Questions we get asked a lot

Walk-ins are always welcome — we keep tables free for drop-ins every day. That said, if you have a particular table in mind (the window seats go fast), or you're coming with a group of four or more, a reservation means we can make sure everything's ready for you.

Monday to Friday, 7:30 to 18:00. Saturday and Sunday, 8:00 to 17:00. We're closed on bank holidays, and we occasionally close for a private event — we post about any closures on Instagram at least a week in advance.

14 Elm Lane, Margate, CT9 1AB. We're a five-minute walk from Margate railway station. There's limited paid parking on the street, and a larger car park two minutes away on Marine Terrace.

Yes — ask at the counter for the password. No time limits, no minimum spend requirements. We do ask that you use headphones if you're on a call or watching something, out of courtesy to other guests.

For groups of seven or fewer, our regular reservation form works fine. For eight or more, please email us directly at hello@doradoracafe.co.uk — larger bookings may involve a set menu or a minimum spend, and we'd rather sort out the details over email than have surprises on the day.

Most of our drinks are available with whole milk, oat milk, almond milk, or soy. We have gluten-free and vegan options on the bakes menu — these rotate, so ask at the counter what's available today. Please always mention any allergies when you order: our kitchen handles gluten, nuts, dairy, and eggs. A full allergen chart is available at the counter.

Our house espresso blend uses beans from two farms we visit regularly — one in Yirgacheffe, Ethiopia, and one in Huila, Colombia. Our pourover bar features rotating single origins sourced through importers whose practices we've vetted. We've written more about this in our journal.

Yes — our bakes are available from opening until we sell out (usually early afternoon for the popular items). Our savoury food options are available until an hour before closing. Baked goods are made fresh each morning and not restocked through the day, so if you have your heart set on something specific, earlier is better.

Yes — we sell 250g bags of our house espresso blend and whichever single origin is on the pourover bar that week. Ask at the counter. We can also grind it for you if you don't have a grinder at home.

We close the café for private hire on select Sunday evenings. It's a small space — capacity is around 40 people standing or 24 seated. Email us at hello@doradoracafe.co.uk with your date and rough numbers and we'll let you know if we're available.

Yes. We use compostable cups for takeaway orders and offer a 20p discount if you bring your own reusable cup. We've thought about going cup-free entirely, but we didn't want to exclude people who genuinely need the convenience.