Bagels by Soho is a small bagel shop and coffee bar on Holdenhurst Road, just inland from East Cliff near Lansdowne. Its founders describe the gap they set out to fill plainly: "London has bagels on every corner. Bournemouth had none. So we fixed that." The result is a menu built around New York-style bagels paired with proper specialty coffee, a straightforward idea, done with a bit of care.
The bagels
Filled bagels are the main event, from the Salt Beef and a Reuben to the Lox Deluxe and Halloumi. Vegetarian and vegan diners aren't an afterthought either, The Greek and Halloumi cover vegetarian tastes, while BBQ Porto and The Beets are vegan, and gluten-free bagels are available too. It's a compact menu rather than an endless one, which suits a shop built around doing a small range well.
Coffee and drinks
Coffee comes from Bad Hand Coffee, a specialty roaster based in Dorset, covering the usual flat whites, cappuccinos and lattes alongside matcha and chai lattes, hot chocolate and smoothies. Oat, soya and coconut milk are all available, so most dietary preferences are covered without a fuss.
Good to know
Bagels by Soho is open every day of the week, 8am to 5pm, and food is available to order for delivery through Deliveroo as well as in person. It's a compact spot built for a quick, good-quality breakfast or lunch rather than a long sit-down meal, so it works well if you're exploring the East Cliff area or heading towards the seafront.
For more nearby options, browse our food & drink guide, or see what else is worth doing close by in our things to do guide.