Retro Cafe in Southampton

My partner and I come here often and it is our go to place to go for lunch if we have family visiting. It’s a really lovely cafe with great food and it looks really nice inside as well. We in our particular enjoy the smoothies and breakfast foods. 100% recommend

Hugely disappointing. The warning signs were there from the flat white when the milk was just poured straight into the coffee, but things got more serious from there. The potato hash looked completely out of place on a huge plate, and the potatoes were under done and the peppers just tasted of burnt from the chargrilled skins. The eggs were clearly lowest quality too. Most annoying of all though was the staff vaping in the doorway, with the clouds of smoke billowing into the cafe while we were eating. Altogether an unpleasant experience and do not recommended at all.

We were looking for a place to have breakfast near our holiday let here in Southampton. It had to be dog friendly 'cause we rarely travel without our BFFF 🐾 This little cafe ticked all the boxes! Delicious, affordable food, cozy ambience, wonderful service!

I visited Retro Cafe with an old friend on Monday. We both have things we can't eat and were looking for a place to cater to all of these needs. Retro Cafe was perfect. There is an extensive menu, but even so, the lady working there was not put out by us asking to make slight changes to our orders. My friend had a full vegan breakfast and pronounced it 'spectacular'. Unfortunately, she was so hungry, she forgot to take a photo! I opted for the wrap. It is on the menu as a bacon/sausage sandwich or wrap with the option to add extras. I ordered a bacon wrap with black pudding and avocado wrap. I added a side of fries - some of the best I have tasted. The kind of chip you always want...hot, with a great crunch and a fluffy interior. The bacon was very good quality and cooked just the way I like it - same with the black pudding. The avocado was perfectly ripe and creamy. The wrap was finished properly, by being sealed in the pan and the whole thing was delicious. All food was cooked to order, to our specifications and came out piping hot and fresh. In the meantime, we had coffee and juice and relaxed in the lovely, cosy cafe. It has an eclectic mix of vintage furniture and decorations - even a piano! The tables were large and the seats incredibly comfortable - and large enough for my big bum! I could have stayed there for hours chatting, but we had to get on. I will be bringing The Man of the House here for brunch very soon - and will report back on my next selection!

Awful experience, the coffee was awful, pancakes where microwaved, eggs and bacon was cold, and it cost an arm and a leg, if you have any sense avoid, unless you like substandard food at Michelin prices

They serve a good vegan all-day breakfast! Only £11

My brother wanted an English breakfast and we were told this was the place to go. The food was great, the atmosphere was cozy. A very nice little place. If I'm ever in the area again, I would definitely come back here.

Brilliant find this morning, service with a smile and a bit of banter! Breakfasts excellent, everything hot and cooked to perfection! Will return!

Fantastic. Intimate atmosphere. Food brilliant.

Great place for much this. Delicious food (club sandwich is highly recommended) and the staff are lovely and very friendly. All in all a great find!!p

This was a fabulous breakast that my Husband and son had on his way back from Uni for Easter. They bother ordered a Full English Monster breakfast and couldn't fault it at all. Said it was amazing what a Great find i'd had an Tripadviser!! Very friendly front of house team. The cheft bought out the breakfasts- said he was great. They were stuffed and needed a sleep after lol. All in all a great atmosphere and clean place to eat. Fabulous guys - keep it up THANK YOU

Husband went to Southampton yesterday to pick my son up for his Easter break University yesterday. He wanted to take him full English before they headed back - so I did a bit of online rrsearch and found Retro Cafe......didn't disappoint that's for sure. The only problem was he left me at home 😢 They sent me photos of it. Really friendly guy who was front of house.felt really special when the guy who cooked the breakfast took great pride in bringing out the gorgeous looking 'Monster Breakfast' ......3 bacon, 2 sausages, 2 fried eggs, black pudding, hash browns, baked beans, tomatoes and a big plate of toast. (Just on a side note - husband said he would rename it the 'Titanic' Full English Breakfast and serve it with a glass of Iced Water! More fitting for your fabulous surroundings 😁 It was the best ever and not stingy on portions either.... I guess the word Monster gave that away! Delicious every mouthful. Thank you Retro Cafe. Atmosphere was great - so was food. Certainly not a greasy spoon cafe.......BRILLIANT!! Shame I can't share photos because I've got some great ones

Been a few times to this cafe. Food was good although basic ingredients missing - no avocados despite numerous dishes containing avocados. Hash browns are very tasty and bread is good. But the staff!!! Goodness I've never experienced such rudeness! The female waiting staff was shocking. We knocked over a glass of water and she offered no assistance to clear it up. Left a roll of blue paper for us to clean the floor... we didn't and waited for her to come and help but...nothing. I don't work at the cafe, it is not my responsibility... so very dissapointing as the food is good and I like to support small businesses but won't be returning. AVOID!

This has to be one of the most overrated cafes in Southampton!! Overpriced and sub-standard food. Not to mention the unwelcoming female staff member behind the counter whose face never cracks a smile. I had a slice of their chocolate cake today, it was so dry I struggled to swallow it and had to take a mouthful of tea with each bite. Shan’t bother wasting my time and money any more, will go to Hallidays down the road who can at least extend a warm welcome!

Retro Cafe is amazing in every way! They have a fantastic range of vegan and gluten free options and are served pretty quickly. Their milkshakes are heavenly and all at a very reasonable price! The atmosphere is incredible with nice open spaces tables and loads of boardgames to help keep your party entertained. The staff are all super friendly and helpful as well :).

Great food, great service, super coffee, nice atmosphere and good prices - what more can I say? And they will customise your order to give you exactly what you want. Going back today if we can get a table.

Retro Cafe is one of the best independent Cafe's in Southampton. Great menu served quickly and with a genuine smile! Lots of choice and the sandwiches are awesome. Support your local independent business!

I don't know how it has such a good score. We arrived and there were 4 tables left, but all four had not been cleared. An employee began to pick up the things one by one, slowly. Then he left them halfway and went to the kitchen to work. An employee came out from there who finished picking up and finally attended to us, reluctantly. The food was very good, we had the smashed avocado toast and the monster breakfast, but I feel that the service and the atmosphere were too bad. In addition, we sat at a table near the kitchen and kept listening to heavy metal music that did not match the atmosphere of a breakfast place… a shame. The hot chocolate is very very good, yes.

Been here twice, the first time was absolutely amazing the guy that served us was really polite and professional..went there today at 15:30 on the 26th of February and the girl behind the bar really didn’t want to serve us..considering it down say open until 4pm.. I mean I understand it was closing soon but definitely could of served us otherwise what’s the point on saying your open until 4.. really dissapointed as I was quite looking forward to eating there again

Went there for food today it’s advertised to be open until 4pm!I went there at 15:30 and couldn’t get food really disappointed as I really enjoyed the food last time and the service was really good but on this occasion the young girl behind the bar clearly had places to be lol

Nice food, helpful staff, dog friendly!

Awesome bacon n egg toasted sandwich and mocha

Retro is in my humble opinion the best cafe in Southampton. The atmosphere is both warm and welcoming with great service provided by Ash and her team. Try it out and see 😊.

i've lived in the city for the last 4 years, and Retros is hands down the Best cafe in Southampton! Great food, Great staff, Homely atmosphere, Reasonable price & Love all the games you can play whiles waiting for your lunch Keep up the good work

If I could give this 6 stars I would. We live in London and have been traveling to Southampton for years to see the Saints. Discovered this recently, have been twice. I'm very fussy when it comes to a cooked breakfast, and this is absolutely superb. Quality is excellent, and leave you full till the evening, and we have quite an appetite! We, have been served by for separate ladies, and they are all very friendly and offer great service. My now must stop for pre football food!

Great cafe all round!! The food here is delicious and the staff are excellent and friendly. The atmosphere is calm and welcoming and whenever I visit, I am welcomed with warm smiles!

We recently visited before going to the ballet at the mayflower, unfortunately we were in a big rush but the two lovely girls serving us were brilliant, making sure that we received amazing service quickly whilst they were rushed off their feet! The food was lovely and really reasonably priced - such a good find with a lovely atmosphere and interior aswell, we thoroughly enjoyed it! Again thank you to our servers who were wonderful!

Whilst the food itself was good, there were fruit flies, I had to ask the waitress to clear the table because there were fruit flies and the waitress really didn't seem she wanted to be at work.

Delicious vegan and gluten free brunch and friendly service - will be back! And dog friendly too 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Nice vibe and interesting breakfast menu

Love this place, great cafe to spend a couple of hours in the morning. Friendly staff and punters, lovely coffee and tasty food. Good music too. Recommend the coconut latte and sausage and egg sarnie.

We had a lovely lunch. Thank you

Fab place for a breakfast treat. Friendly, calm, and relaxing time spent together, enjoying great food, lovely service, and lashings of tea!

We visited here for breakfast this morning and it was brilliant. The server let us in a little early which was very kind. We ordered two full English breakfasts and they were delicious. Exactly what you want when you order a full English. The atmosphere is very cosy, the staff are lovely and the music choices are excellent. Highly recommend!

Have eaten here a few times, so far the food has been absolutely delicious, takes a little time for it be served, but is cooked perfectly. Staff are friendly and helpful, serving with a smile every time. I love the decor and the theme of the place, however some of the tables seem awkwardly low to eat from, compared to the seats, this is a minor nitpick though. The first table I sat at, the table barely fit over my legs, and I'm average sized. Overall however, I will definitely be returning again!

Had a bit of time . Popped in . Nice menu. Good drinks selection. Quick service. Friendly. Space so you don't feel over crowded. Books and top trumps on the tables for a bit of fun .Food looks fab chuncky cut bread , cakes . Looked lovely

Tried here when I was down with friends for the weekend. Was a lovely breakfast. Im currently obsessed with all things halloumi and avocado and they had one with tomato relish on bloomer bread that was lush! Chai latte was lovely and crispy crunchy side of hash browns. Great atmosphere and dog friendly so well pleased.

Great spot for breakfast and brunch. I recommend it! Tasty food and good portion sizes. They have outdoor seating for when the weather is good too.

Had a really nice brunch here recently - food was excellent and a really cosy atmosphere.

Excellent all round. Fabulous breakfast feast. Friendly, helpful staff. Highly recommend 👍🏼👍🏼

Great fry up and reasonably priced

Sadly this was disappointing. My wife's vegan cake was definitely past its best, couldn't eat more than a bite or two. My Millionaire Shortbread was much the same. Coffee was OK, wasn't the worst. We always try to support independents, and appreciate its very tough out there but really need to try harder.

We've experienced poor service here previously, but the problems appear to have been resolved now. Service was good today, the food was nicely cooked and well presented too. When things go well, as they did today, this remains the best all-day breakfast that I've had in Southampton. It's also my favourite cafe locally. I like the location, there's a nice ambience inside and some seating outside.There's a great range of hot drinks and reasonable prices Friendly, helpful staff. Dog friendly. Disabled access.

Lovely place to have a coffee with very friendly staff. One little criticism though seeing staff behind the counter looking at their mobiles when you are waiting to be served is NOT a good look!

Really nice small place. The food was lovely and the service was great. Was my 1st visit. The table was a bit sticky, so it could do with a wipe down, but it wasn't dirty. They have a decent variety of foods available.

Brilliant place quite small though so you might need a reserve a table

Cool place to hang-out, read, and have brekky. Good atmosphere. Food is good but is a little greasy.

First time at retro cafe. I really enjoyed the atmosphere, it was a nice & intimate cafe which a range of entertaining games to play. The breakfasts were very delicious and filling. Would most definitely be coming back. Would recommend the cafe to family or friends.

Best coffee in Southampton. Lovely service too

Absolutely fabulous food&service here. I would highly recommend it.

Absolute gem of a cafe in the heart of Bedford Place. The staff are really friendly and there’s a lovely atmosphere. Onto the food. Best bacon sandwich bar none. Toasting the bread takes it next level. Add egg and, woof, it’s even more amazing. For the first time I chucked sausage into the mix, and oh my goodness. Actually felt sad once it was finished, as there was no more. Coffee is really good and actually tastes of decent coffee. This may sound obvious, but it’s by no means a given with too many places. Prices are very reasonable. Nowhere is a bargain these days, but in terms of quality, Retro is at a level where it almost is a bargain. All in all, you owe it to yourself to get involved.

Came today for brunch. My partner's eggs royale was nice but my full English was disappointing at best. Either put the beans in the pot or on the plate. The plate was chipped which is very unsanitary and I don't know what they spread on the toast but it was so greasy. The whole plate was swimming in grease and had to use my napkin to soak it up. Also they could do with no vaping signs on outside tables as we were eating in a cloud of sickly sweet vape. Many much better breakfasts in the area so I won't be back.

Staff always lovely and welcoming.

a little gem in Bedford place. cosy and friendly with superb food

Never go again couldn't wait to leave

I don’t know what that ktsy is on about but wow what a lovely little cafe!

I’ve been a semi regular customer of Retro Cafe for a few years and have always had a great experience there, the food is good quality and price, the service is always top tier, welcoming and friendly. Today was the first time I took my rescue dog there, he can be quite barky and anxious but both servers took their time to say hello to him and he settled super quick. I feel this is due to the calming homely vibe that this cafe creates. A nice add on was I ordered an ice mocha and they were out of ice, instead of asking me to order something else they went out to grab some ice so I could have my drink of choice (I would have happily ordered a hot drink but without hesitation one of the servers went straight out to grab some)!

Popped here for lunch and it was absolutely lovely. Service was great, prices were good and the food was just lush.

Great breakfast and great service

Delicious breakfasts and a very friendly atmosphere. Best coffee around.

On now the 4th time I have visited this establishment they have not had the appropriate takeaway coffee cups either having a combination of no lids or only espresso sized cups. However they still find have the gall to charge FULL PRICE for the beverage. I’m all for supporting small businesses , however if you running a business where you can’t order sufficient cups to serve to customers you need to take a look at yourself.

Can't beat breakfast at Retro Cafe, visited many times and we are never disappointed. Reasonably priced, well thought out food and service. Toast pre-buttered with breakfast and hot drinks served with a biscuit! It's the little things but we love this detail. I wish we knew the name of our favourite server so we could give her a shout out, but she makes the most amazing hot drinks and we are always buzzing when we spot that she's the one making them! (08/04 early morning visit, thank you for all your amazing service)

Great for brunch. Lovely and VERY friendly waitress. Quirky array of books, games etc. lovely breakfast. Liked it so much went back second day running.

We had lunch today and it was great. So good to as i could take my dog. Had a lovely BLT sandwich and i was so good. Would definitely go back. Thank you.

Excellent food and service. Great vibes and chilled atmosphere.

Amazing food service. The owner was very friendly and stuff were very attentive.

A lovely little cafe, £3.20 for a latte in a huge mug with an oreo cookie too. Great value and very friendly staff. BLT cooked fresh to order, £6.00 i would definitely chose this place over a big chain company, they do take outs too :)

Fantastic ! Popped in for Sunday morning breakfast and had the best breakfast in years. It was cooked to perfection and the presentation was first class. We try and avoid the chains if we can and support the independent cafes and this proves the point . Thank you it was a memorable way to start the day.

great value for money, good selection of breakfast and lunch options, all very tasty and freshly made

Been multiple times, service is always super friendly, coffee is good and food is always great. Usually get eggs Florentine, or veggie breakfast and I definitely think they're the best around, hard to beat at the price point!

A comfortable, friendly, welcoming cafe, I look forward to visiting there again x

Delicious breakfast of eggs royale. Coffee also excellent, staff friendly & efficient, relaxed atmosphere, nice chat with other customers. Will be back for more.

Love this place. But sadly I left this time smelling of grease. Never had this before. After visiting. Hadt to go home a change before going on with my day. Which was a inconvenience. Staff is lovely and helpful. Food was lush.

Great cafe, great breakfast, fantastic service. I couldn't recommend more highly!

I’ve been here multiple times and never been disappointed! I love the halloumi fries and the hash browns (I get them every time), and the milkshakes are really good! The atmosphere is nice and cosy, especially when it’s raining outside, and the staff are super friendly and accommodating😄

Staff are lovely, environment is great and the food is delicious!! Wish I could give more than 5 stars!

Great service and a very clear menu. The young chap who served us really made our morning and looked after us with a very tasty breakfast. Will definitely return

Delicious food and good service

I love coming here. Every time I have the chance I’ll bring a friend to introduce them to Retro; the drinks are amazing (personal faves are the chocolate orange and the chai lattes) and don’t even get me started on the pancakes and breakfasts! Lovely staff and vibes too! If you haven’t been it’s a real treat and really decent prices too. 😺

Quirky, funky, a great place to meet... good coffee too. Thank you.

A lovely spot for a leisurely solo lunch - I went for the full English breakfast (served all day) which was delicious. Thank you Retro Café.

This is always my go to brunch place j. Southampton. Staff are friendly and the food is always delicious. I always recommend getting a hot chocolate.

This cafe is THE BEST! We eat or get coffee regularly and the food that comes out of the kitchen is amazing. For a small cafe there is a generous selection of food options for everyone, with plenty of vegan and vegetarian choices. But what really sets this place apart is the staff; friendly, helpful and professional. Basically, can’t rate Retro highly enough.

Very nice and cosy, quality service and food

Being a lactose intolerant vegetarian, it can be difficult to get a good breakfast but Retro delivered. I had a veggie full English breakfast and it was delicious. Although it was a heaving Sunday morning, the were friendly and patient. I’ll definitely come again…and again…

Scene Set :- Popped in after attending the Remembrance Service at Southampton Cenotaph. It was busy. Very friendly and welcoming staff. Our poached eggs and bacon on toast… perfectly cooked. Would recommend 👍👏😊. Buzzy Bedford Place 👍

Lovely as ever. GREAT staff, a Chilled atmosphere and tasty Breakfast and Coffee. This is our 4th visit. We always leave Happy and full. Thanks retro rooms

Very good, friendly staff, food was good and reasonable priced.

Great place, worth every star! :-)

Horrible experience which even ruined my entire journey in Southampton New Forest area. We were here waiting for 40 mins without being served well. At first, the waiter asked us to sit and wait but she did not bring any menu. So I went to the pub myself and got the menu. After that we waited for the food. After around 30 mins, I saw all other people were served but not us. So I went to pub again to ask. The waiter said sorry and she would check immediately. Finally after 40 mins of waiting, we were served. But another redicious thing happened that I ordered tomato soup originally but I was served with pumpkin soup... Fortunately the waiter said they can refund me if it is really their mistake. I would not recommend this cafe if you want some quick food.

Amazing service! The food was very good and fresh. They offer a wide variety of selection from regular diet to vegan, vegetarian and gluten free food options. I had the Eggs Benedict gluten free version with a side of hash browns and it came with a small salad. Eggs were cooked properly and the Hollandaise Sauce had a good flavor. My companions had fish fingers sandwich and the full British breakfast and enjoyed both. The fish tasted fresh and good flavor. The staff was friendly and attentive We would definitely recommend this place agsin

My favourite cafe - partly it’s the high quality food, partly the relaxed atmosphere and, more recently, it’s the crosswords.

Always come here for bespoke eggs always gets it right,, Jessica is a great waitress will Come back again

Lovely staff and a lovely breakfast. This café is a solid choice for a generous breakfast and friendly service. Very friendly with a genuine local interest.

Amazing staff team here and the food I had was delicious. A fantastic place to chill out and relax with good food and good atmosphere. Also the hot chocolates are absolutely HEAVENLY

Love this place. Highly recommend to anyone visiting the area, lovely food, lovely ambience, lovely owner and delicious coffee! Such good value for money and overall it’s a fab small business which blows others out the water.

Retro cafe is a lovely, family run, dog friendly cafe. Lovely food and cozy atmosphere. Best place for brunch in Southampton.

Really friendly staff and really great food! Will be recommending to others

The breakfasts are amazing, fabulous quality, great portion size and value for money. The coffee is really good too. This is a lovely spot in the heart of Southampton. The staff are so welcoming, it’s like being welcomed by your family. If you are looking for good quality dishes this is your place to be…

Lovely coffee, lovely owners, a cozy environment, great value, and possibly the best breakfast in Southampton. What more could you want? And thanks for a lovely event with live music for Music in the City too :)