The Best Cafes in Tarrant Monkton, Dorset, United Kingdom (2025)

Had some lovely food here after browsing in the Grainstore emporium. A good selection of homemade cakes and hot drinks, with hot food on offer too. I had the vegan breakfast wrap which I can definitely recommend.

My god, this is a find. My husband loved the breakfast wrap and I had the biggest most tasty salad ever, you basically pick from a list to make your perfect salad. It's in an odd place, in an industrial estate, but once you're inside, the atmosphere and layout makes you feel you're in a farm shop. Gentle music, comfy well spaced tables. We will definitely make this a regular visit and add it to our "places" for lunch or coffee and cake.

So I have been going to the pantry for a few years now, I can honestly say in all that time I have never had a bad meal, not even a mediocre meal, every one has been top notch, at work we see this as the place to go at lunch, pricing is reasonable, for example I have just had a full English, sausage bacon beans mushroom egg toast with a pot of tea for under £10, great value but all good quality local products. It is the place to go

Stopped here unexpectedly for brunch. Ordered meaty breakfast wrap and bacon sandwich and 2 coffees. Asked for bacon to be well done and no problem. Everything came out beautifully cooked and very tasty. Only let down were 2 families who deemed it totally acceptable to let their young children run around screaming whilst everyone else was trying to enjoy a nice brunch. Totally ignorant.

Excellent cafe! Delicious food & drink and extremely friendly service. Great vegan options! Highly recommended 😊

Great find! We popped in for a late lunch. We had the classic croque and it was delicious. A great combination of flavours with a lovely dressed side salad and home made coleslaw. A really great cup of coffee too. My sons vanilla milkshake was overflowing with cream and sauce topping! Friendly staff and swift service. Nice clean toilets too. Only slight downside if there is one was that there are a few steps up to the front door which could possibly be an issue for a few customers. Highly recommended café.

Lovely home cooked food. Friendly staff, definitely worth a visit

Delicious food, coffee, and milkshakes. Friendliest staff and noticed they are breastfeeding friendly! Super cute inside and everything looked amazing.

Big breakfast 😋 excellent 👌 presentation & flavours mouthwatering and well cooked Lucy's is well worth a visit, off the high street in Tabernackle Walk 🚶‍♀️

I still think about the sourdough sandwich I had here! It was AMAZING! SO delicious. The sourdough they use is such high quality and the girl here was really nice and was happy to take out the mayo and do a tuna/avo sandwich for me. My mum had the cake which she said was great too. Best cafe in the town by far!

Brilliant service, bacon or egg roll great coffee, great atmosphere fantastic cake really good, nice and quite service with a smile.so 2 years on still fantastic Lucy has glided along in the lockdowns serving lots of takeaways and delivery were trying her curry tonight bought today keep it up.so 2 years on still fantastic great fun to start the day lovely coffee and the new menu awesome i would say if you do have a issue speak up Lucy will gladly look in to it or sort it out there and then rather than leave a moan where she has no idea what and who it was

Definitely the breakfast 🥞 🍳🥓 gem of Blandford Town. Great coffee ☕️, great service and wonderful food.

Popped into this café for a coffee stop during the afternoon. I had previously visited maybe a year or two ago but the inside was not as I remembered it. It turns out there has been a new owner hence the changes. Whilst I didn’t eat this time, looking at what’s on offer, I will be back. Oh, and the coffee was great btw.

Excellent coffees & teas... delicious cakes & savouries... brilliant selection of chocolate etc to buy & take home... extremely friendly... cosy & relaxing atmosphere... highly recommended!!

Great place for soup and a scone and delicious cakes, especially the carrot cake. Service lovely. Will return.

A beautiful little café which is bright, cozy and welcoming. The coffee was delicious and the display of cakes makes it very difficult to choose. We settled on the chocolate brownie and it was definitely a wise choice. The staff were friendly and helpful in their recommendations, if you are in the area this café is a must!

We stopped by this lovely little outdoor cafe before setting off back home after a weekend in the area, and I’m so glad we did. Staff were super friendly, the cakes and drinks were really tasty and the atmosphere was chilled. Would definitely visit again when we’re back in the area and I highly recommend. X

Lo and her team are wonderful! Incredible venue, delicious pancake breakfast and unique cake selection. They also have a great music playlist! 🎶 Highly recommend this truly relaxed coffee shop! 🥞☕️🍰

Wonderful cafe. Lo made us very welcome which is especially appreciated as not all cafes like mountain bikers. She set aside a table for us. The cafe was wonderfully warm, while the weather outside was freezing. The food was excellent & the coffee especially good. We had a great time and we will be back

When I first saw this place stood on the opposite side of the road, wasn't sure if it was a cafe or plant shop but once at the door, I knew I found a little gem. Lovely staff, very good food and great decor. I live in Cornwall so won't be a regular but a real treat when I'm back up that way.

What a wonderful little spot. I have been there a few times now and every time I am welcomed with a smile and all the staff are so friendly even when they are rushed off there feet. The selection of cakes and treats are scrummy. Love clean welcoming cafe.

I love Black Cactus. It’s a regular meeting point for my friend and I who live a distance from each other. The staff are super friendly, customers chatty, environment is warm in both temperature and vibe. Perfect cosy spot and my favourite place in Blandford. Keep up the good work guys and your were right, the brownie warmed was a perfect new year chocolatey treat.

We didn't stay here in accomodation as we stayed about a 5min walk away. The staff we excellent and the food was amazing. Although they run out of white bait as a starter the chef offered a mix of calamari and what white bait was left. Can't fault the food and the staff. As a table of 11 it was amazing and they were hosting a party also. Well done to all staff on Saturday night. Oh if you visit, I would recommend the scotch egg starter, stunning. Well done

Decent food, excellent friendly service. Went here for group Sunday pub lunch following a walk. Food was cooked to a good standard and staff were very accommodating without being fussy. However the meal felt slightly on the pricey side (over £10 for most starters and £22± for most main courses) . Would otherwise be happy to recommend. Thank you

The pub itself is a historic building, beautiful area and fantastic food and drink. Some might say it's expensive, but when you learn where the ingredients come from and the owners care and devotion it's a whole experience. I can't comment on the rooms as I've never used them.

Wonderful place to eat. My husband and I visited the area and we must say that we really enjoyed the food and the atmosphere. The wonderful staff was helpful and lovely.

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.

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.

Amazing food, highly recommend the halloumi wrap or the quiche. Friendly staff although service was a little slow, however it was busy so to be expected to an extent. Great value for money on food and drink choices and lovely cosy atmosphere. Recommend a visit for an authentic Dorset countryside experience

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.

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.

Went with my sister ( a local ) and daughter and granddaughter. Food was really lovely. Highly reccomend the quiche. The play area is safe and really well laid out. If you are in the area it is well worth a visit. We live over an hour away but do make a beeline for Blackmarsh Farm when visiting. Staff are lovely too.

An amazing maize, maze one of the best around. What a pity it's the final maze this year. A wonderful attraction for all the family with all the usual facilities including a superb little cafe. Play area for younger children and very reasonably priced. Staff extremely friendly and helpful adding to the experience. The maze is open all summer until early September so get in there quickly for a brilliant day out!

Good location on the edge of Sherborne to let the kids run and play while you sit comfortably in the old farm yard with a cake and coffee or maybe a light lunch.