Conto Lounge occupies a long stretch of Wimborne Road, one of the main roads running north out of central Bournemouth toward Westbourne and beyond. It’s part of the Lounges group, a chain of independently-styled café bars found in neighbourhoods across the UK, each one designed to feel like a one-off rather than a branch — Conto is no exception, with its own mismatched furniture, framed prints and second-hand-shop character rather than any obvious corporate branding.
The food
The menu runs from breakfast and brunch plates through to burgers, salads and evening mains, with a fried chicken burger and a brunch plate of sweetcorn fritters, avocado and poached eggs among the more distinctive options. Coffee, matcha and cocktails are all on the drinks list, and there are separate vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free menus alongside a children’s menu, so groups with different dietary needs can order from the same table. Regular deals — a Tuesday tapas offer, a two-for-one cocktail promotion and a weekday lunch deal of soup and a toastie — run alongside the core menu.
The setting
Inside, the room is built for lingering: booths, mismatched chairs and shelves of books and bric-a-brac give it the feel of a lived-in front room rather than a chain outlet, and there’s seating for well over a hundred people across the space. A small terrace at the front adds outdoor tables when the weather allows. Board games and occasional quiz nights fit the same relaxed, neighbourhood-pub-meets-café atmosphere, and dogs are welcome throughout.
Where it is
Wimborne Road is a residential and retail high street rather than a seafront strip, so Conto works best as a stop for breakfast, brunch or an evening drink rather than a beach-day destination — though the wider Westbourne area, with its own chine and clifftop paths down to the sea, is a short drive or bus ride away for anyone combining a visit with a trip to the coast.
Good to know
Conto is open every day from 9am to 11pm. Walk-ins are welcome for parties of six or fewer, while larger groups are asked to book ahead. Wheelchair-accessible seating and toilets are available, and the venue offers click-and-collect for food orders as well as its in-house dining service.