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; with the help of visitor guide Blackpool.com, here’s where to eat in Blackpool.
The Bank Bar & Grill
Ideal for hearty and comforting grub…
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
Elvin’s
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
Yorkshire Fisheries
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
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
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
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
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
Hungarian’s Restaurant
The rather prosaically named Hungarian’s Restaurant certainly isn’t bland when it comes to the food on offer. This traditional Hungarian restaurant, located on Victoria Street, offers a wide selection of Hungarian specialties, including goulash, paprika chicken, and strudel. The portions are generous, and the prices are very reasonable, leaving you with plenty of change from a few notes to have another go on the teddy picker post-dinner.
Address: First Floor, 57 Topping St, Blackpool FY1 3AF
Website: hungarians-restaurant.co.uk
Little Ethel’s Restaurant
For a taste of British comfort food, Little Ethel’s Restaurant is a local favourite. This traditional British restaurant, located on Trafalgar Road, offers a menu of classic dishes, such as shepherd’s pie, bangers and mash, and fish and chips.
The atmosphere is warm and inviting, and the service is friendly and attentive, which is just what you want from an often brisk, occasionally brusque seaside break.
Address: Vairon Hotel, 13-15 Trafalgar Rd, Blackpool FY1 6AW
Speaking of seaside breaks, we’re heading to Brighton next. Care to join us?