Claire's Cabin, Cafe & Smokehouse

Inside Claire's Cabin, Cafe & Smokehouse

Claire's Cabin, Cafe & Smokehouse sits tucked inside Tom’s Farm Shop on Maldon Road in Tiptree, offering a relaxed and informal spot to enjoy hearty, well-crafted meals focused on smoked seafood and traditional English fare. More than just a typical café, it delivers a welcoming barn-style ambience that suits families, locals looking for a comforting breakfast, or anyone interested in a casual midday meal with a distinct coastal influence.

The space itself is spacious with a laid-back vibe, reflecting its location within a countryside farm shop setting. It tends to draw a diverse crowd—from families stopping by for kids’ plates like cod goujons or beef burgers with fries, to seafood lovers who come specifically for the smoked fish offerings like mackerel pate or hot smoked salmon fishcakes. The café is also dog-friendly, making it an accessible spot for locals out on a stroll with pets.

Breakfast here has earned a solid reputation locally, especially for visitors who’ve sampled various spots in the area and found Claire’s portions generous and reliably cooked. The English breakfast and gammon eggs and chips stand out as hearty options that pair well with farm-fresh produce. Lunchtimes often see more people trying the quiche of the day or sandwiches like prawn Marie Rose or tuna melt, highlighting a menu with fresh, straightforward ingredients and plenty of smoked seafood character.

While the café has a rustic, simple décor, it benefits from bright, large barn room settings that feel informal and easygoing rather than formal or pretentious. The staff are noted for being warm and approachable, blending attentive service with a friendly, local familiarity that encourages repeat visits. This contributes to a lively but not overly noisy atmosphere, especially at peak times, so advance booking is often wise on weekends or sunny afternoons.

This spot also works well for those looking to take quality smoked delicacies home, with selections available to purchase from their smokehouse menu. Whether popping in for a quick sandwich or settling in for a slow smoked fish lunch, Claire’s Cabin balances farm shop freshness with simple, satisfying cooking that’s very much grounded in the local coastal food tradition around Colchester and Essex.

Highlights & Local Essentials

Highlights

Great coffee

Great dessert

Great tea selection

Popular for

Breakfast

Lunch

Solo dining

What they serve

Alcohol

Coffee

Quick bite

Small plates

Wine

Best for

Breakfast

Brunch

Lunch

Dessert

Accessibility

Wheelchair-accessible car park

Wheelchair-accessible entrance

Parking

Free of charge street parking

Free parking lot

Parking

Local Moments in Photos

Find It on the Map

Openings Hours

Checking

Monday

08:00 AM - 04:00 PM

Tuesday

08:00 AM - 04:00 PM

Wednesday

08:00 AM - 04:00 PM

Thursday

08:00 AM - 04:00 PM

Friday

08:00 AM - 04:00 PM

Saturday

08:00 AM - 04:00 PM

Sunday

Closed

What Locals & Travelers Say

86 Reviews

G P

27 Dec 2025

Delicious smoked seafood in simple but pleasant large barn room. I had smoked prawns which I’d not tried before and a plate with 2 types of smoked salmon include a fillet , delicious fresh mackerel pate and home made tomato bread . This is a cute and very friendly place , it’s not formal and has an easy going laid back vibe . Very friendly staff , we were helped by 2 very nice young ladies and I was very impressed by the delicious food and reasonable prices. My father had scallops which were excellent! Would definitely recommend a visit here for lunch

Lisa Stockwell-Whitney

20 Dec 2025

The food here is always amazing. Good value, large plates of delicious food. Smoked fish is lovely. Dog friendly area. Definitely need to book as they are always busy. It does get a bit noisy though.

Wayne Sullivan

12 Dec 2025

We have tried several places to have breakfast since moving to Tiptree a few months ago and this is by far the best! The food was excellent, cooked to perfection and hearty portions all served by friendly and attentive staff, we will certainly be returning!

Darren Reynolds

09 Dec 2025

We found Claire's by accident on our way to Maldon, and what a find it was! The whole experience was fantastic, very friendly staff, nice and clean, and the food was absolutely superb, made with quality ingredients, and the best homemade coleslaw I have ever tasted! All very reasonably priced. We will definitely be coming here again!!

Anton G

08 Dec 2025

This place has everything. Exceptional interesting food, realistic prices, and absolutely charming staff team, all of them, they’re caring, attentive, capable and great fun for a bit of banter too. Highlights include their quiches, of which they’re rightly very proud. Home made smoked mackerel pate to die for; the best I’ve had anywhere. All of which is available to eat in or take home. Plenty of parking. Separate indoor section for dogs, who are also made very welcome Nice big pots of tea rather than the silly little ones you get elsewhere. Yes, fully deserving of five stars, visit them and find out for yourselves!

Vivien Neal

04 Dec 2025

Went for lunch today with my husband and it was excellent. The Mixed Smoked Plate and the Scallops and King Prawns in lemon and garlic sauce were both delicious. The staff are very happy and friendly and made us feel very welcome as soon as we stepped inside. This friendliness continued throughout our meal. Thank you all, you are doing a great job.

Terry Sargeant

27 Nov 2025

Loved it food was good bit of a wait but worth it service was excellent very friendly would recommend to anyone