Fika: a cosy coffee and pastry spot in Bournemouth

Bournemouth has its fair share of coffee spots, but Fika is the one that keeps coming up for a reason. Tucked into the Bournemouth Shopping Arcade at 7 Westover Road, it sits right near the Pavilion Theatre, which makes it an easy stop before or after a show. It is a small, independent place, and the name itself gives away the vibe: fika is the Swedish tradition of slowing down for coffee and something sweet, and that is pretty much the whole idea here.

The first thing to know is how it runs, because it is refreshingly simple. There are no bookings at all, so you just turn up and take a seat when you can. That lack of fuss is part of the appeal, and it means you can drop in on a whim rather than planning your morning around a reservation. It is also an easygoing place to bring the whole family: it is dog-friendly, children are welcome, and there is step-free access for buggies, so nobody gets left at the door.

As for what you actually order, the coffee list covers the usual suspects and then some. You will find an espresso, macchiato, piccolo, cortado, flat white, americano, latte and cappuccino, so whether you want a quick shot or something to linger over, it is all there. The real draw for a lot of people, though, is the pastry counter. Fruit cinnamon buns, pistachio croissants, almond croissants and a range of cakes sit alongside the coffee, and the cinnamon rolls and croissants are the ones that get singled out most often. Prices are modest, with most things landing between £1 and £10, so it is the kind of place where a coffee and a pastry will not set you back much.

That combination is what has earned it a 4.9 out of 5 on Google from more than 360 reviews, with the coffee, the pastries, the friendly service and the warm atmosphere all getting the same nod. One reviewer noted that the owner and his dog greet guests warmly, which sums up the kind of place this is. It also carries a full 5/5 food hygiene rating from the Food Standards Agency, so the standards behind the counter match the ones on display.

Opening hours are worth a quick look before you head over, as they shift a little at the weekend. Monday to Saturday it runs from 7am to 4pm, and on Sundays it is 8am to 3pm, with a note that things can change on bank holidays. Being in the arcade means it is right in the middle of town, with the Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre, the arcade itself and the ODEON all within easy reach, and several hotels nearby if you are visiting from out of town. Whether you are after a proper morning coffee, a quiet place to hide away for an hour, or just a decent pastry, Fika is hard to argue with.