7 of the Best Pubs in South Devon
What’s better than a hearty meal and refreshing drink after a day exploring the beauty of South Devon? Nestled...
Famous for delicious local plaice and located close to the productive fishing waters of Start Bay and the English Channel, it’s not surprising that the vast array of restaurants in Dartmouth offer a fantastic opportunity to enjoy freshly-sourced seafood. Yet, while there’s no shortage of seafood options for all occasions and budgets, Dartmouth restaurants aren’t limited to the fruits of the sea.
Restaurants in Dartmouth offer a vast array of taste adventures for any palette. Whether you’re looking for a riverside eatery to indulge in a Devonshire afternoon tea or a casual establishment to tuck into a traditional roast dinner, you’ll be spoilt for choice with the town’s fantastic selection of places to eat and drink.
So, in no particular order, let’s take a look at our selection of the 10 best restaurants in Dartmouth…
Use our quick links below to navigate to a particular venue or read on for our favourite Dartmouth restaurants.
1. The Seahorse al Mare
2. Kendricks
3. The Angel
4. Taylor’s Restaurant
5. The River Restaurant
6. Platform 1 Champagne Bar and Restaurant
7. Rockfish
8. Bushells River Restaurant
9. Anzac Street Bistro
10. The Wheelhouse
The multi-award-winning Seahorse, run by celebrity chef Mitch Tonks with his business partner Matt Prowse, must be the most famous of all restaurants in Dartmouth.
The sensational seasonal fish menu changes daily, but usually includes sea bass, monkfish, and heavenly scallops. Many of the dishes are cooked over the charcoal fire in the restaurant, making for simple but beautifully prepared meals.
After your meal, we highly suggest that you continue your evening in the wine bar annex. The super-sophisticated Joe’s Bar is featured in our blog post, ‘3 stylish Dartmouth wine bars’.
Mitch, who wrote the foreword to our free downloadable South Devon Cookbook, lives over the water in Brixham. As a founding patron of the Dartmouth Food Festival, he has long been a champion of our regional food and drink culture. As he put it in his foreword to our publication:
South Devon is one of the most beautiful areas in the country. Every time I go away on holiday I love it, but I can’t wait to get back.
You may have seen Mitch on TV shows such as Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch or his television series, ‘Mitch and Matt’s Big Fish’ on UKTV Food, amongst other shows.
They are now offering a new venture ‘The Seahorse Al Mare’ where you can enjoy a casual beach vibe.
Booking is essential so visit The Seahorse website to make your reservation.
Kendricks is a casual Dartmouth restaurant with a tasty ‘Tex-Mex’ themed menu and a friendly, lively atmosphere. Even in quieter months, Kendrick’s is often very much alive with groups of work colleagues, officer cadets, families and couples all making the most of the restaurant’s reasonable prices and flavoursome fare.
Hearty classics like steaks, burgers, ribs and grills form the meat of the menu. Along with some chilli options and the ever-popular sizzling fajitas. Don’t forget to check out the specials board too, which changes regularly with the seasons.
Early bird offers and other deals are fairly common, so click here to view Kendricks website for updates.
For the ultimate foodie explorer in us all, The Angel is a luxury waterside restaurant, facing the River Dart – a must-visit in order to complete your gastronomic adventure in Dartmouth. With an expertly crafted seasonal menu, each course, bite, sip and scoop celebrates Devon’s fantastic larder through wonderfully simplistic, delicate dishes… think pieces of artwork on a plate!
Head Chef Elly Wentworth has not only excited our taste buds with her bold yet unpretentious cooking, but she came to fame after her appearance on BBC’s MasterChef The Professionals in 2016, where she left the competition as a successful runner up.
More recently, Elly has returned to the MasterChef kitchen in 2018 for ‘The Professionals: Rematch’, where we watched Monica Galetti visit The Angel restaurant and indulge in mouth-watering food. Serving hearty meat based dishes such as Ruby Red beef and Dartmoor Shepherd lamp, as well as lighter courses that feature line caught seabass and delicious braised halibut. If it’s good enough for celebrity chefs, it’s good enough for us!
To find out more about Head Chef Elly Wentworth, or to book your table, head to The Angel website.
If you’re looking for an intimate dining setting, Taylor’s is the perfect restaurant in Dartmouth. Expect delicious food, relaxing background music to soothe you into a holiday bliss, sparkling chandeliers and the stunning backdrop of the River Dart and across to Kingswear. Highly rated by foodies, both online and through word of mouth, this intimate first-floor restaurant has a select menu which is mainly focused on seafood.
The emphasis in the kitchen is high quality food. Dishes are prepared with skill and are cooked fresh to order by Peter and his team, relying on the essential flavours and classic combinations that have been tried and tested over the years. We recommend experiencing the taste sensation of poached lobster with scallops and king prawns, thermidor sauce, samphire grass and dauphinoise potatoes – delicious!
Visit Taylor’s Restaurant website here.
If it’s elegant fine dining and a relaxing ambience that you’re looking for, The River Restaurant at Dart Marina is the place for you. Perched on the water’s edge, this wonderful eatery has exemplary standards of both cuisine and service. Using fresh, local ingredients, Head chef Peter Alcroft expertly creates culinary masterpieces, making this popular Dartmouth restaurant a firm favourite amongst holidaymakers and locals alike.
Download the River Restaurant menu and wine list here.
Located a short stroll from The River Restaurant are our Dart Marina apartments, boasting spectacular views the River Dart. These stylish properties exude luxury, perfect for a relaxing foodie lovers retreat.
View our selection of luxurious Dart Marina apartments
In possibly one of the most enviable spots in the heart of Dartmouth you’ll find this contemporary restaurant and champagne bar. Positioned on the water’s edge, this popular eatery boasts panoramic views across the River Dart towards Kingswear.
Specialising in locally sourced produce, you can expect to find fresh crab, lobster and mussels, as well as Ruby Red Devon beef on the menu. Not only is it their food choice that’s outstanding, but they also offer an extensive wine and spirits menu, and naturally a glass of their Pol Roger Champagne! People flood in to pop, fizz and crack open a lobster at this sociable establishment – the perfect place to gather together with loved ones on your South Devon break!
View the Platform 1 Bar & Restaurant website here.
Like the Seahorse restaurant, Rockfish is owned and managed by celebrity chef Mitch Tonks. Part of a small Devon chain of six fish restaurants, this award winning eatery is the perfect setting for a portion of fish and chips. This Dartmouth restaurant gets top marks from us, not only for its mouth-watering dishes but for its ability to create everything on the menu gluten free!
There are lots of other interesting food options too. So if you’ve already indulged in enough battered cod for a little while, you’ll be happy to know the menu contains such enticing dishes as roasted scallops, mussels in wine and garlic, tempura vegetables, halloumi burgers and plenty more.
Their motto, ‘Tomorrow’s fish are still in the sea’. Sums up their approach to sourcing fresh produce from the local area.
They also host live music on selected Wednesdays. These Rockfish Sessions create a phenomenal atmosphere not just filled with acoustic notes, but the sound of laughter, a jolly cheers and the warm welcome to each and every loyal customer.
Visit the Rockfish website here.
Bushell’s Riverside Restaurant is situated on Dartmouth’s South Embankment. Overlooking the River Dart to Kingswear – every table has a wonderful view. Owned and run by Jaime and Sarah Bushell, The Riverside Restaurant offers a menu that is designed to ensure all dishes are freshly sourced. The menu changes on a daily basis to reflect this.
Sarah runs front of house and works with their wine merchants to ensure they have a superb selection of wines, to compliment Jaime’s culinary delights. They’ve also created a gin and spirits menu that is made up of some of the best West Country suppliers, and a few national favourites too.
If you fancy a romantic diner, a meal with friends, a Sunday Lunch or private dining room for a celebration, Bushell’s is ideal. Booking is always recommended, especially for evening service.
Click here to visit the Bushell’s website.
The cosmopolitan Anzac Street Bistro combines Mediterranean cuisine with a Polish twist, alongside Devon-sourced ingredients to create a unique restaurant. The menu changes with the seasons, not simply to reflect the availability of fresh produce but also how our tastes reflect the time of year. There’s an emphasis on seafood but there’s plenty of other options too.
Owners Simon and Aga, along with Head Chef Rafal, are also happy to accommodate diners with specific dietary requirements. This makes them a popular choice for vegans and vegetarians, as well as those with allergies or intolerances.
There’s regularly live music at the Anzac Street Bistro, most commonly on Saturdays and some Sundays, which tends to be mellow piano or acoustic sets with other performances arranged for the town’s annual events and festivals.
To view the menu of this Dartmouth restaurant, head to Anzac Street Bistro’s website.
Many small towns have just one fish and chip shop while in others there could be a handful, but in most cases, locals usually reach a consensus of which is the best. Dartmouth is unusual in that its two most frequented ‘chippies’ are similarly popular both with visitors and longtime residents. We recommend giving both a try on your break.
With a 4.2 Google Reviews score and a 4.5 TripAdvisor rating (with 706 reviews) there’s no doubting the quality on offer at the Wheelhouse, an old-fashioned fish and chip shop and restaurant.
The menu, whether that’s to take away or eat in, is surprisingly varied, with sandwiches, chicken dishes, burgers and salads. But it’s for classic fish and chips that the Wheelhouse has built its excellent reputation.
For more information, visit The Warehouse website.
For more recommendations on fantastic places to eat, take a look at our article on the best seafood restaurants in Devon, which includes dining experiences both on and off the water! Or, if you’ve had your fill of seafood whilst on your South Devon holiday, read our complete guide to the best pubs in Dartmouth.
At Coast & Country Cottages, we have over 450 holiday cottages in Dartmouth and throughout South Devon, including properties in the towns and villages surrounding the River Dart. From Kingswear to Dittisham, Tuckenhay and Totnes, we’re sure you’ll find a holiday cottage that suits your requirements. If you’re looking to enjoy a retreat with your pet, why not take a look at our dog-friendly holiday cottages in Dartmouth.
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