King alfreds Kitchen in North Dorset

Delicious food and drink in a beautiful building - I highly recommend

Loads of 'oldy-worldy' atmosphere on two floors - Americans would love it. But being an ancient building the tables are small and close together. Window seats can be chilly in winter. Food good and portions large. Service was poor and the need to go to the counter to order drinks and food and pay in advance was disappointing. In Summer you can sit outside and watch Shaftesbury and the tourists go by. For atmosphere it is on a par with the conservatory of the almost adjacent Grosvenor Hotel which on balance I think I would prefer.

This establishment is a beautiful olde worlde 13th Century coffee shop, with lovely exposed wooden beams and very thick walls. The room downstairs is very snug and great atmosphere and a larger space on the first floor for more customers in busy times. The serving area is in the corner on the lower floor and I paid at the counter as I wasn’t sure whether there was table service or not. It is very dog friendly so if you’d like to bring in your pooch and watch the world go by in the lovely location looking over Shaftesbury High Street then this is the place for you. From staff comments I understand that free doggie treats were available on request, but staff weren’t pushy with this. I arrived at the end of the working day on a Sunday and with only 20 minutes before closing both myself and my four legged friends were still made to feel very welcome there. The cream tea tasted lovely and the prices seemed reasonable. It is just around the corner from Gold Hill - the place with the legendary Hovis advert and also next to the Abbey walk. The only reason I have given this place a four star rating rather than a five star was due to the toilet in the gents not actually having a seat on it and sitting down in cold porcelain isn’t exactly anybody’s cup of tea.

Great place for lunch in the centre of Shaftesbury. Friendly service and can recommend their excellent pies!

Best breakfast hands down. Staff and atmosphere were amazing. Coffee was top notch to boot.

Really lovely tiny wee place. I'monly 5'1" so was able to 'just' walk easily through the door into the downstairs area, but my taller friend had to really duck,until we sat down 😆. Perfect coffee made just the way I asked (twice.. we were in there chatting for 2hrs!)... and then we went back again for lunch! The food was awesome.

THE MOST INCREDIBLE CAKES AND DRINKS!!!!!! The atmosphere is super cute and cosy, very relaxing but the cakes and drinks are to die for!!! Definitely 100% a must visit!!!! The food looked really yummy too, next time we visit we will definitely be having lunch here too

Lovely little gem of a place! Gorgeously old building with low height wooden beams. Busy but in a good way, very cosy atmosphere. Lush coffee's and cake!

Aside from the slightly sticky tables, we had a great experience. Would go back. The ceiling is very low, so if you're over 6 foot you will need to stoop!

Everything taste amazing! Huge selection of cakes, specialty coffees, proper pies, but also salads and lighter fare. We had the chicken, ham and leek pie with reduced red wine onion gravy, lime and blueberry and maple, pumpkin and chai cakes. But it was very difficult to choose off the menu. The atmosphere is quaint and cosy with plenty of seating and happy, warm people on staff to serve. You’d be crazy not to stop here when in Shaftesbury!

The food was delicious and the staff were super friendly. It's a nice place, but some of the tables are very small. I guess that's okay for coffee, but choose a good size table when ordering food and a pot of tea!

Delicious food and friendly staff!

I arrived in Shaftesbury Friday afternoon and this was the first cafe I saw. Excellent choice of snacks, lunches, cakes etc. The peanut butter and banana milkshake is a must have!! I visited this cafe for lunch (& milkshake) each day during my short stay. Hope to visit this area again next year.

Friendly staff and a nice place with a terrace.

Unexpected find. Very tasty food swiftly delivered.

Great food, good view, nice staff. Got a good view on the main road.

This is without a doubt our favourite place to visit in Shaftesbury. The staff are wonderful and welcoming and the good and drinks are fantastic quality. I'm here usually atleast once a week. I've had regular food, cakes and the afternoon tea which was incredible value for money too!

Lovely tea room with a great lunch in a beautiful grade 2 listed building.

lovely friendly staff, nothing too much trouble good conversation and helpful and foid nice xx

Absolutely gorgeous, cosy cafe with fresh flowers and a lovely atmosphere. As an Australian, I thought the coffee was good and the food was great too. The staff were really friendly!

Bacon and egg bap, lovely large bap stacked with thick cut bacon, nice runny egg.

We ordered scone, apple cake and bacon&sausage baps, which are all good and pricey! The building is also a highlight with old style roof and design. The view at the upstairs is fantastic, where you can enjoy your taste and view of the market at the same time. It is the first time my friend and I visited Shaftesbury. We had lots of surprises finding this lovely and amazing café. My friend even had a scone takeaway to London. As a scone lover and having tried so many scones, I can say the scone here hits differently, bringing scone to a higher level. I would divinely visit again and enjoy my another afternoon here.

Top notch breakfast bagels & great smoothie selection. Indoor or outdoor seating, right in the centre of Shaftesbury.

A really friendly café with excellent food and a great attitude. Thank you, just what Shaftesbury has been looking for. Dog friendly too 🎉.

Perfect steak and ale pie. Best ever Brilliant food staff very kind and friendly

Perfect for a reliable light meal in Shaftesbury

Had the best pork and Stilton sausage roll with homemade coleslaw ever today . Will definitely visit again. I should also mention the pineapple upside down cake which was equally delicious.

Fabulous for coffee and or lunch

Great place with atmosphere of English courtyard. If you are around, go to eat there

I had lunch in this delightful place with my friends, the food was delicious, the location was unique, for me it was a jump into the past, touching the stones of the walls was truly exciting. Very kind staff. Absolutely recommended.

A very quaint and welcoming place for refreshments, food and drinks.

Ive known this place a long time under different owners .The present place is nice ,and tidy.they have a serving bar where you can see staff and order .The coffee is ex and the food is as well .I had breakfast roll which was first class.The staff are friendly and helpful .Nice decor and comfortable seats .Mind the step down into the lounge its a little steep.They also have an upstairs area First class place to relax

A real gem of a place with great food, friendly staff and a welcoming atmosphere. The lady who I think was the manager couldn't do enough for us and easily accommodated us as a group of 8 with no issues, in fact she couldn't do enough for us. Such a lovely place to visit and the food was just delicious! (As were the drinks!) Really well priced too for home cooked food and amazing looking cakes.

Awesome coffee shop and great food lovely stuff 😋 👌 😊

What a treat - 13th C tea room in honour of King Alfred! Busy but still pretty quiet. Good coffee and supreme pastries - not too pricey either. Highly recommenced

If you would like to have a delicious variety of food and desserts wrapped in a dog friendly welcoming, relaxed atmosphere topped with an amazing customer service - this is the perfect place! The also have Vegan and Gluten free options :-) We were served by Renata (the owner) , a lovely woman that definitely understands the importance of having the knowledge of the ingredients in the different dishes and the attention coffee beans needs to be able to produce the perfect cup of coffee. We highly recommend to give the King Alfred’s kitchen a visit as it’s 5* in every way!!!

It started off well although I find it irritating these days that hosts do not indicate to you if table service or at the counter. Nice ambiance and once I had gone to the counter and ordered a ploughman's I thought great place. My latte was served. The ploughman's that arrived didn't quite look like the website photos. But had the cheeses. The pickles and chutney were a bit laim. Salad ok but the bread very doughy. Half way through my eating a dog was sick next to me. I Left..

Lovely place to visit but sadly I had a cheese scone but obviously the cook forgot to put the cheese in the mix. Good texture but absolutrly no flavour. Tea; good to ahve loose tea but it had a strange flavour!

Cosy little cafe. Dogs welcome. Great cakes and brownies plus a GF option.

A truly special place…visited here with the in-laws and daughter and everyone’s needs were fully cared for….great coffee, proper chocolate used for the Mocha, vegan cakes etc etc. Staff were great, lovely family feel to the whole place! I will definitely be back…soon!

Enjoyed a ploughman's lunch and a toasted ciabatta here. Both were really tasty, and the ploughman's was very substantial. Nice pot of tea too. Quite cosy on the ground floor, but there's more seating upstairs.

Fantastic. Great food, smiling genuinely friendly staff and good music 👍👍👍

Best coffee in town, staff so friendly and helpful. Pastries a delight.

We enjoyed a hearty breakfast with fresh local produce in a 15th century inn during our stay in Shaftesbury. Very friendly folks.

Always go there with friends and when I am meeting friends.

Good coffee, nice cakes, pleasant staff.

Lost a star since food was slow but excellent quality and lovely staff.

We pre booked a full afternoon tea at King Alfred's Kitchen. The table was ready when we arrived, laid with a beautiful tea set. The staff were all helpful, smiling, polite and friendly. The food was delicious, ham, egg mayo and smoked salmon sandwiches. Fruit or plain scones (fresh, large and still slightly warm) with luscious strawberry jam and lashings of clotted cream. Also a warm beautifully spiced chickpea/veg pastry. And cakes... carrot cake, Victoria sandwich, a tropical cake and a lemon drizzle. All heavenly! Tea or coffee to wash the glut of food down. Absolutely fabulous.

Amazing food and great atmosphere 😄 would recommend for breakfast 🥞

Decided to stop for a cup of tea for elevenses, couldn't sit outside as too many wasps. The service was very slow for a Monday, the tea was so weak it wasn't worth it and they have the strainer in the top of the tea pot so you cannot stir it before pouring. Will probably give it a miss next time I visit. but will keep searching for that elusive decent cup of tea.

Great friendly place staff lovely!!!!

Even though we were always running out of time, we had the opportunity to taste their dishes twice. The selection of cheeses and traditional bap are excellent. The beers are good.

cosy, friendly, wide range of dishes, fast service. Under new ownership. A truly cosy atmosphere.From strength to strength.

Best coffee I’ve had in the uk bar none. Friendly staff and lovely atmosphere.

Coffee was amazing very smooth. Avacado on sourdough I added egg and smoked salmon it was very good. Quirky cafe low beams lots of character

Coffee in the sun on Market day. Excellent service with a smile 👍 thoroughly recommend King Alfred's Kitchen....Ned

Cafe in a characterful old building with low ceilings and uneven floors, and an amazing array of cakes. The coffee is good and so are the savoury baps - the fillings are very generous. But the place isn't suitable for prams or wheelchairs.

Cake an coffee are fabulous as are the staff an atmosphere. Highly recommend you pop in for a very enjoyable experience an dogs are welcome

Great place to eat food was very good nice staff would eat there again.

Just been to Shaftesbury on a rainy day and stopped by King Alfred’s Kitchen for lunch never had such rude bad customer service in my life awful attitude and passive aggressive behaviour by the blonde haired girl serving. Who mistook my order 100% (also self admitting to next customer in line she had problems with her hearing the correct customer orders!!!😳 ) and then blamed me ( the customer) for highlighting my alleged wrong order also another staff member did too….😳😳. don’t expect to be made to feel at fault in front of whole busy cafe …. Shocking shocking SHOCKING SERVICE!!!!! Or complete lack of… in my view !!! will recommend wide berth to all my friends of the surrounding areas never to use this place….

We love it here. The food is lovely, cakes are great just too much choice. What a lovely atmosphere, so much history in one building.

This is a great addition for Shaftesbury. Very welcoming staff, delicious coffee and a very varied menu available . .

Had the best chai latte ever in there. Lush cosy atmosphere. A definite place to try if you're in Shaftesbury

Who doesn’t like a warm pastry and coffee in a cosy place at a rainy day, fab !

Added bonus of being dog friendly, I don't have a dog but I enjoyed watching the assorted doggie visitors who were all well behaved

Excellent food and friendly staff great place to visit

A totally ‘on spec’ visit was rewarded with excellent tea and coffee and delicious toasted tea cakes. Renate, the owner, is incredibly welcoming and helpful and is passionate about her new venture. Highly recommend a visit!

Fantastic coffee and cakes, Pastel de Natalie and salted caramel cornflake topped brownie were great.

So glad this has opened again, our first visit since it's reopening and we were very pleased with what we ate and drank, will definitely return.

Amazing service and lovely coffee in a warm and welcoming setting.

Good coffee, great cakes and lovely friendly owners…Also dogs welcome, fab!

Five stars for the Ploughmans alone! If you haven't got a big appetite, you may need a friend to help you finish it! Great value for money. Friendly staff, despite being super busy over the bank holiday, and a lovely characterful old building to sit in.

Amazing food,friendly and helpful staff Brilliant prices for the amount of food

Great afternoon tea - a good selection of sandwiches, a lovely warm scone and a slice of freshly made cake. Thoroughly enjoyed it!

Gorgeous tapas, reasonably priced. Very friendly owners! Lots of choice.

Me an 2 friends went in the evening .an had Tapas .was very good indeed .also been to afternoon lunch was very good 👍

Very nice staff, food was lovley, nice old beams, nice place

Best place for tapas in Shaftesbury. Busy little 13th century restaurant

Best food ever. Had a nice ham salad sourdough sandwich which came with crisps and salad (4 sandwiches) for £5. Very nice environment. Highly recommend

We visited Shaftesbury to see Gold Hill however just by the top of the street was this little cafe. Located in a very old building inside was full of character. We ordered lunch and was served very quickly. All freshly made. The food was lovely and the staff were very friendly. Would recommend a visit.

Lovely breakfast, friendly staff, will be returning soon.

Triffic sandwiches, lovingly made and good value for money in the centre of Shaftesbury Will be trying again very soon

Lovely little place to stop for drinks or lunch. Good choice of food on the menu and the food was delicious 😋 we visited on 19th December whilst attending the Christmas Market. The hot chocolate and marshmallows is VERY highly recommended

Lovely place to stop for lunch or drinks. Nice selection of food to choose from, friendly, welcoming staff and the food was delicious 😋 the hot chocolate and marshmallows is highly recommend!!!

Had Fantastic food and drinks at this wonderful location with great friendly service.we will be back for more .

Great coffee and roasted teacakes.

Huge ploughman's lunch. Good selection of cheeses chutneys and crusty bread. 👌

Had a lovely sandwich and pot of tea here, really fresh and proper tea. Would highly recommend.

What a lucky find! We had a wonderful afternoon celebrating my daughter's baby shower in the private room upstairs. The food was incredible and nothing was too much trouble for the fabulous staff! Thank you so much!

Very nice lunch, highly recommend the ploughman's

Not bad breakfast, great to sit outside on a sunny day

Sharing platter fabulous. Friendly staff

My friend and I had a light afternoon tea which was very filling. We had to bring home our slices of cake. Highly recommend this place.

Been there twice,1st visit had a lovely cream tea,2nd time tuna and cucumber Sandwich,staff friendly and welcoming

We went here for Tapas in the evening any totally love it. Great food and super friendly service. Really good value for money and we are already planning our next evening out!

Brilliant service and food, very good value.

I don't often frequent little tearooms (I'm more of a pub girl usually) but today, visiting the beautiful, historic town of Shaftesbury I was suddenly struck by a great urge to sit down somewhere cosy and pretty for a cup of coffee and a slice of coffee cake. But... I had my dog with me and didn't think dog-friendly tearooms existed. I was wrong. Not only is King Alfred's Kitchen THE prettiest little tearoom in Shaftesbury, but it also allows dogs, has lovely friendly staff, AND it serves the best coffee cake in England. (Even better than my mum's). Full marks, and thank you!

Wonderful place Wonderful people ❤

This is in a perfect spot to watch the goings on of Shaftesbury High Street. We had a delicious piece of Dorset Apple cake which everyone needs to try when in Dorset! Good coffee and friendly service made this a place I would come back to in an instant.

Excellent food, excellent atmosphere, excellent service, excellent price.