While I was visiting a friend in Dorset, we did a spot of motorhoming in the New Forest, Hampshire, UK, so we called in at a little café and mini bakery called The Forest Café in the village of Sway.
They said it was dog-friendly, and that was quite evident as we approached the counter. There was a lovely picture board featuring all their best customers, which turned out to be dogs! It was a good start to the visit.
There is outside seating, but it wasn’t quite warm enough, so we chose a table inside. The pooch quickly received a bowl of water and treats. The café had a really friendly, welcoming vibe. It was obvious that it was also welcoming to cyclists, as there were a couple of bicycle wheels at the counter as well. I quite like quirky cafés like this.
We ordered two cappuccinos with oat milk, one being decaffeinated, to start off with. Lots of chocolate sprinkles as well.
We also ordered scrambled eggs on toast and a ham and cheese toastie. We seemed to wait quite a long time for the food to arrive, but I expect that’s a good thing, as it means it’s cooked fresh rather than just warmed up.
I can honestly say it was worth the wait, as both the drinks and food were delicious. Sometimes café owners can be more friendly to returning customers than to strangers, but despite it being our first visit, we were made to feel very welcome. Considering I’m used to prices down south being higher, it was very reasonable. Normally, when I get the bill, I have an internal dialogue in my head saying, “How much??” Not this time, though. The pooch also thought the prices were very reasonable, as everything he got was free.
We did have a quick look at the takeaway items in the bakery section before we left, and everything looked really tempting. We were just too full though. If I lived in the area, it’s the sort of place I'd definitely return to.