Esquires in Bournemouth town centre occupies a spot inside Burlington Arcade, a small covered passage leading off Old Christchurch Road, set a little back from the main line of shops yet only a minute or two's walk from the high street. It belongs to the wider Esquires Coffee chain, whose reputation rests on speciality Fairtrade and organic coffee rather than mass-market blends.
What's on offer
You'll find the standard Esquires range: coffee brewed from Fairtrade, organic beans, a selection of loose-leaf teas, and a counter stocked with breakfast items, deli food, cakes and sweet treats. For something cold there are milkshakes and real fruit smoothies. Menus at any café move on over time, so check what's currently available in the branch or on the website before visiting.
Getting there
The arcade opens onto Old Christchurch Road (BH1 2HZ), the main shopping street in Bournemouth, which makes this branch a convenient break between the Square, the Lower Gardens and the shops. Bear in mind it's a different branch from the Esquires out in Boscombe: for the town-centre café, look for the entrance to the arcade rather than heading towards the seafront end of town.
Fit a coffee here around the other places in our food & drink guide, or include it in a day spent working through Bournemouth's things to do.