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Best restaurants in Dorset: where to eat and drink in this picturesque, coastal county
- Emily Luxton
Published: July 20, 2026 at 4:30 PM
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With seafood landed daily and a rolling countryside providing a bounty of top-quality produce, this stunning south coast county is packed with unmissable food moments
Want to know the best places to eat in Dorset? One of the richest corners of the UK for food, it would be easy to spend three months eating your way around Dorset and still not try all that’s on offer.
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Read Emily's expert guide to the best Dorset restaurants to find the best meals during your visit, from seafood on the coast to unexpected Asian flavours and the creamiest ice cream. Plus, discover the foodie highlights of Lyme Regis and our picks of where to stay in Dorset.
For more UK travel inspiration, check out our guide to the best restaurants in the Cotswolds, best restaurants in Cornwall and the best places to eat and drink in Brighton.
Parnham Restaurant, Beaminster
Few meals come more rooted in their surroundings than at Parnham, a beautiful space in the walled garden of the Parnham Park estate, where ingredients are often picked moments before they hit the plate. The menu shifts constantly with the seasons but it’s always full of creative surprises: highlights might include a magnolia petal salad and rhubarb tiramisu. For the best views sit in the plant-filled conservatory overlooking the garden, or outside on sunny days. parnhampark.co.uk
Image credit: Imogen Xiana Photography
The Three Wishes, Sherborne
This friendly family-run bistro is just around the corner from Sherborne’s 8th-century abbey so it’s ideally located for lunch while you sightsee. On sunny days the leafy garden out back is the perfect spot for a relaxed meal or cream tea. Although breakfast stops at midday, the lunch menu keeps a brunchy feel with dishes like shakshouka and an excellent eggs benedict. thethreewishes.co.uk
Shell Bay Restaurant & Bistro, Studland
Poised at the very tip of Studland and surrounded by sand dunes, Shell Bay enjoys spectacular views across Poole Harbour and a remote, castaway feel. Local fish and seafood headline the concise but exciting menu – don’t miss the Poole Bay oysters. The speciality here is open-fire cooking, with fish or meat grilled over the flames for subtle smokiness and perfectly crispy skin. shellbay.net
Clockspire, Sherborne
Sitting just on the Somerset border in sleepy Milborne Port, Clockspire is housed in a beautifully restored 19th-century school building. It’s a church-like space with soaring ceilings, exposed rafters and dramatic chandeliers. Head chef Luke Bryant, who trained under Michael Caines, channels fine-dining precision into seasonal dishes built around the best West Country produce. Each plate is a mini work of art with dishes s uch as white crab tart with pickled kohlrabi and perfectly cooked lamb loin served with paper-thin courgette ribbons and tomato jam. theclockspire.com
The Club House, West Bexington
Hidden away down a long country track in the coastal village of West Bexington, The Club House sits in a prime position overlooking a wild patch of Chesil Beach. Enjoy widescreen sea views from the large windows or, in warmer months, the sprawling garden. Local boy Will Hickton’s menu is modern, inventive and makes full use of Dorset’s finest produce: highlights include samphire bhajis, loaded crab nachos and fresh scallops served in a parmesan crumb. theclubhousewestbexington.co.uk
The Salt Pig Too, Swanage
Sister to James Warren’s excellent Salt Pig farm shop in Wareham, SaltPig Too blends a deli and butchery with a popular café. The Swanage branch is rustic, welcoming and crowded with local art. Visit by day for hearty sandwiches and vibrant salad bowls, while evening meals feature meat, fish and vegetarian dishes flame-cooked in the charcoal oven. thesaltpig.co.uk
Catch at the Old Fish Market, Weymouth
You can’t talk about Dorset seafood without mentioning Catch, an intimate restaurant tucked above the Old Fish Market on Weymouth’s harbourside. Fish and shellfish are so local that the fishers and boats that landed them are named on the menus, which are built around the day’s catch and change constantly. Chef-patron Ben Champkin’s innovative tasting menus showcase the very best local produce, balanced with delicate flavours that let the quality of the ingredients sing. Recent stand-outs included miso- glazed octopus skewers, crab served with a lightly salty dulse seaweed tea, and buttery soft scallop carpaccio offset by tart pickled rhubarb. catchattheoldfishmarket.com
Tom's, Lyme Regis
Tom’s is a relaxed, quietly stylish spot on Lyme’s seafront with dazzling views of the wide bay. It’s the kind of place that works for anything from a beachside breakfast to an intimate evening meal. Chef-patron Tom Robinson works closely with local fishers and suppliers to create contemporary seasonal dishes that feel unfussily luxurious. Tom’s Fish Board is the undeniable star of the show, piled high with exquisitely prepared Dorset blue lobster, Portland Pearl rock oysters, hand-dived Lyme Bay scallops in roe butter, and more. tomslymeregis.com
Hive Beach Café, Burton Bradstock
Set right on the shingle at Burton Bradstock, Hive Beach Café perfectly nails the relaxed luxury vibe: wooden decking, unfussy service and simply
excellent seafood. You can park nearby but it’s much more rewarding to walk the coast path. Cogden, a mile or so away, is an easy starting point. Seafood
is the star of the show: expect West Country mussels, crab salad and seafood sharing platters piled almost alarmingly high with whatever’s freshest – all served with the breaking waves as your soundtrack. hivebeachcafe.co.uk
Platform, West Bay
The award for Dorset’s most unique restaurant may have to go to Platform, housed in two historic train carriages and a Victorian station house. Each carriage has its own personality: one has wood panelling and vintage mirrors, the other tropical wallpaper and plush blue leather. Menus are rooted in local produce with dishes like stuffed Dartmoor lamb and seafood penang curry, while the colourful afternoon teas lean into the theatrical setting. platformrestaurant.co.uk
Crab House Café, Weymouth
Crab and shellfish dominate the menu at this decidedly shabby chic waterside spot next to Chesil Beach. It hardly comes fresher: crab and lobster are caught just off the Isle of Portland, visible from the restaurant’s windows, while the oyster beds are literally a few feet from the front door. They’re on the table within moments of leaving the water. crabhousecafe.co.uk
Image credit: Matt Austin
The Acorn Inn, Evershot
Run by husband and wife team Natalie and Richard Legg, the 16th-century Acorn Inn is every bit the classic country pub. Its claim to fame is a mention in Thomas Hardy’s Tess of the d’Urbervilles, and the ivy-clad stone walls, leather armchairs and roaring log fires feel little changed from that era. What has changed is the food: a polished twist on classic pub dishes. The signature ploughman’s comes with excellent local cheese and bread from Evershot’s village bakery. acorn-inn.co.uk
Foodie town spotlight
Lyme Regis
Famous as the birthplace of Mary Anning and for Jurassic Coast fossils, West Dorset’s prettiest seaside town has a big food scene. Start with coffee and fresh-baked pastries at the Town Mill Bakery, and be sure to try its signature sourdough. Wander along to Broad Street to browse the town’s quirky indie shops: don’t miss The Old Forge Fossil Shop and Ammonite Fine Foods.
Grab a takeaway bao bun or salad bowl for lunch from Red Panda, where Devon and Dorset produce meet big Asian flavours. Follow it with a couple of scoops from Baboo Gelato, made locally in nearby Bridport.
Stroll along the beach to The Cobb, Lyme Regis’s iconic stone harbour wall. The Wet Fish Shop sells fresh, sustainably caught fish and shellfish, including ready to eat pots for a beachside picnic.
In an unbeatable setting overlooking the harbour, Rockfish is the best spot in town for fish and chips, all landed daily along the coast at Brixham Fish Market. For after-dinner drinks, try craft beers at the Lyme Regis Brewery taproom, or head to the downstairs bar in The Lyme Bay for cosy vibes and great cocktails.
More restaurants in Dorset loved by the olive team
Brassica, Beaminster
Run by a culinary dream team of chef Cass Titcombe (ex-Daphne’s and Canteen) and interiors guru Louise Chidgey (ex-Conran Shop), Brassica in Beaminster is the classy but unassuming provincial restaurant you always hope to find but rarely do. Luckily for anyone visiting Beaminster they’ve succeeded. The restaurant’s cheerful dining room (exposed stone and brick, sheepskin, floral fabrics, rainbows of candles in antique holders and bright little posies of fresh flowers on each table) works just as well for a casual lunch as it does a romantic supper. As for the menu, it changes daily and is reassuringly short, with a smattering of seasonal drinks (a chilled glass of Manzanilla, perhaps, or an alcohol-free spiced quince soda) and snacks (fluffy focaccia with aioli, antipasti) to start, a few seasonal sides and a choice of five starters, five mains and five desserts. All of which can be ordered separately except on Sundays (when there’s a Sunday lunch menu) or ordered as part of a great value prix fixe menu on Wednesday to Saturday lunchtimes. Keep an eye out too for occasional evening events (foodie film nights, paella suppers, street food takeovers…). brassicarestaurant.co.uk
Soulshine Café, Bridport
This colourful, welcoming café is the perfect chillout space if your feet are sore from pounding Bridport’s pavements in search of its best independent shops (there are many of them). Pull up a chair at one of its simple wooden tables, let the kids run off to explore the stack of vintage Fisher Price toys and order a freshly pressed juice (maybe a Soulshine – carrot, apple, pineapple, ginger and orange – or a Care Pear – pear, apple, fennel and lemon), smoothie or coffee (the house blend is from Extract Coffee).
Bread is baked fresh every morning. There’s a pile of blankets to help yourself to if you’re mulling over whether it’s warm enough to sit out in the little courtyard garden. The cake selection is both whopping and attention-grabbing (anyone for a raw, vegan, gluten-free chocolate beetroot bar with rose petal sprinkles?) and, while carnivores can get their meat fix with Moroccan chicken salads and posh bacon butties, there are also plenty of veggie and vegan choices on the breakfast and lunch menus, from veggie chillis to a ‘vegan English’ (corn fritters with tomato, mushrooms, homemade beans, toast and olive oil). Kids are well catered-for, too, with a dedicated menu that ranges from veg sticks and hummus to cheese on toast. If you’re staying locally, keep an eye out for the café’s occasional evening supper clubs; tickets tend to sell out early for these, from Christmas tapas evenings to burger, curry and Mexican nights. soulshinecafe.co.uk
Dorshi, Bridport
If there were a more surprising location for Dorshi, tucked down an alleyway in the unshowy historic English town of Bridport, it would be hard to imagine what that might be. Founders Jolly Carter and Radhika Mohendas started out running supperclubs serving sushi made only with Dorset ingredients (Dor-shi, geddit?). Now the business has branched out into a small, fully-fledged restaurant.
Dishes follow the brand’s surprising but successful combination of local and Asian flavours (the secret ingredient in the winning chicken dumplings, for instance, is Dorset Red cheese, slipped in along with lime, four types of pepper and mushrooms). Also a hit is the cauli popcorn, served with a punchy Dorset honey and kimchi dressing. To drink? Craft beers, ciders, cocktails, wines and sakes all feature on the drinks list, as do brews from local tea specialist, Comins Tea. dorshi.co.uk
The Anchor Inn, Seatown
The Anchor Inn is a dining pub serving fish caught just offshore, in Lyme Bay, and crabs from within scuttling distance. The real draw here is the setting – a scene-stealing cottage almost right on the sand, with a great curve of shoreline sweeping away from it.
Order a glass of local Furleigh Estate Bacchus, or one of the bar’s 46 rums or 34 gins (Conker or Lilliput are both distilled in Dorset: here are our favourite British gins) and carry it up to the terrace at the side of the pub to sit and sip with one of the best beer garden views in the country. theanchorinnseatown.co.uk
Soulshine Café, Bridport
For a great brunch, Soulshine Café is on-the-button with superfood spirulina smoothies, oat milk lattes and a vegan full English on the menu – meat-eaters needn’t worry you’ll find sausage sarnies here too. wearesoulshine.co.uk
Bodega, Christchurch
Megan Spink and Andy Fielden’s wine bar, deli and shop has picked up countless accolades including two in the Observer Food Monthly Awards. The pair pride themselves on searching high and low for products from the very best artisans and producers. The wine menu and cheese/cured meat selections change regularly and there are weekly events including wine tastings, cocktail masterclasses and cheese and wine pairing nights. bodega-christchurch.com
Thirteen, Poole
Thirteen comes from head chef Alex Naik, whose tasting menus combine locally sourced and foraged ingredients – courses might include the likes of mushroom tom kha soup with seaweed noodles, velvet shank and oysters, and thyme panna cotta with orange jelly, ginger gel and clementine powder. thirteenrestaurant.com
Deans Court, Wimborne
A beautiful old manor house that hosts occasional food-focused events, Deans Court is also home to a quirky homewares shop, set in a former squash court (look out for household brushes, crockery and aprons), and a cosy café scattered with mismatched wooden tables, salvaged metal chairs and glowing tealights.
Much of the produce served in the café’s salads, quiches and soups is grown in Deans Court’s extensive kitchen garden – delicious and zero food miles. Grab a snug corner table and settle down to a slice of caramelised fennel and red onion tart with homegrown salad slicked with peppery olive oil, a warming bowl of red lentil and chard soup, a gooey pumpkin blondie or just a pot of Dorset tea. deanscourt.org
Best ice cream in Dorset
Baboo Gelato
Baboo Gelato, with six sites across Dorset including kiosks in West Bay, Lyme Regis and Weymouth, has grown a dedicated following across the region, and beyond, for its short but sweet range of artisan gelatos and lollies; look out for gooseberry and elderflower, Nutella, pear sorbet or Sumatran Bourbon – the latter made with coffee from Read’s Coffee in Sherborne - among more classic flavours such as mint choc chip, raspberry ripple and honeycomb. baboogelato.com
Gelateria Beppino, Bridport
Baboo has competition in the shape of Gelateria Beppino. Not only does this café and ice cream parlour do a brisk trade in gelato (flavours such as cookies and cream, salted caramel and liquorice are made with Dorset milk) and seasonal sorbets (did someone say blood orange?) but its other big draw is freshly made cakes. gelateriabeppino.co.uk
Where to stay in Dorset
The Ollerod, Beaminster
The Ollerod is a great base for a weekend escape: stay here and you can choose between forays into picturesquely rambling countryside or salty sea air (the nearby Jurassic coast is just a pebble’s throw away). The style remains traditional, highlighting the property’s stately original features.
Each of the bedrooms is uniquely decorated – stylish and homely, with a hint of countrified opulence (updated rooms have less patterned wallpaper and more understated glamour but all are decadent, with Frette linen and organic toiletries). All are large in size, apart from one Tiny Double, described as “perfect for the solo traveller, but can sleep two if you’re happy snuggling”! The rooms in the neighbouring coach house all have showers over bathtubs, with the two ground-floor rooms dog-friendly (the third of an acre of garden will keep children and canines happy).
Doubles from £165, check availability at booking.com
The Pig on the Beach, Studland Bay
One of a mini-chain of The Pig hotels created by Robin Hutson, founder of Hotel du Vin, this one perches on a clifftop, surrounded by sweeping lawns – and fields full of pigs (Oxford Sandy and Blacks), chickens (Legbars and Burford Browns) and sheep (Dorset Horn). Set in a 16th-century manor house, rooms have cosy, country-house style with rolltop baths in some of the more luxurious rooms. There’s also a walled kitchen garden where the hotel grows both traditional and sea vegetables – menus operate on a 25-mile radius, sourcing everything locally. Join a free kitchen garden tour every day at 11am. In between meals and exploring Dorset, relax in the spa treatment cabins for a facial or massage using Bamford products.
Doubles from £305, check availability at mrandmrssmith.com
The Alexandra Hotel, Lyme Regis
With its spectacular view across Lyme Bay and Lyme Regis’ famed harbour wall, The Cobb, the Alexandra is in prime position if you’re looking for a luxury seaside escape. The crowd here is a reassuring mix of locals and tourists. Sunset ramblers from the public gardens below are enticed onto its well-kept lawns or wisteria-draped terrace, where bar staff linger to take orders. Have dinner at Ammonite, the hotel restaurant which is partially supplied by a small patch of herbs, salad leaves and sprouting vegetables in the hotel’s gardens.
The pinnacle of the accommodation is the sizeable Countess’s Room, with its towering headboard, floral furnishings and grand bay window overlooking the rear gardens and sparkling coastline; plus a rather opulent master bathroom, with walk-in shower and a bath with a built-in television. At breakfast, fresh juice and strong coffee are accompanied by none other than local success story Dorset Cereals, homemade granola, pastries and Moore’s Dorset Preserves, plus a hearty West Country breakfast with local sausages and bacon.
Check rates and availability at hotelalexandra.co.uk
The Seaside Boarding House, Burton Bradstock
It’s all about location at the Seaside Boarding House. This smart seaside hotel sits so close to the coast above Burton Bradstock’s beach that it’s practically surfing; most of its nine bedrooms have sea views. Décor pays an ironic nod to boarding house chic. Tables are laid with paper cloths printed with the hotel’s name, there’s a piano in a backstairs hallway for anyone to play should the urge strike and bedrooms mostly have baths for deep, post-coastal walk soaks; if you want a shower you can take one of the shower rooms on the ground floor. In keeping with the retro theme, bedrooms don’t have TVs, just radios and books – a brave move but one that promotes a restful feel. Huge beds are brilliantly comfortable.
Food is a highlight. In the dining room, an elegant space overlooking Lyme Bay, tables are laid with bone-handled cutlery and monogrammed crockery. The kitchen team is headed up by another London settler, Dan Richards, who puts his former experience at St John to good use in understated but punchy modern dishes such as marinated beetroot with super-fresh goats curd, dill and toasted seeds on citrusy Tamarisk Farm leaves. For lighter lunches and dinners there’s also a (well-priced) bar menu, serving fish soup with rouille, gruyere and croutons, kedgeree, crab sandwiches, chips and Dorset cream teas. (Read our guide to the best afternoon teas in the UK, here).
Breakfasts tie in with the rest of the hotel’s understated ethos; don’t expect a vast amount of choice on the continental front (fresh orange juice, yoghurt, homemade berry compote, croissants and a bowl each of bananas and satsumas). For anything else, however, they prefer to make it on request. Hence a made-to-order breakfast menu that covers everything from a traditional fry-up to French toast, pancakes, boiled egg and soldiers and bacon sandwiches.
Make sure you save space for one of the hotel’s ice creams later in the day. Order a couple of scoops out on the terrace if you want to enjoy them, retro-chic, in a silver coupe. Or wander over to the ice cream cart perched out on the grass at the top of the cliffs in the summer months and grab a cone to take down to the beach. We kept it simple with a scoop of fresh strawberry and it was a world away from the industrially produced stuff; not overly sweet, the perfect creamy consistency and jam-packed with the flavour of fresh strawberries. We would happily drive all the way back to Dorset just for a second scoop. theseasideboardinghouse.com
River Cottage HQ, Axminster
The 17th-century whitewashed farmhouse on the Devon/Dorset border that was first brought to foodie attention by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall (it’s at the heart of his River Cottage HQ) has long been a place of pilgrimage for those wanting to learn how to bake sourdough, cure and smoke pork, cook over fire or preserve hedgerow finds. In the past, however, the site was only open to visitors during the day. Now, the farmhouse has been cosily kitted out and opened up to overnight guests, too.
The master bedroom is spot-on – sleek, lots of beams, pale hues, and a big bathroom stocked with Bramley products and a basket of fluffy white robes. Soak in the stand-alone tub and take in views of the rolling hills beyond the kitchen garden. The two other rooms, equally as stylish and with timber beds, share a bathroom complete with rain shower and more naturally-scented Bramley products. Sheepskin rugs warm up flagstone floors, a muted grey palette offsets original beams and squishy sofas sit beside crackling fires, encouraging conversation among guests. Share a bottle of Lyme Bay wine or pour yourself a nightcap from the honesty bar stocked with local spirits – Black Cow vodka, Somerset cider brandy or Conker gin. Time your stay to coincide with one of the River Cottage feasts for a full foodie experience. rivercottage.net/accommodation
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Authors
Emily Luxton
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