The Best Cafes in Shipton Gorge, Dorset, United Kingdom (2025)

What to say? Beautiful, well decorated, wonderfully staffed with friendly people, great quality, well made food, great coffee, nice rear garden, wonderful products for sale, the lost goes on and on. I will definitely pay another visit next time I am in Bridport. This coffee is on my all time favourites. Thank you for the great experience!

I'd earmarked this place for our visit to Bridport and on the day we went it was tipping it down with rain and it was packed. There was a queuing system for lunch tables, so we waited in line and watched with interested as the chefs plated up in the open kitchen. Service was efficient, friendly, and the menu is full of interesting options, plus loads for vegans (which we both are). We opted for the split pea hummus, soup, and chocolate & hazelnut buckwheat slice. All were absolutely divine. There is a little shop at the front selling coffee beans, cakes, jarred bits etc. Wish this place was closer to where we lived, I'd be in there all the time.

Really wonderful breakfast at Soulshine on our way back to London from a weekend in Lyme Regis. This is clearly a place that's valued by their community - filling up quickly from the doors opening, multiple people asking if their favoured staff member was working that day... always a good sign. Out front is for coffee and pastries to take away, but through the back is the main event - a gorgeous restaurant space with outside seating for sunny days. Both kid- and dog-friendly, and with a crowd-pleasing menu that children will love for its simplicity and the grown-ups will appreciate for the quality of the locally-sourced ingredients used. Of the breakfast menu, the baked beans are exceptional and the home-made kimchee is another highlight. If you're like us you'll walk away from Soulshine thoroughly charmed, and resolved to return for dinner the next time you're in the area.

Excellent brunch! We stopped by on a long drive from Cornwall to Brighton for brunch and loved this cafe. A great space with more room at the back so bigger than you initially think. Good coffee and great brunch options - plenty of vegetarian ones too. Service was very friendly. A super convenient stopping point too as only 3 mins off of the A road and with a car park just across the road.

Cherries has a great vibe and serves excellent coffee. Their sandwiches, flatbreads and a different take on the Greek salad were noteworthy. Considering the feel of the place one would have expected more vegetarian options in the kids menu.

Always served with a smile and happy persona every time we visit, food always hot, fresh and delicious! Very clean, and staff are so friendly and attentive!

Bright and cheerful café, great food, great location, friendly service. Very tasty breakfast/brunch. Love the decor!

We called in for drinks and cake. They do fab milkshakes and Iced coffee with ice cream and plenty of cream on top :-) The cakes are yummy too, we had the chocolate brownies and Flapjacks. They have a varied menu. This cafe has a fun retro style, dog friendly with easy access to the carpark and views of the harbour. Will return.

I thought that tomato soup was lovely but now I've tasted one of the nicest I have had and if there was a reason to go back it's the SOUP , beside that that the rest of our order was a great in look/taste and value . The service was friendly and prompt plus there was a great feel to the place for us This is now our place to go when we come back to Bridport....👍👍👍

Clean premises, quality coffee, friendly service and PROMPT attention. Not queuing today. Chocolates LOOK great and tempting!

Came here for something sweet and was delighted! Have a hot chocolate and a brownie. You won't be disappointed!! 😁

Good coffee very friendly staff, loved the chocolate frog :)

Excellent place to meet, chat,drink coffee and tea etc, And the chocolates are amazing

Andrea 10/10 fabulous landlady, bar staff 10/10 made you feel so welcome as soon as you stepped in the pub. Fantastic food once again, Andrea is a marvellous chef. Went back the 2nd night basically because the food and atmosphere was incredibly. Lesley and Richard (brown sauce)

Lovely quaint little pub, staff were super friendly and helpful, lots of drinks to choose from and very accommodating for a large party with kids and dogs, food was a mixed bag across the table, some dishes were good and others could've been better. Menu's were on chalk boards so you can't tell they cycle the menu. I would go again.

Found this pub by accident, really friendly and very good food. Fantastic pint of dorset gold. Fish cakes were amazing and so were the ham egg and chips. Landlady was really welcoming! Dog friendly with treats as well!

What a find! So glad we decided to go off the beaten track. We were warmly greeted by a lovely lady and a young lad behind the bar (sorry we didn’t get your names!). We had the fish pie and steak and ale pie with red wine. Could not fault it! Absolutely superb food, clearly home made and not out of the freezer! With the mains to such a high standard, we decided to go for a pudding too, although we were both full from the very generous mains portions. We had sticky toffee pudding and chocolate fudge brownie, both with ice-cream. Again, outstanding quality! We can’t recommend The New Inn highly enough. Good car park and dog friendly.

What a hidden gem!!!! Absolutely delicious cream tea. The service was absolutely brilliant, we came on a particularly busy day, and we had to wait 20 or so minutes for a table, the waitress was quick to book us in. The service was incredible, chatting lovely staff and our order came really fast. The scones were really something else! Warm and fluffy! Really affordable

Family run, friendly. Thoroughly enjoyed the home made scones ❤️. Very generous portions! Thank you for staying open even after closing time. Would definitely recommend if visiting the area.

Amazing lunch but the best was the cream tea! I actually went to The Ritz in London a couple of days later for afternoon tea and the scones at West Bay Tea Rooms were better than theirs.

We stopped for a scone on the way back to the car after spotting the tea rooms menu. When we arrived a sign said to sit at a table and you will be served from it. We knew what we wanted and were quickly greeted by a friendly lady who had observed we were ready and ordered 2 Dorset Cream Teas. Our food and drink was served within minutes and I couldn't actually believe the quality and quantity of the order for just £6.96 each! Absolutely delicious, will return for sure.

Great food and drink. Lovely setting. Sat outdoors for lunch. Was very busy but still got a table for four plus dog. Great staff; swift and friendly service. Thanks

Amazing place to eat for a special meal or to find great seafood. We had the chowder on special for starter which was insane! Fish pie was lovely but the prawn curry was to die for. Will be returning 10/10! Also lovely interiors, nice atmosphere and staff were lovely, attentive and ensured we had enough room with our dogs

Beautiful food and great service,comfortable surroundings. Would visit again.

I love what Rise has done with the place. It's gorgeous inside with lovely views. We were very warmly welcomed, I think they must have been fairly busy and service was relatively slow. But it didn't matter as we were there to enjoy the place, and the staff were lovely. The food was really nice and a good sized portion. It's a bit spenny but for location and food I can't really fault them for what they charge. Definitely recommend

Went there today with my mum and dad, mum said her brie, bacon and cranberry baguette was the BEST she has ever had with lovely warm brie (and that woman has tried many). Dad had the roast beef and horseradish baguette and also said it was a 10/10. Also got a tuna baguette which was fab, could’ve had a pinch more mayo but great nonetheless! Friendly service with good value for money. Cakes looked good too! Could put a couple of small tables outside but no complaints 😊

Great food. The homemade cheddar and onion tart was lovely. The beef and horseradish baguette was freshly made and the horseradish sauce had the right level of bite to it. I would definitely recommend this place to others.

Very rarely write reviews but I just had to say what an amazing lunch I’ve just enjoyed. Feeling the need to treat myself I bought a roast beef and horseradish sandwich and a piece of Bakewell cake. The beef was slightly rare (just how it should be) and just melted in the mouth, it was a very full sandwich. The cake was moist and absolutely delicious. £9 for the two items for the amount and quality was very good value. This deli is exactly why I like to support independent shops. Thank you for making my lunch time treat exceptional.

A popular local cafe, highly recommend the flapjacks (huge!). Accept both card and cash. Takeaway coffees seemed a popular order for the locals. Staff were efficient and friendly. Regularly pop in here when visiting Dorset.

Got a great cup of tea but the stand out was the spiced chickpea pasty was awesome! Stopped in Bridport on a recommendation and so glad to have found this place.

Beware does not take cash. Reasonable pasties and a decent cup of tea.

Excellent and tasty Cornish pasty and sausage rolls... Id drive there again just for lunch (80 miles away). All cooked on site too. Thanks guys for a really good food experience.

The Cornish Bakery holds a special place in my heart for its unparalleled food quality and exceptional customer experience. Whether it's an early Sunday morning breakfast or any other time, their wide selection of freshly baked delights and aromatic coffee never fail to impress. The warmth and friendliness of the staff add to the overall charm, making every visit a delightful culinary journey.

Lovely farm shop great variety of fruit an̈d veg . And amazing baked potatoes ! Would definitely recommend

Beautiful Spot! We sat on the terrace with our coffees and enjoyed the sunshine and the views! Staff were lovely, menu is a little pricey, well very pricey. We had a pot of tea for two, and we each had cake with clotted cream on the side, it cost over £17! I will say however, the cake portions were humongous! I've never been served a slice of cake that big in my life before! And it was very very delicious! The farm shop is beautiful, a gorgeous display of fruit and vegetables and a great selection of local produce. I very much recommend a visit!

Nestled in the beautiful Dorset countryside, Washingpool Farm Shop & Cafe is a hidden gem that offers a delightful farm-to-table experience. My recent visit to this charming establishment left me impressed with its warm ambiance, friendly service, and delicious offerings, and I am excited to share my review. Upon arriving at Washingpool Farm Shop & Cafe, I was greeted by the serene and picturesque setting. The farm shop and cafe are located on a working farm, surrounded by rolling fields and stunning countryside views, creating a peaceful and inviting atmosphere. The rustic and cozy interior of the cafe added to the overall charm of the place. The farm shop at Washingpool offers a wide variety of fresh produce, meats, dairy products, and other locally sourced goodies. It was a joy to browse through the shelves filled with fresh vegetables, fruits, homemade preserves, and artisanal cheeses. The quality and freshness of the products were evident, and I appreciated the emphasis on supporting local farmers and producers. The cafe at Washingpool was equally delightful. The menu featured a range of homemade dishes made from fresh, locally sourced ingredients. From hearty breakfasts to delicious lunches and tempting baked goods, there was something for everyone. I opted for a farmhouse breakfast, and it was a delicious and satisfying meal. The food was cooked to perfection, and the flavors were outstanding. There's also a great playground for the kids.

Stayed nearby. Amazing place so much more than a farm shop, deli has an extensive range of chutneys, spices, jams, rice wine, vinegars, etc. Meat is from their own farm as is most of the veg. The fruit selection is very good and of a high standard. The curries from the freezer are superb. We had lunch today, ham, egg and chips and a cheese and spinach soufflé. Both lovely. We'll stop for breakfast another day. Here we are again, July 24. Been many times since last review. Cafe is still as good and the shop still the best farm shop we know.