Drifters in New Forest

Lovely panini, fresh and tasty, plus a great cup of tea and tasty fresh flapjack. Lovely service and great place on the Lymington Quay front.

Best paninis in Lymington, would highly recommend the pastrami, monterrey jack and pickle - delicious!

We are so happy we found this delightful take away cafe. It’s a gem. Lovely food and coffee and very reasonably priced. We bought a wonderful roasted vegetable and hummus panini - delicious! Bianca, the owner told me she had been at this location for 17 years. She is so committed to providing an excellent service and it was a joy (whilst waiting for my order) to see how kind and friendly she was with every customer. Oh yes and the cakes and flapjacks look amazing!

Simply wow, we stopped here first after getting off the train and bought some cake on our way back from our walk we and decided to get hot food and we didn't regret it.

When we visited Lymington this was the first place we stopped and wr got amazing cakes, enjoyed them so much that we went back for sausage rolls and panini for lunch... best place visited on our day trip to Lymington....

As visitors to the New Forest, we went into Drifters yesterday initially for coffee - which was excellent. The lady working in there (I think she was the owner) was so chatty, friendly & helpful. We saw what was available for lunch & went back to choose a variety of paninis between the four of us. The lady even kept my son & partner's lunch hot, while we went to order ours, so we could all eat together. The paninis are freshly made, excellent value & were the best that we have tasted in a long long long time. We would highly recommend the Italian meatball & the sun-dried tomato ones but there is also a very wide variety to choose from. Thank you for making lunch on our day out so great.

Very friendly, yummy food, reasonably priced. Thank you!

Really great sandwiches and cakes at very reasonable prices in what I found to be an expensive part of the world.

Best coffee for miles around 👍. Always greeted by a happy face and great coffee 😄.

Think a previous review described it perfectly - "Little Gem". Really warm and comforting food. Quick service. Thank you.

My wife and I grabbed a late lunch from Drifters after waking to Lymington from Brockenhurst. The man who served us (presumably the owner) couldn’t have been more welcoming, and our toasted panini were delicious, generously filled and excellent value for money at £6.50.

My wife and I grabbed a late lunch from Drifters after waking to Lymington from Brockenhurst. The man who served us (presumably the owner) couldn’t have been more welcoming, and our toasted panini were delicious, generously filled and excellent value for money at £6.50.

We always make an annual trip to Lymington and it's not complete until we visit Drifters for lunch. The best chips, panini and coffee anywhere in the town. And even better when eaten on the Quay watching the boats come and go. Can't wait to go again to kick-start our summer of 2023!

Found this little place whilst in town on holiday. Lovely little gem, very warm and friendly welcome, yummy fresh food, hot chocolate was delicious too plus it was nice to not have a plastic lid. Says something when it has all five star reviews as they’re very well deserved too!!!!

Just popped into Lymington and found this little gem walking into town. Menu is plentiful and all local produce and stock. Hot chocolate, a huge portion of chips and a cake were our selection. All made fresh and was fantasticly priced. Incredibly warm reception and lovely little shop. Lady (whose name I didn't get!) Behind the counter was incredibly friendly, welcoming and chatty. Will pop back in if we are down thus way again.

Good choice of hot and cold food ice cream, snacks and reasonable

This was our first time getting a takeaway from Drifters, staff were friendly, food was amazing. I highly recommend this place!

Amazing little place. Best panini I've had for a long time and flapjacks were great too. And the staff were really friendly and welcoming. Will definitely be back when next in the area.

If you get the chance to grab a coffee and panini here do it. Wonderful food, great coffee and exceptional service

Working locally, the Quay is always my go to for lunch. So you get to sample a variety of offer. Drifters however is one not to be missed. It's among the selection of alternatives so could be bypassed by mistake. The toasted panini from here is lovely especially Dorset bacon and brie. This topped off with one of their homemade milkshakes with ice cream is perfection. Yes, I do speak favourably but it is all justified. The owner runs it and is there 6 days a week (so avoid Monday) which makes the passion and attention to detail very high. Will have to get a photo next time, and yes there will be a next time and again and again Thanks

I popped in to Drifters while on holiday with my husband on a very hot day. It was so hard to choose between the many delicious options but in the end we both opted for a Kinder Bueno milkshake which was delicious and refreshing, just what we needed. The lady serving was helpful, friendly and even offered to refill our water bottles which was very welcome. Especially because earlier in the day we’d asked in a cafe that’s registered on the refill app and it seemed like a chore! So it was very kind and welcome. I would have liked to leave a tip but unfortunately didn’t have any change on me, if we’re ever back in Lymington Drifters will be an essential stop.

We had coffee and cake (raspberry flapjack and millionaire’s shortbread). The (Illy) coffee was rich and smooth and the cakes were delicious and the portions huge. Lovely lady serving us.

How we agree with Matt Baker fantastic food we had bacon and Brie and tuna and cheese melts PLUS 2 flapjacks which are just out of this world the best we have had particularly the raspberry one, and home made. So pleased we have found it at the start of our time Ilmington, and good value Best wishes for the future

Great coffee and wide selection of food & cakes all prepared by always-smiling Bianca & team!

Best coffee and cake in Lymington & very friendly!

Lovely ice cream and friendly staff

Wow! What a brilliant little cafe/restaurant, me and the wife were looking around for a bite to eat and this place has the best food around here! I got a tuna and cheese panini, misses got a brie, bacon and cranberry panini..to die for!! 🤤 Also got a large portion of chips to share! This was a massive lunch, and she's pregnant and eats everything!! Not expensive and loads of other items available, have a look at the cakes etc all home made!! Had to be dragged away through fear of buying everything! 😅... Disabled friendly and very clean shop!! Takes card, definitely coming back soon!! 5*

We visited Lymington on a Monday afternoon with friends and they recommended Drifters. A very friendly helpful lady served me. A great selection of ice creams and snacks. We will remember this place for delicious ice creams served with a smile.

Stopped by as peckish and ordered a falafel panini and a latte... The Panini was beyond lovely and has inspired me to eat more vegan foods as forgotten just how tasty it can be! The tahini and chilli sauce was an extra tasty touch. Coffee was great and the service was excellent! Will be back for sure!!

Great little lunch and coffee spot. Delicious paninis, flapjacks and coffee!

Had 3 different paninis today, all really good. Coffee was also great quality and hot. Staff very friendly, would recommend.

The gluten free carrot cake advert should be bigger!!! A generous portion, tasty flavour, pairing with a decaff coffee with almond milk... Just what I needed! Friendly attention, and that buying local feeling... Highly recommended!

We liked the look of this shop from the outside so ventured in. We were met by two very polite young ladies who promptly took our panini choices and advised they would be 5 minutes. We were not disappointed, they looked and tasted lovely, nice and hot, presented in a quaint little carrier bag with napkins. I will ensure I return next time I am in Lymington.

Takeaway doing coffee, icecreams, chips, sandwiches etc. We had coffee, chips and a sandwich (hot). All hot and freshly made. Coffee was fabulous. Very friendly and accommodating staff. Highly recommended.

wonderful coffee and really friendly people! a good selection of snacks too, right on the quay side

Always great quality, very clean and friendly.

Amazing coffee and friendly staff. My favourite café in Lymington!

Very busy but lovely friendly staff serving greta coffee and lots of delicious sweet things to go with it. We took us outside to sit by the harbour as the weather was good.

Bought two paninis here - I had a roasted vegetable and humous panini and my partner had bacon and brie. The man behind the counter was incredibly friendly and relaxed even though it was quite busy. The paninis were really really good (one of the best paninis I've had) and we went back for ice creams afterwards which were also amazing. Would recommend!

Take the ferry you won't regret it

Great little cafe/takeaway, I work in a shop on the quay and Drifters is a regular treat for me. Delicious coffee expertly made by Bianca and Joe. Great selection of panini. Very tempting selection of cakes and flapjacks with a good range of gluten free/vegan too. I recommend the peanut brownies. Thank you Bianca and Joe.

I visited the cafe today with one of my students & found it to be pretty pricey. A small bottle of coke £2.68 (not even chilled) & a banana for £1! My student ordered a ham & cheese toastie which was over £6, it was just a ham & cheese toastie - nothing special but loads of salad which wasn’t necessary.

Lovely ice cream. Very friendly owners. Pleasure to know

When the weather is good and the tables and chairs are on the quay, there can be no place better in Lymington for a coffee and cake.When visting Lymington we always park in the large car park at the end of Bath Road near the marina and pass Drifters....actually we don't pass as we always stop for coffee and cakes....on the way into town.A very good coffee stop with lots of different cakes on offer. The food being served to various diners for breakfast also looked very good.Friendly service, great location, good food and very good coffee. Recommended.

A lovely independent coffee shop in a fabulous setting. Stopped for a cuppa and slice of cake to dodge the rain showers whilst doing a spot of shopping, I can highly recommend the mincemeat slice it was simply delicious!Very friendly staff and what a refreshing change to see tables being cleared and cleaned as soon as the occupants leave, all too often these days I seem to struggle to find a spotless, empty table when I enter an establishment so kudos to the team.Great value for money, free wifi too, will be back next time I am in town.

A lovely independent coffee house serving delicious coffee - much better than the coffee chains. A great location on the quay side.

If you are not a fan of the major coffee house chains Drifters is a must.Excellent coffee, amazing strudel this morning full of very tasty fruit filling that melted in the mouth. We sat outside, in the sun watching the world go by and the ducks in the water.Great coffee break. Well worth a visit. Recommended.

I go here almost every week for my lunches as I work locally and I absolutely love the Paninis I’ve tried all of them and they’re all delicious! I would highly recommend!

Far and away the best coffee in Lymington, lovely selection of homemade cakes and friendly, efficient service. My “go to” coffee house from now on.

My wife and I were looking for a good place for coffee and something evil in the sweet line, we found both here. The ice cream cornets were yummy and the coffee we went back for later was great. On top of that the girl who served us was warm and friendly and couldn't be more helpful. What more could you want from a coffee shop. If we lived in Lymington it would definitely be a regular haunt.

Called in for coffee and Gluten Free cake. Cake was great!!! Staff friendly and helpful. Thanks guys.

Great sandwiches and cake, lovely friendly staff, I would definitely recommend this place and wish we'd found it sooner

Bonito pequeño café con una abundante selección de rodajas flapjack, helados, café, etc.

Cuando junto al mar, parece obligatorio tener un helado y este pequeño lugar en el corazón de Lymington es un lugar estupendo en el que disfrutar. Gran variedad de sabores de la tradicional - el ron y plátano era deliciosa y cremosa, la borrachera de la diversión - el arco iris luminoso bubblegum me llevó directamente a mi infancia!

By far the friendliest place to 'hang out' in Lymington. Great coffee and THE tastiest and best value flapjacks in the UK (ask the badger behind the counter for the recipe)

Durante un viaje a Lymington aparecimos en Drifters para comer un bocado.

nice and friendly. Good choice of ice-cream. Good variety of food , though not always top quality rating maybe.

Precioso hotel en el casco antiguo. Más de comida para llevar, pero comimos dentro en la cual los taburetes altos de hay cuatro. Selección fabulosa de panini y los bizcochos caseros estaban deliciosos. Satisface las necesidades dietéticas Drifters y intolerancias alimentarias. Las dos mujeres jóvenes corriendo del lugar han hecho un gran esfuerzo para ser todo incluido sin hacer un alboroto. Lo recomiendo.

As a big fan of new forest ice cream and home made cakes Drifters immediately ticks the box for me but as I am gluten free it is a real treat to find a choice of delicious homemade gluten free cakes. The shop is tiny but lovely and the service is always cheery and welcoming.

Absolutely stunning little shop! Marvellous staff who were kind and caring, walked in with the bad news of being vegan and they made a panini just for us! They already had a vegan fruit cake which was absolutely beautiful a long with a lovely soy milk tea and great conversation! Great for any one with problems with gluten or dairy! They cater for all, not just us pains! Can't wait to return even just for their conversation!

The coffee here is always good and they have generous portions for the yummy flapjacks, one of the best places on the cobbles.

Fabulous homemade cakes, accommodating a number of dietary requirements, hot & cold drinks and various sandwiches and local ice creams.There are 4 bar stool type seats inside but this is predominately a take away cafe. The shop is small so the queue was out onto the street. Always a good sign. Pity there is no real eating area inside Drifters but, as the sun was shining we ate on the quay and watched people crabbing etc. The Victoria Sponge was the best GF sponge I have eaten. The fruit cake was more like a sponge with fruit than a fruit cake but d-lish all the same. The flapjacks and sandwiches looked d-lish.The staff were lovely and the service was great.

Haven't been here for a couple of years but couldn't resist going back flapjacks were really good with lots of choice. Also do a decent cup of tea.

Don't very often try milkshakes but thought we would give these a go..lots of other homemade delights inside, cakes, flapjacks and gluten free offerings...best milkshakes we have ever tasted!!! Yummy!!

Delicious homemade cakes and local ice-creams with really friendly staff. In a beautiful location. Highly recommended!!

Bought panini, coffees and cakes for a quayside picnic and they were delicious. Went back to buy more cake to take away. Great dairyfree cake selection that my toddler was very happy with. Great customer service too. Thank you.

Great sea side café - friendly staff and happy atmosphere. Not much space - but sitting outside is always an option on a good day. Great place to meet & greet, or have an ice cream while walking your dogs

The best gluten free cakes I've had in a long time, large selection of 'normal' great coffees and milk shakes well worth a visit

Visited Lymington for half a day after returning to our New Forest Hotel following a short cruise. Found Drifters by chance and were enticed in by window display of cakes. Bought freshly made sandwiches and cakes to take away for long journey home. Can honestly say that when we stopped to eat them it was best meal of our holiday. Lovely fresh crusty bread and fillings which had been expertly prepared by very friendly young lady. Highly recommended

Little gem of a place with lovely staff who were happy to chat and impart local knowledge. Rather splendid cakes too!!

Soo polite and relaxed atmosphere! Staff were welcoming and approachable. Great decoration. Topped off with yummy food - I had a well crafted ham salad sandwich. Well made l coffee.

Saw the cake in the window and thought we would try some! As just finding out that I cant eat nuts I asked what would be the right cake to eat!! Very helpful and friendly staff!

Every time we are in Lymington we also seem to drift into Drifters! This is not surprising as they serve the best Hot Chocolate and Latte in Lymington (our opinion!) The sandwiches and panini's are freshly made with tlc and well worth the wait. My husband says he is always greeted with a warm & friendly smile!!Highly recommend!

We fell upon "Drifters" whilst in Lymington and as myself and my daughter are both gluten and dairy intolerant the sign in the window for cakes caught our eye! This is a lovely little take away coffee/sandwich/cake shop and the owner was really friendly and helpful. We had a piece of Gluten AND dairy free Victoria sponge and Carrot cake which were both fantastic, its such a rare find to have cakes that are free from both (that i don't have to bake myself) that i just had to write this review!! Thank you Drifters!

Originally went to Truly Scrumptious across the road but the lady was rude so came over to Drifters. We were really glad we did as the lady that served us was very friendly and chatty. The food and coffee were lovely too

Fantastic place for coffee and cake (and sandwiches too). It is more set up for take-away customers, but there is a small bench and stools for about 4-6 people to sit inside. We took advantage of this as the Bank Holiday weather was pretty awful. The staff were very friendly and welcoming and the flapjacks are some of the best I have ever had. Also do gluten free / vegan stuff too. Allround excellent place to stop

The cakes on offer in the window will leave you spoilt for choice as they all look delicious we finally decided on chocolate topped flapjacks and they were lovely. Staff were friendly and welcoming.

Drifters is my favourite place in Lymington, without a doubt. I found it right at the end of my holiday and I can't wait to go back. They've got fab customer service, lovely coffee and the best flapjack I've ever eaten. It's impossible not to smile in there. 5/5 :D

Drifters offers excellent cakes (I really enjoyed my Dorset Apple cake) and even better coffee, all served with a smile by lovely and friendly young staff. Although there are a handful of seats inside, it's great to grab a takeaway and head down to the quay to boat and people watch.

Always enjoy visiting Drifters when down on the Town Quay. Lovely choice of Baguettes, sandwiches, paninis and jacket potatoes. Very friendly staff everytime we go in. Would thoroughly recommend

Good customer service and a lovely environment. We visited her on a Saturday evening during the carnival. There was a friendly and convivial atmosphere.

The queue outside Drifters is testament to its success as provider of the best tea, coffee, cakes and paninis around.

Best place to pick up a coffee and a cake or a panini, and head to the quay to watch the world go by. Friendliest people you will ever meet. Only shame is they're not open all year...April to October only. Easily five stars!

Drifters is an amazing little gem on the Lymington cobbles. The welcome you get is great and the food the same. Lovely local produce in there sandwiches and good value. Very clean too. It's a pleasure to go there.

Such a friendly welcome to each customer and a guarantee of well prepared fresh food makes it a must for us each time we visit the town. Coffee lovers will appreciate the fine coffee too.

A hidden gem on the cobbles. Using the best local produce and guaranteed to be served with a smile. We have been buying our lunches and breakfasts there for years. Definitely the best establishment of it's type in the town.