Rockwater sits directly on the sand at Branksome Chine, the sort of place that draws you in for a morning coffee and somehow keeps you until sunset. A relaxed bar and kitchen occupies the ground floor, a glass-sided roof terrace runs above it, and a scattering of shacks trades along the promenade outside. From almost every seat, the view is the same: sea, sand and the long sweep of the Dorset coast.
The food
The kitchen works to an all-day rhythm rather than fixed sittings. Breakfast starts early in the bar and kitchen, giving way at lunchtime to a main menu that runs through to the evening, with a separate pizza menu alongside it and a daily cream tea slot in the middle of the afternoon. Puddings get a menu of their own, and there are dedicated children's breakfast and main courses for younger diners.
Upstairs, the roof terrace runs its own seasonal menu built around smaller plates designed for sharing, plus a weekend breakfast service. Out on the promenade, the shacks keep things simple and quick: coffee, cold drinks, snacks, ice cream and light bites you can carry down to the sand. Menus change with the seasons and each space keeps its own service times, so it is worth checking the website before you set out.
The setting
The roof terrace is the headline act. Its retractable roof opens up in summer and closes over in winter, which means the sea views hold up whether you have arrived in blazing sunshine or driving rain. It is a lively, sociable spot by day and shifts to adults only after 8pm. Downstairs, the bar and kitchen is softer and more informal, with sofas and a come-as-you-are feel that suits sandy feet and wet swimming costumes alike.
There is more going on here than food. The venue hosts a regular programme of events through the year, taking in live music, supper clubs, craft workshops, sip-and-paint sessions and even a chess club, alongside wellness classes, sea swimming membership and private hire. It works equally well as a post-swim breakfast stop, a long lazy lunch or a sundowner drinks spot.
Where it is
You will find Rockwater at Pinecliff Road, BH13 6LP, at the foot of Branksome Chine on the Poole side of the Bournemouth boundary. The promenade passes right by, so it is an easy walk or cycle from Bournemouth Pier in one direction and Sandbanks in the other, and the wooded chine path drops down to the beach from the road above. Rockwater also runs shacks further along at Sandbanks Beach. For more on the surrounding harbour town and its beaches, see our guide to Poole.
Good to know
Reservations are encouraged for the roof terrace and the bar and kitchen, though walk-ins are taken; the shacks and outdoor deck are first come, first served. Groups of more than ten should get in touch with the bookings team directly. Dogs are welcome on a lead throughout, provided they stay off tables and chairs and out of the walkways. Parking is the main pinch point in high season: the adjacent Branksome Dene Chine car park is small, with Beach Road, Western Road and Ravine Road pay-and-display car parks a short walk away. Check the website for current opening times, menus and booking.
For more coastal places to eat and drink nearby, browse the rest of our food and drink guide.