Puffers cafe in North Ayrshire

Went for breakfast and was really impressed. Had the Puffer's breakfast and it was great. Good coffee and well cooked food. I recommend it strongly. Great panoramic views.

Amazing place staff amazing food fantastic 1st time there yesterday and omg I would back again 😋 😍 xxx

First visit, friendly, excellent food and choice. Busy but we weren't rushed, will return.

Great friendly place. Food is delicious and the staff are very helpful. X

Assisted seating fair menu served quickly

Lovely place to visit xx staff friendly and knowledgeable xx

Place was busy, but the head waitress took our phone number and phoned us back very quickly when a table was available. This allowed us to carry on viewing the exhibits and the shop at the Maritime museum.

Excellent restaurant beautiful view good food, excellent staff.

lovely coffee and strawberry 🍓 tart...Magic

First class service very friendly staff and great atmosphere and the breakfast o boy so good thumbs up

Great breakfast. Excellent service and super staff.

Lovely view across sea, nice hot chocolate, lovely Waverley boat creation and nice n clean. However something condescending about staff. Hard to explain. Passive aggressive? Used to regular customers ?? Tense atmosphere too. "Off". Visited once but would not go in a second time. I also don't know who that was taking payment (female) but customer service classes may be a good idea !! Always a pity that cafes don't pay attention to reviews - Word gets around and people reward them by never returning.

A further visit to the his establishment, always busy, food of a good standard. Staff friendly.

My brother and I visited Puffers Cafe today for breakfast and to be honest we were both disappointed with what we received both service and food. I had the Puffers breakfast and my brother had the three eggs cheese omelet. The breakfast was not up to the usual standard, the fried egg was rubbery and the bacon rasher was so hard it snapped, and the omelet was bland without any seasoning and there was supposed to be bacon and mushrooms but these must have been in short supply and the service was very poor as it was not busy when we went in but we had to wait about 30 minutes from ordering to receiving our food,and we had to ask the waiting staff when we were going to get our breakfast. Overall it was a disappointing experience as we have been here before many times and we have never had any complaints before. We would be reluctant to go there again unless the usual high standards and attention to detail are restored.

First time in the Puffers cafe... amazing choice of menu, staff are lovely, excellent service and food was well worth its money... Will deffo be back to try more of the menu.

A family favourite - we had our family lunch here for five adults and four under six...excellent position overlooking the estuary, excellent choice of food for all, and welcoming staff...a joy to visit...!!

Tasty and very reasonably priced food. Stunning views if you get a chance to sit by the window! Family and pet friendly.

Ideal place for a coffee, snack or lunch, everything is first class and the staff are all helpful and cheery. Plus the harbour views are great 👍

Excellent view, excellent location, excellent lentil soup. Waverley bloomer o.m.g. Glad to see people talking and not on phone. No WiFi a bonus Waverley bloomer chicken mayo peppers cheese Cheese and ham toastie. Salad dressing omg 2 bowls of lentil soup 1 diet Coke 1 diet Fanta.

Food fantastic and the happy and helpful staff make it a must to visit,capped off with the lovely views over the water

Roll and slice, only filled half the roll.

The Puffers Cafe is part of, but apparently not run by, the Scottish Maritime Museum in Irvine. The Museum is located about half a mile west of the main shopping area. As you approach the Museum the main site is on the left of the road but Puffers is through a gate on the right. Access to the cafe is through a gift shop. The cafe itself is surprisingly large with view along one side over the harbour. You can probably sit outside of the weather is good enough. There is an excellent range of food on the menu, from snacks up to full sized hot meals, Service was prompt and friendly. If anyone from Puffers reads this the only drawback for me personally was the printed menu which is in a glossy plastic sleeve and printed in small italic lettering, This makes it almost impossible to read for someone with poor eyesight. Otherwise a good find and excellent experience.

If you visit Irvine you need to visit Puffers Cafe. Excellent food and service. This has to be the cleanest cafe I have ever visited. The staff are lovely and friendly and the food is spot on. I can't recommend it more highly. Keep up your high standards, much appreciated.

First visit to this cafe but it won't be my last, food was delicious all the family cleared their plates, the wait staff were all very friendly and helpful, prices also were reasonable.

Nice place, staff were helpful and the prices are quite reasonable.

Excellent cafe with large menu of great food Staff very helpful

I went with my gran and had a very lovely lunch, the cakes are great and they had a gluten free caramel apple cake that was amazing 🤩

Did not have a good experience here. Food took ages to arrive and it wasn't up to a good standard. It felt like we were sitting in a creche with small children running about everywhere. I didn't have any children with me so maybe that's why. I have heard great things about this place but sadly it wasn't for us.

Wonderful location. Spotless cafe. Efficient and friendly staff. Extensive menu and great quality food. Gluten free paradise! High recommend a visit to this cafe and shop.

Went in for our afternoon tea the woman was so helpful and the afternoon tea was absolutely beautiful and the even song happy birthday to my daughter just was the best day for her xxxx

This is a must visit! Food is great, staff are brill and the craic is spot on!

Great food and reasonable prices. Would go again Pleasant staff.

The food was awful. Poor quality frozen chips, scampi and garlic bread. I suspect my macaroni cheese was packet as I’d never tasted macaroni like it and it was inedible. No GF options. Shame as the museum is decent and cafe has views.

The staff got a bit lost when it was busy

Wonderful little restaurant / cafe with good reasonably priced food. Great views over the estuary and a small delightful maritime museum and shop. Easy parking and seemingly really popular. Fantastic service from the waitresses, especially Kimmie who mostly served us Recommend this establishment to anyone looking for a nice well located traditional cafe serving good traditional food

Good .seating outside in good weather its a shame the kellpies are no longer outside a good attraction for visitors

Really nice calm atmosphere lovely welcoming staff and food was delicious complements to the chef. Will definitely be back with family again.

I ordered a ham omelette, it came with cheese, they said they all come with cheese, it never said so on the menu, they then made me another ham omelette, but this time it came without the ham through it, just a pile of ham, dissapointed

A very good meal and friendly service.

Cakes are bought in and service is not the greatest. The woman was not very friendly. Wouldn't rush back

Lovely lunch today. Very clean restaurant. Staff very friendly 😄

I went here after my museum visit. Despite a rainy weekday, the cafe was bustling and I had difficulty in getting a table. So consider booking. Nice views over the firth. It has a good menu with a wide range of starters and mains. I had Nachos with chilli, which was very good. Staff were efficient and friendly. You pay at the till after you finish.

Had lunch with my wife at the Puffers Cafe at Irvine Harbourside. We had eaten there on a number of occasions before, but it looked like there had been a recent change to the decor and menu. As it was, the food was superb : we both went for toasted bloomer sandwiches (can thoroughly recommend the "Scottie" (haggis, lettuce, cheese and caramelised onion). The only slight niggle was that the restaurant was really busy and - while we were well looked after, in terms of getting seated at a table and having our initial order taken and delivered - there was no follow up. Even when we managed to ask for a cake and a coffee, it never arrived. As we looked around, it seemed that the focus was still on getting people seated and taking their initial order, but no more attention to the customers who were already eating and drinking. We ended up just paying and leaving, which was a bit of a shame as the weather was great, the views out the window were great, and the food and drinks were fantastic.

This has a great choice from a full breakfast to a filled roll of choice and everything in between. Local specialist butcher supplies cracking slice sausage and bacon - perfect for an early morning roll

We visited twice in 3 days for lunch here as it was so good the first time we wanted to go back. The staff here are so lovely, all are very friendly and it does make a difference when staff are all nice. Food choices are simply beautiful. Even the simple sandwiches are gorgeous, lots of choices and everything is very fresh. All the cooked options we saw were very tempting and desserts looked amazing. Also everything is very well priced for what you get. Thoroughly recommend trying The Puffer if you haven`t already been, it is a little hidden gem in Irvine.

Dropped in for lunch and we were NOT disappointed !! The Steak Baggette was absolutely delicious, the cajun chicken pasta had a kick to it and again ..... was brilliant !! The staff were friendly and helpful, we didn't have long to wait before our order was taken and was promptly served .... So, delicious food, friendly staff, nice atmosphere, pleasant surroundings ..... am I missing anything ... ??? ... oh yes, booking our next visit .... very soon.

Great food! Staff excellent... Lovely venue with lovely views to Arran.

Food was very good, soup was homemade and the chicken sweet chilli bowl was lovely. Staff were pleasant and the prices are very reasonable.

Great cafe attached to the Scottish Maratime museum

Popped in for light lunch of soup and sandwich and coffee and cake , we've been to puffers quite a few times but this was our 1st for a while , noticed a few changes and think the menu offered some more choices , all in all we enjoyed everything we had , service was quick and friendly and we intend to visit again .

Very lovely staff always willing to help you good food and what you pay for food is ok

Such slow service we left before they came to take our order. Another couple left at the same time for the same reason. They need to up their game.

Hubby and I had breakfast a nice table for two with a view of the sea.Service very quick.Waitress was very pleasent and attentive.Breakfast lovely ,hubby got puffer.I got all day breakfast which is smaller than puffer.Served with toast.First time here going back Friday.This wee place is well worth the visit ,a lovely gift shop on site too.Well done puffer cafe..*****booking advisable

Came here with my partner for dinner. Arrived at twenty to four. Waitressing staff were lovely, food was nice. We were told to sit at one side of the restaurant as they were cleaning which was fine until the started coming over to our side cleaning and spraying disinfectant where we were trying to eat. The ladies were run of there feet cleaning as there presuming boss started at them continuously. I hadn’t even finished my food and by the time I sat my fork down somebody came and swiped my food away. Atmosphere felt very tense and unwelcoming. Won’t be returning anytime soon.

This place is absolutely lovely. Never mind with any of the nearby cafes, this is the one to visit. Amazing service and amazing food. The choice on the menu is incredible as well. Well worth a visit.

Great spot, good food and very friendly service

First class Food great service very homely atmosphere

Top notch staff and great food! Even when ultra busy they coped with a group of eleven in a courteous, efficient and speedy manner! Waiting time for the wide selection of dishes chosen by our group was less than expected and certainly less than many larger, more prestigious establishments I’ve been in! The food was excellent and the menu varied. It has excellent views across Irvine bay and it is a comfortable, friendly atmosphere to dine in. Well done guys!

Lovely venue with a very friendly staff. Good selection of cakes. Highly recommend coming for a visit with friends.

Good food lovely service will definitely return again

Clean, excellent service, friendly staff, good food and value for money. Would definitely recommend

Very friendly staff ! Wide selection on menu ! Cakes Scones tray bake ! Prices not to bad ! If more than 5 people best to phone and book ! Only negative toilets outside and not really decorated and cold x

Friends we're taking me out for a birthday breakfast (Nov 22) they said you choose the place. For some reason I said Puffers at Irvine Harbour. I’d been there year's ago when it was a greasy spoon cafe. But I remember the views of Arran...

First time here Was a lovely wee cafe Friendly and helpful staff Nice and clean Didn't booked just walked in Nothing was a bother for them

The food is very tasty and well priced, We have never been dissapointed , The staff are pleasant and go the extra mile to give good service.

A popular cafe if you are visiting the Maritime museum. It was very busy when we arrived but we were advised when a table was available-& were lucky to be by the window. There is a great view of Arran & a variety of birdlife...

I visited Puffers yesterday to meet friends. I had a very fractious toddler with me. The young staff were superb with him, even allowing him to watch cartoons on their phones. Our soup was lovely and the wee one ate all his lunch. The young...

Stopped when cycling as it was such a glorious day I thought a coffee and sit outside would be just right. Lovely coffee and cake, very nice sitting outside, but the real treat was the staff, absolutely super crew. So good to meet people who...

Visited for lunch. Had lentil soup which was lovely and a panini. Panini wasn't up to much at all, bread very cheap tasting, wasn't toasted very much,and the cheese was awful, had no flavour at all (was more like the fake catering cheese used on...

Been here several times in the last few weeks. Good choice of menu, food really tasty, excellent value for money, service good and very friendly. This place fills up really quickly for lunch so best to book in advance and request a table next to...

Excellent place to go for lunch. The food is tasteful and cooked to order. Price very reasonable. Very impressed with their hygiene measures. After a table has been vacated everything is washed thoroughly.. staff cheerful and efficient. Toilets have hot water. Highly recommend .

Popped in without a booking and delighted to find it fully Covid compliant with staff masked, test & trace in use and good social distancing in operation. Staff were friendly & welcoming to first time visitors. Food and drinks were hot, tasty and great value....

Great views, great food and friendly staff Sitting looking out of the window enjoying our beautifully fresh food was wonderful! Great place to relax, quite big place, roomy and easy to get in and out of! Prices were very good and portions considerable! Definitely worth...

Had a look online for somewhere close to caravan son had rented and saw here. Lovely service and very courteous The food was first class and couldn’t be faulted ..well worth a visit if in the area But either call to book or go early...

Visited for lunch today. Customer service was very poor. Waited a good 10 minutes or so before anyone even acknowledged we were waiting for a table (albeit seen by plenty staff who were passing during that time). Lentil soup and sandwich was lovely but waited...

We went here for a late lunch and as I am vegetarian I asked for the vegetarian burger and chips when it arrived I was disappointed with the presentation but thought I would try the burger, it was disgusting the roll was so dry and...

Myself and my wife went for lunch here after it was recommended to us by family when we arrived it was very busy we had a 20min wait for a table but it was well worth it the food was delicious service was great and...

Great little cafe located in Irvine Harbour front. Popped in to grab a coffee and sandwich for lunch and was freshly prepared in no time, and was very tasty. Will most certainly be back as really good value for money.

When we arrived we were shown to a table. Service was quick, friendly and efficient without being intrusive. The food was delicious and reasonably priced. Great views over the river. Room was large and airy with a friendly atmosphere. Tables were meticulously cleaned after each...

Very poor food quality. Food was basically Iceland store reheats. Actually Iceland food is way better! Quality was really poor and way over priced. £47 for 4 of us for snacks. None of us enjoyed our food at all. Such a shame. Staff were really...

Was there with a friend. Waitresses were lovely and very helpful. Surroundings light and bright. Food was excellent. Staff friendly, tables well distanced. Great for lunch with a view.

Walked in with the family I said I was exempt for wearing a mask the guy on the front looked at me and said have you got proof I showed my NHS exemption card he groand he thinks he's a doctor even tho your not...

Thought it was average. Wouldnt go back to many kids running about & was like school dinner hall with a view

Had lunch here during our visit to the Maritime museum, what a super place,staff all very nice,friendly and helpful. Food was superb,we presented and good helpings. We will be back.

I don't know if it due to covid19 but the staff were very disorganised. Did not appear to know what they were doing . On the plus side the food was decent. Although we got fed up waiting on dessert and gave up and just...

I was a little nervous bringing my family here unsure of the distancing rules and how it works. I came in with my husband and grandson and was met by a lovely lady who showed us the hand gel and where the contact forms were...

Food lovely! Unfortunately for the 2nd time on 2 separate occasions I have experienced this crabit rude older woman who works there made gave our children into trouble several times for pointless things! as apparently they were annoying other customers?! Even tho majority of other...

Set up a play area, was meeting a friend and her toddler so thought this place would be fab. The staff were great until one woman (older woman short hair) decided to interrupt our lunch multiple times to tell our children to behave and stop...

Excellent for grandparents visiting with young children. good food and helpful staff.will visit again.

Have visited once with a friend and her young son and the food was good and atmosphere family friendly. Staff were all great.

Thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Puffers Cafe. Friendly service, good food and a magnificent view. We'll visit the Maritime Museum next time.

For a Monday lunchtime the cafe was extremely busy and we did have to wait half an hour for our food to be delivered, however the waitress did tell us we would have a long wait when we ordered so it wasn't really a problem. Choice of three soups, two of which were delicious (only tasted two!). Freshly made toasties. Other plates of food at neighbouring tables looked very tasty. Great setting looking over the river estuary. Lovely staff, so friendly, nothing any trouble.

The puffer is a friendly spot for well cooked wholesome food, nicely laid out and perfect for families. A child friendly cafe with a play area for the toddlers. Fantastic views. Service always with a smile 😁

Arrived for a snack with my father. The cafe was busy and obviously has a good atmosphere. We ordered our meal and was served by a very pleasant waitress. All staff were extremely efficient . Lovely views of the harbour area. Highly recommended.

Busy and noisy as acoustics not great. Staff friendly menu decent choices. View down the river - full tide was spectacular as the sun was out too! Food plentiful and filling. Toilets could do with a bit of attention - basic to say the least.Great having the shop to browse before/after eating.

Lovely place to sit, if u like water + wildlife. Always tastey specials + good value salads. Very cheery service + good value fir money.

Amazing hard working, polite, friendly staff, and very clean café, really busy today and yet still got served within 3 minutes and food served within 10. Food is always delicious, hot and tasty and very good portions. We have never had any issues and would recommend Puffers for breakfast, snacks, lunch etc. See you again soon.

Located within the maritime museum complex, puffers cafe serves good lunches and we had a tasty fish tea on a cold and windy day

Benn here for lunch many times. I LOVE it! It's inexpensive, offers good, wholesome food, super friendly service and lovely views. It also has an area for children.

I popped in for a dessert and coffee with the family, well what can I say the knickerbocker glory was very poor and coffee was average cakes are ok but the sticky dirty table was just as much a put off as the desert. My rating of this place is just keep going on by, not worth the money or your time but the wee shop is worth a visit so a positive their.