Old Hall Southwold Cafe & Walks in Waveney

We visited for a delicious brunch on our way home from another lovely week-long stay in Southwold. Perfect eggs, great portions, very good quality produce and value, and friendly and efficient staff. We’ll be back.

Have visited many times as it’s a lovely walk from Walberswick however, disappointed. If the kitchen is closed to changeover from breakfast to lunch this should be advertised, it’s the second visit only to find we had to wait 25 minutes to order. The change from waitress service is disappointing meaning long queues only to find, you had to go back in 20 minutes to queue again. Butty was good but one of our party orders gluten free quiche at £12.50 and we all thought the portion extremely small. Disappointing visit.

Our 3rd visit. First time for food. We ordered ham egg & chips. My eggs and ham were swimming in oil, so badly I used 3 serviettes to mop up the oil. I didn't return as we hadn't eaten all day & I wanted to eat with my friends. The chips were just frozen fries, as it was Suffolk ham I assumed they would be nice handcut/thick chips. Regardless of the oil it was such an unimpressive meal. As if I was in a greasy spoon! A lovely setting for a coffee/drink but we won't be eating there again. Such a shame as we left Southwold & it's many places to eat to eat here.

Lovely scones and cakes. Perfect setting and good for a walk into Southwold. However … disappointing service and overpriced. Table service has now been replaced by ordering at the counter and there was a lack of attention. Our order didn’t come out together which was poor; it’s not difficult to coordinate drinks and snacks for 3 people!

Excellent venue. Driven past many times but so pleased we stopped this time. Staff were very friendly even though busy. Good choice of drinks and cakes. (Though limited on the vegan option) Dog friendly plus baby change. Would have gone for a walk but Storm Bert put a stop to that! Will visit again. Recommended.

We came here today for breakfast and to take our dog for a walk. We had the added bonus of the Christmas Market. It’s a lovely place to come with your dog. It was really busy but the food was lovely, staff really friendly and they made us feel really welcome. Our dog even got a puppuccino. Christmas Market was lovely to walk around with lots of stalls to get you in the Christmas spirit. Would recommend coming here and we will come back.

Having visited a few times before we decided to return again on a Saturday for lunch. It was incredibly busy with it being the beginning of the October half term. New changes from table service to counter service caused customers a lot of confusion and the queue to order food took over twenty minutes! Once finally reaching the till to order food half the menu was sold out and anything that was available had a 30 minute waiting time! There were plenty of tables available inside and outside but they were filthy. We left and went elsewhere for lunch.

We have visited many times and have to say we are really disappointed with the changes you have put in place. Breakfast was nice but didn't come upto the standard we have had in the past. Don't like the counter service much preferred waitress service. Won't be visiting as often now as there are better places for breakfast.

Delicious coffee and waffles. Amazing views and walk. Friendly staff and lovely location. Then just a short drive to Southwold. Will be back!

Nice enough cafe typical of those around UK. Sadly though waiting staff were rude on our arrival - we went to the back of the cafe to look at the nice view and the map of walks before deciding to stay for a coffee, so we walked through cafe to the front of it to wait to be seated as requested on the entrance sign - we were chastised for not coming through front door and also for taking a can of sparkling drink from the chiller cabinet (we wanted to pay to take it away with us after having coffee). The can was removed from us as we were firmly informed we should have entered through front door, waited to be seated and they would bring us everything we requested. The waitress clearly felt we needed dressing down instead of welcoming us. They showed us to a table (the cafe was pretty empty tbh and this seemed OTT). As a result we didn’t get to see the variety of cakes on display at the check out desk so we didn’t feel we wanted to order one with our coffee. I would suggest the management need to review the processes for welcoming customers so that they are made to feel at home - my husband joked that it felt like the military were running it. Also if you want to offer a variety of cakes, put them where people can view them before they are asked to order. All told it was a bit of a turn off and we won’t return. Not to our taste.

An inaugural visit on holiday following family recommendation. The staff were welcoming and the food was excellent. Perfect before a walk in the Suffolk countryside.

Superb afternoon tea to celebrate a special birthday. Amazing location, service exceptional and the food couldn’t have been better - fabulous selection of savoury and sweet treats - very generous portions and all cooked freshly. Could not recommend more highly.

Poor service today had to wait 15 mins after being seated then another 15 to get food with one being delivered 10 Minutes apart and not busy but lots of staff ‼️

Ok, but could be more more mindful of equality/inclusion in practice. Not being able to see the menu until you've committed to a table isn't great if you have member of your party with additional needs (i.e. with food aversions). The brand of carton drinks stocked are very liable to spillage - not great for kids with support needs or younger, less dexterous children.

This amazing spot is a hidden gem in the North Suffolk Countryside. The food us incredible all cooked fresh to order & the staff are second to none. The is beautiful overlooking the estuary of the River Byth.

Lovely little spot for food and drinks. Beautiful views and walks. The food was very good. I think they stop serving hot food from the kitchen from 11.00 to 12.00 to allow for the kitchen to switch over to lunch preparations. You can still have hot food from the counter (sausage rolls etc). I had a very good hot sausage roll and my wife had the best cheese scone she's ever had. It came with chilli jam which she didn't fancy but it was the perfect accompaniment for my sausage roll.

Excellent afternoon tea in lovely setting overlooking marshes and river. All food yummy, freshly prepared and well presented with choice of sandwiches, type of scones and pastries as well as cheese straws and cake. Easy walking trails down to river through reed beds