With Margate is an easy 90 minute train ride from London, this seaside spot has become the perfect short break spot for Londoners who love their food and drink. Here's our pick of the best of it.
The best of Margate
Angela’s
Where: 21 The Parade, Margate CT9 1EX
At Angela’s, it’s all about sustainably sourced seafood, with much of the regularly changing menu depending on what's been landed by the fishing boats on any given day. You might find turbot cheeks with broad beans or a monkfish bisque to delight you. Note that this is a small restaurant, as well as being very popular, so you'll need to book ahead.
Follow them on Instagram: @angelas_of_margate
Pomus
Where: 9 The Centre, Margate CT9 1JG
This Margate venture comes from former Jamie Oliver Group MD Ryan Jacovides, who moved to the seaside to open this wine bar meets restaurant and bottle shop. The low-waste menu celebrates local producers and produce so there might be smoked cod roe with a dill waffle or beef carpaccio with onion and watercress on the menu.
Follow them on Instagram: @pomusmargate
Bottega Caruso
Where: 2-4 Broad St, Margate CT9 1EW
“Heroically wondrous” declared critic Grace Dent of this indie Italian restaurant. With plenty of space inside and out, you'll find superlative pasta and Italian peasant fare that’s deeply rooted in the co-owner’s Neapolitan background. The restaurant recently became even more famous when Madonna sang its praises.
Follow them on Instagram: @bottegacaruso.
See also: Cantina Caruso is their wine bar and deli next door. It's open at the weekend for wines by the glass and small plates.
The Wellington
Where: 1 Duke St, Margate CT9 1EP
Down from Londoners Billy and Ellie have a wealth of hospitality experience both in London and Margate. Billy has St John, The Marksman and Rochelle Canteen in his London CV and most recently was head chef at Sete here in Margate. The pair now run The Wellington in Margate's Old Town, which they describe as a British pub with classical French influences. So you can enjoy a pint and a pie, or a Negroni with French onion soup and beef short rib, which sounds great to us.
Follow them on Instagram: @thewellingtonmargate
The Shakespeare
Where: 1 Canterbury Rd, Westbrook, Margate CT9 5AQ
This late 18th century pub right on the seafront had been derelict for years before it was taken over and given the perfect resdesign by local company Fleet Architects. They've gently given the building a lift without losing the lovely pub ambience. There are cask ales on offer, alongside a wine list curated by Sete's Natalia Ribbe. And while you're enjoying your beer or wine, you can get pizza delivered to your table by Palms Pizzeria.
Follow them on Instagram: @theshakespearemargate
Willy's
Where: 6 Dalby Square, Cliftonville, Margate, Kent CT9 2ER
You'll find this cosy neighbourhood spot inside the Margate House Hotel in Cliftonville. We last tried chef Mark O Brian's food when he was cooking with Robin Gill at Birch, but he most recently headed up Samphire bistro in Whitstable. Here in Margate, he presides over a menu that's both comforting and delicious. Think black pudding Scotch eggs, Coronation mussels and chalk stream trout with seaweed butter sauce alongside roast ham, egg and chips.
Follow them on Instagram: @willysmargate
Buoy & Oyster and Beach Buoys
Where: 44 High St, Margate CT9 1DS
There are three parts to this successful Margate venture. On the ground floor is the perfect chippy serving up fish and chips to the masses. Head upstairs and you'll find the multi-award-winning restaurant where they serve up a mainly seafood menu focusing on day boat-caught fish from local ports. Local crab might come with a yuzu mayonnaise, while asparagus is served with whipped cod's roe and lemon rapeseed oil. Look out for bargain oyster happy hours, too.
Follow them on Instagram: @buoyandoyster
High Dive
Where: 121 High St, Margate CT9 1JT
From the same team as Dive on the Harbour Arm is this restaurant with a menu they say is "heavily inspired by Los Angeles' multiculturalism". Think snacks, tostadas and tacos with the odd larger plate for good measure.
Follow them on Instagram: @high.dive.margate
The Perfect Place to Grow
Where: 99 Victoria Rd, Cliftonville, Margate CT9 1RD
Diversity, inclusion and education are the hallmarks of this cafe inside the Tracey Emin Foundation, which works as a training kitchen working with youngsters to help them build skills and find jobs. The good news is that the food is as good as the intentions. You can get an amazing fry-up here as well as dishes inspired by the restaurants that helped found it (Angela's and Bottega Caruso), like Angela's cured trout and Bottega Caruso's ragu on toast. Tea options are both builders or chamomile and the cafe is licensed so your Bloody Mary can be a virgin or a boozy option.
Follow them on Instagram: @the_perfect_place_to_grow_cic
Stakehaus
Where: Cinque Ports, 50 Marine Terrace, Margate CT9 1XJ
This historic Margate pub right next door to Dreamland became the first permanent home to street food steak restaurant Stakehaus last year. Chef Lily Smith's husband Alfie runs the pub while Lily and her team serve up a menu with meat at its heart. Signature dishes include the bavette steak and fries, and the Philly cheesesteak but, as this is Margate, there's also plenty on offer for those wanting veggie options. Do not skip the gravy cheese fries.
Follow them on Instagram: @stakehaus_
Lilie's
Where: 3 Cliff Terrace, Cliftonville, Margate CT9 1RU
Sure you could go to Spain for tapas, but when the weather's gorgeous why bother with airport trauma when you can just come to Lilie's instead? This longstanding tapas bar up on the Margate cliff has amazing views and a menu to match. Expect classic tapas like jamon croquetas with saffron aioli or patatas bravas, made with the best of Kentish produce.
Follow them on Instagram: @lilies_margate
Palms Pizzeria
Where: Unit 16, The Centre, Margate CT9 1JG
Margate's pizza game is pretty strong but this NYC-style pizzeria just edges ahead of the competition. Order by the slice or the whole pie options like fennel sausage with nduja and broccoli or their regularly changing veggie special. It's a tight drink list and if you're feeling brave, you can go for the mystery shot.
Follow them on Instagram: @palmspizzeria
Fort Road Hotel
Where: Fort Road Hotel, 18 Fort Rd, Margate CT9 1HF
Overlooking the Turner Contemporary, this seafront hotel is a great place for Londoners to base themselves. For the summer of '26 the hotel's restaurant residency is Us @ Fort Road, serving up oyster platters and bavette with café de paris butter and the promise of cherry negronis after a day out on the seafront. Plus, if you're a guest here, there's also a rooftop terrace.
Follow them on Instagram: @fortroadhotel
Forts Cafe
Where: 8 Cliff Terrace, Margate CT9 1RU
Perched on top of the cliff (with views to boot), this Margate cafe goes above and beyond in searching for the best coffee, bringing visitors a rotating menu from UK roasters and beyond. That's served up next to an ever-changing seasonal brunch and sandwich menu.
Follow them on Instagram: @fortscoffee
The Good Egg
Where: 49 Northdown Road, Margate CT9 2RN
Down from London, this southeast coast branch of The Good Egg has proved to be a popular spot, particularly for brunch lovers. They're serving up a general brunch menu during the day with their signature shakshuka, challah French toast and pitas. And you can also buy their amazing babka to take home with you.
Follow them on Instagram: @thegoodegg_margate
Little Swift
Where: 7-8 Marine Dr, Margate CT9 1DH
This bar and deli by the seafront is an absolute must for London visitors to hit up - first for a great bottle of wine plus provisions for your AirBnB and then later in the night for cocktails and snacks. There's also a hatch for you to grab some of their amazing frozen cocktails for a walk on the seafront. If you're feeling really racy, order the Miami Vice, a mix of Strawberry Daiquiri and Pina Colada.
Follow them on Instagram: @littleswiftct9
Margate Harbour Arm
Where: Harbour Arm, Margate CT9 1AP
As with Folkestone, the harbour in Margate has been taken over with all manner of interesting food and drink ventures. Head out here for a drink at the Lighthouse Bar, there's also newbie POM (the little sibling of Pomus in Margate) doing wine and small plates, plus taco shop Dive (chef Ben used to be at Big Naturals), where fish tacos and margaritas are the order of the day.
Follow them on Instagram: @dive.margate, @lighthousebarmargate and @pommargate
Mannings
Where: The Parade, Margate CT9 1DD
At the east end of the seafront, where the Turner Contemporary is, you'll find this unassuming-looking seafood stall. Look a little closer, though, and you'll spot a menu that features seafood and Champagne platters alongside cockles and whelks.
Follow them on Instagram: @manningsseafoodmargate
Mori Mori
Where: 80 Northdown Road, Cliftonville, Margate, Kent CT9 2RE
This seaside spot serves what they describe as 'izakaya-style eats and drinks'. That translates to banging chirashi sushi boxes, excellent ramen and a range of snacks like smoked tofu and kimchi gyoza, okonomiyaki and sashimi of the day.
Follow them on Instagram: @morimori_margate
Peter's Fish Factory
Where: 12 The Parade, Margate CT9 1EZ
There's a reason for the perma-queue snaking its way down the parade from this popular chippy - the fish & chips are great. A mainstay of the seafront here at Margate since the eighties, a young team manage to stay relentlessly cheerful in the face of non-stop custom. All you need to know is that it's well worth the wait.
Follow them on Instagram: @petersfishfactory
Picnic
Where: 3 Northdown Parade, Margate CT9 2NR
This is a deli-by-day, drinks and food-by-night spot in Cliftonville. They've already got quite the reputation for their sarnies like jambon beurre and a spicy deli roll loaded with nduja mayo, ventricina and fennel salamis. In the evenings at weekends, they serve up cocktails, drinks and small plates including cheese and meat plates, croquetas, and pate with baguette.
Follow them on Instagram: @picnicdeli_margate
Sargasso
Where: Stone Pier, Margate CT9 1AP
You'll find this standout Margate restaurant right on the Harbour Arm. Run by Ed Wilson and Josie Stead of London's Brawn, it's been packing them in ever since it opened to great reviews from Jay Rayner and Marina O'Loughlin. So it's somewhere to book well ahead of your visit. The menu, which is now run by ex-Bright chef William Gleave, is inspired by European coastal cooking, roaming both locally and further afield for the best produce.
Follow them on Instagram: @sargasso.bar
Sete
Where: 238 Northdown Road, Margate CT9 2QD
From the team behind Barletta, this originally opened as a wine bar before expanding to include a restaurant and garden. The menu "combines modern European cuisine with a strong French influence" and there's a frequently changing wine list. Wines are available on tap and to take away and there's a leaning towards female winemakers.
Follow them on Instagram: @sete.margate
The Sun Deck
Where: Royal Crescent Promenade, Margate, CT9 5AJ
Right on the beach and boasting a range of street food, great coffee, proper fried brekkies and a top line-up of DJs. It couldn't be a better place to either start your day or end it, sinking a mojito and watching the sunset. Look out for Sun Deck Supper events throughout the summer.
Follow them on Instagram: @thesundeckmargat
Best of Margate map
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