Ludo Lounge sits on Southbourne Grove, the parade of independent shops and cafés that forms the heart of this Bournemouth suburb. It's one of the Lounges group's all-day café-bars, a format found in towns across the country, occupying a building with a past life as a Woolworths, whose eclectic, secondhand-furniture décor still nods to that history.
The menu
The food runs from breakfast through to late drinks, with brunch, burgers, mains, salads and tapas all on the same all-day menu. The Byron Bay Brunch (sweetcorn fritters, avocado and poached eggs) and the Hot Honey Fried Chicken Burger are among the dishes it's known for. Dedicated kids', gluten-free and vegan menus mean mixed groups are well catered for, and there's a regular run of deals, Cheeky Mondays, Tapas Tuesday, and a daily Cocktail Club offering two cocktails for £13.25.
Atmosphere
Inside, it's a light, double-height space with the plant-filled, slightly mismatched furnishings typical of the Lounges chain, easy-going enough for a coffee and laptop by day, and a relaxed spot for cocktails come evening. A front terrace catches passing Southbourne life, while a larger roof terrace offers a suntrap for warmer days. It's dog-friendly throughout, with wheelchair-accessible seating and restrooms downstairs.
Good to know
Walk-ins are fine for groups of six or fewer; bigger parties should enquire ahead via the website. It's open daily from 9am to 11pm, making it a flexible stop whether you're after breakfast before the beach or a late cocktail after dinner.
Southbourne Grove has plenty more cafés and independent shops worth a wander, see our wider food & drink guide for other options nearby, or check things to do for the best of Southbourne's clifftop and beach just a few minutes' walk away.