Franco's Yard is a compact, highly regarded daytime café set into Post Office Buildings on Alum Chine Road in Westbourne, one of the most walkable and independent-minded shopping streets in Bournemouth. Its cooking goes well beyond what you'd expect from a neighbourhood café, which has earned it a loyal following and high marks from reviewers on both Google and Tripadvisor.
The food
Rather than a fixed list of dishes, the kitchen runs a seasonal, locally-sourced menu that changes regularly. Brunch is the backbone: reviewers return again and again to the Turkish eggs and the eggs benedict, and there are more substantial plates too, such as steaks, bao and pulled pork sandwiches, along with pasta and chicken wings. Leave space for pudding, because the chocolate mousse and the cheesecake with blueberry compote both get regular praise. There are vegetarian options, and prices are reasonable, with most brunch dishes falling between £10 and £20.
Good to know
Opening is daytime only, roughly 9am to 3pm, and the café is usually closed early in the week; those days can move, so a look at its Instagram (@francosyard) before you leave is a good idea. Being small and busy, it fills fast, especially at weekends, and booking or arriving early makes sense. Facilities include outdoor seating, Wi-Fi and takeaway, and the café is wheelchair accessible.
Alum Chine and the seafront are within easy reach of Franco's Yard, so it makes a natural stop on the way to or back from the beach. Our food & drink guide covers more places to eat nearby, and the rest of Westbourne and the coast is in our things to do guide.