For one of the best brews in the city - and a great atmosphere to boot - head to Sonny's at Pop Recs at the bottom end of High Street West. Named after late co-founder Dave Harper's son, Sonny's offers great menu options such as Turkish eggs and sandwiches on homemade foccacia and some inventive vegan choices. placeholder image
For one of the best brews in the city - and a great atmosphere to boot - head to Sonny's at Pop Recs at the bottom end of High Street West. Named after late co-founder Dave Harper's son, Sonny's offers great menu options such as Turkish eggs and sandwiches on homemade foccacia and some inventive vegan choices. | Sunderland Echo

27 independent coffee shops to check out in Sunderland city centre

By Katy Wheeler

Lifestyle Editor

Published 18th Feb 2026, 11:28 GMT
Updated 18th Feb 2026, 11:32 GMT

Fancy a brew? Sunderland has a thriving independent coffee shop scene.

If you’re in Sunderland city centre, here’s some great places to visit, big chains aside, in no particular order.

Brew & Bake is a stylish coffee shop and cafe on the ground floor of City Hall that offers food and drink at reasonable prices in comfy surroundings. It's particularly good for remote workers if you're looking for a break from the home office.

5. Brew & Bake, City Hall

Brew & Bake is a stylish coffee shop and cafe on the ground floor of City Hall that offers food and drink at reasonable prices in comfy surroundings. It's particularly good for remote workers if you're looking for a break from the home office. | Sunderland Echo

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Wild Fire City is one of the city centre's newest additions and offers more of a daytime offering than the original Wild Fire in Deptford. As well as pizza, doughnuts and focaccia, they're brewing up coffees and more.

6. Wild Fire City, Mackie's Corner

Wild Fire City is one of the city centre's newest additions and offers more of a daytime offering than the original Wild Fire in Deptford. As well as pizza, doughnuts and focaccia, they're brewing up coffees and more. | Sunderland Echo

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Named after owner Olivia's puppy, Willows is in St Thomas Street next door to Amy's Winehouse. It specialises in handmade focaccia sandwiches, Detroit-style pizza slices to take away, cookies, smoothies, matcha, coffees and more.

7. Willows, St Thomas Street

Named after owner Olivia's puppy, Willows is in St Thomas Street next door to Amy's Winehouse. It specialises in handmade focaccia sandwiches, Detroit-style pizza slices to take away, cookies, smoothies, matcha, coffees and more. | Sunderland Echo

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For friendly service and some Sunderland favourites like pink slices head to Coffee 57 in High Street West, just round the corner from Keel Square.

8. Coffee 57, High Street West.

For friendly service and some Sunderland favourites like pink slices head to Coffee 57 in High Street West, just round the corner from Keel Square. | Sunderland Echo

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