
Welcome to the Waterfront Café.
Waterfront Café is now under the new leadership of an experienced and vibrant hospitality team!
We know the Waterfront Café is a beloved local gem with a devoted clientele, in an area that is home to our service men and women at RAF Benson, and a buzzing social media community that we truly cherish.
Stay tuned for our upcoming website revamp and get ready to explore a world of flavours with our exciting seasonal menus, crafted to delight every palate.
Here’s to fresh beginnings and scrumptious adventures ahead!"
Café, Bar & Bistro
Waterfront Café is an independent eatery with a casual vibe serving simple, uncomplicated food on the banks of the River Thames in Benson, South Oxfordshire.
Open for breakfast through to supper and everything in between – our counter is bursting with freshly baked pastries, homemade cakes and light snacks.
The setting is second to none; we’re just a stone’s throw from the River Thames which makes for the perfect spot to soak up the sunset with a bite to eat and a glass of wine.
Have young kids? Make a day of it - grab a box of duck food and discover the riverside, including the paddling pool next door. Make it a take away if you prefer and we’re here for ice cream when you need us!
We don’t take bookings; turn up and we’ll find you a table.
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A Fresh &
Seasonal Menu
As an independent business we’re keen to support local suppliers and source seasonal products for our chefs to freshly prepare on our premises and we like to know where our produce comes from. Our meat is supplied by local butcher Carl Woods in Sonning Common, we have beer from Loddon Brewery in Dunsden, sourdough bread from Cornfield bakeries, Red Dog Cider from Benson and eggs from Beechwood Farm among others.
Food is simple, honest and uncomplicated. Our mouth-watering sourdough breakfast rolls are a favourite way to start the day, homemade beer battered fish and chips and burgers deserve a mention and our colourful salads don’t disappoint. We also cater for allergies and are happy to adapt dishes to suit customer needs.
Our homemade cakes (including gluten free and vegan options), show stopping brownies and giant scones are the perfect accompaniment to our locally roasted coffee, and the NEW ice cream bar is fully stocked ready for the summer season!

Riverside Location
Did we mention we are literally on the Thames? Positioned on the banks at Benson with views of the lock we really are a riverside location. Turn left out of the café and you pick up the Thames path to Wallingford, or turn right to amble your way to Shillingford. Check out Explore the Area page.
Enjoy the beautiful view on our vast outside decking area during the summer months and continue the alfresco experience under the covered heated areas on cooler days.
Large tables are perfect for family gatherings and the comfortable lounge area really is the perfect spot to enjoy sunset drinks and lazy lunches. The enclosed glass veranda offers the ‘bringing the outside in’ feeling all year around. The decking and covered outside areas are also dog friendly.