great coffee, cake and small but good menu. A quiet spot at the top of bear steps you wouldn't think you were in a town centre.
Beat Steps Cafe in the centre of Shrewsbury, is attractive cafe. It is small inside with low coils. Nice range of cake.
Beautiful café in a tranquil setting. Excellent service by friendly staff. I would highly recommend the quesadillas they were delicious and came with great tasting guacamole and sour cream!
Restaurantji Recommends
Coffee, cake experience in the shade. This area is packed with history. The church gsound was a mass burial durring the plauge.
Lovely, friendly welcome. Only stopped for drinks but delightful all the same.
Such a sweet little cafe! Feel like stepping back in time with the low beams and sloping floors. Friendly staff.
A really, cute, quaint little place in a very crooked old building. It's a bit of a squash inside so you may prefer to sit outside if you don't like enclosed spaces. Menu was very varied with plenty of interesting sounding dishes as well as the usual sandwich fillings etc. Our daughter declared her panini the best she has had! The staff were very friendly but as with many places these days, service was a bit on the slow side.
I had such a terrible experience with the rude man who I assume was the owner.I ordered a vegetarian sandwich. It came with Parmesan on top. Parmesan cheese is not a vegetarian cheese. It contains meat rennet (an enzyme from a calf’s stomach).This is an easy mistake to make. I was polite about the situation but since it did say vegetarian on the menu I explained the situation and asked for another sandwich. Then I could hear the owner going off in the kitchen saying cheese is only milk and making rude comments about the situation.While this is an easy mistake, if you work in the food industry and are going to have vegetarian items on the menu you should be aware of this. If not, when a customer explains this, there is no need to berate them for the whole cafe to hear.Altogether this was an unpleasant experience.