Cycling Cafe Review - Ventnor Botanic Gardens Plantation Room Cafe

Cycling friendly cafes on the Isle of Wight are plentiful, but there are few better placed, or serving better food and drink, than the Ventnor Botanic Gardens Plantation Room Cafe.

The Undercliff Road between Ventnor and Niton was closed for many years due to a significant landslip, but it has recently been re-opened to pedestrians and cyclists. The route now provides a beautiful low-traffic alternative diversion for the Isle of Wight Randonnee route, which I would highly recommend taking, even though it does add a bit more climbing.

Ventnor Botanic Gardens is situated on the Ventnor end of the Undercliff Road. This makes it a perfect cycling cafe stop, about halfway round the Isle of Wight 'Round the Island' route if you are beginning at Ryde/Fishbourne.

Serving a selection of speciality teas, coffees, freshly made cakes, and superb light lunches. There is a selection for every taste and preference.

I stopped by at the Plantation Room Cafe mid-ride on a cold January day, and enjoyed a warming 'Special Chilli Jacket Potato' and a beautiful flat white coffee, plus a slice of the Jaffa Cake!

The cafe also sells a selection of jams and chutneys that are made on the premises, which if you have a decent sized seat-pack would make for a great souvenir. Though, you will have to carry the extra weight up the significant incline out of Ventnor... (Check out my 'St Boniface Down Everesting' ride, to get an idea of this climb)!

Outside, there is seating for summer months and ample parking for bikes, though you might want to bring a lightweight cable lock, as it isn't in direct view of the cafe.

This is one Isle of Wight cycling friendly cafe well worth paying a visit.







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