Places to eat.
Rick Stein.
With panoramic views from the restaurant toward Brownsea Island, Stein’s is a lovely place for a special occasion, but they usually do a set lunch menu which can also make it an affordable treat too. Well worth a visit.
Shell Bay.
A very special restaurant with views only rivalled by Stein’s. The restaurant has a more bohemian feel and offers great sea food, running a BBQ through the summer. There is also a takeaway coffee shop/cafe on the front of the site. Again, well worth a visit - but book early.
The Pig on the Beach.
Hotel and restaurant, with a huge beer garden for summer sunbathing. They also have an outside bar and pizza oven, which is worth visiting if you don’t have a reservation. The menu is of local produce and they grow a lot of food on the premises. This place gets busy, so book early.
Bankes Arms.
Practically opposite The Pig, this is a traditional pub with stone floors and log fires and a good bar menu. Both this and The Pig are walkable or cycle-able from Sandhaven Court.
The Canford.
A Mitchells & Butler pub which serves very good food, in particular the Sunday Lunch. It has a large beer garden and outside bar for summer months.
Baffi (Canford Cliffs).
A brilliant Italian pizzeria which serves wood fired pizza plus other dishes, in a buzzy atmosphere. They offer a takeaway service and it is a 5 minute drive from Sandhaven Court.
The Sandy Salt Pig.
Located at Middle Beach, the Sandy Salt Pig is a kiosk selling sandwiches, light bites and cakes / coffees made with local suppliers and producers ingredients. A great pit stop on a walk, or destination, being a 10 KM round trip from the apartment.
Jenkins & Sons.
Recommended to us by Rumsey of Sandbanks as a sport watching venue, Jenkins & Sons is a new addition to Penn Hill (near Canford Village). It is a former butchers shop converted into a bar with a great food and craft beer/lager menu. We watched the Euro’s here and they have good TV facilities for sporting events, but it certainly isn’t your usual ‘Sports Bar’!
Chineside Cafe.
Family friendly Beachside cafe on Durley Chine, approximately 30 mins walk along the beach toward Bournemouth. They have good roof top seating and it is a nice pit stop.
Caff.
A short walk from Sandhaven Court, this cafe provides eat in and takeaway sandwiches, coffee and light bites. The breakfast is particularly good and there can be queues at busy times.
Jazz Cafe.
A lovely walk along the beach from the apartment, Jazz Cafe offers sit in or takeaway food and drinks. Even in the winter months, it is a good stop-off point for a coffee (Ice Cream in the summer!).
Patisserie Mark Bennett.
Located at Lilliput a short drive from the apartment, this award winning patisserie is a local institution and serves some of the best bread and pastries. They also offer a sit in menu.
Koh Thai.
Offering a comprehensive Thai menu, this restaurant and takeaway is five minutes drive away in the same parade of shops as Mark Bennett, Tesco Express and TJ’s Fish & Chips. If phoning an order, make sure you are ringing the right restaurant as they have a few !
Rockfish.
Rockfish is a small chain of coast town restaurants run by Mitch Tonks. The Poole restaurant is located in an old Purbeck Pottery building and serves local seafood, eat in or takeaway.
Top Wok.
Established for over Twenty years, Top Wok is a really good chinese takeaway, approximately a ten minute drive from Sandhaven Court. They get busy on weekends, but worth the wait - or ordering earlier/later.
TJ’s Fish & Chips.
The best takeaway Fish & Chips in the area. Located in Lilliput in the parade of shops next to Mark Bennett, Koh Thai and Tesco Express.
The Tandy.
TheTandy is the newest addition to Sandbanks, next door to Caff and Rick Steins. They do contemporary menu and offer DJ’s with a more bar-like feel on a warm Friday, Saturday or Sunday evening.
Drgnfly.
Very good Pan-Asian restaurant with locations at Ashley Cross and Bournemouth, with a bias toward Japanese food. The food is excellent and atmosphere has a buzz about it. Worth the 15 minute drive for sure.
Guildhall Tavern.
Amazing seafood (mainly) restaurant tucked away on Market Street, opposite the Guildhall. The restaurant reopened under new ownership in February 2022 and has a lively but traditional feel. The food is excellent and there is a reason it is consistently top voted on Trip Advisor. As I write, it is the No.1 restaurant in Poole on the platform.
Rockwater.
First opened in Hove, the same concept is coming to Sandbanks and Branksome Chine, having taken over two old, tired business’s. Their Shacks by the Shore is now open, as is their Branksome restaurant and shacks, with full restaurant/bar/well being spaces to follow at Sandbanks in 2024.
Let us know
recommendations!
Further away (but worth the drive).
Kitchen @ Chewton Glen Hotel.
Currently under the management of celebrity Chef James Martin, this restaurant on the five star Chewton Glen Hotel grounds provides fabulous food in a bistro/casual dining setting.
Lobster Pot.
A shack style restaurant near the famous Portland Bill lighthouse, this restaurant provides cream teas and local seafood as specialities.
The Crab House Cafe.
Another shack style restaurant with the freshest of sea food, sat close to Chesil Beach. Famous for its whole crab, it is a great restaurant where they let the quality of the raw ingredients shine.
The Noisy Lobster.
Located along the coast on Avon beach in Mudeford, The Noisy Lobster serves great seafood and has a beautiful outside terrace. Well worth the drive.
We are road testing…
Got a recommendation?
new venues!
Let us know.