Eating out in and around Bridport

Here are some of our favourite places to eat locally – you will be spoilt for choice so no need to eat in the same place twice if you don’t want to! Or if you fancy a pub lunch, you can see some recommendations here.

Ivy House Kitchen

Set in an airy greenhouse, the Ivy House Kitchen between Bridport and West Bay is a good place for a light lunch or afternoon tea with the added bonus of on-site parking and a first class garden centre to visit. Although it gets mixed reviews online, we’ve always been served fairly promptly with freshly cooked food that we enjoyed. No visit to a garden centre is complete without some refreshments, and you might come away with a treasure to plant in your own garden when you get home?

Breakfast from 8.30 till 11; lunch 12-3 and cakes (including vegan and gluten-free options), coffee and afternoon tea all day. Wheelchair and buggy friendly.

Groves Nursery, 74 West Bay Road, Bridport DT6 4BA; 01308 807053  https://grovesnurseries.co.uk

The Green Yard Café

Up a pedestrian side street, this small, and often busy, family-run café is easy to overlook but is my favourite place to eat in Bridport. Mix and match breakfasts, a small but varied and inventive home-cooked menu including GF and vegan/vegetarian options, delicious cakes and a range of tea, coffee and hot chocolate or cold drinks. The staff are lovely and friendly – it’s almost worth going in just to be welcomed with “Hello Flower” by Mike, the proprietor!

Open 9-4 every day except Sunday.

4-6 Barrack St, Bridport DT6 3LY; 01308 459466. Dogs welcome, but access to the old building is up two steps.  https://www.facebook.com/Thegreenyardcafe

Seaside Boarding House

Set in an imposing white clifftop building near Burton Bradstock, the restaurant of this luxury hotel offers fine dining for lunches, dinners, and high teas ; or visit the bar for informal bar meals, perhaps sitting on the terrace overlooking the sea. The menu includes set lunches, and uses local produce where possible. Just the place for a special meal out in delightful surroundings.

Open daily; breakfast 9-11.30, lunch 12.30-3, tea 3.30-5.30; dinner 6.30-9.30; bar food 11-6pm.

Cliff Road, Burton Bradstock. DT6 4RB; 01308 897 205. Accessible; dogs welcome in the bar.  https://theseasideboardinghouse.com

Cornish Bakery

Unlike the establishments mentioned already, this is one of a chain of café bakeries, but none the worse for that! It’s only a short walk from the sea and overlooks the harbour – just right for a recharge after a walk on the beach or up the Broadchurch cliffs. Baked goods come high on the menu of course – not just a variety of pasties, but also continental pastries, scones and cakes, Scotch eggs, tortillas and salads; served with fairtrade coffee or tea.

Open from 7.30 till 6 for early breakfasts or late teas, and everything in between.

11 West Bay, Bridport DT6 4EN; 01308 458256  http://www.thecornishbakery.com/wish-you-were-here

Coffee #1

Another chain – this time, a spacious coffee shop in the centre of Bridport with a lively buzz– lots of tables and comfy seating, so even on a busy day you can probably find a corner to sit. As well as coffee, you can get a range of wraps, paninis, sandwiches , pastries, cakes and pancakes – plenty of vegetarian options on offer here.

Open 8-6, Sunday 8:30-5; dog-friendly area

35 East Street, Bridport DT6 3JX; 01308 456 315  https://www.coffee1.co.uk/locations/bridport

The Lime Tree Deli

A very close second for my favourite place to eat in Bridport, this tiny café is set in a long-established cheese shop in Bridport. If you like cheese, you’ll love this café for a light lunch! Sumptuous toasties, tasty sandwiches, and daily hot and salad specials – mostly involving cheese of course. After your lunch or coffee, you can sample and take home some of the award-winning dairy produce, perhaps with some artisan biscuits, chutney, and a bottle of organic wine to make a picnic. All served by friendly and helpful staff.

Open 9-4 every day except Sunday.

14B West St, Bridport DT6 3QP. Steep step access.  http://www.thelimetreedeli.co.uk