Florentine is a small, independent café on Charminster Road, part of a lively strip of independent shops, cafés and restaurants a short walk north of Bournemouth town centre. By day it's a spot for coffee and something sweet; the same kitchen also turns out pizza and Italian dishes for anyone after something more substantial, whether you're eating in or getting it to go.
On the menu
The café side leans towards familiar comforts, coffee, croissants (including an almond version), cakes and biscuits, alongside dishes with a Mediterranean and Arabic influence, such as popara, a warm bread-and-milk dish found across the eastern Mediterranean and the Balkans. Pizza and other Italian classics are also on the menu, available to eat in or take away.
Hours and atmosphere
Florentine is closed on Mondays but opens early the rest of the week, from around 7am to 5.30pm, with a dedicated Sunday brunch service running from 9am to 2pm, useful if you're after a slower start to the weekend. Reviewers on Google and elsewhere point to friendly, hands-on service from the owner and reasonably priced food.
Good to know
The café is wheelchair accessible and works equally well for a quick coffee, a full breakfast or brunch, or a takeaway pizza later in the day. As with any small independent, it's worth checking its Facebook page for the latest hours before a special trip, particularly around holidays.
Charminster Road has a good cluster of independent cafés and restaurants nearby, so it's easy to build a longer visit around it, browse more of our food & drink guide for other options, or see what else is nearby in our things to do guide.