The Best Cafes in Okeford Fitzpaine, Dorset, United Kingdom (2025)

My recent visit to Shaftesbury was partly inspired by the Bill Hicks routine from his album “Arizona Bay,” specifically the track “Hooligans,” so I kept repeating in my head as I walked around: “No one knows what it’s like, to be a dustbin, in Shaftesbury with Hooligans.” I was not aware before I arrived that Ridley Scott, the director of some of my favourite films, had directed a bread ad in Shaftesbury in 1973. I learned that while observing the hill used in the ad, and turned to see a cafe called “The Salt Cellar”, it not only offers an amazing view but also delicious food that enhances the scenic beauty, and allows it to be even more enjoyable. I went with family, so had the pleasure of trying a few of their homemade pies, the risotto, and a sandwich. Each dish was a delight, with the pies standing out due to their fantastic pastry, the risotto being perfectly cooked, and the sandwich was excellent. The side salads with the pies, which seemed unusual at first, turned out to be a delicious surprise combo. The range of food and drink options looks extensive and impressive, it was refreshing to find a place with a stunning view that doesn’t rely solely on the scenery to attract customers—the food here is genuinely worth the visit. The service provided by a young gentleman was great, he had a lovely manner, and our food arrived quickly. The excellent service and food was also great because the bill didn’t sting at the end, The Salt Cellar is great value for money. The view alone is worth the look, but I highly recommend making The Salt Cellar your lunch destination if you’re visiting Shaftesbury.

This gem did not disappoint yet again! Even if not on the menu, you can still get an amazing omelette here! Great after cycling up Gold Hill :)

Great food, service and prices. Excellent view too.

A beautiful place,nice food and we bought a whole cake to take home. Excellent view

Came here because we used to love the food at The Compasses and we're very pleased we did. Efficient, friendly service and the food is fantastic value. Extremely tasty made with high quality ingredients. Will be back for sure.

Tasty food from a small menu. This was the most delicious pork burger with a spicy twist. Sadly not available on our second visit or I would have ordered it again! Delicious lemon cordial and their date flapjacks were also a tasty teatime treat for later.

Lovely food all made in house. Very reasonable prices and organic shop next door with nice produce. Very friendly staff. Happy to recommend. A lovely venue. 😊

Visited yesterday with some friends, what a great cafe. Food and coffee are amazing, super friendly service as well. Lots of inside and outside seating. Highly recommended.

Come here for breakfast when visiting family in Blandford and always had a good meal. Decided to try lunch and was not disappointed 😋. Book before you arrive! 5 star 🌟

Beautiful tea rooms with even better food, found down a quaint little street. Highly recommend.

Popped in on your way through the town and found a super tea room, highly recommend. We had cream tea and Dorset apple cake, lovely warm scone, beautiful tea set. Obviously a tea room run on love and care.

What a lovely quaint tea room which became very popular at lunchtime on our arrival. Only had to wait a few minutes when proprietor advised us a table was about to become free after being cleaned. Once seated and served with choice of refreshments, it was some 20 minutes before food was presented. Well worth the wait as we were in no haste as on holiday. Obviously, the tables filled very quickly hence the wait. The sign above the counter states, 'We don't serve fast food, We serve fresh food, As fast as we possibly can'. A very true statement given the excellent service.

Nice little place, good English breakfast with proper bacon and sausages. Huge hot chocolates. Will be back for more!

Wonderful service and amazing atmosphere. Such a beautiful cafe with a gorgeous menu and selection of cakes! I couldn't recommend more!

Cosy and intimate, this family run cafe is an oasis of calm and an excellent place to recharge between the myriad gifting opportunities of Sturminster Newton’s high street. We came for the car show, headed in for a quick coffee, and felt such a warm welcome, we stayed for scones. Thank you for making us feel so at home.

We use this cafe regularly over the year, never disappointed.. Hadn't managed to visit for a few months due to life taking over but returned this weekend as usual and everyone remembers you, such friendly staff and me and my daughter always feel welcomed. Food always lovely and well cooked too. I would find it hard to imagine anyone wouldn't enjoy the experience Well done and keep it up team. 🥰

The Bakers Arms in Child Okeford is a wonderful little village pub. The staff are very friendly and welcoming to its visitors. The quality of the food is fantastic and the pub offers excellent booth seating by a cozy fire. When you drop in we highly recommend trying the burgers, they are delicious. The Bakers Arms offer great support to the local community, this was evident by the Phesantfest which was a fantastic and well supported community day. We love that the pub is a dog friendly pub also!

We stopped in on a Sunday, for a weekend away in Dorset (in May - late review), after reading their reviews. What a charming local pub it is, very friendly, people stopping off after church service had finished. We had a fantastic roast Sunday lunch and we would be coming back again if the chef was staying! Parking on the roadside. Nice little pub garden. Great Pimms! Amazing food - the scotch egg is to die for. What more can you ask for.

A really friendly atmosphere and great service. They went out of their way to accommodate me with a vegetarian option for dinner, and remembered our drinks from the night before. Great stop after walking up Hambledon Hill.

Having just walked Hambledon Hill and Hod Hill with a different pub lunch planned, where we couldn't get in, with the help of Google Maps and the car we found The Bakers Arms. Here the welcome, from staff and a chap comfortably settled at the bar, was friendly and the wood-burner was welcome warmth after the cold outside. We had a delicious lunch, in my case halloumi bun with baba ganoush and chips and my daughter enjoyed scotch egg and millionaire chips (worth the journey just for those). It's a great old world village pub, well worth a visit, on foot or in the car.

Top cafe! I think it was 2 local lads working there, at till and cooking. Really polite. Food second to none, and very well priced. (even though the chef was new I was told) Very good atmosphere. Cup of Tea was perfect.

Absolutely cracking breakfast great atmosphere best brekkie I've had in ages. Nice quality food and well cooked the service was friendly and good. Loved the ketchup scissors. Nice to go to a proper old fashioned cafe without being ripped off! It's a definite winner for me and will be back highly recommend

We were in Blandford Forum on Friday and looking to have lunch somewhere. We came across the Gorge cafe and saw a blackboard outside saying Cod and Chips for £5.55 so we thought that's worth looking at. Ordered the Cod and Chips at the bar along with 2 Cafe Lattes and took a seat in the rear of the cafe, mind your head with the low ceiling. It arrived very quickly from a nice staff member. It was a generous portion considering the price and came with garden peas. You can pick up your own sauces when you ordered. The fish was lovely with a tasty and crunchy batter and nice crisp chunky chips. Altogether great value , good food and nice staff.

We had the Halloumi Wrap and the Roasted Veg. Hummus Avocado Baguette. Both were delicious. Nice setting and a large menu generally with some more vegan options such as the Butternut Squash Soup. Good pricing too and service.

Wonderful cafe! Delicious food and drink. Menu and specials board full of yummy food. Warm enough to sit outside too. Lots of seating. Really great barn conversion too. Service was lovely. Definite recommend

I have been before but my friend had not and we both enjoyed our lunch. She was impressed with the choice of food and teas/coffees and loved the ambience. My rarebit was tasty and she said her fish quiche was delicious but a very generous portion that she couldn't finish. Staff were helpful, friendly and attentive without being overbearing. We will certainly be back.

An incredible hidden gem! Staff were so helpful and friendly. Having a large booking they rang the day before to confirm brought over extra chairs when required as well. The food was incredible the portions don’t look big but I left so full and having had the best time! The dishes were so aesthetically pleasing to the eye and had one of the best afternoon teas I’ve had. Only criticism is for the scones more jam and cream required on the afternoon teas but it was still delicious nonetheless.

Camping at Freshwater holiday park, a 20 minute walk to visit this gem of a place. Busy and bustling restaurant, great menu, food was outstanding and the service was great too. Dog friendly aswell, all in all, will definitely be returning soon.

Huge muscles in a nicely balanced blue cheese cream sauce. The fish chowder was also lovely, great tasting fish and fresh veg. We enjoyed on a wet and windy day, outside seating had heaters which warmed us up nicely. Would recommend after a walk.

We arrived at 11.20, just in time to order breakfast. We were lucky to get the table on the edge of the 'tent' overlooking the beach. Despite being quite busy we received very efficient service. The food arrived within 15- 20 min, then our hot drinks. We had 3 x full English and egg Benedict on muffin with bacon. Everyone enjoyed it. The only nuisance were a few wasps but not a lot to spoil our experience.

This is a well loved beach cafe which has beautiful scenic views, it is very popular and rightly so. The menu is mainly fish and seafood dishes. However, they do a smashing full English breakfast up to 11.30 am. I will post pics. This dog friendly beach cafe has a carpark close by, but if you choose to walk along the cliff top path or the lower paths, you will walk within the most beautiful scenery. This is a totally table service venue, so once you are seated, you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the view. Prices are reasonable.