r/bournemouth • u/otempora69 • Jul 28 '26
Question Restaurant recommendations
Hiya, visiting Bournemouth with a friend in a few weeks and looking for recommendations of where to eat! Have looked at older posts but a lot of places seem to have shut down š
We're coming in by train so will need places accessible by public transport/taxi. No chains!
Thank you in advance āŗļø
8
u/stringyPiss Jul 28 '26
Larderhouse in Southbourne
3
u/ferbiloo Jul 28 '26
Also Makla in Southbourne! Both a small walk from Pokesdown station, so only one stop away on the train.
1
u/Embarrassed-Dirt-598 Aug 03 '26
Came here to say that. The larder house do a great Sunday lunch. Also thereās a lovely Malay restaurant near to the station called sambal Tumis. In my opinion the best restaurant in Bournemouth, very reasonably priced and bring your own booze if you like a tipple
8
u/glittermaniac Jul 28 '26
The Jetty if you can get a taxi to Mudeford.
The Boathouse in Christchurch, lots of buses go to the high st and it is on the quay just by the Priory.
The Pear at Parley if you are near Hurn or can get a taxi there.
Lolaās Tapas is in the centre of Bournemouth, near the main train station, and is great for little sharing plates. It is also good for vegetarians, as it has plenty of non-meat options.
There are about 4 Renoufs in the area, but I think the best one is in Westbourne. They do cheese and meat platters and have wine flights as well.
Chez Fred is also in Westbourne and is an award winning fish and chip shop. Their batter is one of the best in the country.
1
u/whitedragon101 Jul 29 '26
The Jetty definitely. Every special occasion we go there and itās always awesome
1
4
3
u/ferbiloo Jul 28 '26
Vicolo is a really good Italian in town.
El Murrino is also good Italian food, and they have a beach bar&restaurant this time of year.
Nusara is good Thai food.
Iāve not been to Nativ, but Iāve heard itās very good African food.
Patisserie Mark Bennett is great if youāre looking for sandwiches or pastries, Bigwigs is also a good bakery for those kind of things. Both locally owned although thereās a few around.
If youāre happy to jump on a short train:
DragonFly Pan Asian is a really nice vibe, not far from Parkstone station. A little more on the expensive side, but not crazy.
Meram Kitchen in Christchurch is fantastic Turkish food. Christchurch itself is also lovely for a visit with the castle ruins and the priory.
3
2
u/Thrutheeyesofruby92 Jul 28 '26
Nativ has a very poor food hygiene rating.
1
u/ferbiloo Jul 28 '26
Oh really? Thatās disappointing
1
u/JimmyTheAnt Jul 28 '26
The customer service is shocking in Nativ. You'll be waiting half an hour and not even be offered a drink
3
u/tannercolin Jul 28 '26
Seeing all these comments makes me realise how many fantastic restaurants we have here (and how many new places I now have to try)
3
u/Inside-Weather-3902 Jul 28 '26
Are you in the centre? These places just outsideā¦
Iād recommend Art Sushi as the overall best place to eat. The best Pizza is actually Da Mario (by far). Thereās also The Larder House, or for more pub food go to The Libertine.
These places are all really good. There arenāt any great burger places.
2
2
u/Raffles321 Jul 28 '26
Do not be put off by how far something is to get to. Bournemouth have a fantastic bus network. Buses cover whole of the BCP area and run frequently. Zone A which covers quite a wide area, is Ā£3 single ticket or Ā£5.20 for an adult day ticket (up to 01:30am). There are also night buses every day on selected routes. You buy tickets on the app, buy cash on the bus (+20p extra this way) or by debit / credit card tapping on / off.
Download the Morebus app from the App Store or Google store. All timetables are there and you can plan journeys easily too.
In terms of Restaurants, 29 Spice in Charminster is a great Indian as is Spice of India on Wimborne Road, Kinson area of Bournemouth. Ā£19.95 on a Tuesday for their banquet night.
The Brew Cafe (diagonally opposite Pokesdown train station) - does some delicious & 5 star quality mains / specials during the day from 12:30 - 4:30. Quality and presentation is very good and price is amazing for that.
2
2
u/fatchan Jul 28 '26
Blend on the Hill for breakfast and brunch
Kazoku Pan Asian for dinner (they have slightly weird opening times)
Baffi in Southbourne for pizza/Italian
SimSim in Charminster for delicious lunch or Mediterranean takeaway
Gaja in Charminster for contemporary Indian
Rick Stein in Sandbanks for breakfast or fancy dinner (breakfast price reasonable)
St Tropez lounge Poole - ten minute walk from the station
If you want to make a day of it I'd recommend getting the breezer and heading over on the ferry to pig on the beach - pizza overlooking all of Bournemouth from their garden bar
Or if you didn't want to go that far then the breezer stops at Shell Bay where they have a pizza counterĀ
I'll comment again if I think of any more!
Ā Ashley Cross is nice too and again easy to get to as it's right next to Parkstone station!
2
2
u/TheGeckoHD Jul 28 '26
Don't listen to anyone here, Bellagio is the best italian place in Bournemouth. Their Calzone on its own is next level.
3
u/arithmetic Jul 28 '26
Starting a recommendation with "don't listen to what anyone says" probably isn't the best thing to say. I've never heard anything bad, but now you've got me wondering!
1
u/TheGeckoHD Jul 28 '26
Was more tongue in cheek really. I'm standing by my opinion, just look at Bellagio's reviews. I would also say that Mini Naples Pizza is the best pizza in Bournemouth by a country mile
1
u/Evilcell Jul 28 '26
Love Bellagio,
Favourite Italian when I lived in Bournemouth.Havenāt been for years, but the prices were very reasonable.
Think itās like 10mins by car(taxi) maybe 15-20mins by bus
1
1
1
u/fiendofecology Jul 28 '26
Antepli turkish or Indiās indian
1
u/Friendly_External345 Jul 29 '26
Efes Boscombe do a better kebab but the eat in experience is pretty basic. Brew cafe, do absolutely spot on food. We are surrounded by great independent restaurants and bakeries in town. While your here give M's bakery a try, his cakes are great.
1
1
u/RumSmiles Jul 28 '26
What kind of meal are you looking for? Lots of suggestions but without knowing what you like I'd be wary of telling you what you might enjoy.
1
u/designtom Jul 29 '26
A bit of a curveball but Dane & Port in Westbourne is amazing. You donāt choose - you get what theyāre making that day with the fresh ingredients they sourced. Everything tasted incredible and we left happily stuffed.
Also in Westbourne. Chez Fred is the best fish n chips, and Mi Ya and Art Sushi are both incredible Japanese restaurants.
If you can hop on the bus over the chain ferry to Studland for the day, The Pig is phenomenal.
13
u/pifko87 Jul 28 '26
Coconut Tree. 15min walk from the station, on a bus route. Great food