The Coconut Tree brings the flavours of Sri Lanka to Old Christchurch Road, serving bold, affordable street food in a room that hums with island energy. It’s the Bournemouth outpost of a small UK group that started life above a Cheltenham pub in 2016, opened by a handful of friends keen to share the food they grew up with — and that homely, generous spirit still runs through everything here.
The food
The menu is built around small, tapas-style plates meant for sharing, so a good meal usually means ordering several dishes and passing them round the table. Expect hoppers — bowl-shaped, lacy pancakes made from fermented coconut milk — served with sambols, along with kotthu, the moreish tangle of chopped roti stir-fried with egg, vegetables and your choice of meat. Curries are a highlight, from Jaffna goat with potato to a slow-cooked “black pork” rolled through a blend of roasted spices. The snacks and sides carry real punch too: hot battered cuttlefish, cashew nuts cooked in coconut cream, and cheesy Colombo-style bites. Vegetables get as much attention as meat and fish, and there are vegan and gluten-free options throughout — handy if your group eats in different ways. Prices sit at the accessible end for the style; check the current menu on the restaurant’s website before you go.
Atmosphere
Don’t come expecting hushed, white-tablecloth dining. The Coconut Tree leans into a relaxed, playful island vibe — candles set in half coconuts, paper towels rather than starched napkins, and a mood that lifts as the evening goes on. It’s the kind of place where the volume rises with the room and a round of the house “Cocotails” — the bar’s coconut-leaning cocktails — feels entirely in keeping. That easy, sociable atmosphere makes it a natural fit for groups, birthdays and catch-ups, though couples and smaller tables settle in just as happily.
Where it is
The restaurant sits on Old Christchurch Road, the pedestrian-friendly spine that links Bournemouth’s central Square with the Lansdowne. That puts it within an easy stroll of the Lower Gardens, the pier and the beach, so it slots neatly into a day in town — shopping or the seafront first, then dinner here. The location is well connected by bus, and there’s plenty else to eat and drink nearby if you’re making an evening of it; our food & drink guide rounds up more options across the town.
Good to know
Weekend evenings are the busiest, so it’s worth booking ahead by phone or online, especially for larger groups; quieter weekday lunchtimes are usually easier for a walk-in. There’s no car park of its own, but central Bournemouth’s public car parks are within a short walk. Opening hours and the menu can shift with the seasons, so confirm the latest details with the restaurant directly before you visit. If you’ve not tried Sri Lankan food before, the staff are happy to steer you through the menu — a couple of curries, a hopper or two and some cuttlefish is a reliable place to start.