Hidden away in the greenery of Boscombe Chine Gardens, The Squirrel Café is the kind of stop visitors tend to find by accident on the walk between Boscombe Pier and the town centre. It’s a modest, family-oriented spot rather than a destination café, but its setting among the gardens’ slopes and streams gives it a character none of the seafront cafés along the beach can match. The café is run by The Parks Foundation, the charity that also looks after the wider gardens, which explains its slightly civic, community feel.
The food
The kitchen keeps things simple and family-friendly: a child-friendly menu is served all day alongside hot food prepared fresh through the day, handmade cakes, fair trade coffee and a decent range of teas. It’s built for quick refuelling rather than a leisurely sit-down meal, and takeaway service and picnic baskets are available for anyone planning to eat out in the gardens themselves.
The setting
What sets this café apart from other options in the Boscombe area is its position inside Boscombe Chine Gardens, a green, sloped valley that runs inland from the seafront. Outdoor seating looks out over the gardens rather than the sea, and the café doubles as the ticket office for the adjoining 18-hole mini golf course, so it sees a steady mix of walkers, dog owners and families topping up before or after a round.
Where it is
The address is 401 Christchurch Road, BH1 4AA, though the café itself sits down inside the gardens rather than directly on the road. It’s a short, pleasant walk from Boscombe Pier and Boscombe Beach through the Chine, making it a natural pause point on a longer coastal walk. A bus stop on Christchurch Road marks the edge of the gardens, there’s parking nearby around Manor Road, and the seasonal Bournemouth land train also passes close by.
Good to know
Hours are seasonal: expect daily opening from around 10am in the busier months, with weekend opening continuing through the rest of the year, and it’s worth checking the café’s website or Facebook page before visiting outside peak season. No confirmed pricing or step-free access details were found, so anyone with specific requirements should check directly with the café ahead of a visit. Dogs are welcome, which fits both the garden setting and its popularity with local dog walkers.
