This year, The Northern Echo has been celebrating our readers’ favourite places to eat, drink or be pampered – from the best chippy, curry house or pub, to a stand-out hair or beauty salon.

For our final ‘Best Of’ of 2024, we are asking you to vote for your favourite coffee shop in Darlington and County Durham.

When we launched the competition, we were inundated with nominations – and have now whittled them down to our top ten.

Read more: 'A slice of pizza the size of your head' - we tried Darlington's giant pizza offering

All you need to do now is to vote for the one you want to see crowned the best of 2024!

The Northern Echo announces top ten coffee shops for 2024:

  •  Breaking Bread Kitchen & Bakehouse, at 8 Market Place, Bishop Auckland
  •  Deli-cious, at 15-16 High Row, Darlington
  •  Echo 3 Coffee House & Roastery, at 11 Clark’s Yard, Darlington
  •  Influence Café, at 74 Skinnergate, Darlington
  •  Maggie’s Coffee & Kitchen, at 54 Duke Street, Darlington
  • The Grind, in 15 Cheapside, Spennymoor
  •  The Mustard Tree Café, at West End, Hurworth-on-Tees, near Darlington
  •  The Wandering Duck, in15 Grange Road, Darlington
  •  The Wynd Café & Bistro, at 15A Post House Wynd, Darlington
  •  Vineyard Café, in 25 Post House Wynd, Darlington

The Northern Echo editor Gavin Foster said: "Here in Darlington and County Durham, we are spoiled for choice for independent cafes and coffee shops.

"Whether it's a regular haunt for your morning latte, or somewhere special to enjoy a catch-up with family and friends, one thing is for sure – we have some of the best on offer.

"Now we have our top ten finalists, we'll be speaking to each of them over the coming weeks to find out more about the faces behind the espresso machines.

"Make sure you vote for your favourite by picking up a copy of The Northern Echo."

To vote, simply cut out the slip in your copy of The Northern Echo and return it to us by post by Saturday, December 7.