Popular for its all-day brunch menu, street food pop-up nights and boutique vibe, The Curious Cafe and Bistro is a real Bath Road institution — and now, the family-run independent has expanded to bring a new neighbourhood deli to Cheltenham.
Attached to the cafe, The Curious Deli is stocked to the rafters with locally-sourced goods, championing small-scale suppliers on its shelves which feature a carefully curated selection of food, drinks and houseplants.
Shoppers can pick up fresh bread and pastries from Peter Cooks Bread, an award-winning bakery based near Malvern; grab an artisan gelato from Elmore-based ice cream producers, Wholly Gelato; or browse for a good bottle of wine, all supplied by Cheltenham wine merchants, D'Arcy Wines.
Takeaway coffee, smoothies and fresh juices are available, too, with Curious using its customer-favourite chai brand and coffee beans from Ritual Coffee, just down the road in Battledown, due to popular demand from the cafe next door.
For foodies, the deli is well-stocked with classic, door-stop deli-style sandwiches, packed with cuts of beef, pastrami, goat's curd, seasonal vegetables, salad and dressings.
Other menu highlights include scotch eggs and arancini balls, straight from the Curious Cafe oven, and giant vats of homemade soup for the perfect winter warmer.
Not forgetting freshly made crepes, topped with exclusive flavour combinations including house favourites like the 'cheeky chill' — chilli chocolate from South Devon Chilli Farm, strawberries and Chantily cream — and 18-plus specials like 'the Irish tipple' of Baileys, Chantily cream and coffee liqueur
There are savoury options too, from the breakfast-inspired 'bacon me crazy', featuring bacon, egg and ketchup; vegetarian delights like 'buffalo soldier', which is topped with buffalo mozzarella, pesto, rocket, sundried tomatoes and balsamic glaze; and the marvellously meaty 'jambrie' – a concoction of bacon, chilli jam (again from South Devon Chilli Farm) and brie cheese.
Just as charming as its sister business inside, the deli's interiors were created by Charlie Taylor, who also worked on Cheltenham's enchanting cocktail bar Imperial Haus; while outside, there's a stunning mural painted by Andy Dice Davies, the mastermind behind the world-renowned and SGGLA award-winning Cheltenham Paint Festival.
Deli manager, Sophie Clarke, said: 'There's nothing like this on Bath Road — it feels amazing to be open and supplying our customers with high quality and homemade goodies.'
The Curious Deli on Bath Road is now open from Tuesday to Saturday, 7am to 5pm.
