The Alembic Canteen in West Dorset

We used to go there for our Saturday Coffee, thinking that the place needed frequenting. They never re-opened the cafe after the lockdown, which is a shamel

When it first opened this was a great venue. Light & airy, fresh produce and a great chef on the premises. I heard that the committee consisted of retired financial types who had little idea how to run a cafe. Often over staffed. Then they got rid of the chef. Then they started buying in sandwiches and cakes from a local outlet. Place went downhill.

My first and second visits were for a really excellent breakfast - baked mushrooms and sourdough toast, among other selections.Recently they only seem to be doing great coffee and pastries and simple lunches. So although it’s a lovely place with some very interesting events and talks, it’s no longer a destination for food, or not for me.

We ate here earlier in the year and it was wonderful. Came back to introduce friends...show off our little find..embarasssing. The food ain't right. There's a thousand places to eat in Bridport and this place has lost the edge it had with the fantastic homely food.

It used to be full of lovely homemade cakes, tarts and superb cheese scones but where are thy now?? My husband and I used to visit regularly for the cheese scones but now they have been done away with! Why?? They were outstanding, please bring them back.

Very impressed with the decor and ambience, many original features still visible. Flat white coffee very good with a good selection of pastries available. Definitely worth a visit.

It was my first visit here and I loved the room, the high ceiling the elegance, the light! Very good coffee and a delicious cheese scone. Then we were able to go back at lunch time and sample a delectable roast veg and feta cheese pastry with salad. All at very reasonable cost. I will definitely come back regularly. Thank you. The building has been beautifully restored.

Great lattes, enormous cakes. Lovely light cafe situated in the old library. Lift access for the infirm as steps from street are VERY steep. Dogs welcome.

Great food :) lovely staff. Great atmosphere.

Beautifully renovated premises in the old Literary and Scientific Institute. Staff were helpful and friendly. Food was down to earth, homebaked goodness. Exceptional.

We have popped in several times for light meals or just refreshments. Most recently for coffee and cakes. The Alembic has been open for a while now and there is no doubt that service has improved over this time. We didn't have to wait long for drinks, which were served hot and well made and delicious cakes. The Alembic is a lovely elegant location, with large old-fashioned windows and a high ceiling. Like the building as a whole it has been beautifully restored and has a pleasing relaxed atmosphere, providing a nice place to have a casual snack or meet friends.

Spent a lovely hour walking on the beach at West Bay and then came into town for elevenses. There was a lovely buzz in the café, busy, but not overcrowded. Hot coffee (it HAS to be hot, and so often is not) and excellent hot chocolate with pastries were served with a smile. Best of all they were able to cater for our granddaughter (just three years old) with a baby hot chocolate that she loved! We will definitely be back!

Bridport has plenty of eateries and I regularly visit them. The Alembic Canteen is a new addition and I can heartily recommend it. I visited last saturday and enjoyed a fantastic vege ragu with fresh bread alongside my wife who enjoyed a beef ragu. A smart and clean restaurant with friendly staff and a welcome addition to Bridport.

Having finally moved here, I thought it was time I tried out this relatively new venue. The building itself is impressive, as is the café room - airy, with the original high ceiling and plasterwork. Sadly, I was less than impressed with my order. The large cappuccino was a generous size, but either too weak or made with poor coffee; the foam was thin and insubstantial. There are a couple of other places nearby which offer consistently excellent coffee, so they really should try harder. The ham and mustard mayonnaise sandwich on sourdough was small, again if compared with nearby competition. The accompanying green salad was fresh but uninspiring. Service was friendly but slow, particularly as the place was not at all crowded. Frankly, I won't go there again in a hurry, given that I can get a far more satisfying snack/lunch for the same money at a couple of places within a hundred yards or so. They may be relying on custom from people using the Institute where it's located; if so, trade will drop off as people wise up.

One of the best coffees around and arguably the best service. Lunches are beautifully presented. It is a splendid place to spend time with your friends

A group of friends meet regularly on a Saturday morning. We are always greeted in a friendly manner and we can either run up a tab or pay as we all arrive in dribs and drabs. The coffee and pastries are very good indeed and the service to the tables is efficient and cordial at all times. Not enough people are aware of this gem, as yet. I have had a light lunch there also with my wife a little while ago and it was excellent

Popped in today for a quick coffee after wandering around the town - Market and shops. Amazing venue - warm friendly welcome and well priced tasty coffee. Slight niggle was they didn't have skimmed milk but in the scheme of things no real issue.

Best poached eggs in Bridport, went beautifully with smoked salmon. A historic venue with wonderful high ceilings. Thoroughly recommend.

Has been recently renovated, beautiful room and tasty food, needs better link up with the kitchen (my cooked breakfast was great but took ages).

Went to The Alembic for lunch. It is light and welcoming with a lovely simple menu and specials on a board. The food was delicious and the service friendly. This beautiful café is a real asset for the newly refurbished Literary & Scientific Institute.

Not. What you would expect in a classical building...a very cool and sophisticated cafe serving lovely lunch and coffee, great food and the loveliest of staff

Walked in off the street. Impressive room, tranquil setting, attentive service. Food was nice (£45 for 2 adults & 2 kids). Would go again.

This recently restored building has a cafe in a really lovely room, nicely furnished and decorated, with a nice atmosphere. I was looking forward to trying my first lunch there, but was disappointed. The chicken, cranberry and walnut salad was a plate of scantily dressed mixed leaves, with a reasonable helping of chicken breast, and about a teaspoon each of dried cranberries and broken walnuts. The whole thing was rather uninspiring - with a generous helping of the headline ingredients and some tasty dressing it could have been so much nicer, rather than ho-hum.Perhaps it hasn't been open long enough to work out what to serve, but I'm not sure I'll go back.