Cafe Obscura

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347 reviews

#132 of 139 Quick Bites in Bournemouth$$ - $$$, Quick Bites, Cafe, British

+44 1202 314231+ Add website

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Hours

Sun

10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Mon

10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Tue

10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Wed

10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Thu

10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Fri

10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Sat

10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

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Ratings and reviews

2.0

347 reviews

#132 of 139 Quick Bites in Bournemouth

RATINGS

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Service

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CUISINES

Cafe, British

FEATURES

Outdoor Seating, Seating, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol

Location and contact

The Square, Bournemouth BH2 6ED England

+44 1202 314231

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Is this a juice / smoothie bar?

Yes

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About

Independently owned cafe in the Bournemouth Square with delicious coffees, beers, ciders and a very reasonably priced menu offering a wide selection of sandwiches, wraps, baguette and paninis and more. With an Open Mic every Sunday at 7pm, beautiful panoramic views of the Square and lower Gardens from the 2nd floor and great customer service Obscura Cafe is the best place in the town centre for a relaxing drink, great coffees or a meet up with friends.

CUISINES

Cafe, British

FEATURES

Outdoor Seating, Seating, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol

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2.0

347 reviews

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160

ukaudiophile

Lytham St Anne's6 contributions

Formerly good, now a disaster - Avoid at all costs

Sep 2021 • none

My wife and I have visited Bournemouth annually for the last 20 years, and a visit or 3 to the Cafe Obscura has always been part of the vacation. We rolled upto the Cafe this time and immediately could tell things had gone downhill, the menu was vastly reduced, there were few visitors and hardly any staff. That should have warned us, how bad could it be? The answer was appalling. The food was expensive, we paid £3 for a small plastic cup of orange juice which tasted like it was out of a pvc container from the local supermarket, the coffee was just a bit better than out of a works vending machine served in a cardboard, take away cup. There was no table service, the 'cutlery' was cheap plastic garbage of an awfullness I'd not encountered before, I broke 4 forks and 3 knives. The food tasted & looked like it had been re-heated from the supermarket budget frozen meals aisle, 'served' in a polystyrene box like you'd find from a cheap takeaway, and tasted about the same. The burger was just about edible but hard, my wife's chicken burger was so rubbery I am sure it would have bounced if dropped on the floor and so dry I wouldn't have given it one of my cats. There is no service of any kind other than at the tills. I know we'll hear all kinds of excuses about inability to hire staff and they've had to change practices. WRONG! There's plenty of staff out there, you just have to pay them properly and treat them properly, the management here are clearly clueless about this or just exploiting their location in the town center. AVOID at all costs until this either closes or is taken over by competent management who can run it professionally. There are a plethora of independent cafes in this town which shows this place up for the shambles it is.

Written October 21, 2021

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Gaynor91

Cardiff628 contributions

Not good

Oct 2021 • none

My husband and myself stopped here for food yesterday.The cafe itself is in a nice spot on the triangle. We ordered ham,egg and chips and a beaker of coca cola each.the meal cost £25.00 which was way overpriced.The chips were the frozen kind, 4 slices of ham each and an egg.the food came in a takeaway container,not even on a plate and the cutlery was disposable. I would not eat here again. For that sort of money I would expect a lot more!

Written October 27, 2021

Robin W

2 contributions

Very, very disappointed

Aug 2021 • family

We visited this cafe 3 years ago and it was lovely. Now it is terrible-food served in polystyrene boxes (even though we were seated indoors). The food was basic although quite expensive, we had jacket potato but it had no salad garnish at all. We used the toilets after our meal and the standard of cleanliness was disgusting-an absolute health hazard, had we used the toilets prior to our meal we would not have eaten there. Needs an urgent visit from the local authorities.

Written August 21, 2021

MichaelBurton

Bournemouth2 contributions

Great location. Poor service

Jun 2021 • family

I can't recommend the Obscura Cafe. Our order was delivered to the wrong table. One tea was forgotten altogether. The food was all delivered in take away boxes with plastic cutlery so it was hard to eat. The butter was in with the hot food so had to be poured onto the toast!

Written June 11, 2021

Mandy D

17 contributions

Managers manners obscure

Jun 2022 • family

We decided to stop for a drink and lite brunch today as the sun was out and we had time to people watch. We had last used Cafe obscure before the pandemic so asked if we had to go into order from a passing member ofthe waiting staff. Whilst we were in the self disciplined socially distanced queue, we witnessed the most aggressive and dismissive staff put down by the only man not in ablack Tshirt ( who we assume was the manager). The recipient of the verbal tirade was obviously taken aback as it seemed he was just trying to serve someone in the queue but had been ordered to " stay right back" and to "go and clear or wipe down tables or something". It made us nervous to ask for food but luckily for us another server in a black T shirt stepped up to the counter and took our order without being shouted out by the manager. She told us they had a backlog in the kitchen so our waffles would take 30 minutes which suited us fine as the sun was shining. and we were in no hurry. The food and coffee was good but the manager has to give himself a good talking to if he believes speaking to any member of staff in front of customers in that was is good for business

Written June 25, 2022

keiththebookman

Neath58 contributions

Avoid !! please read other negative reviews also

May 2022 • family

Ate in this cafe a few years back when last visited pre covid &everything fine but made the mistake of going back now. This place has gone massively downhill..our breakfast was served in a polystyrene carton & only plastic cutlery to use so unable to cut my Bacon.The reason for the plastic cutlery when asked is "because of covid' what a joke!! Read the many other negative reviews and avoid at all costs

Written May 12, 2022

Chief_squiggle

United Kingdom177 contributions

Gone downhill

Jun 2021 • none

Been here a few times, admittedly pre pandemic, but this time was very disappointed. Didn't have the same atmsophere, no table service like t used to, and range of items on offer substantially less (possibly owing to restrictions in kitchen). Wouldn't rush to go here again

Written July 26, 2021

amber h

1 contribution

rude staff

Jul 2023 • family

Staff are horrible. Myself and family were sat down waiting to have menus brought to the table as we were asked if we were customers. After saying yes they proceeded to tell us to leave as it’s ‘private property’. We were very confused as we were waiting to order and she was so rude. Never coming back here again. Very disappointed as this was a really nice cafe once upon a time. I am absolutely mortified at the staff behaviour.

Written July 3, 2023

BooBoo

Wareham3 contributions

Doesn’t deserve the one star but that was the only option

Sep 2024 • family

I was very disappointed with my visit to Cafe Obscura only just half a hour ago. When I asked if they had gluten-free options, I received a curt “no” without any further assistance or alternatives suggested. The staff member was reluctant to even check when I asked. The staff were generally rude and dismissive, which made the entire experience unpleasant. It’s clear that they don’t prioritise customer service or accommodate dietary needs. I won’t be returning and wouldn’t recommend this place, especially to those with food allergies or specific dietary requirements

Written September 8, 2024

DustyCat27

Northampton10 contributions

Don't waste your time, disgusting and unhygienic

Jul 2021 • couples

Absolutely awful food, the food was really greasy and cheap quality, I couldn't finish eating it. The toilets stank of urine before you even entered, the floors were sticky, no toilet paper. It was a lovely location which is why we chose it but regretted our decision

Written July 22, 2021

JBS

United Kingdom12 contributions

Disappointing Service, we won't be going back!

Dec 2021 • none

We have visited Bournemouth many, many times and usually enjoy a coffee & cake break at Cafe Obscura, sadly we won't be returning after our visit this week. The cafe wasn't busy so that wasn't an excuse for the attitude of the girl that served us. She gave the impression that she really didn't want to be there, she hardly spoke to us, she had no manners and was less then helpful. The cafe looked scruffy and untidy, a number of empty tables needed clearing of food debris, cups etc. All in all an expensive and very disappointing visit.

Written December 3, 2021

Nick Gee

Belper46 contributions

Grotty, seedy and very aggressive

Aug 2022 • none

We have visited Cafe Obscura many times over the years, but we won't be returning again. It has turned into a horrible, tired place. Wires hanging out of the walls, trailing electrical cable going from the store room to power the ice cream machine in main cafe area, TV not working, empty fridges behind and above the bar (in high season) toilets filthy and Manager absolutely FOUL to customers. I was shouted at and forcibly removed from the lift by (I assume) the Manager, who barked at me in an obnoxious and very aggressive manner "Upstairs is not for public use". This was odd as there is a sign stuck to the frame of the lift on the ground floor requesting customers seated upstairs order their food at the downstairs bar and it will be brought up to you. The place has turned into some kind of seedy underworld and rather worryingly the man who yelled at me looked very panicked and nervous about the fact that a member of the public was about to go upstairs. There was also a beyond middle aged man prowling in and out 'chatting up' some unaccompanied young girls, which the staff did absolutely nothing about. It was just a horrible experience. The manager scowled at us throughout and we couldn't get out of there quick enough. If there was an option to give a zero rating, I would.

Written August 22, 2022

Redsilkshutter

La Chatre143 contributions

Should be better in this prime location.

Dec 2019 • none

We popped in here for afternoon coffee. Drinks were fine. I was disappointed that hardly any of the cakes and pastries listed on the menu were available, and only a few biscuits. The place looks a bit cold and unkempt. We noticed on our receipt, that we had been charged for the next tables bottled water! They did reimburse us after it was brought to their attention. It's a shame that this café isn't better, given its prime location. I was debating whether to give a two or three star for this place. So ended up being generous with a three.

Written January 5, 2020

PaigeE123

24 contributions

Good but overpriced breakfast

Jun 2023 • family

Came for breakfast as it’s in such a nice spot, the service we received was good and the food was decent however it is extremely over priced. I would eat here because there was nothing wrong with the food or service but the price puts me off. The toilets also need a serious clean and revamp. I found the ones directly on the beach were cleaner. It could be amazing here, just needs some tweaking and a revamp.

Written June 13, 2023

Will Waite

Dorset31 contributions

Stopped by for a coffee....looked at food ....

Aug 2021 • none

Not the sort of place I would visit for food. Slush puppie and a coffee over £7...and to be harassed by a woman begging for money,,,,as were a lot of customers, no one stopped her ...a pity as the staff were really nice

Written August 6, 2021

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CAFE OBSCURA, Bournemouth - Updated 2024 Restaurant Reviews, Photos & Phone Number - Tripadvisor