Explore the Culinary Delights of Kent’s Heritage Coast

It was Whitstable on the northern coast of Kent that kickstarted this corner of southeast England’s reputation as a food destination. Chefs moved to the coast from the big cities to make the most of the esteemed local produce here like organic-grown vegetables, line-caught seafood, homemade cider, and sparkling wines.

Since then, almost every seaside town has gotten in on the act. From the thriving smugglers’ town of Deal to medieval Hythe, this UK shoreline’s southern stretch offers a rich eating-out scene, swaying energetically between Folkestone’s street-food markets to the elegant dining rooms and rural gastropubs inland. Here are the best restaurants and cafes on Kent’s Heritage Coast, from budget seaside shacks to hotspots with a view.

Frog and Scot, Deal

A pioneering culinary opening back in 2016, Frog and Scot enjoyed a chic makeover during lockdown, and prices in recent years have steadily climbed, with mains now £22 to £40 (US$29 to $59). However, the blackboard menu might offer halibut with tiger prawns and mussels, wild sea bass with braised fennel, or its signature bavette steak with twice-cooked chips—the quality of the cooking is undeniable.

The Rose, Deal

Best restaurant

Directly opposite Frog and Scot is this hip restaurant-with-rooms, overseen by Chiltern Firehouse supremo Nuno Mendes. Don’t miss the signature snack, a savory doughnut filled with crab or chicken-liver parfait. Moreover, the menu features smoked beef tartare, cured sea trout with charcoal cream, and an ever-popular juicy chicken schnitzel. The seasonal bespoke cocktail list is also highly recommended.

Mit Milch Coffee, Hythe

Best coffee

Who’d think a tiny former bakery would serve the best espresso on this whole stretch of coast? Owner Luke Reene uses Whitstable-based Blueprint roastery and rotates the bean selection weekly. Pair your unbeatable espresso with a salted-caramel brownie or a moist slice of Persian Love Loaf. (Mit Milch simply means “with milk,” Reene says, although customers often mistake it for his actual name.)

The Folkestone Wine Company, Folkestone

Best seafood restaurant

Kentish chef David Hart’s acclaimed restaurant is tucked away on pretty Church Street, featuring just a handful of tables and a short menu chalked up daily on the wall. Dishes might include parmesan gnocchi or just-opaque baked cod with saffron chickpeas, tomatoes, and anchovy butter. The service is neighborhood-style friendly—it’s the place locals will tell you they love the most.

The Lantern Inn, Martin Mill

Best gastropub

For a dream Kentish country pub, it has to be the Lantern, a spruced-up 16th-century hostelry with bucolic gardens, just inland from Dover. A warren of dimly lit rooms and fireside corners, it features a gastropub-style menu that includes mushroom risotto, mackerel sliders, and a hearty duck curry. While service can be leisurely, spending an afternoon in the beer garden with a local craft pint is thoroughly enjoyable.

Orchard Lane Coffee House, Sandgate

The pavement terrace at this sun-drenched morning spot is always packed, regardless of the season. Inside, patrons perch at large communal tables under industrial pendants while bearded, tattooed baristas pair the artisan beans of the week with sweet treats like cinnamon buns or white-chocolate and pistachio blondies. For a savory hit, try the superior vegan sausage rolls made from Folkestone Baycon.

Pick Up Pintxos, Folkestone

Best small plates

Nestling at the foot of the steep Old High Street is Gravesend-raised Gianni Modena’s passion project—the cooking here revolves around the asador, a wood and charcoal grill used in the Basque country. Enjoy hearty portions of whole turbot, Iberican pork, and rare, butter-soft txuleton (prime beef rib), or sample a thorough list of hot and cold pintxos, from molten croquetas to golden-edged Basque tortilla and boquerones with sherry vinegar.

Hide and Fox, Hythe

Best fine dining

A sharp climb from Hythe’s high street, in the rarefied Saltwood neighborhood, is one of the area’s only Michelin-starred restaurants, run by chef Allister Barsby. Expect to pay £70 ($94) for five courses or £95 ($127) for seven courses that include delights such as salmon with horseradish, dill, and apple ponzu, as well as oxtail with tarragon, potato, and shallot.

The Goods Yard, Folkestone

Best street food

Folkestone’s harbor arm has been a destination for street food since 2016, and its new Goods Yard offers a concise edit of options from pizza to poké. Open from April until mid-November, it’s a perfect first stop in a town now bustling with quality dining choices—start your food pilgrimage at the popular Taco Shed.

The White Hart, Hythe

This striking Georgian red-brick boozer stands next to the 18th-century town hall. Take a seat in the pub’s beamed rooms and explore the taqueria-style menu: the smoked brisket is cooked for nine hours, adorned with pickled red onions and strewn with piquant gremolata, while the baja cod taco—with slaw, spicy mayo, pickled cucumber, and Tajín—is a highlight. The menu also includes burgers and wood-fired flatbreads.

Thong Dees Thai, Folkestone

On Sandgate Road, this well-priced street-food café features cute booths and eye-catching murals. The menu encourages exploration, offering silky prawn dim sum, crisp salt-and-pepper squid, marinated moo ping pork skewers, and deep-fried tamarind duck. The energetic vibe ensures you’ll make friends before you leave.

Deal Pier Kitchen, Deal

Best brunch

Locals rejoiced when this revamped diner opened in 2019, its chic interior serving as a backdrop to a forward-thinking menu. The offerings feature imaginative plant-based options as well as daily lunch specials like sirloin-steak sandwiches and lobster rolls. Artisan coffee and outstanding cocktails, coupled with panoramic pier views across Deal and the White Cliffs, create an exceptional foodie haven.

The Bao Baron, Folkestone

Originally a street-food stall at the Goods Yard, the Bao Baron became so popular that its team opened a brick-and-mortar restaurant on Guildhall Street. Expect a range of xiao chi (small plates) such as Korean fried cauliflower, alongside delicious ramen bowls and those moreish buns, available in both meat and vegan varieties.

Little Rock, Folkestone

Featuring palm trees on its white terrace, this is the Mediterranean little sister to Folkestone’s renowned harbor restaurant Rocksalt, and a must-visit for seafood enthusiasts. Specials may include Kentish huss, Dover sole from local dayboats, or the tasty pale-ale-battered cod cheeks from the main menu. The unparalleled location makes every meal feel like a sunny Ibizan getaway.

Noiy’s Noodles, Hythe

Just behind the promenade is this quirky noodle bar, showcasing a bright-orange, corrugated-shack-style open kitchen. We recommend the exemplary king-prawn pad thai, where rice noodles, egg, and bean sprouts are topped generously with plump crustaceans. Enjoy a pint at the cozy adjoining pub, the Hope, before or after your visit.

Popup Cafe, Deal

Since it opened a decade ago, this warehouse-style institution in southern Deal has steadily expanded, now occupying two floors. Known for serving faultless Margate-roasted coffee and tempting morning snacks, it emphasizes healthy plant-based salad bowls and sophisticated toasties, providing one of the finest brunch options in town.