Margate Guidebook
Food scene
The famous red double decker in Margate. It's a few mins walk along the promenade from our house and part of The Sun Deck, which is open air and open in the summer (but the Bus Cafe is open some of the Winter too).
Amazing breakfasts, lunches and dinners here and fun for kids too.
https://www.thebuscafe.co.uk/
78 locals recommend
The Bus Café
Royal Crescent PromenadeThe famous red double decker in Margate. It's a few mins walk along the promenade from our house and part of The Sun Deck, which is open air and open in the summer (but the Bus Cafe is open some of the Winter too).
Amazing breakfasts, lunches and dinners here and fun for kids too.
https://www.thebuscafe.co.uk/
Outdoors and amazing for sundowner drinks and great music. There's also food in stalls and coffee if you like too. This place shouldn't be missed. A few mins walk along the promenade towards Margate from the house.
@thesundeckmargate
50 locals recommend
The Sun Deck
Royal Crescent PromenadeOutdoors and amazing for sundowner drinks and great music. There's also food in stalls and coffee if you like too. This place shouldn't be missed. A few mins walk along the promenade towards Margate from the house.
@thesundeckmargate
Best Mexican food and cocktails I've ever had in the UK. It's a restaurant with a bar area and outdoor dining too. Dogs are welcome in the bar and outside but not the main restaurant. To be honest, I prefer the bar area anyway - it's got more energy.
The watermelon cocktail is a thing of genius.
Music there is cool with a nod to 90's american wrap (but if that's not your thing, go for the food anyway!).
@cinqueportsmargate
41 locals recommend
Cinque Ports
50 Marine TerraceBest Mexican food and cocktails I've ever had in the UK. It's a restaurant with a bar area and outdoor dining too. Dogs are welcome in the bar and outside but not the main restaurant. To be honest, I prefer the bar area anyway - it's got more energy.
The watermelon cocktail is a thing of genius.
Music there is cool with a nod to 90's american wrap (but if that's not your thing, go for the food anyway!).
@cinqueportsmargate
Sister cafe to the Double Decker Bus, serving similar food but with more room and a beautiful interior. It's an old recording studio and has a fantastic staircase in there and about 1,000 vinyl records for sale. Coffee is excellent and food is too. Perfect for breakfast and chilling. It's a bit of a walk but you could always be cheeky and drive (parking meters on the street).
www.cliffsmargate.com
97 locals recommend
Cliffs
172 Northdown RdSister cafe to the Double Decker Bus, serving similar food but with more room and a beautiful interior. It's an old recording studio and has a fantastic staircase in there and about 1,000 vinyl records for sale. Coffee is excellent and food is too. Perfect for breakfast and chilling. It's a bit of a walk but you could always be cheeky and drive (parking meters on the street).
www.cliffsmargate.com
So this is the sister restaurant to Angela's (which is impossible to get into in the summer). Dorys is a walk in restaurant - so you just have to chance it. But some of the best food I've eaten outside of London. Local produce and mostly fish. It's an adult, cultured environment that's good for people who love good food and wine. They do accept dogs, but you have to ask them.
My recommendation would be a glass of Davenport white.
If you can't get into Dorys, there are plenty of other restaurants on either side that I've not had the pleasure of eating in yet myself but others have highly recommended, including Little Swift, Buoy and Oyster.
@dorys_of_margate
@angelas_of_margate
71 locals recommend
Dorys
24 High StSo this is the sister restaurant to Angela's (which is impossible to get into in the summer). Dorys is a walk in restaurant - so you just have to chance it. But some of the best food I've eaten outside of London. Local produce and mostly fish. It's an adult, cultured environment that's good for people who love good food and wine. They do accept dogs, but you have to ask them.
My recommendation would be a glass of Davenport white.
If you can't get into Dorys, there are plenty of other restaurants on either side that I've not had the pleasure of eating in yet myself but others have highly recommended, including Little Swift, Buoy and Oyster.
@dorys_of_margate
@angelas_of_margate
So this place is a little chain of pizza restaurants and child/dog friendly, and perfectly located for the amazing sunset, and does superb pizza and garlic bread like none I've eaten before (so worth the calories).
The ingredients are all British, which is a bit of a theme in Margate...local, organic, seasonal etc.
@gbpizzacomargate
94 locals recommend
GB Pizza Co
14a Marine DrSo this place is a little chain of pizza restaurants and child/dog friendly, and perfectly located for the amazing sunset, and does superb pizza and garlic bread like none I've eaten before (so worth the calories).
The ingredients are all British, which is a bit of a theme in Margate...local, organic, seasonal etc.
@gbpizzacomargate
Outstandingly good wine bar with food. Inside and outside space, and a couple of tables kept for walk-ins.
The wines have been knowledgeably curated, and the menu changes with the seasons and is breathtakingly good.
Tables are counter seating, so expect to share a space with others.
I've never managed to book - it's always full, but I have turned up as soon as they open at midday and got a table.
@sargasso.bar
51 locals recommend
SARGASSO
Stone PierOutstandingly good wine bar with food. Inside and outside space, and a couple of tables kept for walk-ins.
The wines have been knowledgeably curated, and the menu changes with the seasons and is breathtakingly good.
Tables are counter seating, so expect to share a space with others.
I've never managed to book - it's always full, but I have turned up as soon as they open at midday and got a table.
@sargasso.bar
Best Sunday lunch in Margate (in my opinion).
Loads of energy and atmosphere. Nice mix of people and a bit more local rather than just tourists.
@georgeandheart
53 locals recommend
The George & Heart Bar
44 King StBest Sunday lunch in Margate (in my opinion).
Loads of energy and atmosphere. Nice mix of people and a bit more local rather than just tourists.
@georgeandheart
Pubs and bars
This pub is the closest to home. Stylish pub that's just gone through a major refurb. Mostly frequented by arty locals, ex Londoners. No food, but you can order a Pizza delivery from @palmspizzeria. Last time I was there, it was full, with an eclectic mix of families and adults, with a lovely energy.
@theshakespearemargate
The Shakespeare
This pub is the closest to home. Stylish pub that's just gone through a major refurb. Mostly frequented by arty locals, ex Londoners. No food, but you can order a Pizza delivery from @palmspizzeria. Last time I was there, it was full, with an eclectic mix of families and adults, with a lovely energy.
@theshakespearemargate
If you fancy walking a little past Margate centre and onto Cliftonville (just another 5 mins walk), this pub is lovely.
Warm feel, and really lovely owners. Plenty of outside space and food - which changes with pop-ups coming and going.
@roseinjunemargate
51 locals recommend
The Rose in June
49-50 Trinity SquareIf you fancy walking a little past Margate centre and onto Cliftonville (just another 5 mins walk), this pub is lovely.
Warm feel, and really lovely owners. Plenty of outside space and food - which changes with pop-ups coming and going.
@roseinjunemargate
Sightseeing
This art gallery always has interesting exhibitions, it's free (donations) and when the tide mid way or out, you can see one of Antony Gormley's solid cast-iron figures in the sea. This is one of a series of one hundred figures that explore the experience of being human. If you're lucky with tides - it's incredible at sunset.
352 locals recommend
Turner Contemporary
RendezvousThis art gallery always has interesting exhibitions, it's free (donations) and when the tide mid way or out, you can see one of Antony Gormley's solid cast-iron figures in the sea. This is one of a series of one hundred figures that explore the experience of being human. If you're lucky with tides - it's incredible at sunset.