A PLACE WORTH KNOWING
Coffee above the dunes
A tiny café and kiosk above Woolacombe’s dunes, with house-made cakes, bold sandwiches and a round window onto the coast.
The Porthole is a very good example of looking twice at an unlikely building. A former public toilet block, renovated by the National Trust, now holds a café and kiosk with one of Woolacombe’s loveliest outlooks. Upstairs, a round window frames the dunes; outside, tables turn coffee and cake into a little coastal occasion. The food has just as much personality as the setting. Sandwich fillings, sauces, cakes and even the kimchi for the Scotch eggs are made in house, with the menu following seasonal ingredients. It is a small place, so treat availability as part of the day and use pre-ordering when lunch needs to be certain.
The lovely little details
- Café above the dunes
- House-made cakes and savouries
- Marine Drive setting
SOMETHING TO LOOK OUT FOR
Try the savoury counter
Look for the kimchi Scotch eggs or today’s sandwiches, then leave room for one of the homemade cakes.
From the venueTHE USEFUL LITTLE DETAILS
Make a little plan.
Getting there
Find the café on Marine Drive above the dunes. Check the current car-park arrangements before leaving your vehicle.
Before you set off
The venue offers pre-orders for collection; check the current cutoff on its website.
The building
The café occupies a former public toilet block renovated by the National Trust.
Check the detailsMade in house
The kitchen makes cakes, sandwich sauces and the kimchi used in its Scotch eggs.
Check the detailsParking
The website explains current Marine Drive parking arrangements, including National Trust membership.
Check the detailsDetails checked 24 October 2026. Opening times, menus and access arrangements can change; confirm anything essential directly before travelling.
About this feature & our sources
This is an editorial discovery, researched from the venue’s own information and any visitor sources linked here. It is not a paid partnership or a first-hand review. Individual visitor tips reflect that person’s experience; they are not a live rating or a promise about your visit.
Each photo has its own source and credit in the gallery. Spotted something that needs updating? Let us know.
