Food and Drink | Salcombe Cottage Holidays

Pubs in Salcombe

Full of nautical charm and olde worlde character, it’s easy to see why pubs in Salcombe enjoy a roaring trade during the holiday seasons.

These welcoming free houses are steeped in maritime history, and nowhere more so than The Ferry Inn found tucked away on Salcombe’s thriving Fore Street with unrivalled harbour views and a menu full of pub classics.

With its prominent position in the heart of Salcombe, The Victoria Inn is a handsome 19th century hostelry with a hearty seasonal menu and a pretty pub garden where you can while away an hour or two.

Set on Salcombe’s Whitestrand Quay, close to the bustling pontoon, The Kings Arms is a popular haunt for seafarers returning from their sailing escapades with an appetite for scrumptious fayre.

Adorned by pretty hanging baskets and set on the quieter end of the high street, The Fortescue Inn is one of Salcombe’s most characterful pubs, the ideal place to relax and unwind after your beach days and coastal walking adventures.

Bars in Salcombe

Known for its vibrant nightlife, the seaside resort of Salcombe boasts an exciting array of bars. If your holiday party is looking to enjoy a night on the tiles, the bustling streets of Salcombe will not disappoint. From shabby chic beachside venues to stylish cocktail saloons with lantern-lit terraces, it’s time to sit back and raise a glass with your friends and loved ones as the sun sets on another memorable day in the South Hams.

Set in Salcombe’s flamboyant artisan quarter, the Island Street Bar and Grill is a lively waterside venue overlooking the peaceful waters of Batson Creek. Expect live music, cocktail happy hours and party vibes at this hipsterish Salcombe venue.

Also found tucked away on Salcombe’s Island Street is the Bearz Bar, a snazzy creekside saloon with a seasonal menu full of vegetarian and vegan dishes. This popular meeting place is also a hotbed for live jazz sessions and yoga workshops.

Part of the Salcombe Distillery Company, world renowned for its award-winning ‘Salcombe Gin’, the Distillery Bar is a sophisticated cocktail room offering you the chance to savour what have become some of the UK’s most celebrated gin blends. Another hidden gem on Island Street!

If you’re in the mood for a quiet shoreside table and the gentle hush of the ebbing tide, follow the Cliff Road to North Sands and The Winking Prawn. With its laid-back, family-friendly atmosphere and beach bar style, this popular hangout is the perfect place to while away the hours.

Described as one of Salcombe’s most romantic waterside venues, dickandwills combines exquisite harbour views with sumptuous fine dining. When you book a table at this exclusive brasserie and bar on Fore Street, you’ll understand why it continues to attract such glowing reviews.

If you’re feeling adventurous, follow the South West Coast Path around the magnificent Bolt Head peninsula to the neighbouring fishing village of Hope Cove. This idyllic coastal parish plays host to one of South Devon’s most popular seaside bars. With its beachside setting and balcony views, The Cove is an award-winning watering hole renowned for its music nights and impressive selection of craft ales.

Just a taste of some of the enticing bars and nightspots in and around sunny Salcombe.

Restaurants in Salcombe

Salcombe’s impressive assortment of restaurants, brasseries and bistros have made it one of the South West’s foodie havens. From sumptuous seafood platters and the catch of the day to á la carte dishes and haute cuisine, eating out in Salcombe has never been more inviting.

With its stunning location on the Fish Quay overlooking the tranquil waters of Batson Creek, The Crab Shed is one of Salcombe’s best-kept secrets. Here, you can sit at the water’s edge and enjoy locally caught seafood fresh from the fleet of Salcombe Harbour - artisan cuisine at its finest.

Set in the heart of Salcombe, along the bustling Fore Street, is one of the town’s latest gastronomic ventures. The Boatswains Brasserie is a family-run restaurant bringing the region’s award-winning fayre to your table. Found above The Kings Arms pub, one of Salcombe’s most historic fisherman’s taverns, this stylish eatery is sure to float your boat.

Situated in the heart of Salcombe, Captain Flints has been serving food fit for the captain’s table for twenty-five years or more and remains one of Salcombe’s most popular dining rooms. This family-friendly restaurant is the ideal place to take your hungry young shipmates after their antics and adventures on the water.

With unrivalled views of Salcombe Harbour and the rolling South Devon hills beyond, The Wardroom is another of Salcombe’s long-serving restaurants with a glowing reputation and a delicious menu to match. Where better to enjoy a wholesome lunch or sumptuous dinner than this delightful harbourside setting.

Out of town dining...

If you’re a lover of Asian cuisine the multi award-winning Maha-Bharat Indian restaurant and the highly successful Café Asia can be found along Mill Street in the pretty market town of Kingsbridge at the head of the Salcombe-Kingsbridge Estuary, both running takeaway services.

With one of the most scintillating panoramas on the south west coast, Oceans Restaurant on Bolberry Down comes highly recommended. A menu that befits the restaurant’s impressive views awaits all those who venture around the majestic Salcombe headland. Book to avoid disappointment.

Cafés in Salcombe

There’s plenty of opportunity to grab a light bite or a cosy cup of coffee when you’re out and about in Salcombe. Full of delicacies and treats, Salcombe’s cafés and tearooms can be found peppering the waterside and tucked away in the pretty back streets.

With its ‘speakeasy’ retro style, Sailor V can be found at the top of the ferryboat steps in the centre of Salcombe. A great pitstop for refreshing smoothies and shakes or pull up a pew for some afternoon tea with all the trimmings and escape the hustle and bustle.

Captain Morgan’s is one of Salcombe’s most established cafés and is described by locals as a ‘Salcombe staple’ having first opened its doors in 1972. Set on Salcombe’s iconic Whitestrand Quay and with lovely views of the busy harbour waters, this friendly little eatery has everything you’d expect and more while also being conveniently placed next to the South Sands Ferry pontoon.

A tempting menu full of gourmet treats and a picture postcard panorama await all those who board the passenger ferry to the neighbouring parish of East Portlemouth, only a skimming stone’s throw across the gleaming harbour waters. It is there that you’ll discover The Venus Café perched above the ferryboat landing and serving up a smorgasbord of takeaway food for all those on the hop.

Connoisseurs of all things coffee will love the Salcombe Coffee Company, a thriving café and bistro on Salcombe’s busy Fore Street. Open seven days of the week, you can expect to devour sensational sweet and savoury snacks and sip on espresso blends served by conscientious baristas.

The Harbour Café can be found at the quiet end of the historic Fore Street and remains a welcome sight for all those weary walkers and seafarers in need of sustenance. Drop in for a pot of tea and a slice of cake or choose from the ever-popular ice-cream menu.

Hidden gems...

The ‘chilled vibes’ of Bo’s Beach Café on South Sands Beach are well worth the trip for all those exploring the secret coves of Salcombe. Sit out on the boathouse slipway and enjoy dreamy sunsets and some taste sensations.

If you’re out for a westward yomp along the South West Coast Path, having navigated the waymarks past Bolt Head towards Soar Mill Cove, keep an eye out for the East Soar Walker’s Hut & Tea Barn in all its rustic charm.