Cosy Chameleon is a cafe and gift shop on Abbeydale Road South in a small run of shops near the Tesco Express. (It replaced Seasons in summer 2024.) It’s a cafe with a difference – offering reptile encounters as well as food and drink. Not at the same time though – there are no animals in the cafe and shop – so don’t let that put you off.

What’s more relevant for us is that the chef in the cafe has a son who is coeliac, so this is one of those little gems where they really understand cross contamination and have maximised their gluten free offering. Hurrah!

We popped in for lunch and I was able to have a bacon, brie and cranberry toastie, which came with a salad garnish, coleslaw, bean salad and crisps. As you can see from the picture, it was a generous portion, with plenty of bacon – nice and crispy, just the way I like it.

They do a variety of sandwiches, which can be toasted or regular, as well as soup and cheesy jacket potatoes.

I didn’t really need anything after the toastie, which was quite filling, but I was very keen to check out the sweets, given the great selection on offer, and all being homemade. So I made a bit of room for a mini carrot cake loaf with my coffee. The coffee was also excellent, in my opinion.

My husband had an apple crumble and custard, which was also gluten free, and was apparently delicious.

I felt well looked after here and would happily go back. I would have enjoyed seeing the reptiles whilst I was there, but they are tucked safely away from the cafe area, out of view.

Cosy Chameleon
290 Abbeydale Road South, Sheffield S17 3LP