Discover Café Riva, Southbourne's much loved clifftop café serving illy coffee, all day dining, New Forest ice cream, wood fired pizzas, community events and breathtaking coastal views.
4th August 2026
Perched high above the beach opposite Fisherman's Walk, Café Riva has become one of Southbourne's most recognisable destinations. With panoramic views stretching across Bournemouth Bay towards the Isle of Wight, the Purbecks and Old Harry Rocks, it's the sort of place where a quick coffee can easily turn into an afternoon by the sea.
From early morning pastries and expertly brewed coffee to evening pizzas, community events and one of Southbourne's best outdoor spaces, it has become a place that brings people together throughout the day and well into the evening.
The day begins at 8:30am, when Café Riva opens its doors for freshly baked pastries and expertly brewed Illy coffee, with iced and decaffeinated options available for every preference.
From 9am until midday, breakfast takes centre stage. One of the café's most popular choices is the Pick 'N' Mix Breakfast, allowing guests to build their own plate from a wide selection of breakfast favourites. Alongside this are classics including Eggs Benedict, Eggs Florentine and a range of lighter breakfast options.
Then from 12pm until 4pm, the focus shifts to lunch, with a menu featuring homemade burgers, freshly battered fish and chips, sandwiches, jacket potatoes, salads and comforting homemade classics.
Whether you're stopping in before work, meeting friends for brunch or enjoying lunch after a walk along the beach, there's something on the menu for every part of the day.
One of the things that makes Café Riva so special is how much there is beyond the restaurant itself.
Families can enjoy the 18 hole mini golf course, weather permitting, while the separate ice cream kiosk serves locally produced New Forest Ice Cream alongside beach essentials such as sandcastle kits and buckets and spades, making it the perfect stop before heading down to the beach.
As the day continues, The Riva Shack opens from 5pm, serving refreshing drinks, light snacks and music from the outdoor bar, creating a relaxed evening atmosphere overlooking the sea.
Alongside this, local favourites Dough Box fire up their independent pizza truck, serving freshly made wood fired pizzas that make the clifftop just as popular after sunset as it is during the day.
The café is also proudly dog friendly, welcoming four legged visitors with dog ice cream after a walk along the coast.
Perhaps what impressed us most was Café Riva's relationship with the local community.
Rather than simply serving food and drinks, it has become a genuine hub where people regularly come together. Throughout the year, the venue hosts a variety of community events including children's arts and crafts sessions, author book clubs, paint and sip evenings and other activities that bring local residents together.
For larger celebrations, Café Riva is also available for private hire, catering for functions of 70 guests or more with a fully licensed bar and catering options, making it a popular venue for birthdays, weddings, corporate events and family celebrations.
There's a reason Café Riva has become such an iconic Southbourne spot.
It's not just the spectacular sea views, the food or the coffee. It's the way the venue evolves throughout the day. Morning pastries become leisurely breakfasts, afternoons are spent over lunch or ice cream by the coast, and evenings bring drinks, live music and wood fired pizza as the sun begins to set.
Add in the welcoming atmosphere, dog friendly approach, community events and one of Dorset's finest clifftop settings, and it's easy to understand why Café Riva has become much more than somewhere to eat.
It's one of Southbourne's true community landmarks and a place that's well worth returning to.
Café Riva
Boscombe Overcliff Drive
Bournemouth
Dorset
BH5 2EL
For more infromation click HERE
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