Rockwater in Poole

Only had a burger. Which was good.. So hard to give a real opinion..

At last, a decent cafe that opens early in the morning for a coffee, and with outside seating to boot. The views, service and coffee are excellent - a big thanks to Doretta, Linda and Ruben. We love Rockwater!

Didn’t eat… just came for a sundown beer on a December Sunday. Amazing location on the beach, watching the world go by. Beer well priced - and all the young kids who served us were brilliant - friendly, chatty - makes ALL the difference 🙌🏻

Came here tonight for a birthday meal and couldn't recommend more. Our server, Ben, went above and beyond - he was super attentive and ensured we were well looked after. The food was cooked deliciously and presented beautifully. Atmosphere was comfortable, vibrant and relaxing. Great selection of drinks including very creative and memorable non alcoholic options. Dog friendly too, so the lil guy got to join in. Will absolutely come back again 💖

Corporate event, great food, great service, had a great night.

Lovely foods, lovely staff and service

All the staff are amazing, friendly and so welcoming. But a massive shout out to Ben who has an extensive knowledge of the menu and always has a smile on his face. Bertie the Vizsla is also a massive fan

Excellent customer service, food, and atmosphere. Great views to the coast.

Rockwater Branks offers a unique dining and social experience in a prime location, but it does come with its drawbacks. The venue’s modern and stylish aesthetic is appealing, creating a space that feels both casual and upscale. However, the atmosphere can be a bit hit or miss, depending largely on the staff member attending to you. Some servers bring a warm, welcoming energy, while others lack attentiveness, which can dampen the overall experience. The menu is varied and thoughtfully curated, with a mix of classic and innovative options. While the food is generally of good quality, the pricing does feel steep for what’s offered. Portion sizes are reasonable, but they don’t quite justify the premium prices. This is particularly noticeable when comparing it to other establishments in the area offering similar quality at more competitive rates. The venue’s appeal is enhanced by its proximity to the coastline, making it an attractive spot for those looking to pair a meal with scenic views. However, if you’re seeking consistent service and good value for money, Rockwater Branks may fall short. It’s worth visiting for a special occasion or a casual drink, but regular patrons might find the cost difficult to justify considering the choices.

Me and my family came into Rockwater to have a family roast dinner. All members of my family were very pleased with the waiter and waitress who served us. John and Katie were very respectful and answered all our questions with satisfaction. They were very helpful and hospitable with us and our large order. The food was absolutely delicious and some of us even wanted more. The overall experience was delightful and we very much enjoyed the calming and friendly atmosphere that we were given and I most definitely will be eating here again.

For starters we had bread and butter board with prawn cocktail. The bread was fantastic, butter not so much. The prawns were of really low quality and two of them had spawn all over. For mains we had partridge , which was overcooked and dry with potatoes that were undercooked. My wife had steak fillet which was high quality and done medium, absolutely spot on, combination of truffle and celeriac could only be described as phenomenal, don't really get the burnt carrot which gave a bitter-sweet, illogical combination. The place looks fantastic, there is attention to detail, the staff were friendly and professional. It is quite pricey, but it is in prime location, so it would be expected.

This place looks lovely, staff are nice and friendly. We have not eaten here but I am told it is a good place for seafood and cakes. We have had a coffee there and plan to go for dinner or lunch at some point. Friendly place to take dogs outside on terrace. There are heaters for cold weather and a great view of the beach

Had a great breakfast prior to the football on a wet windy day. Attentive service by Katy who looked after us well and the breakfast hit the spot. Lovely venue too. Highly recommended.

Food was delicious. A little pricey. Service and atmosphere is great. The roast chicken supreme was really tasty, but too much tarragon crust on the potatoes. Sticky toffee apple pudding was heavenly. Just what was needed on a bright but chilly day.

Fantastic location, very friendly staff and great food

Despite the restaurant being half empty, we were told to have coffee outside. It was 12C! Reason given was that the restaurant wanted to keep one side of the restaurant free for breakfast guests. It was 11 am and there was no one having breakfast! It was also highly unlikely that anyone was going to turn up. We were not impressed.

As the sun ascended from the east on a typically cold and frosty British morning, the waves crashing against the sand, it was confirmed, unfortunately, winter has finally arrived. As i strolled along the promenade a sudden rush of hunger bestowed upon me, i needed to eat, and i needed to eat quick! A lightbulb moment went off in my head, i remembered a friend had told me recently about the lovely restaurant located on the Branksome side of the beach. I could just about see the outline of the building in the distance, and like a moth to a flame, i made a beeline for some much needed caffeine and calories. After several minutes of what can only be described as a poor attempt at a power walk, i arrived at Rockwater. I climbed the stairs, the doors opened upon my entrance and welcomed me in with warm open arms. I was greeted by a lovely young lady called Anna, who promptly took me to a picturesque window seat, so i could enjoy the comforts of the beach without freezing to death, and took my order instantly, a caramel latte (sorry "PROPER" coffee lovers) and after much deliberation and Anna patiently reading out the whole menu to me, twice, sorry, I decided on the powerfully named smashed avocado with a couple extra poached eggs just for good measure. A few minutes had passed, and on the horizon from the other side of the restaurant, i could see my hot drink and food getting closer, i felt like a kid on Christmas day. It was absolutely lovely and really hit the spot. Would absolutely recommend, lovely food, a beautiful spot, and a special mention for Anna who was polite and patient as i dilly dallied about what to order.

Came here with my partner for the 2nd time on Saturday, but 1st time actually eating. The food was excellent. I had a Rockwater burger and fries. The burger had a different yet very nice after taste, and the meat was so tender. The fries were some of the best fries I've had in a long time. My partner had fish n chips, and she said it was very nice. Service was excellent, and of course, you can't beat the view. Their Rockwater Lager is also very nice and refreshing and all reasonably priced in our opinion. We also loved how it is dog friendly as well. Will definitely come back here again.

The waitress was kind, but everything else was a disaster. We booked for my sister’s birthday hoping for a nice seafood dinner, but it was a complete letdown. No one answered our calls to adjust the booking, and the host was rude when we arrived. The upstairs section we reserved was closed due to heating issues, and we were forced to order from the downstairs menu, which had no seafood options. One guest couldn’t eat at all, and the “birthday cake” they brought out was absurdly tiny—it felt insulting (see picture). This experience ruined what should have been a special night.

Stunning restaurant on the beach. We had brunch on the outside deck area in the sunshine today. 22 Nov! Thanks to the glass partitions we were able to sit outside in the warmth and enjoy the sun. Love this place!!!

Lunch with a view overlooking Old Harry Rocks. On the roof terrace. It was quite a sunny day when walking our doggies on the beach and the tables looked a great spot to have a drink and maybe something to eat. We forgot it was the last day of the school holidays. So it was a little busy to say the least, almost chaotic. Not knowing if we could take our dogs with us,we ventured in. Yes,dogs are most welcome here. We made our way upstairs.The outside terrace was full of course.The staff seated us inside and told us if we are willing to wait they would find us a table outside. After a little while we manage to get one of the prime spots. The menu prices are a touch higher upstairs than they are downstairs in the bar and kitchen,but still affordable. Starters Twice baked crab souffle, with a crab bisque. Seared scallops Confit Chicken Wings, Corn Puree, Coffee Jus. Mains Monkfish Massaman curry served with Jasmine Rice, Candied Peanuts, Kaffir Lime Baked Halibut fillet. Mussels and Cockles, Brioche Crumb, White Wine Sauce, Dill Oil with a side of fries. The food and service was better than expected for such a busy restaurant and the staff were friendly. You don't have to eat here as they have a seperate part for drinks only. We enjoyed our brief moment in the sunshine. Our doggies liked being able to watch all the others running on the beach through the glass balustrade.

Wow what a great place this is. We had a superb breakfast here twice during our stay, we were that impressed. The Staff are very attentive and can’t do enough for you. The food was top quality, freshly prepared, well cooked and very tasty too. We loved the way when the bill was raised they went through it item by item to check it was correct, informing us of the service charge, offering us the choice of paying it or having it removed (we were happy to pay it) and found it refreshing that they didn’t try to hide it or add it without our knowledge or consent and hope we didn’t notice. We would highly recommend to everyone.

Visited on a stunning Autumn day. There was a bit of a wait for a table on the terrace as it was just warm enough to sit outside. Had a tasty Ceasar salad and 0% beer before a bit more beach strolling. Service was great, will definitely come back.

i’m visiting Sandbanks from Birmingham but I’m a frequent visitor to the area. I have two golden retriever dogs and I’ve walked past Rockwater on more than one occasion.Looking in it can seem to be a little bit daunting as it looks a very plush place but on entering I was very surprised , I only wanted to have a quick drink with my dogs. I got a fantastic welcome, from Vera and later on was served superbly by Ben I would recommend this place.Give it a try(can imagine is heaving at weekends)The service was excellent and I enjoyed my one hour in there. Thanks guys. Keep up the good work you made me feel very welcome tonight. 👍👏

Gross. Serves rabbit 🤮 , pompous management, customers cramped together despite spare tables. Perfect example of how not to run a restaurant. I mean, who was giving feedback of "not enough pets on the menu!" ???

I can't believe you're serving rabbit on the menu 😱. Considering rabbits are the 3rd most popular pet after cats and dogs. Will you be serving dog meat in the future?

Absolutely gobsmacked that you’re now serving rabbit.. last visit the service was rusty and not enough vegan options. Please consider catering for animal lovers too.

Very nice food. Pleasant atmosphere. Top notch service. Probably the only drawback is making sure you pay to park

Came for a drink and stayed for a few small bites to eat, service was great, Monica was a friendly lady who recommended out wine which was perfect.

We visited on Sunday and overall the service was friendly and efficient. We were served by Monica who was fantastic! Would recommend making a visit.

Had dinner last Saturday night and we had an amazing time! Monica was our waitress, she suggested The crab Soufflé as well as the scallops to start with and what a treat that was! Soo delicious. Thank you so much for a lovely night and thanks Monica for looking after us! We will be back soon.

Great place to eat and drink. A perfect combination of excellent food and drink and an unpretentious, relaxed atmosphere. Real value for money considering the quality of the food and the stunning location.

Great place, managed to get a table outside for lunch in the sun without a booking. Cheery and good service and great food. Recommend.

We had 2 fantastic meals here. We had the new menu on it's first night and for someone who tends not to choose meals which have green on them I was really suprised that I actually ate it all. I have included some photoes from both visits but sorry we had eaten some of the food before we remembered the photoes.

Amazing location and lovely food, such nice staff members, Linda is particularly great always so welcoming and efficient!

Visited Rockwater a few days ago now for lunch with my partner and baby. We were served by Anna who was so friendly and took the time to ask how we were and how our day was going which was a pleasant addition to our visit. Anna was very knowledgeable and helpful when it came down to us deciding what food to choose from the menu. Amazing service and overall friendly experience received from Anna. Thank You

Food here and the friendly staff are really wonderful & helpful. The dogs however; well-behaved animals are fine these days (it seems ) but owners placing their dogs on seats at dining tables are not and is where I draw the line.

Lovely place for a lovely lunch. Very comfortable with amazing views across the seafront. Service was first class. Linda was brilliant.

Popped in for a coffee. Great service from the lady looking after the outside deck area.

Stopped here for a hot drink. Was shocked when received the bill we were charged 12.5% service charge on 2 hot chocolates, so please take this into consideration if you are planning on stopping here. The hot chocolate was nice & the view is beautiful. When we visited, the service was slow. Also, dogs are allowed inside the restaurant.

We booked a family dinner for four, as a celebratory meal following our daughter's graduation. As we had seen a number of mixed reviews about Rockwater, we weren't too sure what to expect. However, we needn't have been concerned! The food and drinks we had were all really good, and the staff were attentive from the moment we walked in. What really made our visit most memorable though, was the service provided by our waiter, Ben. He was extremely friendly and attentive throughout the whole of our visit, and nothing was too much trouble for him. It is a pleasure to say that he was the most caring and sincere waiter we have experienced in a very long time. Thank you and very well done, Ben...your customer service is second to none, and you are indeed a credit to Rockwater Branksome. The service you provided, together with the overall ambience and cleanliness of the restaurant, made our daughter's special day extra special for all of us...thanks also for the celebratory treat at the end of the meal....great!

Great food with amazing staff in a brilliant location.

Lovely Restaurant. Staff especially Adriana where really helpful and nice . Recommended to all .

We visit Rockwater regularly and love this place for coffee, breakfast and lunch. The atmosphere and views are amazing. Today we went for coffee and would like to mention Ben who served us outside, he was so pleasant, welcoming and very efficient it made our visit there so nice. I do think the “hostess” needs to shadow Ben for a couple of days to learn about customer service as she was very rude and condescending and the reason we sat outside and not inside as initially requested. This is not our usual experience of attending Rockwater as staff are usually very friendly and polite but very offended today by her attitude which left us with a bitter taste but a huge thank you to Ben who was superb. The “hostess is the only reason I haven’t given 5 stars- she definitely needs some training in politeness and respect for customers to say the least.

Came in for a coffee and was 1st ignored, then as my partner and our dog walked to get a table had Courtney barge past scowling and muttering under her breath. Immediately left. Management need to give Courtney a lesson in customer service or a day off because she has a vile attitude.

The lovely Paris served us yesterday lunchtime. I asked her about the vegan options. She couldn't have been more helpful. She knew her way around the menu well and explained what could and couldn't be substituted. She was incredibly attentive throughout. We also had two other people serving or collecting dishes, but didn't catch their names. They were also fab! We've always had lovely service here, but yesterday was particularly great! And the food, as usual, was faultless. The location brings peace and joy. Thanks everyone, we'll be back...

We had the best of service & all due to Hannah , our very attentative waitress.. Busy lunch yet she 'glided through ' her tables professionally. I've managed a few restaurants untill retirement so realise a good waitress is hard to find. My only remark I would ,not normally make , is the lady in blue blouse ( assume front receptionist) not once did she smile..even when we arrived. But lovely birthday lunch thankyou .

Doretta was most charming serving us two yummy pizzas. Great atmosphere along with great service. Thank you.

Great place and brilliant food, so I can’t fault this place at all. May was very attentive, so this made the service 5 stars ⭐️

Found this place by luck. We had our little dog with us and was pleasantly surprised to find that dogs are allowed inside the restaurant. From the minute we arrived the service was excellent. The food too was beautiful and served in very good time. It was excellent value for money and look forward to visiting again. I'm just sorry we don't live closer. Well done to everyone who works there.

Have just been for a family dinner at Rockwater and it was absolutely amazing, from food to service everything was sublime. Atmosphere was relaxed and friendly and the food was just amazing!

Anna was fabulous. Super friendly & helpful! Food was delicious too!

Went with group for Sunday lunch had to book as it gets busy we were in top restaurant. Wasn't expecting the roast to be so good with a lovely view too. Dessert had sticky toffee wasn't as good but overall Service quality was excellent and we will be returning.

We ate here on a very busy, sunny Sunday lunchtime. The food was great, the service was quick and the staff very friendly. The restaurant itself is located directly next to the beach and has a lovely view of the sea. The food is a little in the higher side, but the location makes it worth it. We will definitely be returning.

Excellent. Really can't fault it. Posh dinning upstairs. Posh but not so posh downstairs.

Great place, from first opening early in the morning, staff are warm and friendly, great place to have breakfast, lunch, dinner or just drinks. And very happy for well-behaved dogs 🙌👏❤️👌👌

Not bad, great if you like modern dining experiences

Thoroughly enjoyed our meal at Rockwater. Food was really good and surprisingly not overpriced. Service was excellent and our server, Doretta, couldn't have been more welcoming and friendly.

We enjoyed a lovely lunch in the sunshine. Thank you Linda for your fabulous service!

We absolutely love Rockwater. The perfect place to relax with a sea view. Today we tried the new breakfast menu and had the banana bread. It was INCREDIBLE!! 😍 You need to try it. Doretta was our waitress and she was so friendly and hospitable. The best way to start the weekend.

No better way to start your morning in Branksome. Would thoroughly recommend Rockwater to all my friends. The new banana bread was so good, thanks Doretta for the recommendation !!!

Great experience. Had breakfast there . Food excellent and very tasty , service also very good. Overall experience was excellent.

Fabulous location, delicious food and amazing service from Linda!

Not good at all! Waited an hour and 15 for 2 eggs that weren't cooked properly! Really overpriced for the dish as well. Couldn't be bothered to send it back and wait another hour so paid and left! Won't be coming back! So many better places around here. And because the service was so slow, I had to cough up another hours parking! Brilliant!!!

Pretentious, overpriced and awful customer service. Rarely leave reviews but experience was so bad I couldn’t not leave one. Arrived 930am for breakfast. Took a table upstairs outside. Went to order food and was told they would only serve food inside. Was then told inside was fully booked despite being 2/3 empty. Said I would order at the bar and bring it out myself and was then told they would not serve me any food at all on that basis. I cancelled my drink order and left. There are many other places along the beachfront who will offer a far better experience and much better value too. AVOID.

Great new place on the seafront at Westbourne. The restaurant Rockwater opened in 2023 and it seems to be the place where locals and tourists hang out. Opens early in the morning till late at night. They have the main building with a restaurant and surround terras on upper ground level, and a dining space that is rentable for private parties, that also has a surround terras. They have a deli on the other side of their parking space which i assume is also open all day for coffees and sandwiches. In front is a lovelu sandy beach and amazing waterfront. We popped in for a quick lunch. Ordered the beed burger that came with an enormous beed patty, nice brioche bun and some smoky toppings. I can honestly say it was the best beef burger i had this year. Didn’t have time for dessert but will try next time. Service was friendly enough might need a bit more time to be perfect but no complaints. Ladies toilets are on ground level and gents are upstairs. Lovely place overall.

Service was amazing! Staff couldn’t do enough to make us comfortable. Impressed at the level of training and how all staff were friendly and polite and upbeat and great with our child. Ruben was a particular highlight. Thank you

Stopped for a lovely chat and coffee after beach jog with dogs and daughter and mum. Lovely cup of coffee and atmosphere.

Very slick...it's gone upmarket since I last visited

We visit regularly and love the decor, ambience and in/out & ground/upper seating options. Loving the additional beach area! Quick observation though. Being a restaurant - and even though you are dog friendly - shouldn't you apply a 'not on the chairs' policy for animals as a courtesy to your customers??!?

Had another fabulous meal in the upper restaurant. Our friends from London had not been before and they loved it. I gave atmosphere only four stars because like last time we all found the background music intrusive. May I suggest a little less volume. Another highlight of our visit was the lovely Katie who looked after us. Her customer service skills are outstanding. As Arnie says, we will be back

food was great. Linda and Sophie were very nice and friendly.

I'm a regular. It's a cracking spot and the atmospheres great. Linda, one of the waitresses, never fails to entertain. All the staff are friendly and make you feel welcome. The food has improved but is still a little pricey.

Really bad breakfast. Eggs florentine is over cooked. Definitely not recommended. The woman who work in the kitchen putting everything on your plate with not using special gloves . To busy. Quality of food is definitely missing

As always great service and welcome from Linda. Unrivalled views and location

Linda was amazing and the food and drinks were excellent

We regularly go for a hot drink after a sea swim. It is a warm and welcoming place. The staff are very friendly. It's just a shame that the hot chocolate is only ever warm at best and they don't ask you if you want the 'optional gratuity' included - it's automatically added and you have to specifically ask if you want it removed.

Great night fantastic food and wine. Highly recommend Rockwater if you are in the area. Great place for coffee as well.

Anothe nice lunch. Lovely setting, great views. Always lovely ambience made better by waitress Anna who was most attentive and pleasant, one of the better ones

Disappointing. Waited 30 minutes for pork crackling and fries, it never turned up, asked where it was and just got blank stares. Been before and had good food but sadly this time left hungry

I had a lovely breakfast at Rock Water Branksome Beach in Poole. The atmosphere was relaxed, with stunning seaside views, making it a perfect spot to start the day. I ordered the French toast, and it was spot-on—light, fluffy, and with just the right hint of sweetness. The staff were friendly and attentive, ensuring everything was just right. Overall, a great place to enjoy a meal by the beach. I’ll definitely be returning!”

Lots of mixed reviews here - but we had a lovely time! Late Friday lunch and we have lovely service, brilliantly cooked scallops, halibut and monkfish. The sun was shining, the staff were attentive, the food looked great and tasted great and was hot/timely/plated perfectly- couldn't recommend enough. It is more expensive but the location is great so a good spot for a treat on the beach.

Visited today and was welcomed and served by Ben. What a star- made us welcome, super friendly, professional and just lovely! You need more staff like him! Thank you- will be telling others to dine with you.

Simple, good and right by the sea

I went with my friend to Rockwater Branksome Poole for lunch we both had the duck pizza and were very ill with food poisoning . I contacted Rockwater the next day to report this and give them the opportunity to investigate this serious situation . It’s been 2 weeks no investigation no contact and no apology ! Think twice before eating here ! I will be reporting this to environmental health as it’s disgraceful that we’ve heard nothing !!!

Fab atmosphere and wonderful location right on the beachfront. Service was great and food was divine. Went for dinner with friends, but will definitely be trying breakfast or lunch next time! Can't wait to go back!

We have just enjoyed a coffee on the terrace overlooking the beach . We were met by Linda - who seems to remember the regulars. It feels nice when greeted with such a welcoming smile of someone who seems to love their job and makes sure you are not waiting too long for service.

Had lovely time there,nice across beach and lovely food. Dog friendly which is a plus.

I come to rock water a lot for coffee and Ben’s service is excellent. He is on top form when people come in and doesn’t leave them waiting as some staff do. He’s polite and very personable. Always a pleasure to be served by him.

The staff are what makes this place so lovely and the view of course

Love coming here - but Bens service is the best I’ve had in a long time he really goes the extra mile, really hope to be looked after by him again when I return. He made me smile and he served everything I needed plus more. Thank you Ben! :)

Difficulties making a booking, but the food, location and waitress were just excellent.

We had an excellent time here. Our waiter Tom was brilliant.

Very nice and warm place good service

Service was really quick and friendly but drinks came after I’d finished food. Great spot on the beachfront - can’t fault that. Food was average. Poached eggs were either overdone (or precooked and warmed up). Salmon, which cost an extra £6, had tough stringy bits in, needs to be better quality. Would be better to spread that much smashed avo over 2 slices of toast.

Went here about a month ago and forgot to write this review - was excited to go here as it looks very nice - myself and my family were greeted well and shown to a table ready for breakfast - lots of camera people around so asked and they told me they were filming for social media - ok fine no problem - wasn't too busy so made our orders - waited about an hour for a fried breakfast for myself and my partner had some spinach egg thing when they eventually came - my breakfast was not complete and was missing beans as stated on the menu in which I had to wait another 15 mins and ask twice more for them to be brought over by this time most of my food was cold - also while waiting for the extra items a member of staff also went around the couple other tables that were occupied offering free coffee beverages for them waiting so long for there meal - they came in after us and had not waited nearly as long as we had. As she was done asking the couple next to us she walked straight past us looked at us then went to another table and offered them the free items - it felt pretty unfair to us but hey ho food was ok we paid the bill ( service charge added without prior knowledge if I had seen it I do not believe the service was worth it and would of taken it off ) - just sharing my experience with this place hope this doesn't happen to others. I personally will not be bringing my family back.

Ben has been really helpful explaining the menu , drinks and the fish of the day. Excellent service and a friendly person.

Fantastic service by the wonderful Jamie! He was a gem (all the staff were lovely) on a seafront of cafes served mostly by seasonal staff who have no knowledge or care for what or who they are serving! Wonderful venue on a beautiful beach. Really worth hanging out here with friends, family and dogs! Full 3 course or snacks- both are brilliant. And a wonderful list of non alcoholic drinks for those who don’t partake- this is rare! And a full to the brim bar for those that do. Will happily be returning! Thank you Rockwater!

Lovely restaurant. The decor was very cosy. Great view of the beach n sea. Child friendly, decent food portions. I would go again! ☆☆☆☆☆

Amazing meal last night with fantastic staff and service! Thank you so much for such a wonderful evening 💕