Coffee Reef is a small café on the seafront at Pier Approach, set on Bournemouth's busy promenade between the beach and the entrance to the pier, not far from the Oceanarium. It exists for passing trade rather than sit-down meals: a quick, dependable stop for a coffee, a snack or an ice cream on the way to or from the beach.
The menu
Coffee is the main event, with the Miko's Puro Fairtrade blend brewed fresh by staff who undergo regular barista training. Beyond that there is a short list of sandwiches, snacks, ice cream and cold drinks, all available to take away if you want to keep walking along the front. Anyone who needs to check ingredients before ordering can ask for the allergy information menu.
The location
The setting is the big attraction. Coffee Reef stands right on Pier Approach, facing the entrance to Bournemouth Pier and a short walk from the Oceanarium, the Lower Gardens and the town centre. It belongs to the small cluster of food and drink outlets around the pier, and the same operation also supplies the coffee at the nearby Key West Bar & Grill, which makes it a convenient place to refuel halfway through a day on the seafront.
Practical details
It opens every day throughout the year, with shorter winter hours (about 10am to 5pm) and a late finish through the summer months, although timings can shift with the weather and with events on the promenade. No booking is involved; this is a walk-up counter, not a café with table service.
Coffee Reef is a small stop rather than a destination in itself, but a useful one to know between the beach and the pier. Our food & drink guide covers more places to eat and drink nearby, and our things to do guide takes in the rest of the seafront's attractions.