The Southampton cafe with the best bacon sandwich in the city

Within a matter of weeks, the venue had won the Daily Echo's Cafe of the Year 2024 award, and an independent cafe with headline-making cuisine like this has been seen to be believed.

Walking in, you can see that the beauty is in the simplicity at Cozy Seven, as pale blue walls and well-placed plants offer a calming and welcoming environment.

A locally-sourced and ever-changing menu offers just seven dishes to choose from – the bacon and brie toastie and bacon sandwich both sounded perfect to me.

Cozy Seven won Daily Echo's Cafe of the Year 2024 award. (Image: Newsquest) READ MORE: New hybrid café wine bar scoops coveted Daily Echo Café of the Year 2024 award

After ordering an iced mocha and a hot chocolate with the warm barista at the counter, our drinks were hand-delivered with a smile.

A hot chocolate and iced mocha at Cozy Seven. (Image: Newsquest) Café owner Simon Shobande, known as Shane, was in when we visited, and he warned us that his staff do not often make iced mochas as they are not a popular choice.

But you would never have been able to tell – the cold coffee was fantastic with a lingering chocolate taste that relaxed the tongue throughout.

This was easily one of the best coffees I have had in an independent café.

The inside of Cozy Seven. (Image: Newsquest) The hot chocolate was strong and very chocolately too, and optional whipping cream is available, though I think that would have been a bit too rich for my taste.

Food soon followed and the bacon sandwich was nothing short of fantastic – several crispy streaky slices of bacon on thick white tiger bread with a generous helping of ketchup.

The bacon and brie toastie, bacon sandwich, iced mocha and hot chocolate at Cozy Seven. (Image: Newsquest) You can alternatively get the bacon in a brioche roll, but this bread was brilliant, and I think this is easily the best bacon sandwich I have had in Southampton in recent memory.

READ MORE: Coffee shop and bar Cozy Seven opens in Shirley, Southampton

The bacon and brie toastie was great too, but I could not stop thinking about how good that first sandwich was.

The dog board outside shows photos of furry friends and offers treats and water. (Image: Newsquest) The warming table service really made me feel welcome.

The hybrid venue evolves into a bar as the day goes on with an extensive wine list, bottled beer, cocktails and charcuterie and cheese boards.

“Cozy Time” offers discounts on alcoholic drinks between 4pm and 6pm Monday to Friday, but as a breakfast spot, Cozy Seven lived up to the beloved number.