The sleepy fishing village of Dartmouth, situated at the mouth of the Dart Estuary, is the perfect place to spend a lazy summer week. The rolling hills, chocolate box fishing villages and endless sunshine have made it an established tourist destination.
What is less known is its status as a foodie paradise. With the ever-increasing number of vineyards popping up (yes, English wine is really having a moment) and fish brought in fresh on the boat every day, the Dart Estuary has become home to a growing number of some of Australia’s most exciting restaurants. the country.
For those looking for an escape from city life, it doesn’t get much better. It’s a bonus that the train journey from London is beautiful; one of the best in the country, winding its way through lush greenery and along the coast (tickets can be booked at gwr.com and trains leave from Paddington) – and the food is sublime.
Here’s our guide to where to go to sample the best of Dartmouth’s wine scene and nose-to-tail cuisine.
The best place for… good food
Not only is The Angel right on the seafront – overlooking Dartmouth Harbor – but it’s also home to a truly amazing tasting menu (from £95 per person). The brainchild of former Masterchef finalist Elly Wentworth, it’s the place for artfully crafted bites that change with the seasons – anyone craving seared salmon in a fragrant crayfish bisque, or the most tender, melt-in-your-mouth lamb? And if the super attentive staff puts a glass of champagne in your hand upon arrival, all the better.
2 S Dyke, Dartmouth, TQ6 9BH. theangeldartmouth.co.uk
The best place for… seafood
Seahorse has a pleasantly old-fashioned Italian feel: step inside and be transported back to 1960s Rome. Framed menus from guest chefs hang 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 enjoy some of the best seafood the area has to offer. A meal costs around £90 per person, although the Menu del Giorno, which runs until 2.45pm, offers a three-course meal for £30.
We recommend the garlicky scallops (the restaurant’s signature dish), but the main courses deserve some love too: the cod flakes away with the touch of a fork, while the catch of the day is brought fresh from the grill to your table brought, before expertly sliced by a waiter. Delicious.
5 S Dyke, Dartmouth, TQ6 9BH. zeepaardjesrestaurant.nl
The best place for… wine tasting (and lunch)
Sandridge Barton is a bit of a hidden gem at the moment, but that’s about to change thanks to the interesting wines and excellent food at its on-site zero-waste restaurant Circa.
The site functions as a vineyard and as such offers wine tastings for curious tourists. The £22 session is well worth it and your session will range from smooth white wines to some surprisingly experimental small batch wines named after Dartmoor landmarks (we expect them to appear in various Hackney restaurants soon).
Be sure to visit Circa, which serves truly out of this world food. It features an ever-changing menu that does weird and wonderful things with spruce tips, yuzu, squid and nettles, among others. But rest assured: whatever is on the menu, it is always delicious. Wines start from £12 per glass, while larger sharing dishes cost £19.
Lower Well Farm, Waddeton Rd., Stoke Gabriel, Totnes TQ9 6RL. sandridgebarton.com
The best place to…have 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 located just off Dartmouth Harbor and offering plenty of brunch options for those needing a morning pick-me-up (the avocado on toast with tahini and red pepper salsa is a surprise hit, and dishes start from £4.50). Drop by in the evening to sample the downright indecent collection of gins on the back wall – and if you’re in the mood to walk off last night’s dinner, these guys also do takeaway shopping.
South Embankment, Dartmouth, TQ6 9BH. Find out more 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? It turns out to be Emilia, which is buzzing with cool London despite being about a hundred miles from the capital.
Emilia serves dishes from the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, but prepared to perfection: think silky soft pasta strings, salami slowly cooked in red wine and mozzarella served with roasted fennel, asparagus and a generous dose of wild garlic pesto. Take a seat at the bar and watch the chefs on the other side freshly prepare each dish as you sip 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 coast is complete without a generous helping of fish and chips? To that end, Rockfish does the work 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 takeaway (around £20 for one portion), which you can enjoy with a view of the sea. They also offer more upmarket dishes, such as seafood platters (£37.50 per person for two) and pearl oysters with chilli sauce (£18.95 for six). The restaurant itself has won award after award for its food, all of which is locally caught. Not one to miss.
8 South Embankment, 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’s recently launched a foodie weekend experience. Hidden in the rolling hills above the quaint village of Dittisham, a 10-minute drive from Dartmouth, the package promises visitors a stay in one of the character treehouses – which are anything but back to basic, with luxurious amenities such as wood-fired hot tubs and large balconies where you can relax. can enjoy the sun.
Combine that with a range of dinners, afternoon teas and wine tastings (all sorted by the Dittisham team before arrival), and the end result is the no-fuss foodie weekend of dreams.
Don’t feel like driving? They have arranged that too: with one phone call, a chef from Dittisham’s sister hotel in Dartmoor is called in to prepare a meal in the tree house. Lean back and sit down.
Dittisham, TQ6 0JB. The Devon Artisan Food Weekend package for two people starts from £795 (for a 2 night stay in a Shepherds Hut) or £1495 (a 3 night stay in a tree house). dittishamhideaway.co.uk