Torbay Restaurants and Dining

(Brixham / Paignton / Torquay - Torbay, Devon, England, UK)

Being such a popular seaside resort, Torbay is home to plenty of excellent seafood restaurants, using freshly caught produce landed in Brixham's fishing port. The award-winning Number 7 Fish Bistro on Torquay's Beacon Terrace is especially good and specialises in Brixham plaice, crab, lobster and shellfish platters. Standing next to the Brixham Quay, the Poopdeck Restaurant is another favourite haunt of seafood lovers.

As well as the many formal dining options spread around Torbay, both Paignton and Torquay boast a number of award-winning fish and chip shops, which seem to taste all the better when eaten on the beach or a bench on Paignton's Victorian pier.

Where to Eat

As well as the main English Riviera restaurants and similar eateries, Torbay is also home to a large selection of traditional pubs. Serving hearty English fare and offering very affordable dining, some of the best placed of these pubs include the Beacon Quay on Torquay's harbourfront, the Coombe Cellars next to the Teign Estuary, and the Inn on the Quay, at the beach of Goodrington Sands, all of which are Brewers Fayre pubs. Another noteworthy pub is the Hole in the Wall on Park Lane, which is Torquay's oldest pub and features live music most nights.

One of Torbay's most popular dining establishments is the aptly named Shoreline Beach Bar and Restaurant, which overhangs the Paignton beachfront and comes with awesome coastal views. This is the perfect spot to come and watch the sun setting, whilst enjoying a plate of fresh mussels from Elberry Cove.

Nearby, the family run Harbour Light Restaurant on Paignton's North Quay is another reliable dining option and is known for its three-course Sunday roasts, including Roast Devon Topside of Beef served with Yorkshire pudding.

If you fancy indulging yourself in a spot of serious gourmet dining, then there really is just one place that comes to mind - the Elephant Bar and Restaurant on Torquay's Beacon Terrace. The renowned eatery has deservedly been awarded three AA rosettes and an impressive Michelin star.

The main hotels and attractions in Torbay also come with their own eateries and cafes. You can eat out at the Azure Restaurant at the Living Coasts, the Island Restaurant or Gibbon Island Snack Shack at Paignton Zoo, or at the Cliff Railway Cafe next to the Babbacombe Downs.

For international dining in Torbay, then Torquay is where the best choice is to be found. In Torquay, consider enjoying a traditional Thai dish at the Cafe Mambo at Torquay's harbourside or at Annie's Thai restaurant on The Terrace. Nearby and on the adjacent Torwood Street is the Jingle's restaurant and its Tex-Mex food, and the Spice Club, where contemporary Indian cuisine is the order of the day.