This small café/bistro/coffe shop caught our eye during a stroll through Alnwick. Something about it appealed to us so we thought we’d give it a try. First impressions were that the place was modern and chic without being annoyingly trendy. It managed to have a cosy and comfortable feel and it was easy to relax there. The background music was not intrusive, we could talk easily yet could still tell what songs were playing. It was a good start. The young chap waiting on us was very polite and friendly as well as being efficient. This was one of those occasions that we left a tip because his service was spot on. The drinks (two teas, one cappuccino) were very welcome. The tea was perfectly fine, but I do think that tea is a bit more of a DIY proposition in any case. However the cappuccino has to be one of the best I’ve had. Whether it was the blend of beans used at the Olive Tree I don’t know, but this was better than the offerings from the likes of Café Nero or Costa (and they’re pretty good). As we were on holiday we also decided to have a slice of cake too. These had to be home-made (or made freshly on-site). My wife says that the Victoria sponge she had was light, still nicely moist and had a good filling. Her clean plate was mute testament to her evident enjoyment of it. I opted for a slice of Tiramisu cake and was not disappointed. Served with a pot of cream (not really necessary, but I used it anyway!) the generous wedge of soft sponge layered with all the Tiramisu ingredients was superb. Very flavoursome and another empty plate resulted. Just as an aside, the toilets were also clean and fresh, which is nice to know as well. They also do lunches, from sandwiches to more substantial fare according to the menu, and I reckon these would also be well worth trying. Overall The Olive Branch is a place I have no hesitation in both recommending and awarding a full five stars as I cannot think of a single thing they could improve.