The Freshwater Coffee House

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#1 of 65 Coffee & Tea in Isle of WightCafe, British, $$ - $$$

What is Travellers’ Choice?

Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.

The Freshwater Coffee House

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+44 1983 754095Improve this listing

About

Travellers' Choice

2024

Award winning Artisan Coffee House in the centre of Freshwater Village on the beautiful Isle of Wight. Serving Island Roasted Barista made coffee, Suki loose leaf tea and gorgeous homemade food, we aim to provide you with a space to pause, relax and breathe whether you are flexitarian, vegetarian, vegan, gluten free or live life on four legs - superb on the way to the Needles or on the way back from them and an ideal lunch spot of picnic pick up en route to Farringford House.

Features

CUISINES

Cafe, British

Special Diets

Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options

PRICE

$$ - $$$

FEATURES

Accepts Credit Cards

Free Wifi

Gift Cards Available

Highchairs Available

Reservations

Seating

Takeout

Wheelchair Accessible

Location

5 School Green Road, PO40 9AJ England

Is this restaurant good for dinner?

Yes

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Hours

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Closed today

Sunday

Closed

Monday

9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Tuesday

9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Wednesday

9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Thursday

9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Friday

9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Saturday

9:00 am - 2:00 pm

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4.9

397 reviews

Excellent

379

Very good

Average

Poor

Terrible

KLP1233

Isle of Wight108 contributions

A great local cafe with a warm welcome!

Jul 2024 • family

Really enjoyed my visit to freshwater coffee house this afternoon with my mum. Was greeted warmly as soon as we walked in which was lovely. I had a Bacon sandwich on some tasty sourdough with a cup of tea (they fill the tea bags themselves and give you a timer for the perfect brew) The atmosphere was friendly and relaxed. Would recommend if you are over in freshwater on holiday or otherwise.

Written 29 July 2024

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.

idcus

564 contributions

Great food and friendly staff

Sept 2024 • couples

We had to come here again when on the island! This time we ordered the toasties and the poached eggs on toast and they did not disappoint, great bread and very tasty. All staff are very friendly and attentive, we liked the meal so much we followed it up with lovely homemade pistachio and fruity cake (can't remember which fruits), which was amazing. They are doing all the right things here.

Written 10 September 2024

Pauline W

6 contributions

Highly recommend.

Jul 2024 • family

Very welcoming and friendly. We were pleasantly surprised at how welcoming the staff are here. Everything very clean (including the toilet). My husband asked for something slightly different to that on the menu, but the waitress quickly assured us they could do it. Food was very nice and we would highly recommend this café.

Written 3 July 2024

punkypig

Southampton3 contributions

Warm family friendly cafe with delicious food

May 2024 • family

Lovely welcoming cafe , the staff were so friendly and recognised my autistic son was wearing the sunflower lanyard. They made him feel very welcome and understanding of his needs which was very much appreciated. The food was delicious , lots of gluten free and vegetarian/vegan options. We had poached eggs with hollandaise sauce with sourdough ( both gf option and standard) , ham and cheese toasty, milkshakes and Americanos .. ooh and the vegan gluten free crumble slice to go. It was all delicious. Highly recommend this cafe and we will be back next time we visit the Island :)

Written 28 May 2024

idcus

564 contributions

Excellent homemade cakes

Jul 2024 • couples

We were in the area and saw the reviews were excellent and therefore thought we'd try this place. Walking in, we were a little unsure as it's quite unusual. The staff were very warm and welcoming especially the gentleman. We ordered some lattes and the homemade lemon and lime cake. The cake was really soft and delicious. The lattes were served in plastic type cups (bamboo?), which was really different but definitely not a negative as the drink stayed warm. We will visit again.

Written 5 July 2024

Sarah P

Leeds208 contributions

Disappointed

Aug 2022 • family

Having previously visited on numerous occasions having really enjoyed the coffee and delicious food we had a really disappointing experience today. We waited a long time for our food to be served ( we had to go and add extra time onto the car parking) - to the extent that we decided eventually just to pay for our coffee and leave as my one year old daughter had woken up from her nap. We had previously been approached by Lucie and told due to the wait we would receive a discount. The gentleman serving the coffee was rude, dismissive and uninterested the first time my father inquired about the whereabouts of the food. When my father explained three other groups who had come into the coffee shop subsequently had been served the gentleman asked who it was as if he didn't believe him and we were being a nuisance. Once we had decided to leave I tried to speak to him and explain that his customer service had been unacceptable. He required prompting for an apology - when when he gave it seemed insincere. Rather than trying to resolve the issue he was dismissive to myself and told me he had other customers to serve.

Written 13 August 2022

Stefan P

Hello Sarah, Firstly let me begin by stating that I really am very sorry that you felt we fell below the standards you've come to expect from us. On this occasion, it would appear from my investigations that in extreme heat and during one of our busiest periods, we may have allowed some (understandable) frustration to seep through into our interaction with you and for that I am sorry. The team tell me that you've visited previously and been very happy, hence the rebook and so it's with some sadness that you've chosen to place such a damning review on Google reviews I would have welcomed you speaking with myself or my wife directly, and calmly after the event. In the absence of this opportunity, I feel that I have no choice but to outline the events as they occurred. My intention, acknowledging that we would ideally have held onto our frustration, is made in order to provide some balance and perspective to the situation as we see it. If you would like to speak directly with me about your view, please do not hesitate to contact me at Stefan@freshwatercoffeehouse.co.uk Events; as they occurred Having checked our computerised table log it appears from our records; that at one of our busiest times and at the peak of the heat of a summers day: A) the total wait time from ordering to receiving your food was only 25 minutes. B) you chose to order your drinks first and then, around 15 mins later, order your food. We serve food in the order in which it is ordered, not the order in which people sit down. C) in between you ordering your drinks and then your food, the team served two tables who made combined food and drink orders, which the kitchen proceeded to make. D) From our system it appears that the total time you had to wait from ordering your food to making your first complaint was 15mins. E) 10 mins later, our team reassured you that your food was being plated by the kitchen and would be with you 'in literally 2 minutes'. At this stage, your total wait time was 25 minutes. F) Upon being told that your food was being plated 'as we speak' - visibly and verbally frustrated, you decided to leave. G) Shocked by your response and working flat out, our team couldn't help but share with your father that the food wastage would amount to around £30 worth of food. The intent, although direct, was to appeal to you in the hope you'd stay. H) Having had a conversation with your father in line with the above, seeking only to outline, what had taken place - you returned to the coffee house to seek a full and unreserved apology; intimating that our team had acted 'abhorrently' and essentially 'with disrespect' to your father. On balance and based upon the evidence above - I'm afraid that I cannot concur with your version of the events. I trust my team and I know their hearts to be true. Could we have done anything better? Always. In a perfect world we would have: A) Explained the perceived wait time for food if you ordered drinks and food separately B) Asked if there was anything we could do to make your wait (15 mins) more comfortable). C) Accepted your 1st complaint and subsequent walkout and the food wastage - without question. The world is not perfect and having dealt with complaints for over 20 years, I cannot see that those perfect world actions would have a) been reasonably expected from us or b) be commensurate with the responses my team received from you and your party. With this in mind I would like you to consider 3 questions: 1. Were we really as bad as you have made out? 2. What, if anything, had you done or been through that morning which contributed to your responses on the day? 3. On this basis, do we really deserve, the review you have given us if you compare it to your worst experiences in hospitality over the years? We remain, as ever committed to delivering best service and to listening to feedback with an open, balanced heart. Onwards Stefan - Owner and Head Barista TFCH

Written 18 August 2022

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Brad H

Basildon9 contributions

Best coffee! Family run and very friendly

Feb 2023 • couples

Recommend this lovely family coffee shop by word of mouth and think more people need to know about it! Very pet friendly! Coffee was fantastic and all the staff were very knowledgable on the topic and happy to share it! Food was great for the price and a great place for breakfast or brunch! Everything we had to eat and drink was fantastic and very good value for money! Two of us went for brunch and had a drink each and a decent sized meal each and I bought some of there coffee beans to brew at home and it came to £22 which is superb!

Written 13 February 2023

Jack

Thank you so much! Glad you had such an enjoyable time with us & thanks for the detailed review, we hope to see you again soon!

Written 10 March 2023

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Vickiw_Wood

12 contributions

Perfect coffee and food.

Aug 2023 • family

A last-minute change of plans meant our family of 4 - which includes 1 vegan and 1 vegetarian, decided to get a late breakfast. A quick search online and we decided the menu at The Freshwater Coffee House ticked all the boxes. We drove past and saw it was fairly busy, which we took as a good sign we'd made the right decision! Once we had parked up and walked back, we were told they were full, but we were welcome to wait for a table to become available. Seeing the food arriving at some of the tables we knew we wouldn't be disappointed so we took a seat on the comfy sofa and ordered some coffees and a couple of hot chocolates. By the time they were ready, a table had become available, so we ordered our food as soon as we sat down. There were plenty of vegan and vegetarian options as well as gluten-free. The coffee menu was extensive and there were a few plant based milks to choose from. Our food came quickly and it was superb. I had the french toast which was vegan and tasted amazing. My husband had the poached eggs and our 2 teenage sons had pancakes with bacon and maple syrup. There was a strong message regarding recycling and the owners efforts to encourage and assist was nice to see. It was also nice to read 'Our Story' and added to the atmosphere. I'm sad that we only discovered this lovely coffee house so close to the end of our holiday ... we will be going back at least once before we go home. It's good to know you can reserve a table, but if you do pop in and find you have to wait, it is definitely worth it!

Written 17 August 2023

S B

4 contributions

Really good place

Feb 2024 • family

The staff deserve six stars, they were just so friendly and accommodating, going the extra mile to make really special milkshakes and ice cream for my kids despite it being february. Completely friendly and welcoming to all of us. The coffee was excellent, delish brownies and dog friendly. Great place, thank you for having us.

Written 16 February 2024

Viatrix

52 contributions

You'll love Apple Loves Mint

Mar 2024 • family

Lovely range of leaf teas here, served with care. Jaspers Coffee is also delicious. Gorgeous carrot cake and lovely local hot cross buns. Do book if you can as this is a popular place. The staff always make you feel welcome and find the time for a quick chat in amongst all the greeting and serving. Menus change seasonally and there are some great offers from time to time. You can buy packs of the tea and coffee and also tea and coffee equipment and some local art and craftwork.

Written 7 April 2024

h0lidayking

Lymington126 contributions

Excellent

May 2024 • couples

We called in here for lunch after looking at the other cafes in Freshwater. We decided that this was the busiest so had to be good. We got a good friendly welcome, a large pot of tea and two large sourdough cheese and ham toasties. Both came with crisps and a salad garnish, plenty of filling and great sourdough bread. The cafe was busy with lots of local people. Great lunch, good timely service and nice and clean. Couldn’t fault anything,

Written 21 May 2024

Viatrix

52 contributions

Always delicious

Aug 2024 • family

This time had the salad bowl which had a wide range of tasty items (vegetables, grains and seeds.) Tried the grapefruit tea for a change and really enjoyed it. The staff are always friendly and will do all they can for you. It is always worth booking as this is well-known and popular. The rhubarb crumble cake was super.

Written 24 August 2024

Carol T

Beverley12 contributions

Welcoming relaxed coffee shop.

Mar 2023 • couples

Had lunch here following a trip advisor recommendation. Relaxed vibe with a welcoming owner. Dog friendly - our dog given a treat whilst we ordered. Had poached eggs with smoked salmon on lovely crispy toasted ciabatta - rich hollandaise on the eggs. Our other order of red pepper, hummus and spinach toasted sandwich looked equally tasty. Great coffee and loose tea to drink. Bought some freshly ground coffee to take home. Appeared to be a regular haunt of older and younger locals as well as us tourists. Would recommend - it deserves to succeed.

Written 28 March 2023

SARAH - Cornwall

Fowey8 contributions

STUNNING

Feb 2023 • solo

Well I popped in while houses hunting for a coffee , 2 weeks later, and I am still visiting every morning for my Brunch !! Excellent staff (Best staff I have ever met) so welcoming and friendly, the Owner Becky is utterly fabulous and passionate about the coffee shop . Popped in as a customer and truly left as a friend xxxx The food is out of this world and nothing to much trouble, you just have to ask and totally accommodating. Go in don’t walk past , you will regret it if you do ❤️ Totally(well behaved )dog 🐶 friendly too 🥰 I now know what a “WET CAPPUCCINO “ is !!! Never too old to learn !! 🤗 Not sure I want to back to Cornwall !!

Written 11 February 2023

r0ccie

London102 contributions

#Freshwater #Coffeshop

Apr 2022 • family

The Freshwater coffee house was a surprise find, as we toured the island. We were travelling through Freshwater and noticed that this establishment was one of the busiest and made our way to the coffee shop. The greeting was wonderful. Excellent customer service and the young man greeted us, checked whether the table had been cleaned and prepared. The menu gave you a select choice of items including the cream scone that my father in law was hankering for. My wife and mother in law chose the same. I chose the sausage roll served with a selection of salad leaves and crisis. All well presented and which tasted wonderful. For drinks, we had mint tea served with a little timer to ensure that your tea is brewed to your liking. The cappuccino was perfect unlike the synthetic offering at a Sandown cafe. I cannot recommend that you visit Freshwater enough. Also take a chance to visit Hursts, a typical hardware store. #freshwater #IsleofWight #coffeeshop.