Cantina in Isle of Wight

Superb quality brunch - great ingredients, excellently cooked and friendly service. Good quality, well-made coffee too. And good value for what you get. Had the vegetarian breakfast and Spanish eggs, both delicious. Our second visit and we look forward to going back again. Worth booking at the weekend.

Went for dinner with friends. We had fabulous food and cocktails. The service was superb - so friendly and helpful and very knowledgeable about the food. We had a lovely evening and will definitely be returning on our next visit to The Isle of Wight.

This is my favourite restaurant, this was our second visit, the host creates an amazing atmosphere and is so friendly. The food is incredible and they were very accommodating with allergies (nut and shellfish). I will be back!

The restaurant is small but the welcome and service by Dita the owner was exceptional creating a lovely atmosphere. The dinner was first class, my fish stew was very tasty and my wife said her sea bass was one of the best she has ever had. Luckily we still had room for desserts and the blackberry and apple pie I had was great and my wife enjoyed her Rasberry and Limoncello Frangipane Tart. Highly recommend this restaurant but you need to book in advance as very popular.

Lovely brilliant place with great decor, a welcoming and attentive host and great music. We had the crab rarebit and poached egg with feta, chilli mayo, avocado and tomatoes with a side of bacon that they didn’t even charge me for. The non alcoholic Bloody Mary was out of this world and probably the best I’ll ever taste. Will definitely visit again.

Lovely food, great for veggies, great service- very attentive. Would return in a heartbeat! Loved the Swedish hash, smoothies, coffee and unusual international cuisine.

So glad to have enjoyed another first class meal at Cantina recently. Warmly greeted by Dita. All food and wine was exceptional - Dita explained the food we chose with enthusiasm and the flavours were superb. A great evening. Cantina has a 100% recommendation from us but be sure to book in advance it's such a busy little restaurant.

How to describe Cantina? Small. Friendly. Great atmosphere. Amazing, stunning, perfect, succulent, moreish food. Breakfast at Cantina is not a meal, it's an experience. The Swedish Hash, has such a range of flavours that every mouthful is different. The Bubble & Squeak special with bacon and kale is finished with lemon & garlic oils that pulled the flavour together perfectly. Someone certainly knows their flavours. Do go to Cantona. You really should book, it's a small place, and you don't want to be miss out.

An amazing menu and amazing well cooked, flavoursome food. All the dishes from the kitchen looked amazing and the general feeling from other diners was the food is great and varied with so many flavours

The atmosphere is friendly, the decor and displays interesting and the menu unique. The food itself is superb and the staff incredibly nice. We go here frequently and always want to go again.

This is possibly the best breakfast/brunch spot in Ventnor. We ate here twice whilst on a visit to the IOW. Great food, great service and the owner allows well behaved dogs in. The breakfast/brunch menu offered a good choice of dishes. I had an English breakfast with a bit of a twist - oven baked vine ripened tomatoes and spicy beans (rather than the more usual baked beans). They were delicious and the sour dough toast was fab. Definitely one to return to.

We came here for breakfast which was excellent. Food was fresh and delicious and excellent service. We will definitely be returning.

Wow! There are no words!!! The food, the service it was all excellent. Our host (the owner) was so helpful, funny and made our evening. The food was delicious and plentiful. A great place to eat in Ventnor! Highly recommended

Fantastically original brunch selection plus traditional options and good vegetarian choices, cheerful service, comfortable surroundings and a disco soundtrack. Best brunch in ages!

Magnificent breakfast served by friendly staff and accompanied by 70’s disco music. What is not to like?

The warmest of welcomes awaits you in this cosy informal restaurant. The eclectic menu, makes choosing something quite a conundrum ( I could have tried them all!) but once achieved the well sourced ingredients are cooked to perfection and served with delicious homemade breads. Coffee...

We managed two visits to Cantina during our early season stay - a brunch last Sunday and a evening meal on Friday. The welcome from the hosts on both visits was wonderful- and the food was delicious! The pictures show the quality of the presentation...

Cantina is great. Went for Sunday brunch. Lovely friendly welcome. Good choice on the smallish menu. Great food and very good coffee.

Have had breakfast lots of times here Dita is fantastic and the food is gorgeous personal favourite is the Swedish hash. Also the dinners are lovely there and with Dita’s cocktails and charisma and the lovely food we are never disappointed, a must go in...

Amazingly Dita agreed to open La Cantina exclusively for our party celebration of my parents' golden wedding anniversary. She was so accommodating and easy going and flexible. The menu had just a few dishes to choose from but every one was so very delicious. Really...

The great food is complimented by the warm welcome. Fresh, tasty food is what you get, and nice cold water to sup whilst you look at the food and drinks menus.

Visited with my wife and two of our friends for brunch, and we all agreed, it was the best breakfast we’ve ever had. The food was amazing and the service was top class. Would highly recommend to anyone looking for a lovely spot for brunch...

Wonderful food served by the lovely friendly owner, brunch and dinner were excellent. Would highly recommend a visit.

Early on during our holiday in Ventnor our 5 early and middle teen children noticed the brunch menu and were keen to go to the restaurant. As a treat we decided to let them go on their own. One of them booked the restaurant. On...

Having been a regular here a few years ago, it was a delight to return and find that quality was every bit as good as previously! A warm welcome with helpful approach throughout, and miraculously good quality food, in a great atmosphere - what is...

We were recommended this gem by friends and were not disappointed. Eventhough its a small menu everything is prepared to order. The hosting was relaxed but so knowledgeable and faultless. And so was the food. My sea bass was cooked to perfection with the sides...

The evening service is exceptional. Wonderfully fresh food cooked expertly. The welcome on arrival was effusive and from then on we were very well looked after.

We walked in as a group of four without a reservation and were very lucky to get a table. We tried a variety of starters and mains including the garlic bread, olives, hummus, duck, seafood stew, and the pastas. All of the dishes were delicious...

Whilst on holiday, we booked dinner at Cantina at short notice and we were fortunate there had been a cancellation. We were very warmly greeted and made to feel very welcome. The small menu and ingredients were explained to assist in making our choice of...

Lovely lively small restaurant. Service was excellent. Dita really looks after you. Adam’s food was lovely. The seafood stew was great as was the sea bass with crispy skin. Could not ask for more. Highly recommended.

The interesting menu drew us in and we were so glad it did! Lovely, warm service and clearly passionate about their food. When my coffee arrived I had a feeling we were in for something special - we were. I'm pretty fussy, but my coffee...

Managed to get in here at last, got a call to say that we could be accomodated following a statement saying fully booked. We were far from dissapointed, food, service & drinks perfect, small menu which is great, every option is catered for, loved it,...

Amazing meal here tonight. Dita was an absolute pleasure as always front of house. Fantastic food, drinks, music…what more can anyone ask for?

Still salivating over our dinners here 3 days ago, absolutely delicious and absolutely excellent service, with a smile and a half! So rare these days to find such a gem that ticks all the boxes...warm, friendly welcome, which lasted til we left, 2 exceptionally tasty...

Lovely welcome! Super friendly staff couldn't have welcomed us any better. Small menu but enough choice for me and my son veggie and pescetarian to chose from. Husband had seafood stew which was delicious I had sea bass which was lovely my son had pasta...

Have been going to this spot for years when Klaus run it. Now his old manager, Dieter (sic) owns and runs it. They’re doing breakfast, lunch and supper now. She’s doing a great job and serving fab food. I had the most delicious mushrooms on...

Perfect hosts perfect ambience perfect food. What's more to say? A perfect start to our week break - loaded hummus, fish stew and desserts to die for! Thanks to Dita and Adam for their welcome and expertise in culinary delights! Go there - you won't...

We usually visit the IOW twice a year and Cantina is always on our must visit list for us and our children. Interesting menu, delicious fresh ingredients and wonderful and friendly staff. Thanks so much!

Excellant all round, a selection of starters including delicious homemade Humous , Garlic bread, and fantastic Crab pate pots with chilli and spices. Amazing Confit Duck dish to die for, along with the most delicious vegtables cooked to perfection. Well worth a return visit again...

Date night! Noticed a last minute cancellation advertised through Instagram, so thought we would take advantage & taste the new menu. For starters - Hummus with garlic bread & Welsh rarebit - both to die for!! Delicious & great portion sizes. Followed by fennel sausage...

We had a perfect evening at Cantina. The welcome from Dita was lovely - we ordered our wine and food and waited. We were treated to a wonderful meal - the seafood stew, fennel sausages and pappardelle and bream were all cooked to perfection and...

We had a great meal here and the service was perfect. We all had something different from the menu and all the options were delicious. Lovely relaxed night and we will definitely return

Just stopped by here to grab some and was far from disappointed. I loved the atmosphere and feel of the place and WOW, the food was incredible. LOVED every mouthful. Would definitely look to come back in the area and anyone staying nearby - don't...

Awesome, brekkie, coffee and service well worth a visit New owners keeping same quality but with a little bit more, I'm sure this will be a massive success

Great wine list, friendly service and comfortable atmosphere. Perfect for a drink before or after dinner!

We visited Cantina in September 2020 - we understand it was a restaurant before Covid, but it is now a bar. There is a great wine list with lots of choice, including by the glass. The staff are very friendly and welcoming, Jo makes a great espresso martini. The bar has a friendly atmosphere, and we enjoyed many a conversation with other customers. In your in Ventnor definitely pop in here for a drink (or two!)

Arrived, ordered breakfast, one hour later we were still waiting for it to arrive. While we were waiting, other customers had arrived, been served, eaten their meals, and left. In the end, we just walked out, which I suppose was in fact what they wanted us to do all along. So what did they have against us I wonder? Not young enough? Not good-looking enough? Not local enough? Who knows?I'll not be back.

WOW what a fantastic little place! We went for brunch today and we were very nicely surprised by the food and service. The food was exceptional, the quality of the food speaks for itself and nothing more could be done. The service was fantastic and could not be faulted, we would highly recommend and will be back!

We visited Cantina on a Friday evening in March for dinner as we were over visiting friends who live in Ventnor. What a great place, it’s compact and bijou with 6 or so tables, it’s got a lovely atmosphere and a varied menu catering for all from confit duck leg to a vegan pizza. The homemade houmous was silky and delicious and the salt baked beetroot with walnuts, blue cheese and poppy seeds was particularly good too. My husband said the confit duck leg was excellent. They’re really accommodating and the staff are super friendly and helpful, our waitresses Molly and Jo were knowledgeable, attentive and fun. We enjoyed our evening so much that we went back today (Sunday) for breakfast. Cantina do the best looking and tasting home baked breads, quiches and baked goods. The mocha with oat milk was really good and my avocado, tomatoes and scrambled eggs on sour dough was a great choice. We’ll definitely be back next time we’re over, thank you to the Cantina team.

Last minute booking, just popped in on the off chance and they were more than happy to accommodate. Beautiful pizzas and great starters to choose from. Both of us vegetarian and there was enough to choose from. Friendly owner/manager was happy to chat or leave you to eat peacefully and was good at reading which you wanted. More than happy to help with decisions, knowledgeable on local foods and more than happy to discuss the menu should you have any questions. Next time we are over the island we will eat here again!

Make it your business to visit its worth the effort . The food combination s and. Tasty ideas are great.

With a Germanic decor, and often a few Germanic or other international dishes, Cantina offers some great standard dishes with the chance to try something different. My favourites are the duck leg dish, and their pepperoni pizzas - always great!

I have been here twice now and I’ve only had the chorizo hash so obviously it is quite nice and it’s spicy so it makes a difference to my everyday breakfast. I don’t like the salt and pepper pots because any customer can just stick their fingers in and I find that quite unhygienic and after working with good for years I am really aware of the hazards of those, to say the least.I think it’s flavourful but the prices are high compared to the portions in my opinion.

A group of two couples stopped here for breakfast. The food and service was good but our enjoyment was spoiled by a loud hum and drumming noise coming from the music system or from the equipment. Suggest the bass was on full and there was no treble making it impossible to pick out a tune.

I regularly travel from Cowes for a Farmers breakfast and builders tea! Always delicious and a great hangover cure! Friendly and welcoming.

recently open in the evening, so tried & was not disappointed. small interesting menu, superbly cooked & presented. Reasonably priced wines which is always a plus as many restaurants really stick it on.

Lovey brunch with friends. Great coffee and brilliant menu. Highlights were cheesy beans, avocado & poached egg on toast. Wonderful cooked breakfast. Service friendly and efficient.

We stayed near Ventnor for two nights and ate breakfast in Cantina, the menu was great with many vegetarian and vegan options, the were happy to take dogs which was good. The food was delicious and the service was very friendly and efficient, I would highly recommend it.

Had breakfast here after one the day before at nearby Tramezzini. Both cafes do a good, quirky breakfast and for me were on a par. Apparently, Cantina is run by the same people as Stripped, round the corner, but the feel is probably cosier here. Plenty of breakfast choice in Ventnor, anyway

We had a lovely breakfast here. The food was excellent and original. The egg and soldiers were superb

We visited on the back of a recommendation and wasn't disappointed. Friendly staff and an interesting menu that will suit everyone's tastes. Definitely worth a visit.

Came across Cantina purely by chance, looking for shelter on a very wet morning in Ventnor. Ducked in to ask if they were dog-friendly, and thankfully they were. Really wished we hadn't eaten breakfast beforehand - because I would have LOVED to have eaten there. The food on the tables all around us looked and smelt DIVINE. Enjoyed some delicious coffee though. The service was wonderful (the two of us - plus our four-legged friend were made to feel very welcome) and the place has such a lovely ambience/vibe. Next time we're in Ventnor we'll be going back there for sure, but this time with empty tummies!

We were staying in a nearby hotel with breakfast inculded in the price. I very much expected to be going for a traditional fry up style breakfast at the Cantina but I couldn't be more wrong. They have an excellent range of dishes and combinations you wouldn't normally expect for breakfast. I had a spicy breakfast hash which was delicious and filling. Good service and all the dishes are cooked from scratch. Worth a visit for sure.

Breakfast and coffee was fantastic. Service was very friendly and helpful, can definitely recommend.

It was busy but they accommodated 5 of us and our dog. Lovely food and coffee. The avocado dish was delicious. When my daughter’s eggs weren’t runny they replaced them with an apology - not an issue at all. Great breads.

Arrived this morning for brunch (family of 4), were told one not available at that time but to return for ours in an hour which we duly did tables free but were informed they had subsequently been booked for someone else so completely wasted time waiting and 2 hungry children.Very poor practice maybe not a very child friendly establishment?

Worth booking, although we were lucky to get a table (the brilliant waitress will take a number and call you back if full- which they may be as they are that good!) great choice for veggies and carnivores alike. The chocolate pancakes were brilliant, and the full veggie was great I am told.

As a local I’ve watched this place develop and get even better. Offers a unique and varied choice which is executed very well. Their new project Stripped down the road is also equally as good.

The menu is really imaginative, the food will WOW you and the staff will make you feel at home.

The only early morning breakfast. Opens at 7.30. Very nice diverse breakfast. Challenge yourself and have something different.

A group of us popped in for brunch. This place is relatively small inside with an open kitchen area. We had fortunately decided to book.

Nice little eatery in Ventor with some interesting dishes. Also has fresh artisan bread (sourdough) to buy. Great for gluten free options.

Had a very nice lunchtime, the honey cheese and ham toastie and the avocado and poached eggs were both excellent. Could not resist the local bread and sausage rolls to take home.

Both the staff and food were exceptional. my daughter ordered the chocolate pancakes which were beautifully presented and she enjoyed them thoroughly and i ordered the scrambled tofu on the handmade sourdough it was surprising how flavourful the tofu was a it is usually quite plain.Will visit again soon.

Cantina serves great breakfast and lunch. The coffee is fantastic and the staff are very friendly. Their sourdough bread is the best I've tasted. Highly recommended.

Unfortunately just had a bad experience where it took three quarters of an hour not to get a sausage sandwich. Others who arrived after us got their full English breakfast. We had to walk out due to the time but they did give the coffee free, which we were grateful for. Disappointing as we live locally.

We visited briefly for a cup of tea, also recommend their sausage rolls and bread. Everything is as good as it was 2 years ago!

Visited here before as my partner had recommended it. We had the farmers breakfast and veggie breakfast before and had the same again but each trying having what each other had the last time. Love the coca cola too. Friendly welcoming staff. Will be returning soon.

We stoped by here because of its fantastic reviews. Great Coffee they use square Mile and also have oat milk for barristers. The breakfast was fantastic, fresh and wholesome! I would highly recommend this cafe. It has a beautiful atmosphere. Good service.

Husband and son like a cooked breakfast but, in my opinion, you can have too much bacon and sausages. Cantina was my choice as it offered alternatives for breakfast. We left full, happy and with extras in case we got peckish later.

I can't speak highly enough of this place. I had breakfast here both mornings I was in Ventnor and both were amazing. The staff are really friendly and helpful, a special mention to Jo who persuaded me not to leave the beans off my breakfast, she was entirely right!

I popped in one day to buy one of the little cakes from the selection near the front window - and it was so delicious, I' ve bought 2 more every day since! Staff are really friendly and helpful. Bread selection good too. food served also always looks good, but not tried as yet.

...my to visits were marred by loud music, from commercial radio, that is there for the benefit of staff. It interferred with conversation and was unacceptably intrusive. I poosed in last month and turned back Previous reuests to lessen the din were met with a chilly respose and a token lower of the volume.

always a super brunch, as good as you will find anywhere on the isle of wight shame they're not open in the evening as well

I choose the Avocado, tomato, feta and a poached egg on sourdough toast. Beautifully presented and delicious.

The food and service was good......we just found it too expensive, no child portion reduction.....I would revisit but no with small children

Called in here twice whilst we were visiting a family member on the island. Once for breakfast and a couple of days later for brunch. Both times the food was great, made to order and really tasty. Great non-traditional breakfast choices and both adults and kids loved it. On returning for brunch our 2 yr old son was being a bit of a handful (as only 2 yr olds can be) and the Lady serving (think she was the manager) was brilliant with him and His older sister, bringing them copious amounts of toast and toppings. Really made our time there feel laid back as we ate our food.

Lovely breakfast and very good service. Very popular so you might want to book a table. Wish we were staying longer in Ventnor so we could try the rest of the menu.

4 adults and one child had lunch - service was very good. Time for food to arrive was a bit slower than would have been ideal. Food was excellent.

Lovely and quaint little place. Definitely recommended as very cheap too. Beautiful arrangement of brew for sale too.

whether you are looking for something traditional or something a bit more international this is a great place, and great breads as well.

Stumbled across Cantina when the tea shop we'd originally planned to breakfast at hadn't yet opened - and so glad we were that it hadn't opened, for Cantina is a fantastic little place! We had a wonderful breakfast - eggs and soldiers for him, shakshuka for me, and though we hadn't booked, the staff were very kind to fit us in. Both meals were cooked to perfection and presented beautifully. We watched as locals popped in to buy the freshly-baked bread sitting on the table by the door, and envied them as we couldn't do the same (we're on holiday staying in a hotel, nowhere to keep). The staff are lovely, too, so friendly and kind. I can guarantee that we'll be back to Cantina on subsequent trips to the Island, as there were lots of deliciously tempting offerings on the menu. Highly recommend it, I guarantee you won't be disappointed.

I think I've just had the best breakfast I've ever had and I've been to some lovely places for breakfast.

Amazing brunch and fantastic service. Also great Isle of Wight gin and at a great price. I tried the bacon quiche, and it was very good. However, I would recommend ordering anything that has their great bread

We stayed in the little hotel a few doors down. We had breakfast here and it was yummy. Nice unusual breakfast menu.

My partner and I, plus our four year old, called in for breakfast on the off-chance we could nab a table and got lucky. There aren't many tables and every one had a reserved sign on (always a good omen). The waitress in attendance seemed considerately concerned that we would be OK with only having the table for an hour as it was reserved for later - this made us chuckle because it was more than enough time when we're eating out with a little one, and it highlighted how relaxed and chilled this restaurant is. The expectation seems to be that once you're in, you're welcome to stay as long as you want. You can even bring your dog.

We had breakfast here for two days as it was included with a nearby B&B.; The food was decent, however the owner seemed slightly grumpy (maybe this is because the breakfast was included for us) and the portions are very small.

On a friends' recommendation we went along for breakfast. The service was welcoming and exceptional, and our breakfast was delicious. We will definitely be going back very soon! They make and sell their own bread, which was lovely. So nice to find a genuinely dog friendly place.

My wife, myself and our dog went for a late brunch. The service was great. Flagon of water on arrival and then the coffee. I had two flat whites and would have had another, but my wife gave me the eyes. The food arrived, freshly cooked and delicious. This eating establishment is very, very good.

I popped into this place at the end of July foebreakfast with my two kids aged 8 and 10. We could have picked any number of establishments but this appeared as nice as the places on either side. The menu had a variety of items but all were quite grown up apart from boiled egg and soldiers - no good if your kids like sweet things. It didnt seem possible to order anything off-menu and luckily my son was happy with sourdough toast and jam (only raspberry on offer mind) and I had a sausage sandwich as no eggs except the boiled with soldiers or full English. My daughter had spied nutella and wanted this with the pancakes instead of the fruit and ice cream that was stated. Chocolate pancakes but hey. Fruit juices (@£2,50ea) and tea duly arrived but the food itself was very slow to come and the kids were becoming irritable. Once it did eventually arrive my kids ate about half the food - largish portions I'll admit - and the sausages were lovely although spicy so glad the kids hadn't ordered. Soughdough crusty too. The bill was also slow in coming and was a meaty £27 Which think quite dear for 2 kids and me even if ingredients were good quality. In all, not a place to return to until the service speeds up, there are more kids options and ability to mix up the menu a bit - in my view you should be able to order scrambled egg on toast from a quality cafe for breakfast.