Little Perth is not quite like the other cafés on Southbourne's high street: one bright, plant-filled room at 5 Carbery Row that is speciality coffee shop on one side and working florist on the other. The name nods to an Australian-inspired idea, and the promise is a simple one, "beautiful things, made with meaning," which applies equally to a flat white and to a hand-tied bouquet.
Coffee, croffles and a seasonal menu
Coffee is taken seriously here, with speciality beans supplied by North Star Coffee Roasters in Leeds and guest roasters coming and going alongside. The croffles have earned the café a following on the food side, and the Southbourne branch serves a fuller brunch and lunch menu every day, rewritten every six to eight weeks to follow the seasons. As dishes change, look at the website for the current menu, and ask the team about allergens before ordering.
Bouquets, gifts and the Westbourne branch
The floristry is what separates Little Perth from the usual Bournemouth café: hand-tied bouquets, dried arrangements, delivery across the country, corporate subscriptions and flowers for weddings. Alongside this, the Southbourne shop carries a small, carefully chosen selection of gifts, including stoneware, handmade jewellery, single-origin chocolate, natural wines and candles. There is also a second, smaller Little Perth at 13 Seamoor Road in Westbourne, which concentrates on coffee, pastries and cakes rather than the full food menu.
The café opens every day from 8:30am (9:30am on Sundays) through to mid-afternoon, and a table can be reserved by email in advance, which is useful for weekend brunch. It fits neatly into a browse around Southbourne's shops, or pair it with the clifftop and beach a short way off. Our food & drink guide has more places to eat and drink, and our things to do guide lists what else is nearby.