Sam's Guidebook
Food scene
Feeling peckish? Here’s a few pointers for a good feed.
Tip top Caribbean cuisine with a naughty selection of cocktails (and mocktails for those who’re behaving). Great menu choices for vege, vegan, kids and hot sauce connoisseurs.
29 locals recommend
Mullins Brasserie
6 Market PlTip top Caribbean cuisine with a naughty selection of cocktails (and mocktails for those who’re behaving). Great menu choices for vege, vegan, kids and hot sauce connoisseurs.
Coffee lovers and light biters rejoice! Curve is the perfect place to refuel - or even start the day - just 5 mins walk from your stay. Great menu and heavenly coffee!
35 locals recommend
Curve Roasters Storeroom
12 Union RowCoffee lovers and light biters rejoice! Curve is the perfect place to refuel - or even start the day - just 5 mins walk from your stay. Great menu and heavenly coffee!
Happiness by the slice, guaranteed. Interesting choice of pizza toppings, sides and drinks. Kids are well catered for too!
94 locals recommend
GB Pizza Co
14a Marine DrHappiness by the slice, guaranteed. Interesting choice of pizza toppings, sides and drinks. Kids are well catered for too!
Lunch and a drink on a disused double decker? Why ever not. Decent choice of light bites with a great view of the beach and Lido.
78 locals recommend
The Bus Café
Royal Crescent PromenadeLunch and a drink on a disused double decker? Why ever not. Decent choice of light bites with a great view of the beach and Lido.
If you're up in Cliftonville you'd be wise to check out the best coffee shop up there. They offer a decent variety of healthy light bites, local beer and snacks too. Get your vinyl fix whilst you're visiting, upstairs is a record collector's domain with weighty shelves of tunes to dig through. There's also a salon upstairs for those in need of a mop chop.
97 locals recommend
Cliffs
172 Northdown RdIf you're up in Cliftonville you'd be wise to check out the best coffee shop up there. They offer a decent variety of healthy light bites, local beer and snacks too. Get your vinyl fix whilst you're visiting, upstairs is a record collector's domain with weighty shelves of tunes to dig through. There's also a salon upstairs for those in need of a mop chop.
Neighbouring Dreamland is a delightful boozery/eatery establishment named after the Thanet five ports, but in French to keep it fancy, obviously. Jokes aside, the food fired out of the open hatch kitchen here is to die for, especially if you're lucky enough to be around for the Sunday roasts – very inclusive for vege/vegans/GF too! Kids very much accommodated for.
41 locals recommend
Cinque Ports
50 Marine TerraceNeighbouring Dreamland is a delightful boozery/eatery establishment named after the Thanet five ports, but in French to keep it fancy, obviously. Jokes aside, the food fired out of the open hatch kitchen here is to die for, especially if you're lucky enough to be around for the Sunday roasts – very inclusive for vege/vegans/GF too! Kids very much accommodated for.
Watering Holes
Great places for a decent beverage or two.
Unique drinking spot with a maximalist decor and some special drinks on offer. Sit in a reclaimed waltzer cart or a 50s salon chair in a lively and inviting bar.
47 locals recommend
Fez
40 High StUnique drinking spot with a maximalist decor and some special drinks on offer. Sit in a reclaimed waltzer cart or a 50s salon chair in a lively and inviting bar.
Bathed in pink neon and overlooking the bay, there’re fewer places I’d recommend taking a perch outside of. Calm and friendly staff with a uptempo atmosphere late into the night - local DJs and artists supplying a solid soundtrack for the night.
Love Café
Bathed in pink neon and overlooking the bay, there’re fewer places I’d recommend taking a perch outside of. Calm and friendly staff with a uptempo atmosphere late into the night - local DJs and artists supplying a solid soundtrack for the night.
A late licence cosy pub to whet your whistle until 2am (sometimes onwards). Great staff – always finding something to laugh about – and some great live music if you're lucky to catch it.
46 locals recommend
Lifeboat
1 Market StA late licence cosy pub to whet your whistle until 2am (sometimes onwards). Great staff – always finding something to laugh about – and some great live music if you're lucky to catch it.
Incredible cocktails made in front of you - some dangerous choices of tequila and mezcal amongst other things. Great staff and a lively atmosphere.
10 locals recommend
Mariachi
11 The CentreIncredible cocktails made in front of you - some dangerous choices of tequila and mezcal amongst other things. Great staff and a lively atmosphere.
Entertainment
Indulge in some of the entertainment opportunities Margate has to offer.
Never a dull day spent in Margate’s landmark amusement park - roller hall, arcades, rollercoaster and select purveyors of the tastiest street food going. Regular events include: big name gigs, outdoor cinema screenings and all-dayer festivals.
242 locals recommend
Dreamland
Marine TerraceNever a dull day spent in Margate’s landmark amusement park - roller hall, arcades, rollercoaster and select purveyors of the tastiest street food going. Regular events include: big name gigs, outdoor cinema screenings and all-dayer festivals.
It’s all in the name. A tiny theatre and performing arts space that regularly puts on all sorts of gigs and theatre pieces. Well worth checking out for a cosy evening!
51 locals recommend
Tom Thumb Theatre
2A Eastern EsplanadeIt’s all in the name. A tiny theatre and performing arts space that regularly puts on all sorts of gigs and theatre pieces. Well worth checking out for a cosy evening!
Somewhat enigmatic but entertaining nonetheless. A place to learn everything there is to know about crabs. Self described as a place that has rolled 'science, humour and philosophy into a unique and satisfyingly baffling day out.' Get cracking!
9 locals recommend
Crab Museum
9 Broad StSomewhat enigmatic but entertaining nonetheless. A place to learn everything there is to know about crabs. Self described as a place that has rolled 'science, humour and philosophy into a unique and satisfyingly baffling day out.' Get cracking!
Sightseeing
Cool down underground in the subterranean side of Margate. Newly developed visitor centre, guided tours and cafe refreshments all on hand.
72 locals recommend
Margate Caves
1 Northdown RdCool down underground in the subterranean side of Margate. Newly developed visitor centre, guided tours and cafe refreshments all on hand.
Goes without saying really...
(Beach bag with towels, buckets & spades and games is available to all guests for no extra fee).
78 locals recommend
Margate Beach Front
Goes without saying really...
(Beach bag with towels, buckets & spades and games is available to all guests for no extra fee).
City advice
Don't miss
Margate sunsets!
Panoramic views from the bay, looking out across the wind farms on a good day, in kaleidoscopic colours well into the evening. Genuinely stunning!