Food Guide For Students Living In Bournemouth
Are you a foodie determined to find the best places to treat yourself? Or curious to find restaurants you can bring your family and friends when they visit? Or perhaps you want to find places that are on your doorstep for a quick bite to eat? Whatever it is, carry on reading to find out the yummiest food hubs in the coastal resort town of Bournemouth from local faves to popular student choices.
Here at Universal we’ve got the low down on all the restaurants you really need to go to; you might just become a regular.
Let’s get the hunger started…
1. Moose Kitchen
Starting it off with one of our favourites, Moose Kitchen is an award-winning restaurant which provides authentic Canadian flavours. It’s a great destination to go to with your uni friends on special occasions or just when you want to have a night out from your flat.
With food to die for such as Canadian classics like poutine and pancakes with maple syrup. As well as seafood chowder, Philly cheesesteak sandwiches, chilli dogs and whiskey river burger we’re sure you’ll be returning time after time.
There are fabulous drinks to quench your thirst with cocktails such as Fizzy Bramble, Grateful Dead, and Lynchburg Lemonade along with many more. Don’t fancy a bevvie? There are great soft drinks like orange, raspberry, apple or cranberry juice. You can even ask to make any cocktail a mocktail too.
Upon arrival you can expect a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, rock tunes, Canadian décor and the best food and drinks – go see for yourself!
Explore their full menu and visit their website here.
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Address: 53 Bourne Avenue, Bournemouth, BH2 6DW
2. Lolas Spanish Tapas Restaurant
Did someone say tapas?! You’ll be feeling like you’re in the streets of Spain in Lolas with their warmly lit venue and gorgeous tapas dishes.
Croquettes, jamon, patas bravas and chorizo are some of the plates on the menu which will have your mouth-watering. We have to say, their homemade aioli is just unreal too! It’s really no surprise they won the 2021 Travellers’ Choice Award.
Whether you’re after an evening out to celebrate, after a weekend treat or bringing up the parents to visit, this chic place won’t disappoint. It’s a perfect choice for the summer months when you don’t feel like cooking too.
The restaurant is also only a 15-minute walk to the beach, so you can enjoy the sunset after dinner – ahh bliss!
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Address: 95 Commercial Road, Bournemouth, BH2 5RT
3. Agora Mediterranean Restaurant
Agora Mediterranean Restaurant captures the tastes of both Turkey and Greece making it the first restaurant of its kind in the town centre. This local favourite is an excellent pick for yummy food at a great price.
Mediterranean dishes you can indulge in at this family run eatery include lamb shish kebabs, moussaka, chicken sauté and calamari to name a few. Room for a sweet treat? Baklava, tiramisu and kadayif are amongst the desserts on the menu and they’re YUM! If you’re still not convinced, you can find out all the good stuff on the menu here.
This restaurant is a great place to go for a date with friends or your partner, the vibes and food are immaculate!
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Address: 203 Old Cristchurch Road, Bournemouth, BH1 1JU
4. Aruba
It doesn’t matter what time of day it is, if you’re looking for something good to eat and drink with a great atmosphere then Aruba has you sorted.
This restaurant is located at Bournemouth Pier and offers stunning sea views, a sun terrace and a cocktail bar. Just wait… after dinner, stay for more and experience the club with resident DJs, dancefloor and VIP booths. So, have everything you need for an evening of fun, fun, fun!
Okay, back to the good stuff, the scran! Whether you want breakfast, lunch or dinner, Aruba has a varied menu which has food like pancake stacks, fresh pizzas, seafood dishes, jerk tacos and burgers!
Ahh let’s not forget, they also do a bottomless brunch so you can enjoy amazing food and drinks whilst basking in the sun. It’s the place to be for food and drinks no matter who you’re with!
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Address: Pier Approach, Bournemouth BH2 5AA
5. Mad Cucumber
It doesn’t matter whether you’re a fully-fledged vegan or a meat-eater, this place offers organic food, coffee, smoothies and cakes that everyone will LOVE!
Wholesome vibes are on the agenda in this place with a relaxing atmosphere and funky décor. Meeting up with friends for lunch after a busy day of lectures? Mad Cucumber is a perfect spot for a nice break.
You can find homemade food on the menu at this vegan lounge from acai bowls to hazelnut and cocoa porridge to marinated tofu. Saving the best till last, they offer yummy cakes like Victoria sponge, Biscoff cake and fruit cheesecake. Feeling tempted? So are we!
Go and taste some for yourself. You can find everything on the menu on their website, and if you don’t feel like sitting in, they offer take-out!
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Address: 7 The Triangle, Bournemouth BH2 5RY
6. Etna Italian Restaurant
We couldn’t not feature the number 1 food destination in Bournemouth on Trip advisor on our list, could we? Etna Italian Restaurant does what it says on the tin, it’s home to traditional Italian Cuisine.
This family restaurant offers Italian food you’ll be dreaming. Dishes to choose from include wood-fried pizzas, calzones, garlic bread, risotto and pasta. If you fancy a few drinks, their choices are impeccable with a selection of cocktails, beers, wines, spirits and ciders to pick from. As well as refreshing soft drinks like San Pellegrino, Fanta and coke.
If you’re like us and live for Italian food, you really should go an experience this place and its fantastic food, whilst living in Bournemouth. It would be silly to miss out! BTW if you don’t fancy sitting in, order from them online, find out more and view their menu here.
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Address: 181 Charminster Rd, Bournemouth BH8 9QQ
7. Ojo Rojo
Calling all Mexican food lovers, Ojo Rojo is an independently owned restaurant and bar in Bournemouth offering street food and tapas inspired by Central American cuisine.
Their menu has choices for everyone to enjoy and with their tapas style dishes, you can try and delve into dishes together! No matter if you’re vegan, gluten free or a meat lover, there’s tons of plates to try like pulled pork tacos, vegan nachos, shrimp, and chicken wings amongst many others.
The venue has quirky décor throughout and is spread across two floors with two different vibes in each. The ground floor ‘Gallery’ is the bar area and offers a less informal dining experience, so you’ll feel super relaxed. Whereas upstairs is the ‘Canopy’ with the restaurants semi-open kitchen which provides more of a traditional dining experience. You can choose whatever floor floats your boat!
Want to see what it’s all about? You can find out any other info on their website,
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Address: 106 Commercial Rd, Bournemouth BH2 5LR
8. Chez Fred
It would be rude not to include a fish and chips choice in a seaside town, wouldn’t it?! Who doesn’t love a good old chippy mmm! Earning the crown of the number 1 rated fish and chips restaurant in Bournemouth on TripAdvisor is drum roll please… Chez Fred.
Enjoy the simple pleasures of fish and chips at Chez Fred, where you can either eat-in and have your order ready in minutes or get your order to takeaway to enjoy at your student home.
If you’re fancying some delicious comfort food including fish and chips, scampi, halloumi or chicken burgers then this restaurant is the place to go to. Trust us, these guys have been winning the hearts of the locals since 1989, so it must be good quality food!
They’re open at lunchtime and dinnertime, so head down to Chez Fred with your flatmates to see what the hype is all about.
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Address: 10 Seamoor Rd, Westbourne, Bournemouth BH4 9AN
That’s it, we’ve finished our food guide for students living in Bournemouth, is your tummy rumbling too? Ours definitely is!
Okay, your food destinations are all sorted, but you just have to read our guide on Bournemouth nightlife to find the best places to party in the town centre!
If you’re looking for student accommodation in Bournemouth then check out the properties, we have available in this fantastic location, as well as other locations across the UK.
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