
Quick info
About Needles Eye Cafe
Needles Eye Cafe is a beachfront cafe on Hurst Rd in Lymington, right by the car park, with views from its tables across the water to the Isle of Wight. Breakfast is served, and the baps include a vegan sausage bap alongside the bacon and sausage versions. At lunch the kitchen turns out cheese and ham paninis and lightly battered fish and chips, and the lunch menu carries vegan and vegetarian options. Beer and wine are served too. Drinks are ordered at a kiosk, and the counter sells ice cream, with cakes on display. Dogs are welcome.
Good to know
- ReservationsAccepts reservations
- ParkingFree parking lot · Paid parking lot · Paid street parking
- AccessibilityWheelchair: entrance, parking lot, restroom, seating
- Good for kidsGood for kids · High chairs · Kids' menu
- DietaryVegan options · Vegetarian options
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Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention bacon or sausage baps, sea views, ice cream and fish and chips.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention bacon or sausage baps, sea views, ice cream and fish and chips.
Customer Review Summary
The complaints centre on staff attitude, and they are sharp. One reviewer was refused a takeaway sandwich made with sliced bread rather than a bap and left without eating. Another was turned away from outside seating with drinks and told to use the kiosk. A third overheard two staff joking about ketchup after being told there was no ice cream sauce, and the staff later said they were humouring themselves.
Customer Review Summary
The complaints centre on staff attitude, and they are sharp. One reviewer was refused a takeaway sandwich made with sliced bread rather than a bap and left without eating. Another was turned away from outside seating with drinks and told to use the kiosk. A third overheard two staff joking about ketchup after being told there was no ice cream sauce, and the staff later said they were humouring themselves.
Featured reviews
- Adam Poulton
“I brought my family for breakfast on Sunday morning after doing the Junior Park Run. We turn up to find a sign saying restaurant closed due to staff shortages, however take away service was available. Bacon and Sausage baps are on the menu, but I prefer a sandwich. First the junior member of till staff said they can't do a take away sandwich, as the sausage and bacon falls out of the bread. 😂😱 (Sounds great to me as would be fully loaded with bacon and sausages, rather than having a nouveau cuisine style sandwich with one slice of bacon and one sausage!) The waitress goes to check with the kitchen staff, why I pay the bill. She returns to say they can't do slices of bread... as if they do it once, it sets precedent for future visits. I can assure you I won't be returning. What has happened to good customer service, I run a successful company and my staff are briefed to always accommodate customer requests, to the point the customer is always right. (Obviously not every request is possible but this particular review is over two slices of bread) End of review, I informed the till operative I didn't want a bap... he said you've paid for it and I didn't want a refund, for me it's not about money and choose to leave. Such a shame on a beautiful autumn sunny morning.”
- Paul Graves
“The café has been extended since we were last here on holiday and they've certainly made a great job of it. We went for lunch and we both had a Cheese and Ham paninis ,and they were to die for, accompanied by a lovely cup of tea. We returned there a couple more times and tried the Breakfast and that was very good too. If you find yourself near there do yourselves a favour and call in for something to eat it's beautiful. Paul x”
- James Hurn
“We visited for breakfast, the staff were great seated us really quickly at a table with fantastic views of the sea. The service was prompt, and the food was well cooked and served nice and hot. The pancakes were American style, light and fluffy, whilst the bacon and was nice cut of back bacon with not too much fat and not excessively salty. The price was reasonable around £11 per person for our breakfast.”
- andrew dicken
“Friendly staff, lovely ice cream and food. Bit pricey, but for a seaside cafe on a hot day, the food was very nice. Busy as expected, but service was prompt and delivered with a smile. Well worth a visit”
- Tink
“the cafe was recommended as a must ! not sure why ... person on the welcome to be seated was obviously having a bad day. RUDE ! disrespectful ...they have a cheek to display a sign saying don't be rude to staff. I think this person needs training on customer service! could we have a table outside for drinks please? NO use the kiosk. can we bring drinks to sit outside NO! there takeaway cups !!!! go out there! my friend wasn't feeling well, I asked could you give me details of a local taxi service please. NO USE GOOLE! that's what I'd have to do! Safe to say we won't be spending money there again! £20 on takeaway drinks! regardless of the location and owners saying hospitality needs support, not with staff like that they don't! on a positive the younger members of staff serving in the kiosk were polite and had a great positive attitude. maybe the person on the welcoming and table seating needs to learn from the younger generation !”
Hours
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
Highlights
“Comfy setting by the beach for all-day breakfast, sandwiches & jacket potatoes, plus beer & wine.”
- Great coffee
- Great dessert
- Great tea selection
- Popular for breakfast
- Popular for lunch
- Popular for solo dining
Amenities
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Accepts reservations
- Outdoor seating
- Dogs allowed
- Takeout
- Dine-in
Show more amenities
- Good for kids
- Vegan options
- Alcohol
- Casual
- Onsite services
- Beer
- Offerings· 7
- Coffee
- Hard liquor
- Healthy options
- Quick bite
- Small plates
- Vegetarian options
- Wine
- Crowd· 2
- Groups
- Tourists
- Pet-friendly· 2
- Dogs allowed inside
- Dogs allowed outside
- Dining options· 6
- Breakfast
- Brunch
- Lunch
- Catering
- Dessert
- Seating
- Popular for· 1
- Solo dining
- Accessibility· 3
- Wheelchair accessible parking lot
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
- Wheelchair accessible seating
- Highlights· 3
- Great coffee
- Great dessert
- Great tea selection
- Facilities· 1
- Restroom
- Parking· 4
- Free parking lot
- Paid parking lot
- Paid street parking
- Parking
- Family-friendly· 2
- High chairs
- Kids' menu
Location
Cafes near Needles Eye Cafe
- Beachcomber Café4.42,2133.4 mi
full english breakfast, cliff top sea views, coffee and cake
- The Beach Hut Cafe4.61,1426.2 mi away£1–10
beachfront seating, sea and Isle of Wight views, large portions
- Hungry Husky4.834910 mi away£1–15Outdoor seatingVegetarian options
breakfast sandwiches, english breakfast, breakfast wraps
| Place | Rating | Distance | Price | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Needles Eye CafeOutdoor seating · Vegetarian options · Vegan options | 4.21,943 | — | £10–20 | bacon or sausage baps, sea views, ice cream |
| Beachcomber Café | 4.42,213 | 3.4 mi | — | full english breakfast, cliff top sea views, coffee and cake |
| The Beach Hut Cafe | 4.61,142 | 6.2 mi away | £1–10 | beachfront seating, sea and Isle of Wight views, large portions |
| Hungry HuskyOutdoor seating · Vegetarian options | 4.8349 | 10 mi away | £1–15 | breakfast sandwiches, english breakfast, breakfast wraps |
The 3 nearest cafes by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.