The food scene in Devon is ever-changing but one thing that remains constant is that there are so many excellent restaurants to choose from, you’ll never be able to visit every single one. Whether you’re after exotic cuisine from overseas, or meals made from food that has been grown or reared just down the road, there are restaurants in Devon for you.
The county has plenty of chain eateries but the gems on this list can’t be found anywhere else. These restaurants offer a great opportunity to enjoy delicious food, friendly service and perhaps also some of the superb views that Devon is famous for, as well as spend quality time with family and friends.
It can be difficult to choose where to spend your hard-earned money and valuable free time, so to help you out, here are more than 70 of the best independent restaurants in Devon. They are listed in alphabetical order.
Read more: Devon gets five Michelin starred restaurants in 2023 guide
Àclèaf, Plymouth
Boringdon Hall Hotel, Plympton, Plymouth, PL7 4DP | 01752 344455
££££
This is one of just five Devon restaurants with a prestigious Michelin star. The Michelin Guide says: “The impressive Boringdon Hall Hotel plays host to this cosy, intimate restaurant, which sits under wooden beams within the former minstrels’ gallery. The building itself dates back to the Domesday book and still exudes a historic feel. Prime seasonal ingredients feature in exciting modern dishes which are refined yet restrained and demonstrate great attention to detail. The European flavours are knowledgably balanced, and the sauces and desserts are a particular highlight.”
Andria, Dartmouth
5 Lower St, Dartmouth TQ6 9AJ | 01803 833222
££ - £££
Andria was awarded a Bib Gourmand by The Michelin Guide in 2022, showing that it offers good food at reasonable prices. Michelin said: “The queue outside speaks volumes about this rustic, on-trend bistro: the staff are driven and enormously hard-working and local ingredients shine in the original, flavour-packed modern European dishes like Brixham crab with apple, ginger and lemon sorrel, or stir-fried sprouts with miso caramel, chilli, garlic and ginger. Small plates are listed alongside snacks, sides and puds; they recommend choosing three each to share and they come as and when they are ready.” The restaurant also scooped the South West newcomer of the year title at the 2023 Trencherman’s Awards.
At Thai, Brixham
Facebook page here.
46 Middle St, Brixham TQ5 8EJ | 01803 858936
££ - £££
This small, family-run Thai restaurant in Brixham consistently gets brilliant customer reviews. In addition to the à la carte menu, it offers a selection of set menus and has monthly specials. It also offers takeaway.
Bay Brasserie, Woolacombe
www.woolacombe-bay-hotel.co.uk/north-devon-restaurants/bay-brasserie
Woolacombe Bay Hotel, South St, Woolacombe EX34 7BN | 01271 870388
££ - £££
This is one of 59 Devon restaurants included in the AA Restaurant Guide 2023. It has two AA Rosettes. The inspector said: “Part of The Woolacombe Bay Hotel, a fine Tudor-Gothic hotel overlooking the beach, Bay Brasserie is a relaxed and informal venue with a great atmosphere, and a long bar providing its focal point. The dapper young team add a sense of theatre and occasion. Food is punchy and well conceived, with great clarity of flavour and attention to detail.”
Barbican Kitchen, Plymouth
Black Friars Distillery, 60 Southside St, Plymouth PL1 2LQ | 01752 604448
££ - £££
Barbican Kitchen was established in 2006 and is housed in the famous Plymouth Gin Distillery. It’s one of 59 Devon restaurants in the latest edition of the AA Restaurant Guide. The inspector said: “Barbican Kitchen is a colourful loft-conversion-style restaurant with eye-catching artwork. Expect tight, punchy cooking with an unwavering focus of high quality produce treated simply. Popular with all ages at lunchtime, it tends to attract a younger clientele in the evening.”
Bedford Hotel, Tavistock
1 Plymouth Rd, Tavistock PL19 8BB | 01822 613221
££ - £££
The Bedford Hotel has one AA Rosette and is one of 59 Devon restaurants in the AA Restaurant Guide 2023. The inspector said: “With its grand castellations, Tavistock’s Bedford Hotel is an impressive Gothic building that’s been offering hospitality since at least 1719. The elegant dining room carries on the theme and grandeur of the building, with historic artefacts helping to create the atmosphere. Staff are pleasant and engaging, while the menu mixes classics with Asian influenced dishes.”
Brasserie 16 at Devoncourt Resort, Exmouth
www.devoncourt.com/brasserie16
Devoncourt Resort, 16 Douglas Ave, Exmouth EX8 2EX | 01395 270222
££ - £££
Brasserie 16 is renowned for its fresh food, homemade desserts and friendly service. Its famous carvery on Fridays and Sundays offers a choice of four meats with all the trimmings. The venue overlooks the sea at Exmouth and it’s one of Devon’s best restaurants with a view.
Breakwater Bistro, Brixham
www.brixham-restaurant.co.uk/breakwater-bistro
Berry Head Rd, Brixham TQ5 9AF | 01803 856738
££ - £££
This dog-friendly restaurant, bar and takeaway is located on Breakwater Beach and is one of Devon’s best restaurants with a view. It serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, with drinks and cakes available between service times.
Bushell’s, Dartmouth
24 S Embankment, Dartmouth TQ6 9BB | 01803 833540
££ - £££
Bushell’s was founded in 2014 by husband and wife Jaime and Sarah Bushell. It’s situated on the banks of the River Dart with wonderful views over the river to Kingswear. It’s one of Devon’s best restaurants with a view.
Cary Arms, Torquay
Babbacombe Beach, Torquay TQ1 3LX | 01803 327110
££ - £££
The Cary Arms is one of 59 Devon restaurants in the AA Restaurant Guide 2023. The inspector said: “Right on the beach, the whitewashed Cary Arms is a real find in Babbacombe Bay. This ‘boutique inn’ is so much more than just a pub; unwind in the beamed bar with its original stone walls, perhaps with a pint of Otter Ale in hand, contemplating the stunning views across the bay; stay in one of the luxury sea-facing bedrooms; and sample the delicious food from the daily-changing menu. The watchwords in the kitchen are freshness and seasonality, underpinned by a respect for local ingredients. Pan-fried Brixham scallops, pea purée and crispy Parma ham might be followed by Dunterton Farm steak, Otter Ale and mushroom pie, dauphinoise potatoes and red wine jus; and trio of Gribbles sausages with mash and red onion jus. If it’s a glorious summer’s day, eat in the terraced gardens leading to the water’s edge.”
Creeping Thyme, Bovey Tracey
5, 7 Fore St, Bovey Tracey, Newton Abbot TQ13 9AD | 01626 923020
This is a small and intimate restaurant with just 20 covers. It only opened in 2021 but it already has one AA Rosette. The inspector said: “Housed in what was previously two small retail outlets, Creeping Thyme has a very engaging and unpretentious atmosphere. It's easy to relax here, with thoughtfully sourced ingredients going into dishes that deliver impressive flavours. The menu tracks the seasons with Devon's magnificent larder ensuring a continuity of excellent produce. This is thoroughly enjoyable cooking with a clear sense of purpose.” You can read more about this restaurant on DevonLive here.
Denley’s Essence of India, Topsham
www.denleysessenceofindia.co.uk
62 High St, Topsham, Exeter EX3 0DY | 01392 875675
££ - £££
This restaurant, which serves contemporary Indian food, has won numerous accolades over the years and is one of the best curry houses in the South West. Denley’s is located in a former dairy and its understated facade belies the “Tardis-like” restaurant inside which can accommodate 50 people in “sophisticated but comfortable” surroundings.
Emilia, Ashburton
2 East St, Ashburton, Newton Abbot TQ13 7AA | 01364 653998
This small Italian eatery and wine spot was awarded a Bib Gourmand in The Michelin Guide 2023, marking it as a restaurant offering great quality but also great value cooking. The Michelin Guide said: “The name ‘Emilia’ refers to the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna, which provides the influences at this classic osteria set within a former bank, where the daily changing menu is chalked on the door of the old vault.”
Flame Factory, Appledore
9 The Quay, Appledore, Bideford EX39 1QS | 01237 475261
££ - £££
The Flame Factory brings wood fired pizza, flame grilled burgers and rare bred Clovelly Longhorn steaks to the historic Appledore quayside. It’s one of Devon’s best restaurants with a view.
Fletcher’s, Plymouth
Gill Akaster House, 27 Princess St, Plymouth PL1 2EX | 01752 201523
££££
Fletcher’s offers relaxed fine dining perfect for celebrating a special occasion, pre-theatre dining or an evening out with friends. It’s located on a quiet corner site behind the Theatre Royal and has a lit arched entrance with a few steps down to a relaxed dining room. It has one AA Rosette. The AA inspector said: “In a quiet city centre position close to the Theatre Royal, the eponymously named Fletcher’s Restaurant has a relaxed and engaging atmosphere from the outset. Set across two levels with a conservatory-style terraced area and showpiece bar, the accomplished cooking is ambitious, elegant and demonstrates a strong skill set.”
Gather, Totnes
50 Fore St, Totnes TQ9 5RP | 01803 866666
££££
A cosy, relaxed fine dining experience in the heart of Totnes. The Gather kitchen showcases dishes using locally sourced and wild foraged ingredients from the fields, shoreline, rivers and hedgerows. It’s one of 59 Devon restaurants in the AA Restaurant Guide 2023. It has one AA Rosette. The inspector said: “The young, enthusiastic team trained together in the Michael Caines Academy and it’s great to see them doing so well. The dining room is inviting, with big plate glass windows and an open kitchen, and the approach is genuine, with a particular interest in foraged and less well-known produce, making for light, elegant and flavour-driven dishes.”
Gidleigh Park, Chagford
Gidleigh Park Hotel, Chagford, Newton Abbot TQ13 8HH | 01647 432367
££££
Gidleigh Park is one of five Devon restaurants with a highly prized Michelin star. The Michelin Guide said: “The setting is beautiful, as the three elegant and individually styled dining rooms sit within a grand Edwardian country house in a lovely valley. The experienced chef specialises in sophisticated, modern cuisine with a classical base and top quality seasonal produce at its heart. Dishes may look quite busy on the plate but the flavours are balanced, harmonious and rewarding. It’s so much easier getting a table – and so much more enjoyable – if you’re staying overnight at the hotel.”
Glebe House, near Colyton
Southleigh, Colyton EX24 6SD | 01404 871 276
This guest house, restaurant and 15-acre smallholding in the heart of East Devon is a unique foodie retreat. It serves guests food that is prepared from raw materials produced on the farm. You can read more about it on DevonLive here.
Great Western at Bovey Castle, North Bovey
www.boveycastle.com/eat/great-western
Bovey Castle, North Bovey, Newton Abbot TQ13 8RE | 01647 445000
££££
Great Western Grill at Bovey Castle is currently closed and due to reopen from June 2023. It has three AA Rosettes and claims to be the best grill restaurant in Devon. It’s Art Deco, with echoes of a bygone era, and although it is relaxed and comfortable, it has a smart casual dress code – no sportswear. The AA inspector said: “Built in 1890 by stationery supremo WH Smith, Bovey Castle was reinvented as a ‘golfing hotel’ by the Great Western Railway back in 1930, an association acknowledged in its top dining venue, the Great Western restaurant. Local lad Mark Budd leads the kitchen team, and his fondness for regional and seasonal ingredients from land and sea looms large in good-looking contemporary dishes that reveal well-honed technical skills and sound classical roots – from starters like roasted veal sweetbreads, new season girolles, broad beans and summer truffle to mains such as Devonshire duck with roasted peach and white carrots. Aerated white chocolate, almond milk pannacotta is one way to round things off.”
Harry’s, Exeter
86 Longbrook St, Exeter EX4 6AP | 01392 202234
££ - £££
Harry’s Restaurant in the heart of Exeter city was founded in 1993. The eclectic restaurant, bar and private dining room all sit within the gothic style building, formerly Harry Hems’ 19th-century architectural sculptors workshop. It’s one of three Devon restaurants that made it onto a list of the 100 most romantic restaurants in the UK for 2023.
Hotel Riviera, Sidmouth
The Esplanade, Sidmouth EX10 8AY | 01395 515201
££££
Hotel Riviera is one of 59 Devon restaurants in the AA Restaurant Guide 2023. It has two AA Rosettes. The inspector said: “The spotless bow-fronted Riviera is a prime example of Devon's own seaside grandeur. Terrace tables make the most of the summer weather and the traditional, elegant dining room overlooks the bay. A seasonal menu of gently modernised British cooking, with an emphasis on fresh fish dishes, caters for most tastes.”
Ilsington Country House Hotel, Ilsington
Ilsington Village, Newton Abbot TQ13 9RR | 01364 661452
This hotel with Dartmoor National Park on the doorstep is one of 59 Devon restaurants in the AA Restaurant Guide 2023. It has two AA Rosettes. The inspector said: “Surrounded by the majesty of Dartmoor, Ilsington Country House Hotel is the perfect place for a relaxing break. Its dining room offers lovely views of Devon countryside from a light and airy, uncluttered room, with bold artwork and no pretensions. The kitchen team delivers impressive dishes with poise and elegance. Somewhere really special.”
Indi-Yang, Torquay
98 Belgrave Rd, Torquay TQ2 5HZ | 01803 380060
££ - £££
Indi-Yang claims to be Torquay’s best Asian restaurant. Its menu encapsulates an assimilated Asian cuisine experience, and there’s a strong emphasis on clean, healthy and natural eating. You can read more about this restaurant on DevonLive here.
Le Petit Monde, Bideford
4 Cooper St, Bideford EX39 2DA | 01237 476447
££ - £££
Le Petit Monde – “the little world” in French, and used to describe the people you choose to come together and enjoy life with – serves fresh local fish and fine food in a cosy, relaxed environment. It consistently earns excellent customer reviews, and is regarded as a hidden gem.
Lewtrenchard Manor, Okehampton
Lewtrenchard, Okehampton EX20 4PN | 01566 783222
££££
Lewtrenchard Manor is one of 59 Devon restaurants in the AA Restaurant Guide 2023. It has two AA Rosettes. The inspector said: “Lewtrenchard Manor is a Grade II listed Jacobean manor house with a fascinating history. There’s a sense of grandeur with wood panelling, ornate plasterwork and old portraits, yet the restaurant is still intimate and not at all pompous. An emphasis on local meat and fish, including fruit and veg from the manor garden, drives the modern menu.”
Lympstone Manor, Exmouth
Courtlands Ln, Exmouth EX8 3NZ | 01395 202040
££££
Lympstone Manor is one of Devon’s five Michelin-starred restaurants. The Michelin Guide said: “This tastefully restored, Grade II listed Georgian house – owned by local chef Michael Caines – sits in peaceful grounds, and its pretty veranda is the perfect spot for a drink. Cooking is sophisticated, well-balanced and boldly flavoured – and while the dishes have classical undertones, presentation remains modern and elaborate. The eight course ‘Signature’ tasting menu demonstrates the team’s abilities and there’s an ‘Estuary’ option available for pescatarians.”
Maha Bharat, Kingsbridge
7 Mill St, Kingsbridge TQ7 1ED | 01548 857072
££ - £££
Maha Bharat claims to offer Devon’s best Bengali and Indian cuisine. It says the secret lies within the alchemy of quality herbs and spices cooked with the finest range of meats and vegetables. It is one of the top curry houses in the South West.
Masons Arms, Knowstone
Knowstone, South Molton EX36 4RY | 01398 341231
£££
The Masons Arms is one of Devon’s five restaurants with a Michelin star. The Michelin Guide said: “Husband and wife Mark and Sarah Dodson run this pretty thatched pub in a secluded little village. It was built in the 13th century by the masons who constructed the nearby church and exudes plenty of rural charm. Have a drink in the cosy beamed bar or lounge then dine beneath a Grecian ceiling mural in the bright rear dining room, where the views over Exmoor’s rolling hills are fantastic. The food is more sophisticated than you’d expect to find in a pub, with a concise seasonal menu of attractively presented dishes firmly rooted in British and French classics. Cooking is refined and flavours are pronounced and assured; Mark has plenty of experience and employs the finest local produce to full effect. Service is charming and attentive and a perfect match for the food.”
Mill End Hotel, Chagford
Chagford, Newton Abbot TQ13 8JN | 01647 432282
££ - £££
Mill End Hotel is one of 59 Devon restaurants in the AA Restaurant Guide 2023. It has two AA Rosettes. The classically British menu encompasses modern twists, fine dining tastes and Dartmoor’s best produce. It offers seasonally changing menus, beautifully presented dishes and excellent value for money.
Morans, Westward Ho!
Golf Links Rd, Westward Ho!, Bideford EX39 1LH | 01237 472070
££ - £££
Morans is a family-run restaurant and bar specialising in Thai cuisine. It’s just a few steps from the beach, with spectacular views and sumptuous decor. Morans strives to create a calming ambience and it’s one of Devon’s best restaurants with a view. It also offers takeaway.
Northcote Manor, Burrington
Burrington, Umberleigh EX37 9LZ | 01769 560501
££££
Northcote Manor has two AA Rosettes. The inspector said: “Northcote Manor and Spa is a gorgeous 18th-century country house that sits happily in 20 acres of beautiful Devon countryside. As you’d expect, its restaurant is reassuringly traditional, and makes the best use of locally sourced West Country ingredients. Service is as efficient and discreet as you’d expect at a red star hotel.”
Number Eight, Bideford
49 Torrington St, Bideford EX39 4DP | 01237 237589
££££
Number Eight is a couple-run, small, intimate and relaxed fine dining restaurant situated on the River Torridge. It offers a highly seasonal and continuously evolving tasting menu experience. It consistently gets amazing customer reviews.
Ocean View at The Dome, Plymouth
Hoe Rd, Plymouth PL1 2NZ | 01752 393777
With panoramic views of Plymouth Sound, dining at The Dome is a unique experience where customers can enjoy original and exciting contemporary British food against a stunning backdrop. The stunning, art-deco inspired venue was one of three Devon restaurants to feature on the list of 100 most romantic restaurants in the UK for 2023.
Old Vienna Restaurant, Torquay
7 Lisburne Square, Torquay TQ1 2PT | 01803 380180
££££
Chef/proprietor Werner Rott has a new menu of artisan cuisine made from seasonal local produce with an Austrian touch. Old Vienna Restaurant offers fine dining and contemporary looks in an intimate venue with hardwood tables and leather chairs and it consistently gets wonderful customer reviews.
Orestone Manor, Torquay
www.orestonemanor.co.uk/restaurant-orestone
Rock House Ln, Maidencombe, Torquay TQ1 4SX | 01803 897511
££ - £££
Orestone Manor is one of the 59 Devon restaurants in the AA Restaurant Guide 2023. It has two AA Rosettes. The inspector said: “This handsome Georgian manor house occupies landscaped grounds overlooking Lyme Bay. The main restaurant is a relaxing space with wooden table tops and tartan accents – a suitable setting for the kitchen's ambitious à la carte menus. Classic French-accented technique delivers refined dishes with affordable set price menus.”
Peaky’s Turkish Grill, Paignton
107 Winner St, Paignton TQ3 3BP | 01803 550988
££ - £££
One of Devon’s quirkiest restaurants is this one, which has Peaky Blinders themed decoration kept from its former use as a bar, combined with Turkish cuisine. You can read more about it on DevonLive here.
Pie Street, Totnes
26 High St, Totnes TQ9 5RY | 01803 868674
££ - £££
Pie Street, established in 2015, calls itself “the home of British soul food.” Its pies are freshly made on the premises from local ingredients and are available to eat in, takeaway or bake at home. It also sells cakes, pastries, cocktails, wines and beer. It consistently achieves excellent customer reviews. You can read more about it on DevonLive here.
Plantation House, Ermington
www.plantationhousehotel.co.uk
Totnes Road, Ermington, Ivybridge PL21 9NS | 01548 831100
££££
Plantation House has two AA Rosettes. The inspector said: “A boutique restaurant in a restored Georgian rectory, with great garden views. The dinner deal here is simple – three courses or five. The five-course option maybe starts with an appetiser, then lentil, leek and Yarg cheese terrine; fillet of turbot with mussels; medallion of fillet steak with smoked lardons; and hand-carved Serrano ham with cave-aged cheddar.”
Pyne Arms, Barnstaple
East Down, Barnstaple EX31 4LX | 01271 850055
££ - £££
The Pyne Arms is set in the heart of the North Devon countryside, on the edge of Exmoor National Park. It’s a stunning family-run pub with award-winning food, drink and accommodation. Its menu changes every week and The Pyne Arms prides itself on providing locally sourced food with a modern twist, with everything from a Sunday roast to speciality fish on the menu. With its beautiful rolling countryside, it’s one of Devon’s best restaurants with a view.
Ragini, Seaton
41 Harbour Rd, Seaton EX12 2LX | 01297 22333
££ - £££
This family-run restaurant offers an authentic menu that draws from the greatest cooking traditions of Bengal. It’s one of the top curry houses in the South West. It also offers takeaway.
Rocks at Watersmeet Hotel, Woolacombe
www.watersmeethotel.co.uk/eat/rocks-restaurant
The Watersmeet Hotel, Woolacombe EX34 7EB | 01271 870333
Rocks has two AA Rosettes. The inspector said: “This cliffside property is ideally situated to take in the stunning vista of the Atlantic. The restaurant has large picture windows to each side to take in the views of the bay and the surfers below. Modern British, the food is elegant and accomplished with a simplicity underpinning the output.”
Salumi, Plymouth
18 Millbay Rd, Plymouth PL1 3LH | 01752 267538
££ - £££
This bar and eatery has one AA Rosette. The inspector said: “Tucked away on a back street, Salumi Bar and Eatery is spread over two floors and has a refreshing look with turquoise painted features paired with bare wood and exposed brick. There is a heated dining space outside where food is cooked over coals in an open kitchen. Expect dishes such as whole roasted fish and steaks to share.”
Saunton Sands Hotel, Saunton
Saunton Rd, Braunton EX33 1LQ | 01271 890212
££££
Saunton Sands Hotel is one of the Devon restaurants in the AA Restaurant Guide 2023. It has two AA Rosettes. The inspector said: “The location alone is a draw at Saunton Sands, a long white art deco hotel overlooking three miles of unspoiled sandy beach. At the heart of the hotel is The Dining Room, bright, elegant and glamorous with its original 1930s chandeliers, overlooking dunes, beach and sea. In summer there’s also the Beachside Grill which offers a more informal alternative.”
Saveur, Exmouth
9 Tower St, Exmouth EX8 1NT | 01395 269459
££££
Saveur has two AA Rosettes. The inspector said: “Tucked down a quiet pedestrianised street behind the church, this charming neighbourhood restaurant ticks all the right boxes when it comes to relaxed conviviality and confident cooking. Family-run Saveur celebrates seafood delivered daily from the Devon and Dorset coast, and other prime ingredients from the region are showcased on the concise menu.”
Seasons at Belgrave Sands Hotel, Torquay
2 Belgrave Rd, Torquay TQ2 5HF | 01803 226366
££ - £££
Seasons has two AA Rosettes. The inspector said: “Part of the seafront Belgrave Sands Hotel, Seasons is a modern dining room with a feature entertainment area for live music and dancing. Tables are dark wood, while seating is fully upholstered, and bold artwork hangs on the walls. Cooking is articulate and polished with a very competent and skilled brigade underpinning its success.”
Seasons Brasserie at The Park Hotel, Barnstaple
Taw Vale, Barnstaple EX32 9AE | 01271 372166
££ - £££
Seasons Brasserie is another Devon hotel restaurant that features in the AA Restaurant Guide 2023. It has one AA Rosette. The inspector said: “Warm oak, gleaming marble, soft lighting and cheery service all combine to create a soothing ambience in this smart, contemporary restaurant overlooking Rock Park. The buzzy hub of the hotel, Seasons Brasserie fits the bill whether you’re here for coffee and cakes, cocktails or a please-all roster of straightforward modern and traditional cooking.”
Soar Mill Cove Hotel, Salcombe
soarmillcove.co.uk/dine-with-us
Soar Mill Cove Hotel, Salcombe TQ7 3DS | 01548 561566
Soar Mill Cove is “where fine dining meets family friendly.” Head chef Ian MacDonald prides himself on sourcing the best seasonal, local produce around to tempt every taste. It has two AA Rosettes. The AA inspector said: “Local fish and seafood get a strong showing in a kitchen that combines classical techniques with modern ideas. Thus, monkfish with boulangère potatoes, mussel and clam provençale with basil purée.”
Spice Lounge, Ilfracombe
36 Greenclose Rd, Ilfracombe EX34 8BT | 01271 624431
££££
Spice Lounge claims to “maintain the gold standard in cooking some of the finest Indian dishes” and its skills lie in the “accurate mix and balance of the spices and herbs” used in the food. It promises “the true essence and original flavour of Indian cooking” and it’s one of the top curry houses in the South West.
Taylor’s Restaurant, Dartmouth
8 The Quay, Dartmouth TQ6 9PS | 01803 832748
££ - £££
Taylor’s is one of Devon’s best restaurants with a view. Its glorious views over the River Dart across to Kingswear make it one of the most picturesque places to enjoy fresh cuisine inspired by Devon’s land and sea. The restaurant has an outstanding reputation and loyal following due to the owners’ continued dedication to cooking and providing a comfortable and stylish place to dine.
The Angel, Dartmouth
2 S Embankment, Dartmouth TQ6 9BH | 01803 833488
££££
The Angel is another restaurant with stunning views over the River Dart. It has two AA Rosettes. The inspector said: “There has been a notable restaurant on this site since 1974 when Joyce Molyneux opened it as the legendary Carved Angel. Elly Wentworth continues the tradition of a female head chef at the stoves with elegant, seasonal dishes such as braised halibut, seaweed and crab raviolo, charred gem, smoked caviar and lettuce cream.”
The Annex, Tavistock
Drake Rd, Tavistock PL19 0AX | 07435 891048
££ - £££
This bar and restaurant is dog-friendly and it consistently earns great customer reviews. It’s open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The tapas and small plates menu changes frequently so you’ll always find something new to enjoy. With classic Spanish style and Asian dishes, you’re bound to find something you like. Vegetarian and vegan options are available. The restaurant fills up quickly so booking is essential in the evenings and recommended for lunch.
The Arlington Restaurant at The Imperial Hotel, Barnstaple
brend-imperial.co.uk/dining/the-arlington-restaurant
The Imperial Hotel, Taw Vale Parade, Barnstaple EX32 8NB | 01271 345861
££££
The Arlington, the fine dining restaurant at The Imperial Hotel, has one AA Rosette. The inspector said: “Set in the Edwardian grandeur of the riverside Imperial Hotel, this elegant old-school restaurant offers plenty of period character with its chandeliers, paintings and fancy plasterwork. It’s a fitting setting for gently modern, classically-based cooking that achieves satisfying results thanks to skilful technique and quality ingredients rather than outlandish ideas.”
The Bonaparte Restaurant at Berry Head Hotel, Brixham
Berry Head Rd, Brixham TQ5 9AJ | 01803 853225
££ - £££
The Bonaparte is the more formal dining area at Berry Head Hotel and it has one AA Rosette. The inspector said: “Views of the bay are very much the feature here... The daily-changing menu offers quality ingredients and traditional cookery. The cuisine is enjoyable and clearly popular with the locals.”
The Bridford Inn, Bridford
Bridford, Exeter EX6 7HT | 01647 252250
££ - £££
This family-run, 17th-century freehouse is located within Dartmoor, high up in the beautiful Teign Valley, so it has some of Devon’s best countryside views. It is only nine miles from Exeter, making it rural but accessible.
The Cricket Inn, Beesands
Beesands, Kingsbridge TQ7 2EN | 01548 580215
££ - £££
The Cricket, in the South Hams, is well known as a foodie pub. It has one AA Rosette. The inspector said: “Smack on the seafront overlooking the shingle beach, with stunning views across Start Bay, The Cricket enjoys an unrivalled location and retains every ounce of its identity as a former fisherman's pub. Blackboard menus advertise what has been freshly drawn from the bay.”
The Dart Marina Hotel, Dartmouth
Sandquay Rd, Dartmouth TQ6 9PH | 01803 832580
The restaurant at this hotel has two AA Rosettes. The inspector said: “With a split-level dining room, elegantly clothed tables, a mix of seating with banquettes at one end, and great views over the river, The Dart Marina is the place for watching all the waterborne activities which make Dartmouth so beguiling. Food has a strong sense of identity here, serious cooking which wants to be taken seriously.”
The Dartmoor Inn, Lydford
Moorside, Lydford Nr, Okehampton EX20 4AY | 01822 820221
££ - £££
The Dartmoor Inn offers crowd-pleasing country dining, though it should be noted that the menu can change daily due to the seasonality of local produce. Children and dogs are welcome and the majority of the menu is gluten free and, if not, easily adaptable. It consistently gets excellent customer reviews.
The Dining Room at Lincombe Hall Hotel, Torquay
www.lincombehallhotel.co.uk/the-dining-room
Lincombe Hall, Meadfoot Rd, Torquay TQ1 2JX | 01803 213361
The Dining Room is one of the Devon restaurants in the AA Restaurant Guide 2023. It has one AA Rosette. The inspector said: “The Dining Room is part of Lincombe Hall Hotel and Spa, close to the town centre and harbour. It’s an intimate space, with just enough of a ‘stand-alone’ feel. Decor is understated elegance, while the food is purposeful with a reassuring lack of over-elaboration. The hotel is for adults only, but children may dine in the restaurant.”
The Elephant, Torquay
3&4 Beacon Hill, Torquay TQ1 2BH | 01803 200044
£££
The Elephant is one of Devon’s five restaurants with one Michelin star. The Michelin Guide said: “Simon Hulstone’s bright, laid-back restaurant looks out over Torquay Harbour. Low-backed wooden chairs sit at stone tables – backed by moody coloured walls – and elephant-themed decorations are dotted about the place. Hugely appealing dishes are led by the season’s top produce and Simon champions both local ingredients – including those grown and reared on their 96-acre farm – and prime Norwegian seafood. Accompaniments are designed to enhance each main ingredient, and the tasting menu best demonstrates the breadth of his skill.”
The Fig Tree @ 36, Plymouth
36 Admiralty St, Stonehouse, Plymouth PL1 3RU | 01752 253247
££ - £££
The Fig Tree @ 36 is a family-run neighbourhood brasserie serving locally inspired menus for every occasion. It has one AA Rosette. The inspector said: “The Fig Tree @ 36 is nestled in a residential street. The daily-changing menus are sourced locally and there are always meat, fish, vegetarian and vegan choices available. The fish, locally caught of course, appears on the specials soon after landing. The comfortable dining area leads you through the restaurant out towards its courtyard, where you will find the ever blooming fig tree after which the restaurant is named.”
The Galley, Topsham
41 Fore St, Topsham, Exeter EX3 0HU | 01392 876078
££ - £££
This fish and seafood restaurant in Topsham has an ever-changing menu. Head chef James Checkley has appeared on MasterChef: The Professionals. The Gallery was awarded a Bib Gourmand in the Michelin Guide 2023 for its great quality, great value cooking. The Michelin Guide said: “The Galley provides a cheery, welcoming feel, and its rustic interior and appealing menu are the perfect fit for its delightful town.”
The Horn of Plenty, Tavistock
B3362, Tavistock PL19 8JD | 01822 832528
££££
The Horn of Plenty was celebrating last year after receiving three AA Rosettes. However, the AA website says that the Rosette award has been suspended due to a change of chef and reassessment will take place in due course. It also said: “The panoramic and uninterrupted views from the restaurant make for a stunning backdrop to enjoy the French-influenced British food, the majority of raw materials sourced within the county.”
The Jack in the Green Inn, Rockbeare
Rockbeare, London Rd, Exeter EX5 2EE | 01404 822240
££ - £££
This restaurant has two AA Rosettes. The inspector said: “Celebrating its 30th year, this popular roadside pub has gained a formidable reputation for its modern British food. With its low-beamed rooms, soft leather chairs and wood-burning stove, the stylish interior creates a contemporary atmosphere. Staunch advocates of all things Devon, the menus include pub classics alongside the à la carte.”
The Mole Resort, Chittlehamholt
www.themoleresort.co.uk/food-drink
Chittlehamholt, Umberleigh EX37 9HD | 01769 540561
The Mole Resort was previously known as Highbullen Hotel and it was under this name that it earned a place in the AA Restaurant Guide 2023. It has two AA Rosettes. The inspector said: “Highbullen Hotel offers luxury accommodation in an idyllic North Devon setting… The food and drink options are extensive, with dinner and breakfast being served daily in the elegant Devon View Restaurant. The hotel also has a well-equipped leisure centre and spa.”
The Old Inn, Drewsteignton
Hillmorhayes, Drewsteignton, Exeter EX6 6QR | 01647 281276
££££
The Old Inn, located 20 minutes from Exeter, has three AA Rosettes. The inspector said: “This 17th-century building was once the village pub but now it’s a comfortably stylish restaurant-with-rooms. Low ceilings, parquet flooring and a lounge warmed by a wood burner adds to the cosy feel. In keeping with the age of the building, the two dining areas are simply decorated with striking artwork adding visual appeal. Superlative produce is sensitively handled with flavour at the forefront. Start with roast quail, onion tart, sage and parmesan, followed by grilled fillet of sea bass with saffron raviolo of crab. Finish with blackcurrant soufflé and vanilla ice cream.”
The Pig at Combe, Honiton
Gittisham, Honiton EX14 3AD | 01404 540400
££££
This restaurant has two AA Rosettes as well as an AA award for having a Notable Wine List. The inspector said: “At The PIG at Combe, an Elizabethan mansion of honeyed stone in 3,500 acres, any hint of starchy country-house formality is banished. Dining is an informal affair in a rustic-chic setting, and the '25 Mile' menu means the kitchen is serious on sustainability and localism, with an abundant kitchen garden for seasonal supplies and minimal food miles.”
The Royal George, Bideford
Irsha St, Appledore, Bideford EX39 1RY | 01237 424138
££ - £££
The Royal George is one of the Devon venues in the AA Restaurant Guide 2023. It has two AA Rosettes. The inspector said: “Right on the water, complete with an ancient slipway that runs into the sea, The Royal George overlooks the Taw and Torridge Estuary. Inside the cosy dining room, the food is as fine as the view, drawing heavily on fresh fish and local venison and lamb. The roast venison loin with breaded shoulder is a real treat.”
The Seacliff Restaurant at Sandy Cove Hotel, Ilfracombe
Old Coast Rd, Ilfracombe EX34 9SR | 01271 882243
££££
The Seacliff has three AA Rosettes. The inspector said the hotel has a “truly spectacular” position with uninterrupted views across the Bristol Channel and Exmoor. In the restaurant, local fish and shellfish “have a starring role” on the menu. The inspector said: “Perfectly cooked Lundy lobster paired with a Devon crab cake, lobster mayonnaise, braised fennel and bouillabaisse is an intelligent combination of flavours and textures. Or maybe you are tempted by a precisely timed piece of cod with fennel velouté, roasted cauliflower and brown shrimp beurre blanc. If a more traditional meal is what you’re looking for, start with the pork and beef meatballs in tomato sauce with mozzarella and toasted sourdough and then move on to steaks cooked on the grill or one of the wood-fired pizzas. End with an intensely chocolatey rocky road with a full-flavoured cherry sorbet or a light and fragrant mango and passionfruit Eton mess. As a popular family-friendly hotel, the restaurant offers something for everyone throughout the day… There are also hotel restaurant staples, from Devon beef burgers and fries to fish and chips.”
The Victoria Hotel, Sidmouth
The Esplanade, Sidmouth EX10 8RY | 01395 512651
The Victoria has one AA Rosette. The inspector said: “From the doorman to the pianist, The Victoria oozes old-world charm at the end of the esplanade. A jacket and tie is still required in the main restaurant with its crystal chandeliers and crisp white tablecloths, but the same menu can be enjoyed in the more informal White Room. Either way, the classic cooking is assured and enjoyable.”
Trevilder at Thurlestone Hotel, Thurlestone
www.thurlestone.co.uk/dining/trevilder-restaurant
Parkfield, Thurlestone, Kingsbridge TQ7 3NN | 01548 560382
Trevilder has two AA Rosettes. The inspector said: “Family-owned and run since 1896, Thurlestone Hotel is located in the peaceful and unspoilt South Devon countryside, with stunning views of the English Channel. The art deco-style Trevilder restaurant boasts floor-to-ceiling windows with stunning sea views, which makes for a stylish backdrop to the contemporary cooking.”
Twenty Seven, Kingsbridge
9 Mill St, Kingsbridge TQ7 1ED | 01548 288847
££££
Twenty Seven by Jamie Rogers has two AA Rosettes. According to the inspector: “A loft-like restaurant, Twenty Seven’s simple lines and soothing artwork provide a relaxed and informal setting for the enjoyable and skilfully prepared cooking. Set in the popular food quarter of this charming harbourside town, the approachable wine list includes some notable English bottles. There's a stylish cocktail bar downstairs.”
Two Bridges Hotel, Two Bridges, Dartmoor
Two Bridges, Dartmoor PL20 6SW | 01822 892300
££ - £££
Two Bridges Hotel has two AA Rosettes and a Gold Award from Taste of the West. The AA said: “Deep in the Dartmoor National Park, the Tors restaurant in this character riverside hotel was refurbished in 2019. Local farmers and fishermen supply the kitchen with top notch produce for modern British dishes like Devon crab ravioli, bisque, brown shrimp and crayfish or Creedy Carver duck, red cabbage, pink peppercorn and pistachio praline.”
Tytherleigh Arms, Axminster
Tytherleigh, Axminster EX13 7BE | 01460 220214
££ - £££
Axminster’s Tytherleigh Arms has two AA Rosettes. The AA Restaurant Guide said: “A family-run, 16th-century coaching inn on the borders of Devon, Dorset and Somerset, The Tytherleigh Arms offers relaxed dining. The restaurant has beamed ceilings, wooden floors and a warming wood-burner in the winter. The menu has attitude, and the food deserves respect, but it’s not too pompous. There’s honesty and integrity there.”
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