Must-see restaurants in East Devon

  • Salutation

    East Devon

    You can almost taste ambition at this exquisite restaurant-with-rooms: chef Tom Williams-Hawkes has worked with international financiers the Rothschilds,…

  • River Cottage HQ

    East Devon

    This is the humble whitewashed house and kitchen garden from where celebrity chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall launched his culinary career. The house…

  • River Exe Cafe

    East Devon

    An idyllic, chilled-out, chalet-style restaurant on a barge floating in the wide waters of the River Exe. The superfresh food lives up to the setting:…

  • Pebblebed Wine Cellar

    East Devon

    Add this to your must-visit list. Trestle tables, whitewashed walls and ranks of balanced bottles lend this vaulted wine cellar an air of rustic charm…

  • GlassHouse

    East Devon

    The setting is sleek and so is the food: an atrium encloses a historic courtyard, creating a stylish space where Paris-quality patisserie comes at Devon…

  • Ruby at the Grapevine

    East Devon

    Juicy patties laced with blue cheese, panko-crusted chicken fillets, five-dollar shakes and chilli-cheese fries: the best Devon ingredients meet the…

  • Exploding Bakery

    Exeter

    Excellent news: one of Exeter's hippest little bakeries has now added half-a-dozen tables, meaning there's even more room to sample superb flat whites,…

  • Turf

    East Devon

    The location of this former lock-keeper's house is simply superb: bookending a slither of land snaking between mudflats and a canal. The views are…

  • Steamers

    East Devon

    Produce from local hills and bays makes its way onto the innovative menu here. Classy creations include sautéed, curried crab and prawn cake; grilled…

  • Lloyd's Kitchen

    Exeter

    Squeezed in among the city-centre chains is this independent diner run by energetic owner Lloyd. With its sliding-glass frontage, bare bulbs, tiles and…

  • River Cottage Kitchen & Deli

    East Devon

    Thanks to his numerous cooking shows and high-profile campaigns on sustainable food, curly-haired chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall is undoubtedly one of…

  • Hub Box

    Exeter

    This rapidly expanding southwest burger business now has an Exeter outlet, in a studiously hip space with brick walls, vintage-style signs and plywood…

  • Seafood Platter

    East Devon

    A clue is in the name: net-fresh fish is the speciality at this appealing gastropub. The eponymous seafood platter (£70) to share between two comes…

  • Rockfish

    East Devon

    This Exmouth outpost of Mitch Tonks' Devon empire excels at the award-winning chef's signature superfresh seafood. Expect salt-and-pepper prawns, crispy…

  • Jasmine Thai

    Exeter

    A spicy addition to Exeter, this Thai restaurant has proved very popular. You can play safe with the classics – red, green, Penang or jungle curries – or…

  • Rodean

    Exeter

    Run by the same family for 15 years, the Rodean serves inventive cuisine that has built a loyal following and notched up a string of awards. Classic,…

  • Trout

    East Devon

    The Trout is the epitome of a rustic Devon pub: whitewashed walls prop up a covering of thatch; painted beams line the bar; and the River Exe flows past…

  • Pig & Pallet

    East Devon

    This friendly, shedlike bistro-cum-deli smokes and roasts the meats in-house, producing intensely flavoured charcuterie, ribs, BBQ, burgers and pulled…

  • @Angela's

    Exeter

    One of the most well-known of Exeter's fine-dining restaurants, good for formal, French-inspired dishes served in a starchy, white-tablecloth setting…

  • Dinosaur Cafe

    Exeter

    In this cheery Turkish mezze bar, lemon-yellow walls and chunky wooden furniture set the scene for tasty couscous, kofta and spicy mücver fritters. The…

  • Harry's

    Exeter

    An old staple in central Exeter, Harry's is a good bet for solid, no-fuss dining. The decor is all wooden chairs, blackboard menus and gilt mirrors;…

  • Museum Cafe

    Exeter

    This is the kind of museum cafe that England does so well. Set inside the Royal Albert Memorial Museum, its bright, galleried space opens out into…

  • Plant Cafe

    Exeter

    Seats are at a premium at this casually cool wholefood cafe. That'll be down to its prime spot overlooking Cathedral Green and its imaginative frittata,…

  • Herbies

    Exeter

    Herbies has been cheerfully feeding Exeter's vegetarians and vegans for more than 20 years. Expect the old classics here: Greek vegetable pie, mushroom…

  • Cathedral Cafe

    Exeter

    Tuck into brunches, cakes, quiches and soups at trestle tables in Exeter Cathedral's refectory, surrounded by vaulted ceilings, stained glass and busts of…

  • Ducks Ditty

    East Devon

    Permanently moored at Tiverton Wharf, this converted canal boat is a sweet place to sip a drink, munch on snacks and soak up the waterfront atmosphere.

  • Deli Shack Cafe

    East Devon

    Yearlstone Vineyard's eatery has built a strong reputation over the years, for beautiful views, flavoursome wine and Mediterranean-themed food. The cafe…

  • Chapels

    East Devon

    Set right on Beer's pebble beach and sandwiched between brightly coloured beach huts and picnic tables, Chapels rustles up all-day breakfasts, local crab…

  • Plum

    East Devon

    The sandwich selections at this sweet cafe include bacon and stilton, pork sausage, and crab. Or opt for punchy coffee and teacakes smothered in butter.