Waterfalls Gift & Coffee Shop — Restaurant in Hastings

I visited this magical little shop during a 4-day solo trip to Hastings in April last year, and I still think about it to this day. I had come all the way from Istanbul, Turkey, to have a peaceful solo stay in Hastings, and stumbled upon it completely by chance while wandering the streets, and it ended up becoming the most precious part of my trip — both emotionally and quite literally, as I spent most of my travel budget here.

The atmosphere was absolutely whimsical — it felt like stepping into an old romantic film. I’ve never seen such beautifully curated and unique gifts in one place. I bought a few things I truly treasure: a decorative piece for my living space back home (the "Life is Better By the Sea" souvenir here in my attached photos), an adorable scarf, and a gorgeous candle for my mother. Even after over a year, she still opens the candle just to take in its scent — she truly loves how beautiful it is.

What completely surprised me was discovering a charming café upstairs on my second visit. I ended up sharing a lovely coffee moment with a pair of elderly twins — we even took a selfie together! That whole day, that entire space, holds a really dear place in my heart.

One item I found here made me especially emotional: a rare wrapping paper featuring Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory's first ever, original illustrations. As a lifelong fan of the novel, that was an unforgettable find.

It’s been over a year, but I still remember the kind and peaceful presence of the shop assistant who was working at the cash registry at the time. Their warm and peaceful presence truly made my experience even more meaningful. If they ever read this: thank you.

I’m writing this review now simply because this place left such a lasting impression on me. I wanted to share my memories and a few photos from those two special days, in case any fellow traveler might be drawn to visit. I genuinely hope to return to Hastings one day — if only just to come back to...

Super creepy employee... It was very cold, which I have never encountered in the UK. I remember when I came in there was a slightly older lady at the counter and then a younger girl came down from the second floor and they were talking and laughing. But when it comes to customers, two people are like rocks. There was hate in the air and it made me very uncomfortable. I was at the counter picking out accessories, not knowing which one to buy, and the atmosphere was very tense. When I finally left, the girl was staring at me, and my whole...

My partner was delayed at an appointment, so I had a wander just to kill some time. I went into Waterfalls and had a drink at the cafe which was lovely all round, I went downstairs and bought an impromptu Christmas decoration and was asked if I had any cash and I said I unfortunately didn’t, and the rest of the encounter then became very unfriendly. No smiling, no thank you, just silent and expressionless. This is in relation to the lady working on 30/11/24....