Escape to Paradise: The Best Places to Eat-Out On Cottage Holidays in Sidmouth
When you holiday in Sidmouth holiday cottages with well-equipped kitchens, it must be very tempting to eat and drink at home. To do so would be to miss out on some glorious culinary experiences. So, persuade your in-house chef to down tools and check out some of our favourite places to eat in the beautiful little seaside town in East Devon. From ‘Thunder and Lightning’ Cream Teas to plates of Lyme Bay Scallops with Shallot Puree, you’ll find that a holiday in Sidmouth is a wonderfully delicious experience! Here are some of our favourite places to titivate your taste buds, from cream tea cafés to award-winning restaurants.
Dukes
Located on Sidmouth’s Esplanade, Dukes is a well-regarded seaside inn offering a diverse menu that includes seafood, steaks, and other British classics. Wash down a plate of muscles from the Exmouth Mussel Company with a glass of Sandford Cider.
Orchards. It also boasts stunning sea views across Lyme Bay.
The Pea Green Boat
Enjoy relaxed seaside dining in this family-run restaurant with a warm and welcoming atmosphere on the Esplanade, which is open on Monday and then from Wednesday to Saturday. They serve a selection of homemade dishes using fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Try the
River Fowey Mussels with Garlic, White Wine, Cream and Sourdough or how about some Lyme Bay Scallops with Shallot Puree, Bacon and Parmesan Crumb? For puddings, it has to be a Lemon Posset with Candied Citrus.
The Salty Monk
The Salty Monk is a charming restaurant with rooms on Church Street known for its gourmet dining experience. The restaurant focuses on fine dining and offers a seasonal menu. It is happy to cater to special diets, including gluten-free menus. For luxury cream teas in the afternoon, choose from the traditional Devon Cream Tea (always cream first in Devon), a savoury tea with cheese scones and smoked salmon, or Thunder and Lightning—swapping jam for honey or golden syrup.
The Loft
Situated above the Sidmouth Trawlers Fish Shop on Old Fore Street, The Loft serves delicious (locally sourced) seafood dishes in a relaxed setting with views of the Sidmouth coastline. The Loft is very child-friendly; there’s a special menu for little ones and high chairs for babes. Pets are welcome, too.
The Clock Tower
Sidmouth’s‘ premier café and bakery’, The Clock Tower, is a popular cafe and restaurant known for its breakfasts, light lunches, and homemade cakes. Located near Connaught Gardens overlooking Jacob’s Ladder Beach, it’s the perfect place to combine a paddle on the beach with a light lunch or indulgent afternoon tea. Coffee lovers will especially appreciate this café, which offers a wide choice of speciality blends.
The Dairy Shop
Described as a ‘little gem by the sea’, this part café-part delicatessen in Church Street is open Monday to Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm. The Dairy Shop serves delicious cream teas and homemade cakes in a charming, relaxed, friendly setting. Pick up a bottle of the popular Sidmouth Gin to smuggle back to your holiday cottage.
The Victoria Hotel
Eat out in style at this elegant hotel in Sidmouth. For light lunches and Devonshire cream teas, sit in The Sun Lounge with sea views. In the evenings, choose from the AA Rosette award-winning Jubilee Restaurant or The White Room with a menu inspired by classic French cuisine.
The Sidmouth Trawlers Fish Shop
If you want to prepare a feast back in your holiday home, make it fishy and head to Sidmouth Trawlers for the necessary main ingredient. This award-winning shop on The Ham at the eastern end of The Esplanade sells locally caught fish and shellfish. Staff will offer cooking and serving advice and filleting your chosen fish while you wait. While primarily a fish shop, they also have a small seating area where you can enjoy freshly prepared fish and chips –to eat on the beach a few metres away.
Where To Stay in Sidmouth
View our collection of Sidmouth Holiday Cottages from romantic cottages for couples to large holiday homes for group accommodation within easy reach of our favourite places to eat (and the beach).