The Lookout in North Norfolk

A really interesting low circular building overlooking a wetland habitat, owned and run by the Holkam Estate. There's a large covered but open area with tables and chairs and a smaller enclosed café serving good filter coffee and a range of prepared on site light bites sandwiches, pasties and cakes. Not cheap but good quality. The rush and reed drinking water fountain in the middle is a functional masterpiece. The information boards are very helpful outlining what can be seen and why. The big carpark is a couple of minutes away and the beach is perhaps 10 minutes off.

Walked from Wells to Holkham for lunch. Really nice place to view the landscape. Also very clean and inclusive toilets, so more available for everyone!

Excellent circular walk from Wells-next-the-sea to Holkham beach.Coffee at cafe horrible. Bring on Barista coffee ASAP. Several people walked away disappointed that there was no latte/cappuccino . Shame as it’s a great spot though LOADS of dogs if you are not keen.

What a total rip off!! £4.95 for a small sausage roll, £4.95 for a small Cornish pasty, £2.50 for a can of coke. I know you have to make money to keep a business going but this is something else..just pure greed. You people should be ashamed of yourselves!

Great location for a cup of coffee and a piece of cake, on a nice loop from Well beach via Holkham beach and back on the North Norfolk path

Filter coffee was good, drinks selection was OK. If you have a water bottle you can refill for free from lovely fountain sculpture in centre of lookout. Overall a bit expensive, but the only place nearby. If you don't mind paying for the car park you won't mind the price in the cafe.

Great atmosphere with hikers and bikers frequenting this little oasis venue which serves small snacks and drinks to weary travellers. The only negative I found was a can of coke costing £2.50.

We always start our birding with a coffee & snack, i chose a vegan sausage roll which was priced at £2.75, ( cold) i asked for it hot and was told it would be £4.75!!! £2 for it to be heated up! Total rip off! Will not be caught out there again..coffee mediocre...love the birding walks tho..

Lovely location in an interesting building looking out across the marshes. Nice sandwiches but probably the worst coffee available in Norfolk.

Lovely location, and good to see a very tasty vegan sausage roll. I recommend to expand the vegan menu considerably, with both sweet and savoury items.

Nice half way place to grab a coffee & cake when walking from Wells next to Sea to Holkham. Very dog friendly. Toilet clean. Cake a bit pricey at £4.50 a slice

What a great location BUT we went there for our mid morning coffee and they only had filter coffee. Come on guys ... this was acceptable 15 years ago ... but in 2024? It's not as if there was a shortage of staff manning the cafe. There were two people behind the counter without much to do. They would be able to charge more for flat whites, lattes etc attracting more customers who would in turn buy more cakes, sausage rolls etc.

You can get a drink and something to eat here they is toilets. The staff are nice

This is a very convenient stop for a hot drink but it is a bit pricey with a limited selection. Cakes are okay and hot drinks most welcome. We had a reactive dog with us so the spaced out tables outside were helpful!

Only stopped here for a cuppa after a walk along the beach ,so can't comment too much about the place. The coffee was ok . I would have had something to eat but when they were charging £4.25 for a bit of cake ( or an Eccles cake! ) I decided against it . The seating around the inside is a good idea for birdwatching.

Bit pricey but the homemade sausage roll was gorgeous went back for a 2nd £2.75 each

Small cafe overlooking the bay. Selling tea,coffee,snacks . DOG FRIENDLY Prices reasonable

Great! But a flat white would have been great!

The Lookout is a nice little pitstop as you navigate from Holkham Beach to Holkham Hall but don't expect gourmet cuisine. Coffee was filter only and pre-packaged cakes were a little dry (maybe as we're gluten free). But hey you don't stop here for the food and drink but for the views, the rest and a nice clean toilet, which this place definitely delivers.

Unbelievably peaceful. Lovely coffee and the best vegan sausage roll I've had. Vegan chocolate cake available.

Great location at the top of Lady Anne’s Dive, Holkham Gap. We called in with our dog whilst walking the Norfolk coastal path. Cafe clean, dog made very welcome, lots of water available for him. Toilets, the queue system was confusing because you can’t tell from the outside if the toilets are vacant or occupied. I’ve been in clearer toilets, sandy and muddy but they are next to the beach so keeping them clean is probably tricky. Had hot drinks and a pasty each, the cheese and onion pasties were lovely, expensive like everything Holkham related. Tea fine, Oat milk available. The coffee however was terrible, “filter coffee only” very strong, you could stand your spoon up in it. I asked them to tip some ourt so that I could add more milk, this didn’t help, horrible coffee. Give the coffee a miss, otherwise a convenient stop on the coastal path.

Far too expensive for what it is. £2.50 for a kids' sandwich, which is a single slice of bread with some tasteless ham. Take a picnic instead!

Nice views all round food nice place to stop catch your breath with a cup of tea

Good coffee and cakes. Perfect location to park and check out the beach and birds.

Excellent food from the cafe, bought to take away for a picnic on the beach. The cheese and onion slice was the best I’ve had in years. Really friendly staff. Tourist prices but good quality and convenient

It's so expensive..... and for the volume of people passing through more toilets may be needed.

Clean and tidy, was quite quiet but started to get busy as we were leaving, still a great rest stop.

Little cafe just before you make the stroll down to the beach. Toilets are plenty there and dog water stations, which is lovely to see. Nice selection of drinks and little snacks to take with you.

Handy spot for a rest stop as you set off across the North Norfolk Path or the end if coming from Wells. Very environmentally friendly cafe with lovely local food. Toilet facilities available.

A basic café offering a simple range of drinks and a small range of eatables. Good for a quick pit-stop but not a meal. Popular with nature watchers with views over the marshes. Toilets were ok-ish.

It's expensive. But given the location, they've got you over a barrel. We'll know next time to pack our own. £21 (if I remember correctly, it began with a 2) for two packet sandwiches, two cans of pop and two packets of crisps. I've given two stars as they were good sandwiches.

Nice view on top and delicious food

Extremely overpriced, £5.25 for a sandwich, same extortionate prices for cakes & drinks. Toilets absolutely filthy, saw a man come out of gents actually gagging! Would definitely not recommend this place to anyone!

Beautiful surroundings but massively overpriced and filthy toilets and seating areas. Would recommend bringing a picnic rather than buying from here. Over £4 for a tiny sausage role and £3 for a still water!

Currently sitting outside for our 3rd visit in a week. It’s a convenient location between wells beach and the Holkham hall estate and it’s appreciated they have gluten free cake options for my wife and child who are coeliac. My feelings towards this place were drastically altered during our last visit. Just as soon as we got to our seat our 5yo reached and knocked her hot chocolate drink over. We cleaned up after ourselves completely and I took the tray inside to pour away the spill. I get it they aren’t there to give out free drinks. But I’d have thought given the volume of custom they get in a day and the prices for basic filter coffee and refreshments that they’d perhaps have offered to replace the HC free of charge. But sadly not I had to get another using our loyalty card (which shows we’ve been here many times). 7 cakes 2 bacon baps 3 coffees 2 hot chocolates and a can of pop in one week but couldn’t offer a replacement drink… Can’t help but feel disappointed.

Lovely shelter from the elements with views across the reserve. Keeps warm despite the rain, and has a pleasant atmosphere. Food is good too.

Great cafe after a long walk on the beach or coastal footpath. The food is basic but very good quality all with sustainabilty and environmental friendly packaging etc. Indoor or outdoor seating and dog friendly.

Tea and cake served with a smile and consumed after a dog walk out on the beach snd back through the forest.

Just left a 5 star review on a restaurant in Wells but this one has a long way to go. Having walked from Wells this was a welcome place to stop we thought! Very expensive 4-95 for a sausage roll! Average coffee and unpleasant toilets. Stunning location, appreciated a drink and a snack but they seem to suffer from no competition!

Stopped for a bacon sarnie and coffee on the North Norfolk circular walk. It was a very hot sunny day so it was like an oasis in the desert. Very welcoming

You would think they’d be able to afford a cleaner for the vile toilets that are on par with Skegness toilets for the extortionate amount of money they charge in the cafe. £4.50 for a slice of cake and no cappuccino on the menu just filter coffee for nearly £3. Not impressed. Had to avoid some kind of muck on the toilet floor with my child for him to have a wee. Not as posh as they think they are!

Super cafe ,after a lovely walk

Great cafe with a well designed and unique building blending well into the landscape. Good for all ages to enjoy a drink and a quick snack before or after a walk along the beach. Plenty of seating inside/outside and dog friendly. The information about the project/site/area was interesting and provided an overview of what you can see and where to go. A fair distance to walk to the cafe at wells beach, really well kept paths through the nature reserve, but, could have had a few more benches. Overall well worth a visit if you are in the area.

Stopped for coffee while out walking.

A pleasant beach cafe, nice atmosphere but quite over priced which ruins it a little. £5.95 for a plain sausage roll?

Welcome place to sit, relax and recharge after exploring Holkam National Nature Reserve.

A beautiful lookout point to watch birds while enjoying a cup of tea

My first time visiting Holkham. Lovely cafe, dog friendly. Nice cherry 🍰 and good filter coffee ☕.

Require a re mortgage of the house to buy a slice of cake! 4.50 for a slice pushed me over the edge. Thanks for the drinks though!

Worth visiting for wildlife and coutryside

Great place to rest & contemplate

Great place for a snack along the coast.

This is a welcome break for tea, toilet and snacks when walking along the Norfolk coast path. Very clean with lots of information on the whole area.

Good place for a break walking the coast path or doing a circular Wells & Holkham walk.

We visit here a lot from Essex and this is a great tea and cake stop after a beach walk

Sooooo disappointed. I was advised to visit by someone we met in Wells so looking forward to it. The food offer was sparce so I had a slice of cake and a coffee. The cake was stale and the coffee undrinkable. When my husband complained the young man said sorry but didn't seem at all concerned and there was no offer of replacement or refund.

Sat here,out of the rain,easy from the car park,long way from the beach,awesome place

The sausage in a roll are delicious

A lot of the packaged snacks here seem to have Palm oil as an ingredient. I was disappointed, as this is a nature reserve and poster around the cafe mention preserving and protecting habitats. The food was tasty, the coffee average, but I wouldn't go here again unless they change their policy towards palm oil.

What a location! So we took a trip here to check out the beach and dunes What a wonderful location...! Shame the weather wasn't better we came on such a windy day to the point my little one struggled against it We still went down onto the beach and made a small sand castle, we wish it was a better day so we could stay longer but it was 4c and so windy In better weather we will be back for certain, After we returned we found the lookout and what a relief it brought a bastion against the storm, winds and rain We took shelter here to warm up again and have a nice drink and snack before heading out again

Before, after or midway through a walk this is an excellent place to stop for a coffee and sandwich. Nice and clean with beautiful views, the sandwiches and cakes are excellent. The customer service is similarly excellent as provided by two personable and helpful guys. Having run out of sandwiches due to our post lunch arrival, the kitchen made us one and brought it to our table. Good coffee, and that is very important!

Perfect place to stop and refresh. Fresh cakes, clean and friendly staff. Great walk to Wells with lots of wildlife spotted on the way.

Beautiful location, amazing place to stop before or after a walk along the beach. But unfortunately only filter coffees. Amazing cafe otherwise though, and the staff were lovely.

Nice to be able to get food and drink, but it is rather expensive for what they offer

Lovely place for a quick snack with amazing views. Dog and child friendly. Friendly staff. Recommend the bacon rolls

Very good sandwich the sausage and lettuce and chutney was just what I need and first time stopping here will be coming back again also they do hot pasties I went on Saturday then walk to wells on sea took 1 hour 15 minutes so everyone thanks

Beautiful structure, with absolutely stunning views... hideously overpriced food and drink, coffee particularly bad... they offer no plant based alternatives to milk... only offer plain Americano... for the prices they charge, options would be lovely! Always a huge queue for the toilets, which aren't always very clean, and often no loo roll, take tissues with you! Food is ok... very overpriced and nothing outstanding or innovative. However, this is my very favourite beach with my very favourite walks😀

£10 for a sausage roll and two hot drinks? really.

Serving only bad filter coffee in 2024 is appalling. The reason given was to reduce plastic and vehicle journeys. This does not make any sense as whether espresso or filter coffee is still supplied in bags and has to be delivered. All other Holkham catering has proper coffee, so why not. Beach of course wonderful.

Just had a coffee but service was quick

This appeared a few years ago and as with the car parking is very overpriced. They even sell expensive dog food. I had a small sausage roll, Eccles cake and can of coke and over £8. The Holkham estate are rolling in it. Also the slit design is hopeless for viewing the Marsh.

Great place but as with all tourist attractions, everything is overpriced.

Great food and a welcome break from the wind on the day

Terrible coffee and disappointing that there was a only filter coffee on offer. Apparently a proper coffee machine is too noisy for the wildlife! Good sausage though.

Nice place to grab a coffee after being on the beach. Dig friendly.

Lovely views, pleasant staff and warming hot chocolate. Will return.

Wonderful location, though though the building looks a bit like a brutalist. The food is really great (especially the bacon baps) but sadly the coffee is a disappointment and tastes like weak dishwater. Unfortunately there an not enough toilets so long queues form of people waiting in the outside seating area to use the toilets..

A great spot for a quick drink or bite to eat after a walk on the beach. The cafe has indoor and outdoor seating and is a great place to watch the wildlife. Toilets are available too. The quality of the hot drinks was poor for the price paid. Coffee and hot chocolate served but couldn't make a Mocha. Cake was lovely though and there was a good selection of hot and cold food available. The owners are clearly committed to eco-friendly packaging and recycling which is great to see!

Very limited selection of food and drink.

Good choice and reasonable prices.

A nice hot chocolate and a lovely sausage roll. Dog friendly

A place in the field build for birds watching enthusiasts. A very calm, relaxing place to spend time either with someone or by yourself. Clean place, cozy place with plenty of toilets, also dog friendly with fountain in the middle of the cafe were fur buddies can drink.

Does the job and is quite an impressive building. Also a good spot for bird watching.

Just popped in for a coffee and to get out of the rain. You can sit down and continue birding

Great stop for tea and cake after a walk along the sands

A great place to stop for a coffee, cake or sausage roll. Situated on the Holkham circular walk and a stones throw from Holkham beach this is a great location. There is a fairly limited menu for hot food, but there is more than enough for a quick snack or light lunch. (Cakes, cookies, sausage rolls, pasties etc). There are lots of indoor and outdoor seats and a number of toilets. On a nice day the queues for the toilet can be impressive! Overall a great place to stop for a sit down and a drink

Nice people very helpful and quick service

The Lookout Cafe is a great place to stop for a bite to eat and a drink while visiting Holkham Beach. It has a simple offering of cakes, pasties, filter coffee, and soups, but the food is all of high quality. The cafe is located in a beautiful spot overlooking the nature reserve, and it has plenty of outdoor seating, making it the perfect place to enjoy a sunny day. There is also a limited amount of indoor seating, which is ideal for colder or wet days. The staff at The Lookout Cafe are very friendly and helpful, pointing out where to get trays, or quickly opening a second till when one was slowed down by a husband checking something with his wife. The cafe also sells dog treats and has a central water fountain with inbuilt dog bowls, making it a great place to visit with your furry friend. The only downside to The Lookout Cafe is that it is quite expensive. However, the prices are reflective of the convenient location. This remoteness possibly also is the reason for limited food selection. Overall, I would highly recommend The Lookout Cafe to anyone visiting Holkham Beach. It is a great place to stop for a bite to eat and a drink, and the staff are always friendly and helpful.

Great views while you eat. Little pricey.

Unique great cafe, best out of season when the tourists have gone home.

Nice staff, good place to go while walking your dog, lovely setting.

Nice cafe & loos at tge entrance to Holkham beach

Good coffee and cake in a great location

Nice place to walk to , abit pricey for what it was but if you visit somewhere out of the way !!!!! I would still go again

Great for a bit of lunch after a walk on the beach

Such a prime beauty spot to have a sandwich or cake, with tea or coffee etc. Some dry covered areas, some elemental. Books to read on local wildlife. Dogs welcome.

A dispiriting building and experience in a beautiful place. Basic tea or filter coffee in paper cups.

I haven't "met" all the staff but Samantha is a super star!! 😇 We have tried gluten free cake and my kid loved it (quite a few choices, individually wrapped) And just tried the new drink- flawsome and strawberry one is awesome!! Just a little nudge in the right direction- toilets could be better maintained 🫣

Great place, just when we needed it. Stylish and sustainable!

Great place as a stop off if you are completing a circular walk between Wells and Holkham. Very good selection of sandwiches and salads. Good selection of hot and cold drinks. Nice views across the Marsh and places to sit inside and out.