Vegan
Fast food
Take-out
British
Breakfast

Est. 2020. Fully vegan/plant-based cafe serving toasties, burgers, nachos and masala. Offers a wide selection of brunch options. Reported closed November 2025.


Venue map for Thrive
© OpenStreetMap contributors

117 Reviews

First Review by AudreyEmmaPlyler

VeganLondoner

Points +80

Vegan
08 Nov 2025

Closing soon 😔 Lovely vibe and good drinks

We went on Saturday and it was busy - still a few seats available. A lovely welcoming place with friendly staff. The drink I had (hot chocolate) was good and warming. Although the cakes were slightly mass-produced tasting, the idea and feel more than made up for it. A great café!

Pros: Vibe, Drinks

Cons: Cake slightly off

PortobelloMushroom

Points +438

Vegan
02 Nov 2025

Closing soon😒fully vegan such a shame

Great options on the menu. Breakfast & lunch options. Lovely vibe in the cafe. Staff really lovely. Good size portions and well priced.

Updated from previous review on 2025-11-02

Pros: Fully vegan , Lots of options , Good portion

Cons: Closing soon

Levicoolguy101

Points +1791

Vegan
30 Oct 2025

5/10 Cool spot sadly closing ok food

I appreciated it for being one of the only vegan restaurants and staff were memorable and accommodating.

However, the food just didn't taste good and neither did the milkshake, hot chocolate was good.

Interior is nice and could be a cool spot to hang.

Updated from previous review on 2025-10-30

LittleAliceFell

Points +2426

Vegan
09 Oct 2025

Lovely spot

Updated review Oct 2025: Truly one of the most special spaces in Cambridge. It’s absolutely devastating Thrive will be closing before the end of the year. Please make sure to visit before the end of November 💕 Thank you for everything you’ve done for the Cambridge community 🌻

Previous review Feb 2023: Such a friendly and cosy atmosphere! Expansive menu since kitchen change, with lots of GF options. Super tasty food! Definitely worth a visit if in Cambridge 😊

Updated from previous review on 2024-09-09

ThriveCambridge

02 May 2023

Thank you so much for updating your review and so happy uyou found improvement! :)

SteveBall

Points +45

Vegan
26 Sep 2025

The last fully vegan cafe in Cambridge

This is an amazing place with a laid back vibe. Great coffee and food options.

Sadly closing in November 2025

Updated from previous review on 2025-09-26

AliceNevard

Points +492

Vegan
25 Aug 2025

Great brunch

Great plave to grab breakfast/ lunch in Cambridge. Great range of options and delicious. Environment feels welcoming.

Updated from previous review on 2025-08-25

sarahhh

Points +378

Vegan
30 Jul 2025

Cafe + bookshop + games

Delicious comfort food with great drinks options - smoothies, milkshakes, good coffee. Welcoming and relaxed, LGBT friendly. Lovely tempeh bacon!
Cute bookshop upstairs.

Pros: Vegan cheese toasties, Biscoff and Oreo milkshakes, Lots of cake options

claireonveg

Points +381

Vegan
17 Jul 2025

Great for breakfast! Dog Friendly

Lovely vibe, plenty of seating, with sofas, tables and chairs.
Great menu, we were there for breakfast. Scrambled tofu with avocado was huge! The sausage roll was packed with fake mince and v tasty

Pros: Super team! Very welcoming, Dog friendly , Tasty good value good.

Singerjulie

Points +316

Vegan
06 Jul 2025

Sadly disappointing. So close to being good.

We had the big breakfast. Our first time at Thrive, and we were excited to try the food. It was tasty - my first experience of tempeh and I liked it. The downsides were the temperature - potato and sausage hot, everything else tepid - and the portion size. I don't need ridiculous amounts, but we had what looked like one small mushroom cut into tiny slivers, and probably one small potato chopped into small pieces. There were loads of (cold) beans. I could have sent it back, but I was hungry, and hot food should be a basic standard when sending food out. I wanted so much to like it, but I'm unlikely to return.

Updated from previous review on 2025-07-06

Pros: Tempeh bacon

Cons: Cold food, Teaspoon portions

PlantBasedTreatyDoha

Points +148

Vegan
07 Jun 2025

Good environment

Lovely environment, cost-effective and tasty food, and welcoming staff.
A must-go for those visiting or living in Cambridge.

Updated from previous review on 2025-06-07

Pros: Welcoming staff, Satisfying food, Four different environments for all tastes

theveganlau

Points +136

Vegan
04 Jun 2025

Great food, drinks and atmosphere

I love coming to Thrive. It's such a welcoming space for all with a great menu.
This time around I had a dreamy Biscoff milkshake and a gluten-free billionaires tart. I think I was in a sugar coma afterwards.. but it was worth it 😂
Thankyou to the lovely staff!

Updated from previous review on 2025-06-04

Pros: Great menu, Lots of gluten-free options, Welcoming atmosphere

Greenbob62

Points +36

Vegan
31 May 2025

Good vegan options

A decent selection of vegan options. I couldn't find anything to complain about. It's dog friendly which is a massive plus for me. It's a cafe more than a restaurant so I wouldn't expect a huge menu.

Pros: Food, Atmosphere, Dog friendly

Cons: No complaints

ElizabethR

Points +32

Vegan
08 May 2025

Could be better

We stopped in for lunch to support a vegan spot, and the atmosphere was really pleasant — warm, welcoming, and the staff were very friendly. That said, the food didn’t quite hit the mark for me. I found myself wishing for more whole food-based dishes rather than the heavier reliance on faux meats and cheeses. Everything could’ve used a little more time in the oven — my meal wasn’t quite finished, and I, unfortunately, couldn’t eat most of it. That said, the breakfast menu looks more up my alley, so I’m open to giving it another try. Hoping for a better experience next time!

Pros: Friendly staff, Nice atmosphere

Waldyvgun

Points +265

Vegan
30 Mar 2025

Comfortable space

Lovely atmosphere in the cafe, feels comfortable and is an inclusive space. Good selection with some specials; we were greeted with a list of what was sold out - appears we arrived on a busy day!
We ordered thrive salad, a vegan sausage roll, and fries. Everything appeared at different times and we had to put in a request for the missing b*con tempeh on the salad, but the staff were apologetic and referred to the busyness of the cafe.
Couldn't fit cake in, but there was a great selection in the chiller cabinet!

Pros: Cosy, chilled atmosphere , Mix of staples and specials , Good cake selection

Cons: Food arriving separately , Having to request missing items

Fattyted

Points +4894

Vegan
23 Mar 2025

Fantastic breakfasts

Great food, and fast service, at Thrive. Loved the full cooked breakfast.

LastLasagne

Points +20

Vegan
19 Mar 2025

Cozy English breakfast on a travel

We had the big breakfast which was really solid though not outstanding in taste or portion size. But for the fun of having a full British breakfast with even bacon and sausage despite being vegan on our holiday it was 100% worth it. The cafe was really cozy. The prize is ok compared to other breakfasts that are most often rather expensive and small too. Full recommend for a vegan stay in Cambridge

lauraXsynthesis

Points +661

Vegan
02 Mar 2025

Best place for vegan brunch or lunch in Cambridge

I love this place. Friendly staff, informal atmosphere, and loads of amazing things on the menu. Also dog-friendly. I brought a few non-veggie folks with me and everybody liked it.

Pros: Menu, Friendly, Dog friendly

Plumesworld

Points +1075

Vegan
22 Feb 2025

Lovely Thriving Café

It was really busy when we arrived on a Sat lunchtime but luckily a table became free. We enjoyed a chick'n burger and cheese toastie both with fries and an Oreo milkshake and a matcha latte. All were really tasty and the staff were very friendly. Also dog friendly which is always a bonus. Opening queer-friendly with flags and gender neutral bathrooms.

Coeliacsquirrel

Points +606

Vegan
22 Feb 2025

Nice brunch spot

Good place to meet for brunch with friends. I had the Willo’s potatoes which came with scrambled tofu, avocado & tempeh bacon. Food was nice enough but portions were small for the price. Even after having the so-called big breakfast my husband still had room for a Chelsea bun.

Pros: Cosy friendly atmosphere, Eco friendly

Cons: Only one GF brunch option, Quite expensive for portion size

vegancoupletravels_

Points +589

Vegan
26 Jan 2025

Vegan in Cambridge

Nice little cafe and have visited a couple of times whilst visiting Cambridge. Always nice tasty food and a homey feel and would return again.

Pros: Tasty homemade food, One of the few fully vegan places in Cambridge!

AidyGD

Points +78

Vegan
03 Nov 2024

Could be great but didn’t cut it

I’ll be honest. This place could be great. Nice look and feel and quite cosy. But a few point that really let it down:

1) The staff. No smile or anything from the girl behind the counter. Not very welcoming which is always key.
2) The food took about 20/25 minutes to come out when it wasn’t busy. The drinks came out just after…
3) The Big breakfast was ok, but came out with chopped fried potatoes and not hash browns as advertised.
4) The staff again. They we’re all laughing and talking when they all eventually turned up. Can’t give the customer a smile, but plenty for each other….

Cheek really considering the card machine asks for a tip when you pay. £30 breakfast all in all for two people. Not worth it. Shame as it could have been good.

LeighStainsby

Points +56

Vegan
03 Nov 2024

What a gem!

This cafe is an eco-friendly, safe, and inclusive space, and the atmosphere is cosy and welcoming. You can have breakfast, light bites, lunch, specials, hot and cold drinks, shakes & smoothies and cocktails. It's very reasonably priced, too.

Pros: Safe and friendly, Cheerfully decorated , Supports local artists

RhiannonMay

Points +659

Vegan
21 Sep 2024

Tasty comfort food

Just really good comfort food. Sometimes you just want a toastie which can be hard as a vegan in a non-vegan world. This place delivered!

rachrobinson

Points +451

Vegan
18 Sep 2024

Good takeaway grub on route home!

Generous with portion sizes, yummy fresh food 💚

Carrot cake was spot on 🥕

mariamc27

Points +2228

Vegan
10 Sep 2024

Underwhelmed :(

I’ve been here a couple of times & after the first time I wanted to give it the benefit of the doubt when food was quite bland. Sadly it was the same when I visited today. It was great to have a wide selection but the food was just ok, I wouldn’t rush back. It’s a shame cause I wanted to love it (as others do) but it didn’t live up to expectations for me.

Asleep On A Sunbeam

Points +113

Vegan
05 Sep 2024

Delicious

Answered my very important questions like if their carrot cake was sullied by containing things like raisins or currants (it was, I opted for the chocolate fudge cake instead, rich, filling, yet
Somehow moreish
, not entirely unlike crack).
Fast, friendly, have to take 5 stars off and give zero though as their dog board wasn’t called “Elwoods farm board”

Pros: Tasty, Reasonably priced , Fast

Cons: Dog picture board not called Elwood’s farm board

AnimalliberationTrier

Points +232

Vegan
21 Aug 2024

Awesome cafe

Cosy place with breakfast options, burgers, burritos or toasties, cakes and bakes. They’ve also got board games, free WiFi, and sell books! Staff is super friendly and helpful.

Pros: Fully vegan, Board games and books , Friendly staff




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