Restaurants · Lyndhurst
Tucked on Lyndhurst's small high street, this is a proper Thai kitchen rather than another round of pub food or pizza — a welcome change if you've been in the New Forest a few days. Everything's cooked fresh to order, the atmosphere stays relaxed, and the staff are warm with children of all ages: there's a kids' menu that arrives nicely presented with a hearty portion, plus high chairs and vegan choices. Adults should be adventurous — the duck with tamarind, chilli and cashew, the steamed dumplings, and the drunken noodles with crisp veg all get raved about, and the pork jerky is unusual enough that people come back the next day to buy some. Two snags worth knowing: there's no parking on the street itself (the New Forest car park is a short walk), and it opens from 5pm on weekdays, with booking by text or WhatsApp outside those hours.
A little something creative for your next meal out. Filled with colouring, simple drawing prompts for cute animals, origami and conversation starters designed to bring more play, laughter and connection to the table. 3 free printable packs for toddlers, preschoolers and primary-aged children.
Bright, spacious Lyndhurst café with well-spaced tables, quick friendly service, homemade cakes, and genuinely good vegan and gluten-free menus.
Warm, buggy-friendly Lyndhurst café with generous ploughman's, famous carrot cake and fast service — but it fills up fast at lunchtime.
A rustic Lyndhurst coaching inn serving locally sourced pub food, with outdoor seating and a farmhouse cafe that families rate 4.3 stars.