Searching for the best restaurants in Whitstable? Search no further…
There’s something rather magical about Whitstable. Perhaps it’s the way the light hits the oyster shells scattered across its shingle beach, or how the salt-laden breeze whips around the weatherboard cottages that line its streets. But in all honesty, we think it might be the food…
This charming Kent coastal town has long been a culinary destination, its connection to seafood stretching back to Roman times when those clever conquerors would ship the local oysters back to Rome. These days, the food scene has evolved far beyond those briny bivalves (though they’re still reason enough to hop on the National Express 007 and make for the coast), with everything from Michelin-starred gastropubs to natural wine bars making their mark on the town.
Indeed, in a town that manages to toe the line between quaint and bustling with aplomb, there are a surprising number of great places to eat in Whitstable. You’ll need help finding the very best, of course; from old school institutions to exciting new openings, here’s our pick of the best restaurants in Whitstable.
Wheelers Oyster Bar, High Street
Ideal for iconic seafood in a pink-fronted parlour that’s been serving since 1856…
Some restaurant facades become iconic – symbolic of a whole town, even – and none more so than the candy-floss pink facade of Wheelers. Founded by local Master Mariner Richard Leggy Wheeler in 1856, this is not only Whitstable’s oldest restaurant but reportedly England’s oldest seafood restaurant. While its London siblings (once part of Bernard Walsh’s restaurant empire, and once under the stewardship of Marco Pierre White) have long since disappeared, the original still stands proud, serving pristine plates of fish and shellfish with the same devotion to quality that’s marked its 165-year history.
Inside, the tiny parlour-style dining room is pure coastal charm, with maritime memorabilia adorning every available inch of wall space. But you’re not here for the decor – you’re here for chef Mark Stubbs and his team’s masterful handling of whatever the local dayboats have landed that morning. Everything here is made from scratch, from the daily-baked bread to the house ice creams, with produce coming directly from local fishermen and even the restaurant’s own organic garden.
The daily menu reads like a love letter to British seafood – think pan-fried crab cakes with mango-lime salsa and whipped avocado, or John Dory served alongside scallops and cuttlefish with mussel linguine. Better still, the lobster lasagne, layered with wild garlic, leek and crab ragout, has rightly achieved near-mythical status. For the full experience, book ahead for the Friday and Saturday evening tasting menu, where £80 gets you everything from lobster crackers with white crab and ponzu jelly to turbot with Whitstable sea lettuce and rockpool dashi.
Open most days for lunch until 5pm (and until 8pm on Fridays and Saturdays), just remember to book well ahead – and to pick up a bottle from The Offy across the road (it’s BYO with a modest £5 corkage per table).
If you can’t secure a table, their ready-to-eat beach and garden picnic boxes make for a rather special plan B – think home-smoked tiger prawns with roasted garlic and chilli, curried crab with lime and yoghurt, and saffron seafood arancini finished with nduja butter, all for £60 for two people. For something even more luxurious, their £70 ‘cooked while you wait’ box includes treats like baked New Zealand mussels with homemade pesto and melting mozzarella, and baked dressed crab with wild garlic butter and parmesan. What’s not to love about this place?
Wheeler’s was recently named in the prestigious Harden’s Top 100 list, testament to its quality and standing. Yes indeed; this might be the best restaurant in Whitstable, bar none.
Instagram: @wheelersoysterbar
Address: 8 High Street, Whitstable CT5 1BQ
The Sportsman, Seasalter
Ideal for destination dining that puts terroir front and centre…
Technically not in Whitstable but too good to exclude (and reachable via a rugged, bracing hour’s walk along the beach), this seemingly humble pub stands proud between grazing sheep and the Thames Estuary, with nothing on the horizon as you approach but a few lonely beach huts and sense of raw, rough beauty.
Don’t let the weathered white clapboard exterior and slightly bleak marshland location fool you – inside, the pub is home to one of Britain’s most acclaimed kitchens. Self-taught chef Stephen Harris has turned what he jokingly calls a “grotty run-down pub” into a place of culinary pilgrimage – now ranked 29th in the National Restaurant Awards and as the UK’s 4th best gastropub, while holding its Michelin star since 2008.
The history runs deep here – there’s been an inn on this spot since 1642, but the area’s connection to food stretches back to the Domesday Book, when these marsh-fringed acres belonged to Canterbury Cathedral’s kitchens. Harris follows those monastic footsteps, letting the immediate environment dictate the menu. The Thames Estuary provides oysters and fish, while the surrounding marshland, woods and fertile soils supply meat, vegetables and game. They even collect seawater to make their own salt.
Two menus are available: a five-course tasting menu at £80, which might include delights like the iconic slip sole grilled in seaweed butter, braised turbot with cep and lemon verbena sauce, or roast saddle of lamb (from the salt marshes opposite) with black olive roasting juices. The three-course midweek menu (offered Tuesday to Thursday at £55) delivers similar seasonal flair – think smoked mackerel with greengages and horseradish on soda bread, or their celebrated cheese soufflé with rarebit sauce. Regardless, both start with home-churned butter and bread, setting the tone for the precision to follow.
The wine list is as thoughtfully curated as the food, starting at a reasonable £25.95 for a bottle of Fiano from Puglia, ranging up to show-stopping options like Dom Pérignon 2013 at £295. For a special treat, try a glass of Gusbourne Estate Blanc de Blancs from nearby Appledore (£13.95).
Serving lunch and dinner Tuesday through Saturday, with Sunday lunch only, this is destination dining at its finest. If you want to make a proper pilgrimage of it, book one of their four garden cabins (£160 for the first night, £140 thereafter), each equipped with a king-size bed and provisions for breakfast. Just remember to book well ahead.
Website: thesportsmanseasalter.co.uk
Address: Faversham Road, Seasalter, CT5 4BP
Samphire, High Street
Ideal for modern Kentish cooking that puts local produce on a pedestal…
Australian chef George Begg’s story is a tale of serendipity. En route to Antibes in 2004 to work as a private chef on a luxury yacht, he spotted an empty shop near Whitstable beach. Plans changed, and Samphire was born – becoming the town’s first all-day bistro with a focus on the finest Kentish produce.
The black and gold frontage might hint at fine dining pretensions, but inside you’ll find an altogether more relaxed affair – a proper neighbourhood restaurant that just happens to serve some of the finest food in town. The kitchen team here is obsessive about provenance – game from nearby Stour Valley, organic veg from Chatham, asparagus from Sandwich; you get the picture. Mmmm, asparagus sandwich…
The menu changes with the seasons but always maintains a careful balance between land and sea. Starters might include wild mushrooms with oozing egg yolk and flecks of tarragon, or their exemplary cod and parmesan croquettes with confit garlic mayonnaise.
Main courses showcase the kitchen’s versatility – their fish pie has achieved near-legendary status locally, while the bacon chop with burnt apple butter and creamed leeks shows equal care with meat. Vegetarians aren’t an afterthought either; the butternut squash and ricotta pithivier with chargrilled leeks and pea purée could convert the most committed carnivore.
The wine list deserves special mention, with a strong showing of local bottles from Chapel Down (their Chardonnay, Bacchus and Flint Dry all available by the glass at £10.95) alongside well-chosen international options starting at £29.95 for a South African Chenin Blanc. The sparkling selection is particularly strong on Kent producers, from Silver Reign in Luddesdown to Gusbourne’s prestigious Blanc de Blancs.
The set weekday lunch at Samphire (served midday to 3:30pm Monday to Friday) offers particularly good value – two courses for £30 or three for £35, including a glass of house wine. You might find that chicken liver parfait followed by Creole mussels with Holy Trinity sauce and smoked prawn butter makes the perfect pause in a day’s exploring.
Website: samphirewhitstable.co.uk
Address: 4 High Street, Whitstable CT5 1BQ
JoJo’s, Tankerton Bay
Ideal for Mediterranean mezze with stunning sea views…
There’s a reason why the likes of Suggs, Jay Rayner and Tom Kerridge rallied to save JoJo’s when developers threatened to buy this beloved spot during the pandemic. Opened in 2000 by chef Nikki Billington and front-of-house Paul Watson (initially in their own home before moving to these larger seafront premises in 2010), this family-run restaurant has mastered the art of seemingly effortless hospitality.
The owners might modestly claim they “don’t do nowt fancy”, but that undersells the quality of their Mediterranean-inspired sharing plates. The mutton and feta koftas are as good as we’ve had this side of Saso, while the grilled mackerel showcases their deft touch with seafood. Both are keenly priced in the mid-teens.
JoJo’s mixed meze platters are a particular highlight – the full spread arrives laden with everything from homemade hummus and tzatziki to artisanal cured meats, including cecina and chorizo, alongside vibrant salads. At £67 and designed to feed 5 to 7 people, it’s an absolute steal. Better go make some friends first…
Everything just tastes so vital, perhaps not surprising when noting that much of the produce comes from their own garden, which supplies seasonal vegetables, leaves and even the flowers that grace the tables. The commitment to quality runs deep – all meat is free range, fish comes from sustainable stocks, stocks come from sustainable fish, and the whole team works closely with trusted local suppliers.
Warming to a theme, the wine list keeps things accessible and interesting, with glasses starting at £5. The Picpoul de Pinet (£28) makes a perfect though predictable partner to seafood, while the organic Carravalseca Crianza Rioja (£38) shows their eye for value extends to the premium end of the list. On warmer days, grab a table on the terrace, order a plate of calamari and a glass of Domaine D’Astros rosé, and watch kitesurfers glide past while contemplating the homemade desserts. Or, you know, anything else that might be on your mind…
Open Thursday through Sunday (with both lunch and dinner service except Sundays, which is lunch only), this is relaxed coastal dining at its finest. Just remember to book ahead – this slice of Mediterranean life by the North Sea has quite the following, its popularity certainly not harmed by Jay Rayner naming JoJo’s as one of the best value places to eat at the seaside back in 2022.
If you don’t have a booking, you might be able to nab a seat at their ‘cocktail and tapas’ bar which offers a pared-down version of their main menu. There’s also a gorgeous flat above JoJo’s with sweeping views of the sea and a small terrace balcony to take in the famous local sunsets. You can book on Airbnb – a smart move in the name of enjoying one of Whitstable’s best dining experiences.
Website: jojosrestaurant.co.uk
Address: 2 Herne Bay Road, Whitstable CT5 2LQ
Harbour Street Tapas, Harbour Street
Ideal for Spanish small plates with Kentish soul…
There’s something rather fitting about finding excellent tapas in a seafront town, and Lee Murray’s intimate but airy space has been nailing the brief since 2016. The owner’s deep connection to Kent’s food scene – he’s been supplying the county’s finest produce at Murray’s Stores in Canterbury’s Goods Shed for over a dozen years – means that while the heart of the menu might beat to a Spanish rhythm, many ingredients are impeccably sourced from nearby.
The stripped-back space, with its white walls and generous windows that feel like they let the whole world in, allows the food do the talking. And boy, does it have plenty to say – starting with para picar (snacks) like chicken jamón and leek croquettas with aioli or their excellent roasted garlic and white bean hummus with flatbread.
Unsurprisingly, the seafood side of the menu is particularly strong – grilled butterflied sardines with fennel and salsa verde arrive blistered, burnished and balanced beautifully by the piquant salsa, while the tiger prawns with chilli, ginger and garlic are everything you want the famous dish to be – as in, with a sauce that’s crying out for some break for dunking.
The cured meats section features some of Spain’s finest exports – from jamón serrano with manchego to the premium jamón Ibérico. For something more substantial, the lamb cutlets with chickpea salad and harissa yoghurt shows the kitchen’s ability to venture beyond traditional tapas territory without losing its way. The best part? None of these dishes top £15. Save room for the Basque cheesecake – it’s become something of a signature, and a gold-standard version of a dessert that often overpromises and underdelivers in the wrong hands.
Opening Wednesday through Saturday for dinner (plus lunches Thursday to Saturday) and Sunday lunch only, this is the kind of place that makes you want to order in waves, letting the afternoon or evening unfold at a properly Spanish pace. The attentive, on-point staff are happy to guide you through both the menu and the well-chosen Spanish wine list.
That considered pace is probably for the best – the restaurant’s popularity means tables can be hard to come by, especially during peak hours. Our advice? Book ahead and arrive hungry; this is tapas worth planning your day around.
Website: harbourstreettapas.com
Address: 48 Harbour Street, Whitstable CT5 1AQ
The Whitstable Oyster Company, Horsebridge Road
Ideal for fresh-as-it-gets seafood in a historic setting…
Few restaurants can claim a history stretching back to the 1400s, but the Whitstable Oyster Company isn’t your average establishment. One of Europe’s oldest companies, it has been farming the famous Royal Whitstable Native Oyster since before Shakespeare was born. The Romans loved these bivalves so much they shipped them back to Rome, and at the company’s peak in the 1850s, some 80 million oysters a year made their way to Billingsgate Market.
Housed in the red-brick Royal Native Oyster Stores building, the restaurant offers stunning views over the very oyster beds where your starter might have been harvested just hours before. The menu celebrates these prized molluscs in various ways – have them au naturel (£18 for half a dozen), or try them ‘Royale’ style with black truffle butter and champagne (£14 for 4). But there’s more to this Michelin-recommended spot than just oysters.
The kitchen shows real finesse with all manner of seafood – start with the three-cheese crab gratin or their house-cured Oyster Stout salmon with treacle soda bread for an appreciation of the fine details the chefs get right. Main courses showcase the best of the day’s catch, from pan-fried local Dover sole meunière (£35) to grilled whole local lobster Thermidor (anywhere between £55 and £80, depending on size). The steamed razor clams in parsley butter are a masterclass in simplicity, a stone cold classic combo that lets the pristine leading ingredient speak for itself.
These guys certainly care about the catch, and it shows in the clean, deep flavours on show. Indeed, since 1978 when Barrie Green and John Knight took over the then-struggling business, the company has invested heavily in sustainable production methods – efforts recognised in 1997 when their oyster beds were granted Protected Geographical Status by the European Union. Keeping things in the family, the restaurant is now run by the next generation, Richard and James Green… Its own version of sustainability, we think.
Open daily for lunch and dinner (except Sunday evenings), with tables offering majestic views over the oyster grounds, this is more than just a meal – it’s a taste of living history. Just remember to leave room for the white chocolate panna cotta with rhubarb and amaretti crumb – it’s fabulous!
Website: whitstableoystercompany.com
Address: Horsebridge Rd, Whitstable CT5 1BU
The Forge, Sea Wall
Ideal for simple seafood perfection right on the beach…
Sometimes the simplest things are the best, particularly where seafood is concerned, and The Forge proves this point with panache. This black-painted corrugated iron shed, just off the seafront walkway, strips the seafood experience back to its essentials – fresh catch, simple cooking, picnic bench seating, and views over the sea wall that’ll make you forget whatever else you had planned for the day.
While many flock to Whitstable’s fancier establishments, those in the know head here for more accessible seaside fare. Their line-caught cod and chips comes with lacey, crispy batter, while their scampi is always a winner. Both are priced just under a tenner. The native and rock oysters are served just as they should be (just-shucked, over ice, with a segment or two of lemon), and if you’re feeling flush, there’s cold-steamed lobster for true seafood aficionados. A half is £26.50; a whole, £46.50.
The drink selection is all you need on a brisk, breezy British day by the seaside – from freshly brewed coffee (lattes and cappuccinos for those morning visits) to local draught cider and a concise but well-chosen wine list featuring Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio by the glass. They even stock oyster stout – the perfect accompaniment to a plate of natives.
Open daily from 9am to 5pm, this is the kind of place that makes you want to suspend time for a while. Grab a spot at one of the outdoor tables, breathe in that sea air, and remind yourself why sometimes the best meals are the simplest ones. Just save room for their freshly made doughnuts – they’re the perfect sweet finish to a seaside feast.
Instagram: @theforgewhitstable
Address: 1 Sea Wall, Whitstable CT5 1BX
Birdies Restaurant, Harbour Street
Ideal for timeless French bistro cooking…
If Samphire is Whitstable’s trendy locavore bistro, Birdies is its more traditional French cousin – the one with red-and-white checked tablecloths and a certain kind of cosy Nineties clutter that feels just right.
Philip and Sue Colthup opened this Harbour Street favourite in 1993, bringing their experience from London and New York’s kitchens to this intimate coastal spot. Their light touch with both the decor and menu has proved enduring – so much so that, after having to turn away customers one too many times, they recently got permission to expand the place.
The cooking here focuses on French classics executed with precision. The à la carte menu might tempt you with starters like moules marinière with cream and parsley, or their exemplary duck liver parfait en croute (starters range from around £9 to £15). Main courses, which top out at £30, showcase both surf and turf – the fillet of beef Wellington with red wine jus is a masterclass in timing, while the skate wing with beurre noisette and capers shows equal finesse with fish. Their fruits of the sea platter is a celebration of local waters, loaded with oysters, crab claws, langoustines and more.
The set lunch menu offers particularly good value – two courses for £23 or three for £27 – featuring simplified versions of their classics alongside daily specials. However you play it and however full you might be, find an extra shelf for dessert; their Normandy apple pancake, caramelised and served with crème fraîche, is perhaps Whitstable’s best sweet treat.
Open for lunch and dinner six days a week (Monday evenings only), with service running 12-2:45pm and 6-8:45pm, this family-run restaurant maintains high standards while keeping things refreshingly unpretentious. Even dogs are welcome (maximum two per table, mind, and no sitting on chairs). Just remember to book ahead – this slice of French sophistication by the sea has quite the following.
Website: birdiesrestaurant.co.uk
Address: 41 Harbour Street, Whitstable CT5 1AH
Ossie’s Fish and Chips, Harbour Street
Ideal for classic British fish and chips done right…
No guide to Whitstable dining would be complete without mentioning the quintessential fish and chip shop experience, and Ossie’s Fish and Chips delivers just that. This local institution has been a favourite among both locals and visitors for years, thanks to its consistently delicious, no-nonsense approach to fish and chips.
Located just off Whitstable High Street and a 30 minute walk along the coast from Whitstable’s main beach, Ossie’s might look unassuming from the outside, but it’s been named one of the best in the UK by BBC Good Food. Also winner of the 2024 Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards, it’s got everything you want from a chippy; cheerful, cheeky staff, a line of locals popping in for takeaway, and, of course, fresh-as-you-like fish.
A family affair, run by brother-and-sister team Ozan and Elvan Bodur, who are originally from Istanbul and a family of fishermen, battered fish is the centerpiece here, from flaky cod and haddock to tender plaice, all encased in delightfully crisp, golden batter.
The chips are equally noteworthy – perfectly cooked with a crunchy exterior and soft, fluffy interior. Beyond the classics fish and chips shop offerings, you’ll find specialities such as pan fried local skate with capers and butter, and Belgian style mussels served with wine wine sauce and French baguette or chips.
For many, a takeaway from Ossie’s is best enjoyed with a walk down to the beach, but they also offer a small seating area if you prefer to tuck in immediately – prices are slightly more if you decide to eat in. End with something of an anomaly for a chippy; a tiramisu. Though perhaps not as downright decadent as those found in a Roman trattoria, it is remarkably good.
Whether taking away or eating in, be prepared to queue, especially on weekends and holidays. Rest assured; the wait is worth it.
We do urge you to support this fish and chip shop. Earlier this year another local favourite, V.C Jones (run by the same family for 62 years) shut its doors, leaving Whitstable with only two fish and chip shops. That’s crazy for a seaside town that’s also something of a culinary destination. Long live Ossie’s, we say.
Website: ossiesfishandchips.co.uk
Address: 9 Harbour Street, Whitstable CT5 1AG
Farm & Harper, High Street
Ideal for brunch worth getting out of bed for…
We realise it’s somewhat perverse to be ending this roundup of the best restaurants in Whitstable having brunch, but perhaps we’ve been up all night and we’ve worked up an appetite…
Anyway, don’t let the bright pastel murals and Instagrammable interiors fool you – Farm & Harper takes its food very seriously indeed. Owner Phill Macgregor, whose CV includes stints at The Lanesborough and under Barry Tonks at Bonds, has created something rather special here – a daytime spot that delivers on both style and substance.
Breakfast and lunch are the main events, with the Famous Farmer breakfast threatening to ruin all other full English offerings for you. Elsewhere on the brunch menu, a firm favourite is the ‘Three Little Pigs’ brioche breakfast bun with a sausage patty, smoked bacon and black pudding, the runny yoke from the egg adding richness and the tomato and chilli jam adding piquancy – it’s irresistible. For those who like something sweet to kickstart the day, their bacon banana bread (or BBB as we like to call it) slathered in maple syrup will see you right.
The kitchen shows real flair with dishes like king prawns on sourdough or their aromatic fish curry, while the monthly Saturday ‘Food + Friends’ dinners showcase more ambitious cooking with one-off menus ranging from bouillabaisse to Middle Eastern small plates.
The coffee (their matcha lattes have quite the following) and home-baked treats are worth a visit alone – think classics like lemon drizzle cake and coffee and walnut cupcakes – but it’s the overall package – warm service, beautiful plating, and that indefinable buzz of a place that knows exactly what it’s doing – that makes Farm & Harper such a worthy addition to Whitstable’s dining scene.
Website: farmandharper.com
Address: 25 High Street, Whitstable CT5 1AP
We’re heading back to London next, to explore all the great food that London Fields has to offer. Care to join us?