10 Best Restaurants In Margate

Seafood spot Angela’s offers simple but excellent seafood and vegetable dishes in a bright and cosy space. The bistro is serious about its sources, working with local fishermen to bring in only sustainably caught seafood and producing much of its fruit and vegetables on its own farm. The menu changes daily but typically features a seasonal soup and plenty of fish and seafood plates. Past dishes include mackerel with kohlrabi, hake with curry sauce and lobster with garlic butter.

For fresh bites at a raw bar, walk just around the corner to Dory’s, Angela’s sister restaurant that overlooks the beach. Both spots are some of the most popular in town, so booking ahead is best.

Olby’s Soul Café serves homestyle Tex-Mex and Caribbean food to a soundtrack of soul and Latin music. The restaurant sports brightly painted, cheerful decor, starting with its unmissable blue facade. Since its opening, Olby’s has hosted live music performances, DJ sets and Margate’s annual summer soul music festival.

The meaty menu is loaded with favourites like jerk chicken and fall-off-the-bone barbeque ribs, plus sweetcorn fritters and coleslaw. Behind the bar sits a wide selection of rum, a testament to the establishment’s Jamaican roots. Olby’s also boasts one of the best Sunday roasts in the area, adding a spicy Caribbean twist to the classics.

For truly authentic Southern Italian food in Margate, head to Bottega Caruso. The family-run restaurant is a local gem, situated in a brick-fronted building in the centre of the old town. The stars of the show are the pasta, made fresh daily, and some heavenly desserts.

The menu changes frequently, with notable exceptions like the crowd-favourite polpette di pane al sugo, which features bread meatballs in flavourful marinara. Past menus have included grilled mackerel with squash caponata, greens and beans stew and a slow-cooked ziti alla genovese. Top it all off with a slice of cassata, a Sicilian sponge cake layered with sweet ricotta.

Seaside wine bar Sargasso is a great spot for drinks and a light meal. Housed in a former boat shed, the narrow space features a long bar and small tables by the windows where guests enjoy a selection of small plates and natural wines. On warm days, there are a few tables set out in the sunshine with views over the North Sea.

Dishes feature seasonal produce and plenty of seafood that can be both comforting and surprising. Think pumpkin and sage fritters, black pudding with pecorino romano and fried egg, and sole with seaweed butter. Order the homemade sourdough for a tasty way to clean your plate.

Lilie’s is a trendy tapas bar serving Spanish favourites alongside cocktails, wine and beer. The charismatic chef and owner runs the place at a relaxed pace, so you can expect dishes to take a little longer, but it’s well worth the wait. Portions are generous by tapas standards and the chef keeps the menu short to maintain a high-quality standard.

This is a great place to bring a group for a lively dinner. Try a little bit of everything, but don’t miss classics like patatas bravas and croquetas de jamon. The chorizo al vino deserves special mention, simmered in a rich garlic and red wine sauce.

Sète may call itself a neighbourhood restaurant, but it offers an elegant dining experience featuring modern European cooking and a wine list curated with care. The space is small and particularly charming, and the hospitality is friendly and faultless.

The kitchen makes use of classical French techniques while keeping dishes simple and ingredient-forward. Past menus have featured creatively filled vol-au-vents, curried lamb mince and a buttery lemon sole. On weeknights, Sète serves 3-course set menus at surprisingly fair prices, and the restaurant runs a daily happy hour on glasses of wine.

Step into the cosy ambience of The George & Heart House, a restaurant and pub inhabiting a restored 18th-century coach house. The interior is gorgeously furnished in velvet and wood, with exposed brick walls and cast-iron tables. A roadside courtyard opens in the warmer months. The kitchen serves elevated homestyle cooking which, along with the ambience, makes this a worthwhile stop.

The menu revolves around smoked meats and fish but includes vegetarian and vegan options, even for the popular Sunday roast. Expect dishes like sage and orange roasted pumpkin with farro and a juicy beef burger with bacon jam. For drinks, order one of the local beers on draught or a mezcal and beetroot Bloody Mary.

Mori Mori has become a favourite of Kent locals for quality Japanese cuisine. Chirashi sushi boxes are one of its specialities, serving either fresh sashimi or smoked sesame tofu over sticky-sweet sushi rice. Noodle dishes like ramen and soba are light but satisfying, while okonomiyaki with kimchi and smoked cheese offers richness and umami.

The dining space is brightly lit and simply decorated, and the staff make customers feel welcome. The drink list features wine and sake, and the dessert menu showcases Japan’s favourite flavours with dishes like matcha whipped cheesecake and cherry blossom ice cream.

Margate’s edition of the popular London brunch spot, The Good Egg Neighbourhood Restaurant serves richly flavoured Middle Eastern favourites plus top-notch coffee and seasonal cocktails. You’ll find classics like green shakshuka alongside new inventions like smoked haddock hash. The restaurant serves its brunch menu every day and dinner 4 nights a week.

While portions are more than fair, you’ll want to try several dishes from the mezze-type menu. The fried aubergine pita is stuffed with pickled onions and jammy eggs, babka French toast is accented with blackberry and white chocolate, and thick slabs of cornbread drip with honey butter. It’s the kind of meal you won’t soon forget.

Secret Spices is Margate’s most popular Indian restaurant, serving classic curries and tandoori, plus a selection of Bangladeshi dishes. The modern decor is accented with neon lighting, and large tables make this a great spot for groups and families. The restaurant is alcohol-free and serves mocktails and teas.

Indian favourites like rogan josh and chicken tikka masala are made with well-balanced heat and spice, complemented by coconut rice and buttery garlic naan. For a taste of Bangladesh, try the morog polao, an aromatic chicken pilaf slow-cooked with ghee and plenty of spices.