by Situated on the mouth of the Dart estuary, the sleepy fishing town of Dartmouth is the perfect place to spend a lazy summer week. The rolling hills, chocolate box fishing villages and endless sunshine make it an established tourist destination.
What is not so well known is its status as a foodie’s paradise. With ever-increasing vineyards springing up (yes, there really is English wine now) and fish brought in fresh by the boat every day, the Dart estuary is becoming home to a growing number of the most exciting restaurants in the country.
For people looking to escape city life, it doesn’t get much better. It’s a plus that the train journey from London is fantastic – one of the best in the country, passing through lush greenery and along the coast (tickets can be booked on gwr.com and trains leave from Paddington) — and the food is sublime.
Here’s our guide to where to go to get the best of Dartmouth’s wine scene and nose-to-tail cuisine.
The best place for … fine food
Not only is the Angel situated directly on the seafront – with views of Dartmouth Harbor – it’s also host to a truly delectable menu (starting from £95 per person). The brainchild of former Masterchef contestant Elly Wentworth, this is the place to go for artistic bites that change with the seasons – anyone for seared salmon in a fragrant lobster bisque, or the softest melt in the mouth Lamb? And if the super attentive staff put a glass of champagne in your hand as you enter, so much the better.
2 S Embankment, Dartmouth, TQ6 9BH. theangeldartmouth.co.uk
The best place for… seafood
Seahorse has a very old-school Italian feel to it: step inside and be transported back to Rome in the 1960s. Framed menus from guest chefs are cluttered on the wall, the artwork is funky and the service is excellent. Start with a drink at the Aladdin’s Cave-esque Joe’s Bar, then head inside to sample some of the best fish the area has to offer. A meal will cost around £90 per person, although the Menu del Giorno, which runs until 2.45pm, offers a three-course meal for £30.
We recommend the garlic scallops (the restaurant’s signature dish), but the main courses also deserve love: the cod flakes off with a fork, and the catch of the day will be brought to your table fresh from the grill, before. expertly carved by a server. tasty.
5 S Embankment, Dartmouth, TQ6 9BH. seahorserestaurant.co.uk
The best place for… wine tasting (and lunch)
Sandridge Barton is currently a hidden gem – but that’s about to change thanks to its interesting wines and excellent food at the on-site zero-waste restaurant Circa.
The site serves as a vineyard and therefore offers wine tasting for curious tourists. Well worth the £22 fee, your session will run the gamut from fine whites to some experimental small wines named after Dartmoor landmarks (hopefully you’ll see them cropping up in some Hackney restaurants soon).
Be sure to visit Circa, which serves some truly out-of-this-world food. There’s an ever-changing menu that does weird and wonderful things with hints of spruce, yuzu, cuttlefish and nettles (among other things). Although you can be sure that no matter what’s on the menu, it’s always delicious. Wines start from £12 a glass, and some larger dishes will set you back £19.
Lower Well Farm, Wadddeton Rd., Stoke Gabriel, Totnes TQ9 6RL. sandridgebarton.com
Best place to… grab breakfast
The Embankment is as cute as it gets for brunch spots. Once a Victorian ferry terminal, it has now been transformed into a sweet little bistro that sits right on Dartmouth harbor and offers plenty of brunch options for those who need a pick-me-up in the morning (the avocado on toast with tahini and red pepper salsa). a great hit, and dishes start from £4.50). In the evening, swing in to taste the frankly indecent collection of gins on the back wall – and if you’re in the mood to walk out to dinner last night instead, the guys also make a stop to go.
South Sword, Dartmouth, TQ6 9BH. more information here
The best place for… London chic
What do you get when you combine the minds behind Soho’s Ducksoup and Hackney’s Little Duck? Turns out, it’s Emilia, who brims with cool London despite being behind a hundred odd miles from the capital.
Emilia serves food from Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region, but it’s done to perfection: think silky strands of pasta, salami slow-cooked in red wine, and mozzarella drizzled with roasted fennel, asparagus and lashings of wild garlic pesto. Take a seat at the counter and watch the chefs on the other side prepare each dish fresh as you sip on your negroni (a meal for two, plus drinks, costs around £150). Then head down the street to sister bar No. 14 for a nightcap.
2 East Street, Ashburton, TQ13 7AA. emiliaashburton.co.uk
The best place for… fish and chips
What trip to the English seaside is complete without plenty of fish and chips? To that end, Rockfish does the job and then some. A few streets back from the harbor front and run by celebrity chef Mitch Tonks, it serves a great twist on the classic restaurant (around £20 for one portion), which can be enjoyed overlooking the sea. They also offer more upscale fare, such as seafood platters (£37.50pp for two) and pearl oysters with chilli sauce (£18.95 for six). The restaurant itself has won an award for its locally sourced food. He is not the only one to miss.
8 South Swords, Dartmouth, TQ6 9BH. embankmentbistro.co.uk
The best place to… let the food come to you
Can’t decide what to taste first? Dittisham Hideaway has you covered: it recently launched a weekend dining experience. Hidden in the rolling hills above the scenic village of Dittisham, a 10-minute drive from Dartmouth, its package promises visitors a stay in one of its signature tree house properties – which is simply back to basics, with luxurious features such as a log fire. tubs and huge balconies to soak up the sun.
Combine that with a series of dinners, afternoon teas and wine tasting experiences (all arranged prior to arrival by the Dittisham team), and the end result is an endlessly dreamy weekend.
Don’t you fancy the drive? They’ve got that covered too: one phone call will summon an in-house chef from sister Dittisham on Dartmoor to have a meal right there in the treehouse. Sit back and take in.
Dittisham, TQ6 0JB. A Devon Artisan Food Weekend package for two starts from £795 (for a 2 night stay in a Shepherd’s House) or £1495 (a 3 night stay in a Tree House). ditishamhideaway.co.uk
