Lisa’s guidebook
Food scene
This has great food and vibe and a big outdoor table area. Great for breakfast / brunch and open until around 4pm. It's really popular so you may have to wait for a table on weekends but worth it.
46 locals recommend
Cafe Boscanova
650 Christchurch RdThis has great food and vibe and a big outdoor table area. Great for breakfast / brunch and open until around 4pm. It's really popular so you may have to wait for a table on weekends but worth it.
Beachside restaurant by Boscombe Pier with large terrace. Great place to eat or have a drink. There is also a takeaway section with lots of seating on the deck / beachfront.
149 locals recommend
Urban Reef - Seafront Restaurant in Bournemouth
Undercliff DriveBeachside restaurant by Boscombe Pier with large terrace. Great place to eat or have a drink. There is also a takeaway section with lots of seating on the deck / beachfront.
This great little cafe is just around the corner and is friendly and has a good breakfast / lunch menu with vegan options.
15 locals recommend
Little Pickle Deli Cafe Ltd
737 Christchurch RdThis great little cafe is just around the corner and is friendly and has a good breakfast / lunch menu with vegan options.
This bakery is fantastic, a short walk and worth the queue on the weekends to get the best bread, pastries and savoury goodies. A good place to get your lunch to take with you!
15 locals recommend
M's Bakery
805 Christchurch RdThis bakery is fantastic, a short walk and worth the queue on the weekends to get the best bread, pastries and savoury goodies. A good place to get your lunch to take with you!
If you like to browse antiques and bric-a-brac whilst having a coffee and snack, this is a great little spot and just round the corner.
10 locals recommend
The Crooked Book
725 Christchurch RdIf you like to browse antiques and bric-a-brac whilst having a coffee and snack, this is a great little spot and just round the corner.
This is a great restaurant, and lovely ambience situated in Southbourne Grove, 5 min drive.
77 locals recommend
The Larder House
4 Southbourne GroveThis is a great restaurant, and lovely ambience situated in Southbourne Grove, 5 min drive.
Purbecks - It's a hotel and stunning location and worth a visit if not for the top restaurant, for the lawn and views out to sea, to stop off for a drink. Goes well with a walk to Old Harry Rocks.
165 locals recommend
The Pig on the Beach
Manor RoadPurbecks - It's a hotel and stunning location and worth a visit if not for the top restaurant, for the lawn and views out to sea, to stop off for a drink. Goes well with a walk to Old Harry Rocks.
Deli Rocks
23 Southbourne GroveGreat place for lunch.
Middle Eastern food in a cool spot, with outside seating and a resident Tuk Tuk
22 locals recommend
Makla Deli
217 Seabourne RdMiddle Eastern food in a cool spot, with outside seating and a resident Tuk Tuk
Casa Carlos
211-213 Seabourne RdGreat place to get tapas
Baffi Pizza
61 Southbourne GroveIf you love Pizza, this place is a must.
Dirty Vegans
623 Christchurch RdPlant based burgers and hot dogs...what's not to like!
The Way Outback Brewing Company
144 Seabourne RdGreat little place and microbrewery.
Sightseeing
Beautiful headland a 10 min drive away or around 30-40 mins along the beach from here.
Walk along the beach, over the hill or through the woods with a cafe at the end amongst the beach huts. You can also take a boat ferry to Mudeford from there.
264 locals recommend
Hengistbury Head
Beautiful headland a 10 min drive away or around 30-40 mins along the beach from here.
Walk along the beach, over the hill or through the woods with a cafe at the end amongst the beach huts. You can also take a boat ferry to Mudeford from there.
Purbecks - A great spot before or after walking to Winspit - an old quarry on the clifftops with amazing views and a lovely walk through the fields to get there. Start of finish at this tiny pub with a big garden, a beer and a pasty (this is the only food they do).
92 locals recommend
The Square and Compass
Worth MatraversPurbecks - A great spot before or after walking to Winspit - an old quarry on the clifftops with amazing views and a lovely walk through the fields to get there. Start of finish at this tiny pub with a big garden, a beer and a pasty (this is the only food they do).
Another great pub if you are in the Purbecks - with the best view of Corfe Castle from the garden and great walks out on the coast path.
44 locals recommend
The Scott Arms
West StreetAnother great pub if you are in the Purbecks - with the best view of Corfe Castle from the garden and great walks out on the coast path.
Purbecks - Jurassic coast and Iconic cliff formation and a great walk to get there.
152 locals recommend
Old Harry Rocks
Purbecks - Jurassic coast and Iconic cliff formation and a great walk to get there.
Purbecks - historic ruin of Corfe Castle that dates to the 11th Century and pretty village.
425 locals recommend
Corfe Castle
Purbecks - historic ruin of Corfe Castle that dates to the 11th Century and pretty village.
A lovely, small gallery and museum right by the sea and Bournemouth Pier.
110 locals recommend
Russell Cotes Art Gallery & Museum
West Cliff PromenadeA lovely, small gallery and museum right by the sea and Bournemouth Pier.
This is a beautiful place to spend an afternoon, walkways around small lakes and stunning sculptures everywhere you look. Unique and a great cafe for lunch too. It's around a 40 min drive and worth it.
67 locals recommend
Sculpture by the Lakes
This is a beautiful place to spend an afternoon, walkways around small lakes and stunning sculptures everywhere you look. Unique and a great cafe for lunch too. It's around a 40 min drive and worth it.
Country hotel in the New Forest - worth a visit for the building, grounds and a cream tea
13 locals recommend
Rhinefield House Hotel
Rhinefield RoadCountry hotel in the New Forest - worth a visit for the building, grounds and a cream tea
The home of red squirrels and peacocks! Brownsea Island is accessed by a short boat ride from Sandbanks (20 min drive) and really worth a visit. Beautiful views, no cars. Costs around £8 for the ferry.
204 locals recommend
Brownsea Island
The home of red squirrels and peacocks! Brownsea Island is accessed by a short boat ride from Sandbanks (20 min drive) and really worth a visit. Beautiful views, no cars. Costs around £8 for the ferry.
Not the place for laying on the beach but stunning to visit and walk. It's 18 miles long and a shingle beach.
112 locals recommend
Chesil Beach
Not the place for laying on the beach but stunning to visit and walk. It's 18 miles long and a shingle beach.
City/town information
Christchurch is a 15 min drive and a pretty town to walk around, with waterfront quay, Priory and good pubs / restaurants.
198 locals recommend
Christchurch
Christchurch is a 15 min drive and a pretty town to walk around, with waterfront quay, Priory and good pubs / restaurants.
The market on Saturdays is worth a visit, a mixture of food / goods down the high street and then branches off through the town with bric a brac / antiques. Good cafes too. Worth then continuing to West Bay (the harbour for Bridport) for a walk on the beach.
154 locals recommend
Bridport
The market on Saturdays is worth a visit, a mixture of food / goods down the high street and then branches off through the town with bric a brac / antiques. Good cafes too. Worth then continuing to West Bay (the harbour for Bridport) for a walk on the beach.
Great beach
Take the Sandbanks ferry to get to the Purbecks and Shell Bay beach, sand dunes and a stunning beach. Not much in the way of facilities so take supplies but you can walk further along to Knoll Beach where there is a cafe and car park.
10 locals recommend
Shell Bay Beach
Ferry RoadTake the Sandbanks ferry to get to the Purbecks and Shell Bay beach, sand dunes and a stunning beach. Not much in the way of facilities so take supplies but you can walk further along to Knoll Beach where there is a cafe and car park.
5 min walk to get to Boscombe / Southbourne's lovely beaches. Plenty of facilities and much quieter beaches.
60 locals recommend
Southbourne Beachfront
5 min walk to get to Boscombe / Southbourne's lovely beaches. Plenty of facilities and much quieter beaches.
Local spots to shop / browse
Vintage / Antiques warehouse that's great for a browse and they also have a nice cafe with good cake! 5 mins in the car of a 15-20 mins walk
Bournemouth Vintage Emporium
1172-1180 Christchurch RdVintage / Antiques warehouse that's great for a browse and they also have a nice cafe with good cake! 5 mins in the car of a 15-20 mins walk
Sugar Mango
37 Southbourne GroveIndependent clothing, jewellery + gift shop, worth a visit.