The Best Cafes in Alderholt, Dorset, United Kingdom (2025)

Outstanding experience. Super scrumptious food, excellent service, perfect atmosphere and really stylish. Homemade hummus (part of the mezze plate) was great and the pork and apple sausage roll (part of the farmers platter) was on another level. Truly wonderful. What more can one say? If you're in the area go and visit, you won't be disappointed.

This is a little gem of a place! We sat outside in the sun and ordered several items off the menu. The team were all charming and helpful and the food was fast and tasty. The farmers plate, shakshuka and brioche breakfast buns were all fabulous. The smoothies were perfectly balanced - not too sweet and the cakes are 10/10. Our new fave spot! Be sure to get there before the kitchen closes at 3!

Love this place!! Set in an oasis of green and calm situated by the river serving scrummy local food... this is the perfect...coffee/lunch/cream tea venue. Very welcoming and friendly staff...highly recommend. Check their website for details of events.

I booked an afternoon tea for 8 of us for a 50th birthday treat. Communication before the day was very good and the actual afternoon tea was amazing, very fresh with a great variety of sandwickes and cakes. The team went above and beyond to ensure we were all very well looked after, bringing us extra sandwiches and tea! I would highly recommend this lovely cafe overlooking the river for afternoon tea.

Lovely space. Excellent coffee. Great spot to charge your phone while you enjoy your beverage. Clean and cozy.

In The Yard we found what we were looking for... a very comfortable, introvert-friendly quiet coffee shop that could offer us a good coffee and a dessert that's not overly sugary, but absolutely full of love and sweetness. The familiar atmosphere of the clean and spacious place is amazing and modest, we really appreciated the silence and energy, uncontaminated by mainstream loud pop music or rude strangers. The service was more than perfect, we felt respected and free to cut our own private space inside. I highly recommend this place for calm people that want to relax after lunch, alone or with their own beloved people, just drinking a hot drink with something sweet or spending more time reading or working remotely for a few minutes. If we'll come back to Salisbury, we'll definitely come back here.

We visited Salisbury for the day and went here after reading recommendations from other Google reviewers. We weren't disappointed. Delicious cake and coffee, tea in a china teapot and dogs very welcome. Our dog Hank really enjoyed the complementary puppycino :) This cafe is tucked away down the side streets (not in the centre of Salisbury) and has a lovely outdoor space, especially on a sunny day.

Great ambience, amazing little courtyard, but for me it’s the coffee that brings me back. It’s exceptional, and a real treat to have a 2 different espresso options and 3 different light roasts for filters. And prices are lower than almost everywhere else in town even though the quality of the coffee is so much higher.

The food is unreal. It is so delicious, there are no words for it. We loved a unique menu and being able to have something different for breakfast. The cake selection was also amazing and the whole meal was outstanding. The service is also very professional. Check the opening times, as per August 2024 they are open 4 times a week. The parking is 3 min walk away in a village car park. The whole village is wonderful. We did not reserve a table but it was almost full, so it is advisable to book it in advance. The place is kids friendly.

Food was really nice, the bacon sandwich was great actually had a good amount of bacon in it. Coffee was nice and the garden was lovely. Would defo go back and try other stuff.

Cute, dainty restaurant/cafe with the most lovely staff and an excellent menu! The cakes look amazing although I was too full to eat at the time, I picked some up for later in the day and am very much looking forward to eating them. The huevos rancheros was really good, I would recommend if you like mexican food.

Went here for brunch and the service was incredibly quick and friendly. The food was really flavorful and came out quick too. I had the korean eggs that had soft and fluffy scrambled eggs in it. For my personal taste, I asked for extra kimchi and it really elevated the dish. The cumcumber was fresh and added some much needed crunch and the fresh peppers were a lovely highlight to really round out the dish. Lots of flavors and all of them worked together beautifully. Friends got the pharoahs eggs and toasted tea cake. Both were yummy (according to them) and made perfectly. We had lots of tea and coffee between us that they kept up topped up on. The cakes display was beautiful. We had oreo and vanilla cheesecake, pear and almond tart, and a chocolate walnut cake. We accidentally overstayed as we were catching up but the staff was really gracious about it and very friendly. Would recommend going repeatedly!

Well, this was a surprise and a pleasant one to boot. This is a golden nugget in Christchurch. The tea we had was very good and the cake my wife had was lovely. Everywhere else we tried had teeny tiny tray bake cakes "one bite and it is gone" but Cuckoo's have proper cake slices. And I found it very good value for money.

We’ve been a few times for breakfast and always amazing food. You wouldn’t leave hungry. High quality food and really substantial portion sizes. It’s great to have a different choice for breakfast. We’ve tried Spanish eggs, Scottish breakfast and avocado on toast. All delicious!

Whenever I come down to Christchurch to visit my grandmother, I pass by Cuckoos to buy their takeaway cream tea sets so I can have tea with her. The scones here are absolutely delicious and my grandmother and I always look forward to sharing them. Thank you Cuckoos for making these special moments possible!

Always a good proper pot of tea and a great selection of cakes and bites to eat. Cake portions are very generous and I highly recommend the Dorset apple cake.

Food was lovely, staff are friendly. Only reason i am giving 4 stars is because they brought out my family’s food then I had to wait for mine & then they got my order wrong and brought out the wrong food, so I had to wait even longer, whilst my family had already eaten their meals. That’s the only negative. Food was still tasty & I wouldn’t let this put me off returning

Fantastic local cafe with super friendly and attentive staff, delicious food and a chilled yet vibrant atmosphere that you feel welcome in instantly. On a Sunday morning you may have to wait for a table as they are super busy but it’s worth the wait. My husband and I both went for the Full English, the produce was of great quality with full flavour, cook very well and served with a smile, you can’t go wrong. We will be back for the pancakes next!

Such a lovely brunch spot, staff were super friendly and very attentive. We ordered the avo toast and the price was so reasonable for the amount given, we ended up ordering an extra place of toast for the amount of avocado received. The coffees were so lovely with a variety of alternative milks and syrups available. A very cosy and clean location and would recommend a visit.

Our top breakfast choice when we’re around Boscombe. There’s plenty of choice on the menu, with options to suit meat eaters, vegetarian and vegan guests - I’ve enjoyed every meal I’ve had at Boscanova, but it’s their American style pancakes that keeps us coming back! Never had anything elsewhere that even comes close!

We really enjoyed our stay here. The place is historic, cosy and well equipped. The cooked breakfast was delicious and hearty. The shower is powerful and hot. Felt more like being at home than on holiday. The local animals can be noisy, but it is the countryside so you can’t complain. The road is busy though, with traffic throughput the day & night, but that is not the Mill’s fault.

Fantastic Cream Tea and Cake. Scones are baked inside the mill with freshly ground flour from the water wheel. Incredibly relaxing and wonderful garden to walk. Ran by a family of truly lovely people. Highly recommend. But get there early in the day to avoid disappointment.

Peace and quiet. If that is what you want then this is the place for you. The cottage and gardens are well kept and immaculately clean. The mill is run by a lovely couple Richard and Sandra and is open for cream teas Saturday and Sunday. I can recommend the cream teas as the scones are the lightest I've ever tasted, made with their own flour. The only reason I did not give 5 * is that the lane is very busy with no footpaths so consequently could not go for a stroll anywhere. Also the wifi is sporadic

Such a lovely cafe with the most friendly staff. Dogs are allowed and the Olympics was being shown on the TV. Our food was alright, but there wasn’t a huge choice on the menu. It looks as though the weekends have a bigger variety for food if that’s what you’re planning to come in for.

Best coffee for miles, in a county where it’s tricky to find a decent flat white. Coffee is advertised as ‘Aussie style’. At least four types of hot chocolate, made properly. Dogs and kids welcomed. Nice staff. Outdoor and in-barn seating

Nice place for a coffee stop and brunch. Fantastic ice cream milkshakes. Good flat white but was only slightly warm. Bit on the pricey side but overall a pleasant experience.

Great place most reasonably priced in the area and all our food/drinks were really good. All staff are friendly and the place is comfortable. Service was quick too. Definitely a great local spot and would come back again if we came to Fordingbridge.

Wow, what an absolute gem! Gorgeous interior with old beams. Fantastic coffee. Breakfast was amazing. They took some of my bacon back for extra crisping without making me feel awekward in any way for asking. Just the nicest staff and atmosphere. The breakfast punched way above it's price tag. Sausages weren't to my taste, bit too bready. I'm a fussy one tho, so that's probably on me. Definitely will come again.

Here’s a review based on your visit: --- **Review:** We visited the restaurant for breakfast on Saturday, 6th July 2024. We were greeted in a friendly manner, and the vegan choice for my wife was explained as a real vegetable sausage, which she enjoyed. My breakfast was equally enjoyable. We were also allowed to charge our phones, which was very convenient. Thank and bless you, the team at The Bridge.

I have cooked breakfast most times I come here. Every time it's cooked perfectly for me. even the eggs are always good and never hard. My family often try different things, but it's always consistently good. Well worth a visit if you're passing by!

Me and my boyfriend have been here a couple of times now and the food is great! The service has always been excellent😊 We really enjoyed pizza night tonight

What an amazing place. Best coffee in the area, food was delicious and staff were super nice. We came here every day while we are in our holiday. We tried their mocha and flat white which was so good, the brownies were delicious. We had breakfast as well, french toast, pancakes and shakshuka all were tasty.

A lush coffee shop/ brunch venue. Well worth it due to the cozy vibe. Perfect for a beach stroll and chill. Went back to have more breakfast and again it was amazing. Get the creamy mushrooms and add bacon! Careful as the toilet may not flush as efficiently as required. A poo-flush-poo approach may be needed.

Very friendly staff and a nice welcome. We had the pancakes and they were scrumptious. We would definitely recommend a visit if you can but try and book in advance as it gets very busy.

Perfect place to have brunch. Delicious food and drinks. Friendly atmosphere. Favoured by locals. Dog-friendly.

Visited on our way home after visiting Lyme Regis. Wanted somewhere for cream teas and normal lunches. Beautiful polytunnel to eat in, perfect for a scattered cloudy day about 16 degrees, any warmer might be too hot in there! We had a scone and an awesome Budda bowl - just excellent! Worth the detour! Our sausage dog monty was also made very welcome

So chuffed to have found this place, on our break to the New Forest. Food and drinks were fairly priced and delicious - produce was local and amazing quality. And it is dog friendly too, so we were able to bring our young pooch too. Fab find.