Places to eat in Kent

With hundreds of miles of coastline, seafood is a reliably good option in Kent. And we’re starting with two extremes. Fish on the Green in Maidstone has taken a barn and stables and turned it into a chic, refined seafood restaurant with a crisp white interior and some stellar dishes, including their baked hake and range of mussels. At the other end of the spectrum is Shakey Shakey Fish Bar in Ramsgate, home to some of the best fish and chips you’ll get in the entire county.

Another food staple is Italian, and Kent has some of the best. Il Padrino near Gravesend believes in the simple things in life: big portions, friendly service, wood-fired pizza and affordable prices. Amici Restaurant near Ashford, meanwhile, is a small, family-run restaurant open Monday to Saturday for lunch and dinner with a warm, welcoming atmosphere and a menu stacked with classics.

As with our cafe roundup below, Herne Bay is a reliable culinary hot spot, with The Wine Bar one of our favourites thanks to its amazing wine menu, cracking food and attentive service.

For a unique dining experience, try out STARK in Broadstairs. The small restaurant is open for dinner from Wednesday to Saturday with a range of tasting menus to choose from. You’ll need to book ahead: This trendy spot not only has the taste to match, but there are only ten covers a night, so space is at a premium!

With its sea air and white chalk cliffs, the south coast in Kent is the perfect place to explore on a sunny day. And once you’ve finished exploring, recover with afternoon tea and a slice – or three – of cake.

Some of our favourite tea shops are down near Folkestone and Dungeness overlooking the Channel. Deblyn’s Teashop and Garden in New Romney is a delightful space known for its light lunches and scrumptious afternoon tea where you’re served with a towering tray of sandwiches, finger foods and cake, all while basking in their glorious garden.

A little further up the coast in Dymchurch is Mary’s Tea Room, a quaint, very classic English tea room complete with pristine white tablecloths, homemade jam, savoury tarts and some divine crab sandwiches.

Completing the south coast cafe trio is Anna’s in Folkestone, a short drive from our Folkestone Channel Tunnel hotel. The town centre cafe is friendly and charming, with a small but perfectly formed menu focusing on hot and cold drinks, breakfast, lunch, cakes and snacks.

Another cafe hotspot is on the north coast of Kent close to Margate. The Wallflower Cafe in Herne Bay is one of the best vegan and vegetarian outlets in the county, while just around the corner is The Green Door Deli, perfect if you want to get something to eat on the beach or to grab their almost-perfect bacon sandwich to kick-start your day.