Blackpool may not enjoy the stunning sunsets of Santorini, the panoramic vistas of Turkey or the glimmering turquoise blue seas of the Caribbean, but it does offer a value-for-money holiday to suit almost every taste.
Over the years, Blackpool’s famous terraced guest houses and family-run hotels have earned a reputation for offering no-nonsense, no-frills experience, but things have changed in recent years and this seaside resort now has much more to offer the discerning traveller.
Perhaps this is most clearly exemplified in the town’s flourishing culinary scene, with Blackpool boasting a diverse range of restaurants aiming to cater to every palate and price point.
We’ve endured all the fish and chips one man can muster in a single weekend, picked over pickled cockles, gorged on goulash and crammed in pizza crusts, all in the name of an article. This article, in fact; here’s where to eat in Blackpool.
The Bank Bar & Grill
Ideal for classic pub grub in a nostalgic town centre setting…
Sitting in the beating, rambunctious heart of Blackpool’s town centre just a pebble’s skim from the North Pier, The Bank Bar & Grill embodies the essence of a classic pub and grill. Its a place you want to settle into, all dark wood furnishings and adorned with vintage photographs and sporting memorabilia, transporting diners back in time, to a Blackpool of yesteryear. The menu features hearty and comforting dishes, such as rich steak and ale pie and the generous Sunday roast, which sees the locals flocking.
Address: 28 Corporation St, Blackpool FY1 1EJ
Website: thebankblackpool.com
The Cartford Inn, Little Eccleston
Ideal for sophisticated Lancashire cooking and riverside views…
Just a short drive from Blackpool’s bright lights, this 17th-century inn offers a masterclass in sophisticated Lancashire cooking. Perched on the banks of the River Wyre with views stretching to the Lake District, the AA Inn of the Year 2024/25 serves hearty, gutsy fare with clear French influences – think French onion soup and lobster thermidor from their aptly named ‘Premeditated Gluttony’ menu. The riverside setting is matched by a thoughtfully designed interior that manages to feel both historic and contemporary.
The emphasis here is firmly on local produce, with meat from nearby farms and seafood fresh from Fleetwood docks. The on-site TOTI (Taste of the Inn) deli and farm shop lets diners take a piece of the experience home, selling their own-made artisan breads, cakes and house specialities. Booking is essential, particularly for their panoramic River Lounge restaurant where the food is elevated further by those spectacular Bowland fells views.
Address: Cartford Ln, Preston PR3 0YP
Website: thecartfordinn.co.uk
Michael Wan’s Mandarin
Ideal for authentic Cantonese classics from a long-standing Blackpool institution…
If you’re after proper Cantonese cuisine in Blackpool, Michael Wan’s Mandarin has been the go-to spot since 1961. This Clifton Street stalwart has earned its reputation through consistent dim sum and faithfully prepared Cantonese classics. The crispy aromatic duck is done well – served with wafer-thin pancakes and house-made hoisin sauce – while the salt and pepper squid arrives gossamer-light and perfectly seasoned. As in, nice and salty like the adjacent sea…
The restaurant’s interior boasts the usual Chinese elements of a British/Cantonese joint, with red lanterns hanging above crisp white paper tablecloths. There’s surely a beckoning cat (Japanese, we know) in here somewhere. Service is notably attentive without being intrusive. Book ahead for weekend evenings, as locals and tourists both flock here for their Chinese food fix.
Address: 27 Clifton Street, Blackpool FY1 1JD
Website: michaelwansmandarin.co.uk
Elvin’s
Ideal for casual Lebanese dining and vegetarian-friendly fare…
Something of a hidden gem, tucked away just south of Blackpool in Lytham St. Annes, Elvin’s serves up tasty food, focusing on flavours from Lebanon.
An unassuming cafe with unpredictable opening hours, it’s so highly regarded, in fact, that Elvin’s has previously been Trip Advisor’s number one restaurant in Lancashire. A great option for vegans and veggies, too, with the butterbean stew and flatbread combo utterly delicious.
Address: 73 Clifton Street, Unit 2 Clifton Walk, Lytham St Annes FY8 5ER
Website: elvinslytham.co.uk
Twelve Restaurant, Thornton
Ideal for refined British cooking beneath a historic windmill…
Situated beneath one of Europe’s tallest working windmills, this Michelin Bib Gourmand holder has been delighting diners for over two decades. The restaurant’s edgy décor – think exposed brickwork meets urban graffiti – provides an unexpected backdrop for refined British cooking. Head chef Graham Floyd’s menu showcases clever yet unfussy dishes, with standouts including their signature ‘Twelve’s Banana’ dessert, a nostalgic tribute to the owner’s childhood reimagined as a deep-fried bread and butter pudding with raspberry jam and toasted rice custard.
Owners Paul and Caroline’s hands-on approach ensures consistently high standards, which have earned them not just the coveted Bib Gourmand but also two AA rosettes. The bustling cocktail bar makes this as much a destination for evening drinks as it is for dining, with an impressive selection of gins and house cocktails. Their three-course menu, featuring dishes like wild halibut with mild curry sauce and celeriac tart with date purée, offers remarkable value for cooking of this calibre.
Address: Fleetwood Rd N, Thornton-Cleveleys FY5 4JZ
Website: twelve-restaurant.co.uk
Yorkshire Fisheries
Ideal for traditional fish and chips from one of Blackpool’s oldest chippies…
For a taste of authentic British fish and chips, Yorkshire Fisheries is the place to be. One of Blackpool’s longest standing restaurants, founded in 1959, this traditional chippie has been serving up the laciest batter and fresh local fish for generations. The queues are often long, but the wait is well worth it.
Though primarily a takeaway, there is a no-frills dining room for those wanting to linger a little over their tea. Either way, don’t miss out on the ultra-viscous gravy here; it wouldn’t be Blackpool if your chips weren’t drowning in the stuff!
Address:14-18 Topping St, Blackpool FY1 3AQ
Website: yorkshirefisheries.co.uk
Read: The best restaurants on the Isle of Wight
Twisted Indian Street Food
Ideal for contemporary British-Indian fusion in a lively setting…
For an adventurous culinary experience, Twist & Shout is a must-try. This British-Indian fusion restaurant offers a modern take on classic street food dishes. Forgive the neon lights and silver-specked sofas, and instead get stuck into a sub-continental menu that features everything from samosas and tandoori chicken to lamb Karahi and keema.
Here, nothing is cooked from frozen and everything is preservative-free, and you can taste that freshness in dishes that sing of vibrancy and don’t weigh too heavy. Booking in advance is recommended here; Twisted is particularly popular with stag and hen parties.
Address: 15 Clifton St, Blackpool FY1 1JD
Website: twistedindianblackpool.co.uk
Stefani’s Pizzeria
Ideal for wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas in the heart of town…
For a taste of Italian cuisine, Stefani’s Pizzeria is a local favourite. This family-run pizzeria, sitting pretty on Cedar Square, has been serving up delicious pizzas, pastas, and calzones for over 20 years.
The pizzas are cooked in a traditional wood-fired oven, giving them that distinctive blistered, Leopard-like crust that is like catnip to pizza purists. Keep things simple and elegant with the Milano. Topped with wisps of prosciutto ham, sauteed mushrooms and fresh rocket, it’s a steal at £11.90.
Address: 3 Cedar Square, Blackpool FY1 1BP
Website: stefanispizzeria.co.uk
Scott’s Bistro
Ideal for elegant modern British dining with locally-sourced ingredients…
Dining in Blackpool isn’t all fish and chips, stags and hens; there’s the finer end of dining to be found too, and perhaps the best iteration of a slicker, sleaker restaurant experience in town is at Scott’s Bistro, an intimate eatery half and hour down the road in Preston. The interior is sleek and modern, with a focus on natural light, and the menu follows a certain breezy suit with fresh, locally-sourced dishes that let the ingredients do the talking.
A soused local herring salad with roasted beetroot and dill is particularly fresh and lively, and a calves liver main – served just the right side of blushing – arrives with the creamiest of potato purees. The whole thing is given lift and piquancy via some expertly cured sherry onions. Yep, Scott’s is the place to wine and dine near Blackpool.
Address: 2 Glebe Ln, Kirkham, Preston PR4 2YN
Website: scottsbistro.co.uk
Pizza Grazie
Ideal for hearty Italian favourites from a family-run establishment…
For a taste of simple Italian cuisine that rivals Stefani’s up the road, Pizza Grazie is the place to be. This family-run pizzeria, located on Talbot Road, has been serving up humble, hearty food for the best part of three decades, and it shows in the resplendent, generously topped pizzas here.
Address: 44 Bolton St, Blackpool FY1 6AE
Website: pizzagrazieonline.co.uk
Speaking of seaside breaks, we’re heading to Brighton next. Care to join us?
