Bearkat Bistro in West Dorset

This koool kat has created the most funkaliscous space, to get cozy and sip the finest oat milk flat white, while treating yourself to a scrumdidilyumpsiouc breakfast and a sweet or savoury pastry to add the cherry on top!! Located inside the lyric theatre a rustic vibe, the walls filled with quarky art that will have your eyes hooked.... get hooked on bearkat xx

This place is like no other We had to wait twenty minutes to be served but it was worth the wait Top coffee ! The food looked very tasty and I will definitely try it the next time I go there There are a smattering of tables outside in a street that has been closed to through traffic so it's very quiet In case you were wondering a 'bearkat' is a free-spirited and fiery woman

Although a tad frustrating that during the winter opening hours are only Thursdays to Saturdays, Bearkat still delivers great coffee (and tea), yummy cakes and good value veggie and vegan bites. Plus vinyl freaks can now spin their latest platters on the deck thoughtfully mounted on the customers' side of the counter (although the amp's volume control is perhaps sensibly kept on the other side...). A haven of goodwill and conviviality in these dark times.

If you’re looking for an independent, friendly, unique, interesting, fun, theatrical, eclectic cafe, it’s here. It’s not pristine; it’s not trying to be. Vintage and reclaimed furnishings are the set. Local artists have been commissioned to dress the set with murals, sign-writing and other artwork. We enjoyed a casual brunch of really excellent coffee and delicious bubble and squeak with eggs. The cakes looked superb. This is the joyous type of cafe where everyone is included in the conversation. Dog friendly. A few outdoor seats. A real gem. We loved it. And the coffee is really, really good.

The best cafe in Dorset if not the South. This is my favourite cafe of the summer without a doubt. Just 200 metres from East Street car park it is an ideal spot to break your journey as you grind along the A35. There is a real welcome from the staff and the drinks are great (builder's tea hits the spot) and the food is superb. There are only a few tables and if it's busy you may have to be patient, but what the hell, it beats any service station hands down.

Tried this establishment for the first time and we were very impressed. A bit quirky inside and dog friendly. Very impressed with the salad and harissa and cheese and tomato sandwiches. Very good and interesting side salad. Will certainly be visiting again

Just back from 6 months in asia but as soon as get home to Bridport my first stop is Bearkat. Dom makes excellent coffee and cakes and with regulars and familiar faces it’s like coming home. And as for lunch 🤙

Lovely, quirky little cafe with delicious coffee. Recommend the vegan sticky ginger cake! Interesting spoons 🙂

Love this place. One of those secret spots down a side street. A little bit hipster but not frequented solely by millenials! Loads of veggie and Vegan. Quirky setting and pictures in the walls. Run by fabulous staff. It's tiny. Good place to go to get chatting to complete strangers. Very very atmosphere. Great food and great prices.

I've popped in here for coffee a few time now. Great coffee, great atmosphere, lovely people. It's the sort of place you speak to and meet other lovely people who live in Bridport and are working on interesting projects. Highly recommended.

Popped in for a coffee. Loved the the look of the cafe and the cups and spoons. Very quirky and fun to sit and enjoy a drink. We always seem to miss events by the time we get down and visit which is a shame as I can imagine they will be great! The service was welcoming and fun. And the coffee was lovely, plant milk was available. Very clean and a beautiful selection of hanging plants decorated the main bay window. Will be back to try food and hopefully attend a music night.

Popped in for a late breakfast of eggs on toast with coffee. Very welcoming and atmospheric, great food and really good coffee, a little tucked away but worth the effort to seek out,

I love coming here,especially on market days. Easily the best coffee in bridport, great cakes and the 3 times I've eaten here has been flawless. Massive amounts of character put into the place by Dom. A "must visit" when in town

What a great find. Gorgeous coffee and food, great location, fabulous interior and Dom was the perfect host. Highly recommended but don’t all come at once so we can’t get a seat next time 😊

Frankly the best coffee you will find in Bridport, which is saying something as there are are number of good cafes in the town. Great decor, fragrant food and the proprietor, Dom is charming and very knowledgable on what’s going on locally. Great ethos, and a great place to hang out.

This is a great little cafe in the centre of town. Lovely, simple food. Great drinks, alcohol and coffee. Everyone is welcomed and bringing all manner of animals is actively encouraged, especially horses.

Finding somewhere to eat with a picky vegetarian teenager can sometimes be a trial, so we were delighted to stumble across this place. Between us we had a very aromatic golden dahl, a perfectly spiced leek and tofu stir fry and a shakshouka (tomatoes and peppers with a baked egg). All were excellent and served with really good, fresh, crusty bread. Real lick the plate clean stuff!

We were looking around the Saturday market and after a place for lunch, up a side road was a chapel sort of place with a side room half a dozen tables no kitchen the girl makes up the food on gas rings toaster etc very novel. Food therefore basic and veganish is that a word no meat, it works though good prices just the job really worth a go if you can find it

Popped in with the family (wife 2 kids and a baby) for a spot of brunch, welcomed with a stunning smile from the very cool chap behind the counter! We ordered garlic mushrooms with spinach on toast, 2 coffees, some of the delicious home made brownies and apple juice for the kids. The mushrooms and spinach were cooked fresh in front of us and despite all the other tables being full very promptly. Tasted delicious. Great place, great food great service.

Warm and welcoming with brunch made to order and great coffee. Ethical, local, homegrown produce and cake...... search out BearKat, you won't be disappointed ;-) Thanks Dom, it was delicious!

Popped in for lunch, initially a bit disappointed by limited menu but all the food we had was absolutely delicious. Lovely friendly service and quirky surroundings. Great.

Had an amazing breakfast, homemade beans on sourdough toast with poached eggs. Great coffee. Great atmosphere.

Great food and lovely strong coffee in a quirky space. A friendly welcome - a relaxing place to visit.

Quirky, interesting cafe in an atmospheric old theatre, in a pretty side street off Bridport's famous street market. Best coffee in town and a warm welcome from the friendly staff. Home cooked food and yummy cakes.

We love Bearkat! Not only does Dom serve the best coffee in Dorset he is also the best reason to visit Bearkat.He is always so welcoming and hospitable. Everyone and animal is welcome, we even took a horse in one morning! The breakfasts are generous and delicious using only the best ingredients. My son says Bearkat is awesome!!

Reviewed this place when it was The Box Office, and was disappointed when they had to close. Just so delighted that the new owner has conserved its unique, friendly and slightly quirky atmosphere whilst adding their own stamp to it. I really like meeting friends here. And the hibiscus tea is very delicious!

I love going to bearkat when visiting from Bristol .. best hot chocolate in town (mainly because it's not sickly) Beautiful space & cafe! Highly recommended!

simply the best coffee in town. plus they always have an ever changing array of food and cakes (especially the brownie). on top of all that its dog friendly.

Interesting decor. Coffee very average tasting and small for £2.50. The cakes are all uncovered on the counter. Most contained nuts. Toast was prompt and came with a dollop of butter in a dish and a whole jar of marmalade. No spoon or separate knife. Not very hygienic. The WC is shared with the theatre - no hot tap, cobwebs galore and in need of a clean. We looked after we got back from there - only rated a 2 from the Food Standards Agency - cafes should have to display these by law so you know what you are getting.

Came across this place on the recommendation of friends. The best coffee we had in 2weeks in the UK, and Dominic cooks GREAT cakes. An eccentric delight well worth a visit

The best coffee made by Dominic who is always up for a bit of banter, he defo knows what he is doing. Fab breakfast esp shakshuka, amazing cake, Bridport does have a lot of places to eat but this individual, quirky place is well worth finding.

The coffee and cake here are truly outstanding.It has a great quirky atmosphere and the shakshuka I had here for brunch on my last visit was delicious. Dog (and horse apparently!) friendly too.

La déco, le service, la qualité de la nourriture et du café, l'ambiance cosy et chaleureuse... tout y est parfait !

One of the best cafes in Bridport. Very welcoming and cosy, the coffee and cakes are delicious and the owner always has a smile. I love coming here with my friends and even my 2yr old daughter is welcome!! Will always pay a visit to this lovely little cafe!!

Come here a lot for coffee and sometimes vegan cake ( a big temptation). Been promising myself breakfast for ages so today got a vegan Shakashuka. So flavourly!!! Will have to work my through the rest of the menu!!!

at last there is a veggie vegan place in Bridport. so good to be able to choose from a selection of vegan cakes ( which my animal eating friends thought were amazing cos they have weird take on what vegan food tastes like!). great food and the coffee is excellent. nice ambiance and Dom is friendly. my loyalty card is almost full!!!! would like to keep Bearkat all to myself but reluctantly have to tell the world about this gem.

This is a relaxed friendly place for a great coffee and cake or lunch. Really original and delicious veggie food with a choice of vegan dishes every day at great prices.

We recently popped into this cafe as we were passing and sat outside with our two Airedale terriers. Have to say the coffee was divine - surely the best around and such a friendly owner with whom we had a great chat. Sometimes friendliness makes all the difference! We wish this business every success - what a find!

Had a lovely cup of coffee and very pleasant chat with the owner and staff. Coffee is really very nice, which is not that common for a black Americano. Usual final question: "Would I return?" Yes, whenever in Bridport

OK that's a high bar since Bridport is not exactly light on independent places serving good coffee, tea and, of course, cake... BearKat is the latest incarnation of Dominic Brown's thinking, a quirky small - intimate even - space tucked inside the Lyric Theatre just off East Street, although on a fine day it's hard to beat people watching outside on the pavement. Along with the excellent coffee (roasted in Lyme I understand), there's always a good selection of mostly vegetarian/vegan and never less than delicious cakes, all at very reasonable prices. Simple veg/vegan lunches are just as good I terms of taste and value.I hesitate to shout too loudly about this place because while I want it to succeed I also want to be able to get in... Friendly, interesting staff, and they and fellow customers generally don't look at you as though you're mad if you strike up a conversation.

OK, that's a high bar, given that Bridport is not exactly short of good independent eateries (why oh why does anyone bother with the chains in this town? - they're not even any cheaper). Bearkat Bistro is a new venture,located in the front of the Lyric Theatre on Barrack Street, just off East Street (the main road from the Dorchester direction), although the people behind it have a plenty of (good) form on the local food scene. The coffee is superb (sourced from roasters in Lyme), and the apparently constantly changing range of cakes a delight to eat through. Strong emphasis on veggie ingredients with some vegan. Prices are very reasonable as well. Only had lunch once so far, but same comments apply. We'll be back.