The Garden Dessert Lounge, located at 313a Ilkeston Road in Nottingham's Lenton area, is a popular destination for dessert enthusiasts and shisha aficionados. The lounge offers a diverse menu featuring Belgian waffles, cookie dough, milkshakes, and a selection of cakes and brownies. Patrons can enjoy a relaxed atmosphere complemented by high-quality shisha and a variety of mocktails. The venue is known for its exceptional service and welcoming ambiance, making it a favored spot for both students and locals seeking a sweet treat or a place to unwind.
What each source says
- Google 4.8 1,284
- Tripadvisor 4.5 19
Bar length is review volume, so you can see how much weight sits behind each score. Captured 2026-08-26.
What visitors single out
Liked
- Delicious and Diverse Food Menu The menu offers a broad selection of tasty dishes, including Indo-Chinese, grills, curries, burgers, and wraps, with many dishes full of flavor and generously portioned.
- Excellent Desserts and Mocktails The desserts are freshly made and highly rated, complemented by beautifully prepared and delicious mocktails.
- Exceptional Service Staff are consistently attentive, friendly, and go above and beyond to ensure a great experience, remembering preferences and providing personalized service.
- Great Atmosphere The lounge boasts a vibrant and relaxing atmosphere, with appealing decor, good music, and effective heating for outdoor areas.
- High-Quality Shisha The shisha is smooth, long-lasting, and available in a wide variety of flavors, with staff regularly replenishing coals.
Criticised
- Can get very crowded The venue can become very busy at peak hours, potentially affecting the speed of service and overall comfort.
- Cash Payment Issues Card machine issues have been reported, so carrying cash is recommended as a precaution.
- Exterior is Deceiving The exterior appearance may not reflect the quality and ambiance found inside, potentially leading to initial skepticism.
- Inconsistent Music Volume Music can sometimes be loud, which might not suit everyone's preferences for a relaxing environment.
- Potentially Difficult to Find Some visitors have found the location difficult to find, as it is tucked away or behind other establishments.
The longer read
The Garden Dessert Lounge in Nottingham receives consistently high praise for its shisha, food, service, and atmosphere. Many reviewers highlight the quality and variety of shisha flavors, describing them as smooth and long-lasting, with the ice pipe option being a popular choice. The staff is repeatedly commended for being friendly, attentive, and going above and beyond to ensure a positive experience; several reviewers specifically mention staff remembering their orders and preferences on return visits, while some mention specific staff members (Sagar, Luokman, Keenan, Maz) by name and praise their exceptional service. The food is frequently described as delicious, fresh, and flavorful, with generous portion sizes. Reviewers particularly recommend the Momo, Tawa Set, Pakistani Karahi, mix grill, chilli chicken, and chilli prawns, as well as the desserts, especially the waffles and milkshakes. The mocktails also receive positive feedback. The lounge's atmosphere is consistently described as having great vibes, an aesthetically pleasing decor with flowers and bright lights, and a relaxed and comfortable ambiance, with heaters provided to keep customers warm. Several reviewers mention that the interior is a pleasant surprise, especially considering the unassuming exterior and that the establishment is "hidden away". Many reviewers highly recommend The Garden Dessert Lounge and express their intention to return, with some even stating that it is the best shisha lounge they have been to and feels like home. The prices are considered reasonable. The establishment also caters to dietary needs, such as nut allergies.
A synthesis of published third-party reviews. Not written by Breaks.
Getting there
- Phone
- +44 115 648 2603
- Website
- thegardennottingham.co.uk
| Mon | 17:00 - 2:00 |
|---|---|
| Tue | 17:00 - 2:00 |
| Wed | 17:00 - 2:00 |
| Thu | 17:00 - 2:00 |
| Fri | 17:00 - 2:00 |
| Sat | 17:00 - 2:00 |
| Sun | 17:00 - 2:00 |
Against the neighbourhood
Rated 4.8 against a median of 4.8 across the 1 places to eat we hold for Hyson Green, and the most-reviewed of them.
Still deciding?
- What are the most popular or unique desserts served at The Garden Dessert Lounge in Nottingham?
- Is The Garden Dessert Lounge a family-friendly restaurant suitable for children and groups?
- Does The Garden Dessert Lounge offer options for different dietary needs, such as vegan or gluten-free desserts?
- What is the overall atmosphere and decor like at The Garden Dessert Lounge in Nottingham?
- Do you need to make a reservation at The Garden Dessert Lounge, or is walk-in service available?
What this page cannot tell you
- Descriptions and review summaries are supplied by the source index and are reproduced as published; they are not independently verified by Breaks.
- Ratings and review counts are point-in-time snapshots and drift constantly. Check the venue's own site or the rating provider for the current figure.
- Opening hours change seasonally and at short notice. Confirm with the venue before travelling.
- Category labels come from the source index and are occasionally wrong — a venue may be filed under a type that does not match how it trades.
- Straight-line distances understate real walking distance, especially where a river or railway sits between two points.