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Freshly caught seafood with a view of the sea, a hearty roast loaded with locally reared meats or fine dining served up by award-winning chefs, the Isle of Wight offers a range of tasty and unique eating and drinking experiences to tantalise your tastebuds and leave your mouth watering at the memory for years to come.
Enjoy exquisite fine dining, cafes beach views, tasty pub grub, afternoon tea in thatched tearooms in Shanklin, pubs overlooking the sea, fish & chips by the sea, doorstep sandwiches, modern bistro creations, farm kitchen cooking… discover the Isle of Wight’s signature local produce; gin, garlic, cheese, tomatoes and more. Perfect for a picnic, a gift or for a taste of the Island at home.
View the latest information before you visit by checking the venue's own website. To do this use the 'Search Food & Drink' box above and click the 'Visit Website' button on the individual venue web page.
In a climate boasting more hours of sunlight than most of the UK, the Isle of Wight is a haven for so much lovely, local produce. Great for sunbathing, the extra sunshine also means richer soils for growing, lush grass for free-range feeding, warmer seas for thriving sea life and a sweet and distinct Island flavour that will have you coming back for more. There is a choice of local produce on offer in many food and drink venues and from local farm kitchens and shops.
In need of some dining out inspiration? Here's some ideas for a little bit of what you might fancy to eat or drink on the Isle of Wight during your visit, from locally reared meats as part of a hearty roast, to champagne and seafood served right on the beach.
The clue is in the name Isle of Wight, and being surrounded by water, there is a huge choice of restaurants, pubs and cafes that serve the freshest and best fish and seafood. So why not Say Yes to a fishy on a dishy on your holiday.
The Smoking Lobster has quickly gained a reputation for pan-Asian seafood cookery and its two restaurants in Ventnor and Cowes are extremely popular.
The Hut at Colwell Bay has featured on television regularly since it opened ten years ago and offers some stunning views over the Western Solent from its beach-front location to go with your local catch.
One of the Island’s longest-established seafood restaurants is Murrays, located in Cowes, which has been open in the yachting town for 40 years and is still serving mouth-watering fish dishes.
Wherever you go on the Island, the fish is always fresh and Best Dressed Crab or The Beach Hut at Bembridge, Salty’s in Yarmouth and Samphire Coastal Kitchen in Ventnor are more options.
The Isle of Wight is renowned for the quality of its locally-reared meat and what better way to sample it than by Saying Yes to a Sunday roast.
Isle of Wight pubs and restaurants have built up great reputations for the great British roast and you are spoilt for choice.
Many of the venues use beef, lamb, chicken and pork from the Isle of Wight Meat Co.
Crown & Bear at Brading has a real name for the quality of its roasts and the Heron in Cowes offers a modern twist on the traditional Sunday roast. Also why not try a hearty carvery at The Chequers Inn, Rookley, or a roast at one of these fine pubs: The Boathouse, The Taverners, The Sun Inn Calbourne, The Buddle Smuggler’s Inn, The Pointer Inn, The Blacksmiths, Off The Rails Yarmouth, The Bistro, The Griffin, or The Eight Bells.
Sometimes on a trip away from home it’s the occasion to spoil yourself with a little fine dining.
The Isle of Wight has no shortage of lovely places to dine or lunch and has a growing reputation for beautifully cooked and presented cuisine.
Across the Isle of Wight, from Bembridge to Yarmouth, Cowes to Ventnor, there is oodles of choice.
One of the latest additions to the offering is The Brasserie at Foresters Hall in Cowes, which is brought to the Island by the people behind The Smoking Lobster restaurants in Ventnor and Cowes.
Other options include: The Royal Hotel Restaurant, The True Food Kitchen, Heron (Ryde), The Seaview Hotel Restaurant, The Terrace Yarmouth, Number 3, The Coast Bar & Dining Room, The Hambrough Restaurant, The George Hotel & Restaurant, Albert Cottage Hotel Restaurant, Lakeside Park Hotel Restaurant, Ganders Restaurant, Thompson’s & You Be Chef or The Hut.
Or why not try restaurant quality by ordering from Wight Cakes & Foods. They deliver fresh meals ready to be warmed up at your holiday accommodation.
What better after a walk, cycle or leisurely day of sightseeing, than to retire to one of the Island’s many cosy pubs in towns, villages and countryside.
As well as some tasty Isle of Wight ales and the usual array of drinks, there is some rib-sticking food to be had.
From Rob Burrows’s signature Newchurch Pie at The Blacksmith’s to classic, crispy fish and chips, there are loads of great hostelries to check out.
Plenty of pubs have gardens so you can take advantage of lovely views, the Isle of Wight’s legendary sunshine and play areas for kids to enjoy, including at The Chequers Inn, The Eight Bells and the giant inflatable pillow in the play area at The Fighting Cocks near Arreton.
Why not also take a look at: The Fishbourne, The Birdham, The Old Fort, The Red Lion, The Lifeboat, The Anchor, The Woodvale, Bargeman’s Rest, Steamer Inn, The Bugle Coaching Inn, Portland Inn, The Dairyman’s Daughter, Spyglass Inn, Appley Manor, Horse & Groom, The Cedars, The Blenheim, The Waverley Inn, White Hart Inn, Pier View Pub and Kitchen, Fountain Inn, Medina Quay Beefeater, The Travellers Joy, The Folly Inn and The Old Corner Bank.
If you want to get up close and personal with some of the Isle of Wight’s farms and producers, there are a number of amazing places to sample Island produce.
This year there are two new additions to the choice available.
Goddard’s Brewery, one of several producing quality ales, has moved to a new purpose built premises at Branston. Visitors can see how the beers are brewed, sample the ales and enjoy a meal in the Firkin Deck Restaurant.
Down the road to Newport at Horringford, Harvey Brown’s is set within a working family fruit and veg farm and features a café, food hall containing the best of Isle of Wight produce, and its own butchery.
Some of the other places to visit to sample Isle of Wight goodies are: The Cow Restaurant & Bar, The Garlic Farm Restaurant, Quarr Abbey Teashop, Mermaid Bar at Isle of Wight Distillery, Bluebells at Briddlesford and The Fleming Arms.
If you are looking for a lighter bite on your travels, there is no shortage of tearooms, coffee shops and cafes.
For fabulous cakes, luscious lattes mouth-watering sandwiches as well as anything else you might fancy while out and about, try: Quay Arts Café, The Pearl, The Freshwater Coffee House, Dimbola Tea Room, Caffé Isola, No 64 Shanklin, Lady Scarlett’s Tea Parlour, The Piano Café, PO41 Coffee House, The Blue Door Café, Gods Providence House, One Holyrood Tea Room, The Lunch Box Cafe or Rylstone Tea Gardens.
If you are hankering after an Italian meal while on holiday, then say Ciao! to the good folk at the long-established trattorias at Valentino’s in Carisbrooke, Pavarotti’s in Shanklin, Michelangelo Restaurant in Ryde or Toninos Italian Restaurant in Cowes.
Newer bambino on the block are Prego in East Cowes, Met Italia on the Esplanade at Ventnor and Salty's Pizzeria & Bar within the yachting town of Yarmouth.
If you are staying in self-catering accommodation or planning a picnic, don't forget to try our delicious Isle of Wight tomatoes, garlic, chilli, sea salt, oils, cheese, milkshakes, meats and freshly grown veggies. Available to buy locally at farm shops, local retailers and online.
The majority of restaurants on the Island offer several vegetarian, pescatarian, vegan and gluten free options within their menu, we recommend checking menus online before booking.
Glowing reviews of Isle of Wight cuisine are not hard to come by and critics don’t just go gooey over its seafood.
Locally reared meats, scrumptious fresh vegetables, Island mushrooms and garlic – the Isle of Wight really is a treasure trove of fine dining.
Did you know that the top cocktail, the Espresso Martini was invented by Dick Bradsell, a man who grew up on the Isle of Wight?
With that sort of mixology heritage, it is not surprising the Island is stirred, not shaken, when it comes to some lovely holiday drinks.
Whether you have just finished a good long stomp around the Isle of Wight’s amazing network of footpaths, looking for lunch during a day on the beach or are mooching around the shops, a good café is always a pleasure.
One of the wonders of going on holiday in this country is getting up close and personal with the local cuisine.
The Isle of Wight has some brilliant farms which are only too happy to put their wares into cafes and shops for you to try.
You won't be short of choice of places to eat or great non-meat produce to buy on the Isle of Wight.
There are various plant-based options available with many based on the Island's superb local produce.
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