Santa Cruz Cafe
Quick info
About Santa Cruz Cafe
Santa Cruz Cafe is a Portuguese and Brazilian café on Christchurch Road in Bournemouth that doubles as a mini market, so a coffee stop and a grocery run happen under one roof. The shop section inside stocks Portuguese and South American products, which means customers can pick up store cupboard items alongside a drink. The counter turns out pastéis de nata and savoury baked goods including chicken pie, with coffee a standard order. The frontage is plain and the interior is simple, and the business is independent and family run. No reservations are taken, so visitors just walk in and order at the counter. High chairs are available for families arriving with young children. The café opens Tuesday to Saturday and closes on Mondays and Sundays. Portuguese beer is also sold for those who want something other than coffee with their food.
Good to know
- Good for kidsGood for kids · Kids' menu
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention pastéis de nata, coffee, coxinha and Portuguese mini market.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention pastéis de nata, coffee, coxinha and Portuguese mini market.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers describe a family-run Portuguese and Brazilian coffee shop that doubles as a mini market, and the pastéis de nata draw the most praise, with the custard tart also called delicious. Close behind are the savouries, including coxinha (chicken croquettes), pastel de bacalhau (cod croquettes) and a chicken pie, along with smooth, nice coffee. Several mention the Portuguese beer and the shelves of Portugal and South America products, and a few say it is not a fancy place. Prices come up repeatedly as cheap and more than reasonable, with one reviewer saying they undercut chain cafes. Staff are consistently called friendly and kind, though one reviewer notes the staff's English is not perfect and that Portuguese or Spanish helps. The one negative comes from a reviewer who drove past on a Saturday at 10:30 and found it shut with no sign, despite online listings saying it would be open. One regular says they go all the time.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers describe a family-run Portuguese and Brazilian coffee shop that doubles as a mini market, and the pastéis de nata draw the most praise, with the custard tart also called delicious. Close behind are the savouries, including coxinha (chicken croquettes), pastel de bacalhau (cod croquettes) and a chicken pie, along with smooth, nice coffee. Several mention the Portuguese beer and the shelves of Portugal and South America products, and a few say it is not a fancy place. Prices come up repeatedly as cheap and more than reasonable, with one reviewer saying they undercut chain cafes. Staff are consistently called friendly and kind, though one reviewer notes the staff's English is not perfect and that Portuguese or Spanish helps. The one negative comes from a reviewer who drove past on a Saturday at 10:30 and found it shut with no sign, despite online listings saying it would be open. One regular says they go all the time.
Featured reviews
- Inês Oliveira (Pikachu)
“Good. Safe. Excellent food. Excellent service and vibes.”
- C M
“Good fun place. Nice coffee. Cheap food.”
- Isabelle Valentine
“Really lovely cafe, very friendly and helpful service. The custard tart was delicious, and I had the chicken pie (I’m not sure of the proper name), which was also really good. Little hidden gem. It’s also got a shop in there too, which is convenient. The prices are very reasonable, cheaper than chain cafes, with better quality foods. The outside seems unassuming, I can’t believe how lucky I am to have stumbled on a hidden little gem like this.”
- Chris
“Really nice independent cafe with a patissere that specalises in Portuguese and Brazilian foods! Also has a good selection of foods from Portugal and South america in general. The staff are Spanish speakers and their English isnt 100%, but you can get what you want if you persevere, but it does help if you speak Portuguese or Spanish.”
- Joana Oliveira
“Amazing, friendly atmosphere and staff. Good food.”
Hours
- Monday
- Closed
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
- Closed
Highlights
- Great beer selection
- Great coffee
- Great dessert
- Great tea selection
- Popular for breakfast
- Popular for lunch
Amenities
- No-contact delivery
- Takeaway
- Dine-in
- Good for kids
- Bar on site
- Casual
Show more amenities
- On-site services
- Beer
- Coffee
- Quick bite
- Spirits
- Dessert
- Dining options· 4
- Breakfast
- Brunch
- Lunch
- Table service
- Atmosphere· 1
- Cosy
- Offerings· 3
- Alcohol
- Small plates
- Wine
- Popular for· 1
- Solo dining
- Crowd· 1
- Groups
- Service options· 1
- Delivery
- Highlights· 2
- Great beer selection
- Great tea selection
- Facilities· 1
- Toilet
- Family-friendly· 1
- Kids' menu
Location
Cafes near Santa Cruz Cafe
- Cappuccino's4.41970.3 mi£1–15Outdoor seating
soft play area, english breakfast, cappuccino and coffee
- Wild Boscombe4.8920.3 miOutdoor seatingVegetarian optionsVegan options
bunny chow, coffee, vinyl records to play
- Cafe Boscanova4.71,2650.3 mi£10–20Reservations
pancakes with maple butter, coffee, avo on toast
| Place | Rating | Distance | Price | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz CafeDelivery | 4.3134 | — | £1–15 | pastéis de nata, coffee, coxinha |
| Cappuccino'sOutdoor seating | 4.4197 | 0.3 mi | £1–15 | soft play area, english breakfast, cappuccino and coffee |
| Wild BoscombeOutdoor seating · Vegetarian options · Vegan options | 4.892 | 0.3 mi | — | bunny chow, coffee, vinyl records to play |
| Cafe BoscanovaReservations | 4.71,265 | 0.3 mi | £10–20 | pancakes with maple butter, coffee, avo on toast |
The 3 nearest cafes by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
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Photo: Cafe Boscanova · 4.7 · 1,265 Google reviews
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