The Lions Monocle in Torbay

Visited this evening as we are Local to Paignton thought we would try for a change to our local bar! Really slow service waited 35 mins for drinks people that arrived after us got served before us Which is wrong in my eyes it should be first come first serve but it wasn’t no apology for the delay neither probably won’t come again because of service shame because cocktails was amazing

we stumbled on this place while we were away was drawn to the cocktail bar because I loved the unusual name .any way we went in and met by some of the friendliest staff sat down in like comfy old fashioned seats inside was all quirky and ever so relaxing .we ordered 2 cocktails they came and was amazing I had porn star martini wife had queen of hearts what a lovly place if we lived there we wud def be regulars

We stopped in for an afternoon coffee and were so tempted by the cocktail menu that we went back later the same evening. Drinks were delicious, with beautiful (or sometimes unusual) presentation, and the staff were super-lovely.

What a fabulous cocktail bar! An absolute gem of a find, if you enjoy cocktails you won’t be disappointed. They have a huge menu from the classics to the more quirky, I highly recommend the Mad as a March Hare and the Banoffee Boom for a treat! Make sure you give yourself enough time to try a few :)

I’m giving this a 3 as an average really of our 2 visits here. Our first , last Summer , would be a solid 5 . Pleasant surroundings and lovely cocktails. Unfortunately our second recent visit would be a 1 if that . This was no reflection on the cocktails, which were delicious, or the staff who were friendly and efficient. It was purely on being seated not in the main lively seating areas , but put in what can only be described as a glorified broom cupboard. My husband and I were really looking forward to coming here again and had made an effort to look nice and were ready to enjoy the ambience . Unfortunately as we were seated in this tiny , dark curtained off area , we couldn’t see anyone and no one could see us , so I might as well have saved myself the bother of doing my hair ! We had booked for 2 hours but it was so claustrophobic we managed to stretch it out to one hour just to be polite really. Luckily neither of us actually suffer from claustrophobia . I think in future this area should not be allocated as a table without prior notice as we would definitely not have attended had we known. I would strongly advise anyone thinking of booking here to establish that their table is not this one. Also , I would make the booking for 3 people just to be absolutely sure as it would be too small for 3 . It may suit a young couple in a new relationship who only have eyes for each other , and may find it sweet and quirky , but frankly if we had wanted to sit in a cupboard and drink expensive cocktails we could have done so at home. Overall we made the best of it , enjoyed our cocktails and were polite and even left a tip for our server , who was great. But the bottom line is , we had booked here again later in the week but have now cancelled the booking.

On my first visit here last year I was blown away by the quirkiness of the place, the staff and the amazing mixology that occurs behind “the quiet facade of a little unassuming spot near the railway station”.I discovered The Lions Monocle quite by accident that fateful night last year and have been itching to revisit ever since.What with the state of the World, work and circumstances, until last weekend it wasn’t possible.Finally, in tow with my carer and two of my loveliest friends we secured a table, were received warmly and had one of the best evenings out we care to remember.We apologise to staff and other clients at the time for being greedy and double ordering. In our defence, we couldn’t get enough of the splendid fare on offer!The Lions Monocle is without doubt “THE HIDDEN GEM” in Paignton and indeed Torbay.We cannot wait to return. If you are reading this review and wavering over whether to pay a visit or not, hesitate no more!The decor, staff and drinkies will also make you wonder why you’d never been before!

5 ladies from 45 to 72 we had a great afternoon drinking cocktails in this lovely placeFriendly young lady welcomed us and after a long interval of perusing the menu it was hard to pick from this cocktail menu as there were so many different ones but we managed it Each of us chose different and were pleased with our choice. One even come with a bag of gold choc coins - fight over who got those. We just had to stay for another one. Our partners had treated us and the change we gave them was the gold coins in the bag!We did not eat in the restaurantPlease move your venue to Portsmouth

This cocktail bar is just lovely, the staff are so polite and friendly. The cocktails are just amazing, thank you for the wonderful service

This place is a find ! Beautiful decor lovely atmosphere the drinks are amazing wish we had found it earlier! Come to this gorgeous please with the friendliest people will be back again some day xx

Visited by chance with a few friends and was surprised at how lovely it was. Pleasant atmosphere, delicious drinks and friendly staff. Would reccomed

Two couples on a wet Friday evening going for drinks before a meal, the atmosphere was very eclectic, super seating areas, very calm, nice staff, everyone enjoyed their cocktails, I recommend the Cola Cube. Pricing about the norm and will definitely go again.

Stayed in town for a couple of days and our host recommended this place for cocktails. It's a fantastic and unusual place. The cocktails are brilliant, each with a little twist to make them different from your normal examples. Surroundings a quirky with some lovely little touches. Definitely give the place a try.

We had two wonderful evenings here while recently in the area. Great cocktails and drinks all round in a quirky, fun setting. The hosts were fantastic. We would highly recommend for anyone in the area looking for a quiet pint or a few cocktails before dinner. Looking forward to visiting again.

My Wife & I called in for afternoon tea & cocktails on Saturday 1st February - It was a very enjoyable experience. Tea and coffee is served first, then your cakes & sandwiches. Scones with cream and jam plus strawberries was very nice, plus the small cakes were excellent too. Service was just great. The freshly made sandwiches were well enjoyed. The cocktail list is very comprehensive - I chose The Lions Monocle cocktail and my wife had a Prosecco bellini - these were excellent.We would recommend a visit to The Lions Monocle if you are in the area!

Went to Paignton town to do a little shopping, noticed the lovely Lions Monocle and called in for tea for two.On entering noticed how beautiful it's done out. The decor is fab, beautiful lighting, even a comfy settee there, it's so relaxing.Ordered tea for two, lovely staff served us very polite and pleasant.The tea was brought to us at our table, a white china tea pot, bone china cups and saucers with a pretty design and a biscuit placed on the side. The price was excellent as was the service.As we were only visiting and couldn't stay long didn't try the cocktails this time which was a shame, so can't give a comment, but as for the visit and the cuppa I would highly recommend to anyone to call in, it was such a delight.

Popped in for a drink on a Friday night and stayed for three hours! Lovely quirky decor, comfortable seating (plus clean and tidy toilets!) Wine beautifully served by attentive staff and at a sensible price! No one hassling us, felt very relaxed and able to have a conversation without yelling above any noise. Enjoyed the background music and then the excellent Matilda arrived to do a set of live music which we really enjoyed. Definitely a place to put on your visit list (but be aware food isn't served in the evenings, just lunch and breakfast).

Lovely evening coffee at this Paignton bar. Decor was unique and the staff were very attentive. We will return.

Second time having a coffee in here. It's such a lovely place to stop for a coffee. The friendly staff give you a warm welcome. Will always call in here whenever in the area. Milkshakes are the real deal, a must have for anyone.

Once again great coffee and a strawberry milk shake made to perfection served up by a lovely friendly waitress in such a quirky place . Definitely recommend

Cane across The Lions Monocle today when looking for a quick late lunch. Very impressed with the selection of vegetarian and vegan items on the menu. Both of our meals were really tasty and full of flavour. Very friendly service as well. Recommended!

Wonderful ambiance and even more wonderful cocktails. Would definitely recommend going in if you are in Paignton. Must visit in the day as hear food & coffee are good too. Fab little place.

I have been meaning to come in here for a couple of years but keep forgetting - what a mug!!!!

On Friday 17th May 2019 we stumbled upon this hidden delight by chance as we were strolling along looking for somewhere to have a drink and get out of the rain. We saw that they served cocktails which was perfect for my wife and I, so we decided to give it a go!

An incredible little diamond in the rough heart of Paignton Town Centre. Whimsically decorated to match the delights of Indianna's carefully crafted cocktails and fabulous service with the personal touch

Whilst visiting a friend who lives in Paignton we have popped into the lions monocle several times and never been disappointed with the range of cocktails... Just wish I could drink more in one visit! Just means I have to go back as often as possible! The drinks are great and staff are marvelous and very friendly. Highly recommended.

We were looking for an independent restaurant/pub to eat in and we were lucky enough to find this little gem!

Paignton is more well known for its fish and chips shops and full English breakfast cafes, so to come across The Lion's Monocle was a true joy. The décor is outstanding and visually stunning. It's lovely place just to sit in. As a vegetarian, it was a delight to find so many vegetarian dishes on the menu, including a savoury muffin, and chips interestingly served in an old treacle jar. I've been twice and was served by two different but equally friendly and informative female hosts. Anyone visiting Paignton should try The Lion's Monocle first. It's an absolute asset to the town and a great addition to the eating out options in this famous seaside resort. Also open in the evening for cocktails and tapas. Whilst others are also nice, this is my top café recommendation for Paignton.

Great atmosphere and tasty cocktails - will definitely return and try the food next time. Staff helpful and friendly. 🙂

This place is absolutely fantastic!!!!!!

A small frontage is deceptive. Enter and you are met with deceptively excellent decor, service and food quality.

We visited in the evening for drinks, snack and to see a singer. The place have a lot of evening entertainment, it was busy but the service was fairly prompt and very affable. Cocktails are, in my opinion, rather over priced.

Went in for a little lunch this afternoon with my dad and was absolutely amazing. Staff are really chatty and welcoming, decor is so gorgeous, I didn’t know where to look! So unique! Food was delicious and peppermint iced tea was one of the best I’ve had! Thanks so much...YUMMY YUMMY YUMMY! Will be back defo ;)

My experience was most appauling. The food took rather a long time. The beverage we had was most warm and the staff were very much unhelpful

Good coffee and gluten free cake. Huge range of other drinks from smoothies and milkshakes to cocktails and beer. Menu looked good with lots of gluten free, vegan and vegetarian. Interesting decor and friendly service.l

Whenever we have visited the lions monocle we have always said what a great place the proprietors have made it. What a lovely cosy ambience you have created.No matter if your popping in for coffee and cake or a cocktail and olives this place is a great place in the heart of Paignton.The service is great and they pay attention to the detail, all round a local gem.

Lovely small quaint place center of town, popped in a couple of times always busy with great atmosphere, great service and a nice glass of wine, haven't eaten here but definitely going too, nice to see a little gem in Paignton

Very kind staff, wonderful decoration and fantastic background music. A must go and they do live music

Popped in again for coffee it's absolutely lovely here . Really friendly lovely staff serving great coffee . Definitely recommend

Excellent service, awesome atmosphere and amazing Cocktails! A little gem in Paignton, highly recommended.

Had a great evening here, lots of oddities to see and super coffee and shakes. A small gem in a sea side town.

Great place very friendly good drink and the food is outstanding love popping in here after work and always having a warm welcome

Quite a small entrance and quite easy to miss. Luckily we did not. This small and very quirky cafe / bar is an interior decorators dream, the walls and ceiling are covered with all sorts of bits and pieces. It really works well. The young woman who served us was professional and polite. The coffee and tea perfect, lemon drizzle cake, fruit cake and chocolate muffin were wonderful. A must visit again place.

Amazing cocktails, great atmosphere really quirky place and loved the chess table outside with a cup of coffee!!

Had a fabulous little drink here with a friend on a Friday night. Feels like for a moment, you're transported out of the fetid pit of inequity that is Paignton, and into somewhere cool in London or Paris. Great vibe, great bar staff and also great gin!

I have been to the Lions Monocle a couple of times before and have always loved the quirky decor . When my Mother recently died we booked the Lions for her funeral tea. Mandy and Indiana couldn't have been more accommodating and sympathetic. A big heartfelt thanks from myself and my family for creating a beautiful setting for our last goodbyes.

We recently had a death in the family and we needed a comfortable place to host a small gathering after the funeral. Our family members came from far and wide and we found ourselves in this lovely magical little place at such a difficult time. The minute we walked in the door we knew it was exactly what we were looking for. The owners were so friendly and accommodating to our every need and request. The food and drinks were absolutely wonderful. The food was beautifully arranged on the table when we arrived.They both went out of their way to be so helpful to us and we couldn't have found a more perfect place. Wonderful food, great drinks, charming decor and great people. Thank you Mandy and Indiana!

A hidden gem amongst touristic tat!! Amazing food atmosphere,drinks, service and decor. A must for the more discerning visitor. I will definitely return on my next visit to Paignton.

We were looking for a drink after leaving Paignton Station, our first choice was just closing (74pm on a Saturday) we stumbled on The Lions Monocle a few doors away, there were a couple of tables outside but the interior was both quaint and unusual. We placed our order at the bar and our drinks were delivered promptly - no complaints at all

Great ambience, friendly staff, good gin menu selection, dogs welcomed, chilled out, tasty craft beer on tap and by the bottle. Definitely coming back for daytime coffee and cream teas.

Great place for a drink and for food, very welcomed upon arrival, great atmosphere always, love this place, more should try it, we'll worth it, great host, great atmosphere, great drinks

Just walking past so popped in for a refreshing drink. We had a cappuccino and an iced coffee ( which were very nice). Very quirky little place. Lady that served us was very polite. Very good value for money. Would definitely recommend this place.

Absolutely delightful place to have the best coffee in paignton served up by a lovely helpful young lady

Have been here about half a dozen times since it opened always in the evening for drinks - the cocktails are seriously good and the bar staff are lovely. The attention to detail in the decor makes this a lovely place to relax. It’s open in the daytime for food and cakes so plan to return to check this out. We always make a point of coming in here its so nice, you won’t be disappointed x

Loved absolutely everything about this place! Beautiful decor and atmosphere, awesome cocktail and gin list and yummy nibbles. Dog friendly and the owner is one of the loveliest people you'll ever meet. Nothing not to like!

Having been here numerous times, I have no problem in recommending the Lions Monocle fully. It really stands out in Paignton and a lot of care and love has gone into every element of the bar.

Good variety of healthy food, lovely coffee and cocktails too!

Went in for tea and cake where the different gluten free choices of cake made deciding hard. The staff a very friendly. Definitely be back.

Nice place with quirky decor and lovely, friendly staff. Fantastic cocktails, nice food and warm ambience. Give it a go if you are in the area.

After hunting around for a good bar in Paignton, we stumbled upon the Lion's Monocle, and it has quickly become our favourite bar.

After finding out we were early for our train, we called in for a cuppa. From the moment we walked in we were warmly welcomed and all questions were answered adequately! We also learnt that the offer a range of gluten and dairy free cakes!

Popped into here with friends at BMAD. Good variety of food on a small menu. Excellent cocktails. Hand cut chips perfect. Great atmosphere, friendly staff - played our request on Spotify - thank you. Great comfy sofas. Clean toilets. Would be a regular haunt if we were local. Will visit again.

Love it here. The cocktails are great, there's a good choice and the staff are very friendly and helpful offering advice on what to try. Love the comfy seating and the nice relaxed atmosphere of the place too. It can take an age to get your drinks, but they are made to order with care, so that would explain it. Be prepared to wait though.

Didn't even know this existed until a friend held a birthday party there. Food was of a good standard and the cocktail list was excellent - a lot of fun trying a few of these out. Service was great and attentive, the decor cosy and clean. Although this was an evening excursion I noticed a great selection of coffees on offer and will defo have to pop back to try them out!

What can I say about this place.... well my daughter had her leaving do here and all I can say is AMAZINGGGGGGG the staff exceptional cleanliness spotless food yummy cocktails HIC out of this world actually taste the alcohol and not watered down like some places I have been to INDY the owner is a lovely lady and she works with some lovely staff what I noticed most was they all smiled no sooner had you put your hand up to grab someone’s attention they were there with a lovely smile welcoming a smile that actually said we love our jobs... you may say why am I putting this in the review the reason is is staff are happy then customers are happy and we had the best night

Having been in here for cocktails one evening, we decided to come in for a coffee/tea and cake to see how it was. It's dog friendly in the lower area, so we brought our well behaved dog in and ordered a americano, green tea and lemon drizzle cake.

Lovely little place great atmosphere for a few drinks/cocktails but food menu is lacking and apart from chips born a lot for the fussy eater or children

A great place to have a coffee and cake 2 for £7 at the mo, then cocktails and gins in the evening. We had food which was great too.

We stumbled across this place after a day at the seaside, needing comfort, vegan cake and coffee. We were warmly welcomed, and immediately changed our plans to stay longer. The vegan cakes (there were many!!) were amazing and the decor is inspiring! So happy we found this place!

I have visited this lovely little bar on many occasions over the last few months and enjoyed the warm welcoming atmosphere on each a every visit. This is why I and a few friends decided to come here for New Years Eve. It was £30 per ticket which included a half price cocktail on arrival (which you claimed by handing in your little golden key - no rubbish buff coloured cloakroom tickets here, this place is all about a quirky experience), free flowing canapés and a glass of Prosecco to welcome in the New Year. I never expected there to be so many canapés and wouldn’t have eaten a dinner beforehand if I’d known. What great value for money! Indianna, her parents, boyfriend and her fabulous staff all worked so well together to provide us all with a steady flow of delicious cocktails and mop up the occasional spillage. On top of all this the live entertainment was provided by Double A & the Bay a really great local band who also host the talent show on a Wednesday night. This is a lovely well run, friendly bar where you can go and soak up a really exceptional experience. Best of all there was a limited number of tickets sold which ensured that the service was not compromised just to make more money. This is a very classy establishment. Well done guys, looking forward to your next party!

Friendly staff, delicious food and high quality coffee. This made a great base to read, get some work done and enjoy decent coffee. A little treasure. Recommended.

On a Sunday afternoon it was a great find , it is only small but full of quirky items and live music. The coffee was good and the staff very pleasant as was the music. There are lots of interesting evening entertainment advertised and we will certainly be trying these out along with the interesting cocktails.

We went here for cocktails on a night out and there were about 20-odd of us in the end. Not everyone fancied cocktails so it's not just that but they were doing special ones for Halloween when we went so I tried a couple of them and they were lovely. The staff were friendly and able to offer advice on what to choose and they also had a loyalty card where after buying 9 cocktails you get a 10th free. I managed to get 8 stamps before we moved on so if I can find it I'll take it next time.

The food; everything from meat to vegan, all cooked fresh and good sized portions, served in and on unusual items such as Tate and Lyle tins, slates and boards! Food is of high quality, we had the mushroom and lentil burger with home made chips, and the falaffels and beetroot humus, both of which were really tasty and well presented.

we had every intention of finding this place - cocktail bar - out for birthday drinks so this was our destination. its not huge - but you walk into a little piece of quirky. comfortable chairs - wide range of tables, do food, cakes and of course cocktails. cocktails were well made - very tasty - not too costly and the lady who owns / runs it was lovely - nothing too much trouble. if you have a table of 5 women all having different cocktails, the service wont be speedy - but would you want a fast cocktail or a fabulous cocktail? My point exactly.

hi guys well I think you have a fabulous establishment --- great atmosphere --- so quirky and comfortable to have a coffee on ones own or with friends - lovely staff -- just perfect - thank you and see you soon

Visited this venue and found the cocktails, beers and foods to be top hole on every level. The staff were amazing, friendly and very attentive. Even an open Mic night which was warm and friendly. Everything you could want from a friendly venue all the way. Even take away cocktails which puts all you need in a bag to enjoy at home. Amazing.

Popped in here with my daughter as she had heard great things about the place. Love the decor which is quirky and fun with different areas to sit and relax. On looking at the coffee menu I was transported back to my visits to some of the best coffee houses in Oz where in my opinion the best coffee is made. I have visited some "branded" stores who have no idea about making a decent Machiatto or ristretto but I was so pleased when my Mac came out with a fab foam and glass of water. The staff came to check everything was OK with our drinks and cakes. I will be taking the wife out for a Sunday Gin and Jazz afternoon with what looks to be an imaginative and fresh looking menu of sharing platters for veggies , vegans and carnivores ! looking forward to the next visit already .. clearly the best coffee in the bay !

Stopped in for cocktails (and more cocktails, and beer) on Friday night. Quirky place, with some interesting decor.

Be vigilant the cocktails may be nice.. but pack a punch. Great atmosphere and lovely decorated.. coffee is lovely aswell..

Having ventured this far up town, we noticed this little place.

A classy little oasis in the drab centre of this seaside town.  It's a cocktail/wine bar evenings and a healthy juice bar/café daytimes. They also have live music some evenings.

Really loved this quirky cafe. Different from all the usual coffee chains offering great milkshakes, veggie juices as well as coffees & teas. Great for a holiday coffee break for us. Sadly didn't have time to go back as the lunch menu looked very tempting too.

Really helpful staff and good choice of GF meals. I had the falafel with humous and roast veg. Really delicious.

What a fantastic place. Went to visit my brother and sister in law, we found this place. They advertise to die for milkshakes, this is not a lie. Best milkshake I've ever tasted.

3 of us went on a Thursday evening for the burger night. Arrived and it was quiet. Decor is lovely and very different.

Went in for a Saturday afternoon drink. What a great place. Had we not had committments we would have stayed for a couple. We shall be back...and will spend the evening there!

This restaurant is very near the train and bus station.

What a lovely surprise when we stepped in friendly and helpful staff, clean fresh and felt we wanted to move in it was so nice stayed longer than planned be using this delight as often as possible

Went here for Friday evening, pre-dinner drinks, and wished we could of stayed all evening! The tastefully quirky decor, delightful owner and general ambience were only out shone by the different, fabulous cocktails and the amazing shots! Lemon meringue shot comes with a whole meringue! Can't wait to go back!

The decor in here is a different explosion of awesome which ever way you look.

Popped in and had a lovely meal and cocktails ,the service was excellent as was decorations very upmarket ,but prices were very reasonable once again such a lovely place to eat now . Paignton needs it not just another coffee shop or cafe a restaurant for the young and old so cozy

I had the curry for a light lunch - I chose a small portion and it was perfect. Not too hot, spicy and creamy and utterly delicious! And the cheesecake for pudding was amazing! So different and unusual.

Almost didn't visit as it was really quiet when we looked in on the Sunday afternoon (I suspect because of the airshow going on that day) but glad we did, as other reviewers have said all the staff were really friendly and we had some great food, something in my experience that's definitely lacking in Paignton.

Popped in for a drink and a break - Paignton had gone mad because of the air show. Lovely atmosphere, pleasant staff and great cappuccino. I'll be back.

Excellent in all aspects! This little bar/bistro is just fab! Service is second to none, the lady serving was so friendly and made us feel so welcome. We arrived too late in the day to have a meal but we only wanted a drink anyway which came with smile. Old fashioned mirrors and newspaper clippings covered the walls, and decoration throughout all tied in including the toilets, actually don't think I've ever seen such toilet rooms as nice as these. Wish we could have stayed longer to experience all they had to offer. Would 110% recommend this little gem. Paignton is so lucky!

Myself, my partner, my friend and his finance all went to celebrate due to my partner proposing earlier in the day.

This is somewhere that Paignton desperately needed! Really nice decor and a great feel to the place plus an excellent bacon sandwich !!

What a gem!! Love this place..great food great cocktails and cake the poem was cooked to perfection also vegan and vegetarian food on the menu staff bend over backwards for u 👌

I'm so so pleased to see a place like this in Paignton! We came to check out the bar on my visit at Easter and was blown away by the quality of the cocktails, the awesome vibe and unique atmosphere.

The Lions Monocle .... a new and very cool bistro/ bar has just opened in Paignton.