Java Independent Coffee House in Purbeck

Popped in for coffee. Independent coffee shop, table service, good coffee, reasonably priced, lovely staff. What's not to like.

Lovely find down a little courtyard in Swanage, dog friendly, great veggie options and a delicious lunch. Cannot recommend enough. Mmmmm

Plenty of great vegan options, very cosy cafe and lovely staff :)

What a smashing find, recommend to us by a local, the food was a absolutely delicious!

Food always lovely and special. Service excellent.

Lovely people and great service. Have only popped in for coffee when shopping while on holiday. Have seen other customers food which looks great and definitely plan to go back for lunch 😋

Fantastic place with friendly staff, the coffee has been spot on every time I have been and the chocolate brownie is a must try! The decor is spot on too, really interesting style.

A lovely find. My friends and I really enjoyed our experience at Java. I loved the ambience, the staff were friendly and helpful and the coffee was delicious. I have decaff and it is often not pleasant, but the decaff here was wonderful. We will certainly return.

Exquisite food. Iced coffee was great, Cappuccino a bit on the small side. I liked the no laptop rule (well signed).

Fab cafe with really good veggie and vegan options. Dog friendly and great staff!

Enjoyed a few takeaway lattes this week whilst on holiday in Swanage. Staff are super friendly and welcoming and the coffee is great. Hoping to treat myself to some of the delicious food when I'm back next summer.

Java’s is exceptional, a quirky independent cafe, with fabulous customer service and sensational food! We had the specials with were truly splendid! A must visit!

Lovely well made coffee. Excellent cakes. Nice setting and good service!

Lovely coffee house, delicious artisan coffee, friendly staff. The coffee house is located in a cute and peaceful courtyard.

Stayed in Swanage a week and this was the best breakfast. Really friendly welcome, plenty of space, great menu choices including gluten free, and stunning food beautifully presented.

The atmosphere is the big winner here however the food is also a great reason to get out ! Very tasty choices.

Fantastic independent café with eclectic relaxed interior and huge range of excellent vegan cake. Update - Leaving it at 5* because it’s by far the best café in Swanage, but on greater familiarity did want to note the opening hours and no laptop policy as frustrations, and things to be aware of.

Best coffee we had, cinnamon bun v. good too

Fabulous at every level. We had the veg lasagne from the specials board. Very tasty with a beautiful salad and garlic bread. Great value for money too. Well done Java must be one of the best places to eat in Swanage.

Very tasty veggie food and friendly service. Definitely recommend!

Visited Java three times during a short holiday in Swanage and loved everything about it. It's nicely tucked away and offers a great range of drinks, snacks and meals. I loved the espresso and the warm, quirky vibe both indoors and outdoors and each visit just made me want to return again.

We popped in for a rest from all the hubub. Excellent coffee and delicious homemade almond tart. I'll come back later.

Really Excellent coffee and food but uncomfortable seating for us silver kissed clients even with the courtesy cushions

Delicious vegan food in an interesting and unique small cafe. Excellent coffee and charming service. A must for any visit to Swanage.

Fine mushrooms on toast and really good coffee. A very weird anti-EU poster in the toilet. I'd probably take that down...

30 April: What a find. Although not vegetarian the meal chosen was excellent, tasty and decent portion. Freshly prepared and cooked. Cosy and with friendly staff. Would definately go back. 👍👏👏. Specials board and standard menu options available.

Visiting this cafe was the food highlight of our little holiday. We stumbled across it from their sign on the high street and thought we'd venture down to see what it was about and so glad we did. Service was great, food was amazing. The lovely guy even gave my daughter her own little soup bowl like ours. Really friendly atmosphere, coffee tasted great. We aren't vegetarian or vegan but would visit this cafe again when we travel to Swanage.

I was there for breakfast on a Saturday morning. It had a separate vegan breakfast menu which was great. I chose the grilled mushrooms, tomatoes, spicy beans and avocado on toast. It was delicious. I also had two flat white coffees and a slice of chocolate cake with orange peel. The place itself was beginning to get busy. The staff were very pleasant too. Nice ambience. A bit difficult to find. A little expensive but worth it.

A great coffee shop with a great selection of homemade cakes and pastries. As well as delicious lunches all freshly prepared. Vegetarian and vegan food. Highly recommended.

Really lovely little cafe. Food was delicious and fresh, really good portions and good value for money. Staff were friendly and the service was quick. I also liked the decor, real eclectic mix of items on display.

We had the best meal of our few days in Purbeck, very helpful staff.

Great service . Great ambience. Great coffee.

Amazing coffee shop in beautiful Swanage. Awesome coffee and cakes, I can recommend thier soya cappuccino and rock cake.

A nice cafe/restaurant with vegan food and very tasty coffee. An absolute recommendation! We'd love to come back.

Had a lovely flat white and a cheddar, marmite and spring onion scone. Lovely place with great service and value for money.

Great cafe with delicious food. They also cater for dietary requirements. Coffee is also very nice plus a great service.

Great atmosphere, dogs allowed and good choice of vegan food.

First time visit today. Lovely friendly staff. Such a cute and comfy cafe. Sat outside - courtyard is really pretty! Coffee is top notch. Lots of vegan options, thank you! Cinnamon bun was to die for 🫡🤤Very fairly priced coffee and food.

Lovely. They let dogs in and everything. The service is fantastic. We'll worth seeking out.

Amazing coffee and cakes Must try lunch

A fabulous independent coffee shop! I can see why it is so popular too. It's quirky on the inside with wood, metal signs and has that reclaimed vibe. The staff were attentive with great service. The kitchen and tables looked very clean. the staff were cleaning every spare few minutes. I have my coffee black, and it was smooth and aromatic. I had the halloumi and avocado 🥑 on sourdough bread. Very tasty and a great side salad. Highly recommend 👌

Great lunch with friends, lovely food, helpful staff, great atmosphere!

Love Java - great food, great coffee, great atmosphere and really lovely staff!

Lovely place, great service, great food

very good coffee and friendly staff. Didn't try the food but judgng by the smells wafting over and the appearance that was my loss

This place is tucked away but it's fabulous and well worth seeking out. I stopped in yesterday for a coffee and cake (only reason for the 4 stars for food is because I have only tried one thing!) both were absolutely delicious, all the baked goods on offer looked amazing! Really cool rustic and funky decor and very friendly staff. I travel all over for work and visit a lot of cafes, this is a great one!

Recently discovered Java which was recommended to me. It’s fantastic, just off the main high street if you don’t know Swanage it can be difficult to find ( it was for me originally) the place has a real buzz out it and gets very busy The cakes are the best around ( I’ve only tried the cakes) they are just way better than the mass brought offer in most coffee shops I believe most are vegan and GF not something that bothers me, but is a big plus for many. Service is always warm and friendly. Coffee is excellent served in an array of decorative China! Without doubt the best in Swanage by far

Great coffee and a delicious breakfast.

Friendly staff and lovely food. My coffee was also great. Have already returned already and suspect we will go again before our Dorset holiday is over. The portion size is good which helps if you've done a morning walking. I was particularly impressed by the salad that came with each dish - it wasn't just a few leaves added as an afterthought, but really complemented the plate. Hopefully my photos do it justice. Just updating my review on my return this year to Swanage. Java is still the best cafe in Swanage and possibly the best I've been in anywhere. Food is great, fresh and creative. Staff still super friendly.

Lovely little bistro cafe in a quiet courtyard.

Staff helpful, excellent service and food Recommend it tucked away in small side street popular with residents

Proper coffee, lovely food, and the outside seating is in a secluded courtyard. Lovely atmosphere and excellent service. Loved it.

We called in on speck and thoroughly enjoyed it will go back 😁

A little hidden away, but this vegetarian cafe is worth finding. All food is cooked fresh, and the portions are large. Very excellent tasting coffee. My only complaint would be the prices are a little high. But sometimes you have to pay to get something good.

We’re so glad we found this little gem tucked away in Swanage- my partner being vegetarian and myself vegan, finding good food we can enjoy around here has been a challenge, so we were delighted to find Java. Their food is delicious and very reasonably priced for the quality and portions you get! We will be returning

Delightfully eclectic decor, very friendly staff and generous portions plus it's dog friendly

Everyone seems to rave about this place but it’s not for us. I think you have to be a real veggie/vegan to enthuse about Java but it didn’t tickle my taste buds.

Such a lovely place with a great atmosphere, I’m celiac and vegetarian and they had plenty options and I felt very confident eating here. Cant recommend enough especially as gluten free and veggie food is harder to come by round this area 💗

What an amazing place. Went with my daughter who's vegi and coeliac and there was plenty of choice Staff were so friendly and the atmosphere was amazing. Highly recommend

We walked past this place, taking a shortcut back to our car, just as it was closing, one Friday evening, and thought it looked worth a visit, so we called in the following morning, before leaving Swanage for home. It's decorated in a really nice, quirky style, and the coffee and cakes are next level. On a recommendation from the girl behind the counter, we shared a sweet potato, rhubarb and almond cake with a creamy topping. It looked good, but we expected it to be a bit full on, with sweet butter cream icing on top. It was better than that. The creamy topping was more like mascarpone - perfect with the rhubarb, and with a couple of fresh, juicy blackberries pressed into it that were a lovely finishing touch. We'll definitely be back!

We made two visits on our day trip to Swanage. Lovely meals and cakes. Excellent coffee

Lovely place. Good coffee and lovely breakfast

A very enjoyable lunch stop, with good quality enjoyable food. A1 and ***** though I suggest that it would be sensible to provide meals as described on the menu, with the generous additions serviced up separately - to be added to taste. Dedicated staff and wonderful decor.

Only had a latte and it was delicious. Staff friendly and so were some of the locals, highly recommended. Really nice to see an independent coffee shop doing so well and truly deserved.

Had brunch - food and coffee both very good, friendly service, good value, highly recommended

The place was full when we arrived for lunch, and for good reason! Delicious home cooked and healthy food, wholesome dishes and hearty portions served on crockery that reminded me of home. Great character and unlike anything else in the area. Pop in!

Fantastic little cage with delicious vegan options and very friendly staff and surroundings.

You know you get a good coffee/tea, friendly service & a different but delicious piece of cake (the twist of a carrot cake with prunes or dates I think it was delicious). It’s our go-to cafe in Swanage.

Lovely coffee - can't comment on the food as I didn't try anything, plus I'm not a vegetarian/vegan, so the menu is not for me and the food is very expensive... How can vegetables be more expensive than meat? Unless vegetarians/vegans are more gullible and willing to pay a premium to follow their (misguided) beliefs...

Wonderful find in Swanage and another great example of using Google reviews to find a decent place. £14 for 2 X coffees and cakes . Lovely courtyard and safe to put bikes in. Will return.

exactly what we were looking for, plenty of choice of veggie and vegan lunch offerings amongst relaxed weekend vibes, will be back again next time we're in Swanage superb

Excellent leek and cheese scone

A lovely break, from a day of cycling. Coffee and cake was lovely.

Best coffee in Purbeck! Delicious food options., heavily weighted towards 'healthy and vegetarian/vegan, but tasty and careingly presented. Immaculately clean and really lovely staff. Pretty courtyard setting too. My favourite meeting spot

Visited whilst on holiday. As someone who produces coffee I always like to seek out a good coffee house and this came highly recommended. Coffee was amazing - so good I ordered a second. Cakes were so good. This place is a real find, make sure you pay a visit.

Beautiful cakes and meals amazing, shows up the rest of the overpriced truckers cafe food in the town

Delicious food, excellent service, lovely people and good music, a most enjoyable lunch. I recommend the roasted pepper, garlic mushrooms and feta on sourdough and the potato and lentil pie with special salad, the fruit and nut flapjack and the cheese scone with fruit chutney - all yummy. The flat white was great too.

Nice little hidden gem which was full up and which offered some delicious cakes and great vegetarian and vegan options. Main meal was the facon (vegan bacon) and mushrooms on toast which was enjoyable and the staff were very helpful and friendly when asked about the vegan options. I woul definetly eat here again and would recommend it to others.

Great food and coffee, dogs are allowed in too.

Came here with my mum today and had a wonderful experience. As soon as we stepped in, the staff had a smile and were super kind while serving us. I had a hot chocolate and my mum had a flat white, which came out to our table very quickly and very warm, giving a cozy feeling. Absolutely amazing work to all the staff. Lovely time, 5 stars.

Lovely little independent cafe off the main Swanage High Street that's really worth tracking down. Home made food, both savoury and sweet, are delicious.

Amazing find, quirky little place, the food is all home made, delicious soup and big choice of cake, coffee good too. Highly recommended, but get there early.

Great lunch with friendly service. Dog friendly!

A warm welcome for both humans and dogs. Attentive staff and tasty food

The best coffee in Swanage, lovely courtyard, and super friendly to dogs. My only constructive criticism is the breakfast options this winter. The brunch menu is all actually lunchtime dishes; lasagne or coleslaw isn't what's needed at 9am. There used to be a lovely scrambled tofu, I'd love to see that come back on an improved breakfast menu!

Vegan/vegetarian. For some reason the door has to be open, even in the winter.

Very welcoming little place, staff very friendly and helpful. My soup was delicios, beautifully made latte and a great roulade. Definitely worth a visit if you are around.

I just ate an incredible pie here.

Great little Coffee Shop! This is tucked away in a lovely little courtyard setting. The coffee, cake and food is always of a high quality and it is always great to support an independent chain. If you are in town and this is what you fancy well worth a visit.

Lovely coffee and cake. A real shame that you are not allowed laptops at the tables. We had intended to do a little house admin whilst drinking coffees and treating ourselves to the lovely cakes. It wasn't until after we had ordered and sat down that I was told I couldn't use my laptop. I wouldn't have any issue with this at all if there had been a sign displayed or a mention of it on ordering. But we couldn't see any signs at all.

Delicious tasty food, good portions The coffee is really good and reasonably priced too Thanks Great service always

What a great place for coffee. The cakes were exceptional and the coffee was great.

What a fabulous spot! Loved the decor! We turned up at lunch time and managed to nab an outside table under an awning. Coffee was v good, food was delicious, staff were super friendly. We would return again if visiting Swanage.

Great coffee and treats,staff are also helpful and friendly.

Gorgeous lunch. The salads are really good and the cakes are delicious. Really tasty vegan options for our dairy allergic son too. The staff were really friendly. A real highlight of our visit to Swanage.

Very friendly staff, delicious food, many options for vegans and vegetarians. Cute interior

Had lunch here, it was busy and you can see why. Fantastic food, great service in a bustling environment. Highly recommend the cheese sandwich and the oat coffee was the best I’ve had in Dorset.

Lovely little cafe tucked away off the main street. Very nice coffee and brunch/lunch menu.

An amazing little place - food is fabulous!

Lovely vegetarian and vegan cafe with good coffee. I can recommend the vegan fruity almond slice and my son very much enjoyed his double chocolate brownie.