Samphire Cottage Guidebook
Whitstable Oyster Co seafood restaurants
All owned by the Whitstable Oyster Company who also own the beach.
Simple interiors reflect the pared back menu at Whitstable Oyster Fishery Co, which is famous for its straightforward cooking of beautiful seafood: a ray wing with butter and capers or razor clams with garlic, say.
Upstairs are two lovely bars, one of which serves lunch dishes and light bites and sells lovely homeware items. Great spot for a Gin & Tonic watching the sunset! My favourite.
80 locals raden deze aan
Whitstable Oyster Company
Horsebridge Road
Simple interiors reflect the pared back menu at Whitstable Oyster Fishery Co, which is famous for its straightforward cooking of beautiful seafood: a ray wing with butter and capers or razor clams with garlic, say.
Upstairs are two lovely bars, one of which serves lunch dishes and light bites and sells lovely homeware items. Great spot for a Gin & Tonic watching the sunset! My favourite.
This canteen-style beach shack is always bustling and turns out tasty plates of lobster and fish and chips at quite a pace. There is also an oyster bar, which offers different shellfish varieties and toppings. Tables right on the beach and a great spot to watch the sunset. Not bookable. Dog friendly inside and out and a favourite of ours.
67 locals raden deze aan
The Lobster Shack
EAST QUAYThis canteen-style beach shack is always bustling and turns out tasty plates of lobster and fish and chips at quite a pace. There is also an oyster bar, which offers different shellfish varieties and toppings. Tables right on the beach and a great spot to watch the sunset. Not bookable. Dog friendly inside and out and a favourite of ours.
Right on the seafront a selection of oysters, lobster, fish, chicken & chips, breakfast baps and amazing freshly cooked hot doughnuts and ice cream. Also licensed. Not bookable.
24 locals raden deze aan
The Forge
1 Sea WallRight on the seafront a selection of oysters, lobster, fish, chicken & chips, breakfast baps and amazing freshly cooked hot doughnuts and ice cream. Also licensed. Not bookable.
Seafront hotel with dog friendly brasserie. Wider menu - not just seafood based.
12 locals raden deze aan
Hotel Continental
29 Beach WalkSeafront hotel with dog friendly brasserie. Wider menu - not just seafood based.
Popular Restaurants
These are our favourite restaurants although the list is by no means exhaustive and new eateries are opening up all the time.
Michelin starred seafood gastro pub. Just voted no 1 of the top 50 gastro pubs in the UK. Need to book well in advance. 10 min drive from cottage.
22 locals raden deze aan
The Sportsman station
Michelin starred seafood gastro pub. Just voted no 1 of the top 50 gastro pubs in the UK. Need to book well in advance. 10 min drive from cottage.
Traditional pub downstairs with a restaurant upstairs serving modern British cuisine with a local and seasonal focus. Great sunset views. Dogs allowed downstairs and regular live music. We particularly like their Sunday roasts.
72 locals raden deze aan
Pearson's Arms Pub
Horsebridge RoadTraditional pub downstairs with a restaurant upstairs serving modern British cuisine with a local and seasonal focus. Great sunset views. Dogs allowed downstairs and regular live music. We particularly like their Sunday roasts.
Often touted as a locals’ favourite, JoJo’s serves up wholesome Mediterranean tapas dishes from its position on the beachfront. Eat inside or outside and enjoy sharing plates like patatas bravas, garlicky tzatziki or chargrilled mackerel. So popular I've never managed to get a table! Great tabloid reviews.
83 locals raden deze aan
Jojos
2 Herne Bay RdOften touted as a locals’ favourite, JoJo’s serves up wholesome Mediterranean tapas dishes from its position on the beachfront. Eat inside or outside and enjoy sharing plates like patatas bravas, garlicky tzatziki or chargrilled mackerel. So popular I've never managed to get a table! Great tabloid reviews.
A Casa Mia
160 High StA corner of Naples in Herne Bay
Renowned Oyster Bar, Seafood restaurant and deli. The oldest in Whitstable. In Sunday Times list of top 100 restaurants in UK. Only seating for 12 so probably Whitstables smallest restaurant. Not licensed so bring your own wine.
127 locals raden deze aan
Wheelers Oyster Bar
8 High StRenowned Oyster Bar, Seafood restaurant and deli. The oldest in Whitstable. In Sunday Times list of top 100 restaurants in UK. Only seating for 12 so probably Whitstables smallest restaurant. Not licensed so bring your own wine.
Unfussy, rustic bistro with a blackboard menu dedicated to local fish, meat and seasonal greenery. Also recommend their breakfasts. Bookable.
96 locals raden deze aan
Samphire
4 High StUnfussy, rustic bistro with a blackboard menu dedicated to local fish, meat and seasonal greenery. Also recommend their breakfasts. Bookable.
Birdies Restaurant brings a slice of rural French charm to the seaside town of Whitstable, serving up classic dishes in a warm and welcoming environment. One of the oldest family run businesses in Whitstable.
57 locals raden deze aan
Birdies restaurant
41 Harbour StBirdies Restaurant brings a slice of rural French charm to the seaside town of Whitstable, serving up classic dishes in a warm and welcoming environment. One of the oldest family run businesses in Whitstable.
Stylish but friendly pub with good food and a newly refurbished garden area with pizza oven. Dog friendly inside and out. Bookings taken. Recommended
25 locals raden deze aan
East Kent
72 Oxford StStylish but friendly pub with good food and a newly refurbished garden area with pizza oven. Dog friendly inside and out. Bookings taken. Recommended
Good food, dog friendly, large restaurant, bar and outside terrace. Looking over the sea at Tankerton.
19 locals raden deze aan
Marine Hotel
32-33 Marine ParadeGood food, dog friendly, large restaurant, bar and outside terrace. Looking over the sea at Tankerton.
Thai Orchid Whitstable
82 Middle WallGood authentic Thai food with outside terrace.
Our go to Indian restaurant now sadly takeaway only. Has been in Whitstable for years.
10 locals raden deze aan
Shobab
24 High StOur go to Indian restaurant now sadly takeaway only. Has been in Whitstable for years.
Spanish sharing plates given an update using local seafood at a small, simply decorated restaurant. Delicious food and lovely service. Highly recommend.
62 locals raden deze aan
Harbour Street Tapas
48 Harbour StSpanish sharing plates given an update using local seafood at a small, simply decorated restaurant. Delicious food and lovely service. Highly recommend.
Small daytime cafe and Pop Up Evening Kitchen, based in Whitstable, Kent. Local produce and home cooked food are their trademark.
11 locals raden deze aan
Cafe + Kitchen
61 Harbour StSmall daytime cafe and Pop Up Evening Kitchen, based in Whitstable, Kent. Local produce and home cooked food are their trademark.
Authentic Sicilian pizza and pasta restaurant. Dog friendly, great food and service. Highly recommend.
15 locals raden deze aan
Sale&Pepe Pizza and Kitchen
15 Harbour StAuthentic Sicilian pizza and pasta restaurant. Dog friendly, great food and service. Highly recommend.
Italian restaurant serving a wide selection of rustic, Neapolitan pizzas, alongside delicious artisan pasta and fresh seafood. One of our favourites. Highly recommend and a 2 minute walk away!
16 locals raden deze aan
Castellum Pizzeria
27A Oxford StreetItalian restaurant serving a wide selection of rustic, Neapolitan pizzas, alongside delicious artisan pasta and fresh seafood. One of our favourites. Highly recommend and a 2 minute walk away!
Drinks, Eats & Live Music
Busy pub right on the beach with lots of outdoor seating, pub food and BBQ in the summer. Regular live music. Great spot for watching the sunset.
92 locals raden deze aan
Old Neptune
Island WallBusy pub right on the beach with lots of outdoor seating, pub food and BBQ in the summer. Regular live music. Great spot for watching the sunset.
Lovely spot beside the harbour with a large decked terrace and live music a couple of times a week, including Sunday afternoons. A covered area with heaters for slightly chillier days. Good range of gins and boozy hot chocolates and meals including seafood & burgers. Small ice rink at Christmas!
14 locals raden deze aan
Harbour Garden Cafe
Lovely spot beside the harbour with a large decked terrace and live music a couple of times a week, including Sunday afternoons. A covered area with heaters for slightly chillier days. Good range of gins and boozy hot chocolates and meals including seafood & burgers. Small ice rink at Christmas!
Alpine themed bar and restaurant with regular live music and good family menu. Big screens normally showing snow sports and other big sporting events. Great apres ski!
14 locals raden deze aan
The Rock Lodge
15-17 Oxford StAlpine themed bar and restaurant with regular live music and good family menu. Big screens normally showing snow sports and other big sporting events. Great apres ski!
Specialist craft beer bar, also serving an extensive gin menu. Small courtyard garden at back. Dog friendly.
35 locals raden deze aan
The Twelve Taps
102 High StSpecialist craft beer bar, also serving an extensive gin menu. Small courtyard garden at back. Dog friendly.
Cafe's
Lovely cafe serving breakfast, sandwiches, jackets, salads, cakes and occasionally a bar and music venue in the evenings during summer. Tea & Times started life as a newsagent and still offers this service today with a wall lined with magazines and newspapers for customers to read or purchase.
21 locals raden deze aan
Tea & Times
36A High StLovely cafe serving breakfast, sandwiches, jackets, salads, cakes and occasionally a bar and music venue in the evenings during summer. Tea & Times started life as a newsagent and still offers this service today with a wall lined with magazines and newspapers for customers to read or purchase.
Cafe and corner stores serving breakfast, lunch & snacks. Highly recommended and dog friendly.
52 locals raden deze aan
Windy Corner Stores & Cafe
110 Nelson RdCafe and corner stores serving breakfast, lunch & snacks. Highly recommended and dog friendly.
Independent & family run cafe/restaurant and farm partnership in the heart of Whitstable offering wholesome breakfast and lunches during the week, with opening extended to teatime come the weekend. Homemade soups, fish subs and generous pasta plates are all regulars on the ever-changing daily menu. Dog friendly. Highly recommend.
52 locals raden deze aan
Farm & Harper
25 High StIndependent & family run cafe/restaurant and farm partnership in the heart of Whitstable offering wholesome breakfast and lunches during the week, with opening extended to teatime come the weekend. Homemade soups, fish subs and generous pasta plates are all regulars on the ever-changing daily menu. Dog friendly. Highly recommend.
Serves breakfast and lunch using and selling produce from over 30 local Kent suppliers. Plastic free champions. Pretty courtyard garden out the back and dog friendly inside and out.
80 locals raden deze aan
Whitstable Oyster Company
Horsebridge RoadServes breakfast and lunch using and selling produce from over 30 local Kent suppliers. Plastic free champions. Pretty courtyard garden out the back and dog friendly inside and out.
Right on the beach by the Yacht Club good coffee and good range of breakfasts and lunches.
Keith's coffee hut
3-4 Sea WallRight on the beach by the Yacht Club good coffee and good range of breakfasts and lunches.
Artisan bakers and cafe specialising in Sourdough breads & viennoiserie. Workshops available. Everything baked on site. Sourdough loaves, croissants, bacon rolls, toasties, baguettes, cakes, vegan cakes. Lovely coffee. Highly recommend. Turn left onto Oxford Street and walk for 2 mins.
36 locals raden deze aan
Grain & Hearth Bakery
52 Oxford StArtisan bakers and cafe specialising in Sourdough breads & viennoiserie. Workshops available. Everything baked on site. Sourdough loaves, croissants, bacon rolls, toasties, baguettes, cakes, vegan cakes. Lovely coffee. Highly recommend. Turn left onto Oxford Street and walk for 2 mins.
Half Croatian cafe/bar. Friendly and lively cafe/bar just round the corner specialising in Croatian beers, wines and nibbles.
9 locals raden deze aan
Amedea
3 Oxford StHalf Croatian cafe/bar. Friendly and lively cafe/bar just round the corner specialising in Croatian beers, wines and nibbles.
Coffee & Book shop
The owners of Blueprint take their coffee seriously, regularly travelling for inspiration and having trained as baristas in London. The results are a Scandi-cool café and bookshop that serves up impressively precise coffee and cakes. On the high street at the top of Argyle Road.
22 locals raden deze aan
Blueprint Coffee
4 Oxford StThe owners of Blueprint take their coffee seriously, regularly travelling for inspiration and having trained as baristas in London. The results are a Scandi-cool café and bookshop that serves up impressively precise coffee and cakes. On the high street at the top of Argyle Road.
City/town information
Explore world-class heritage, wander around its ancient city walls, cobbled streets and riverside gardens and enjoy the many other attractions, contemporary bars, restaurants and independent shops. Punts on the river!
The Cathedral is a vibrant Christian community where prayer has been offered for more than 1400 years and the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury. Daily services, talks, tours, concerts and exhibitions take place.
Recommend the Goods Shed for foodies.
369 locals raden deze aan
Canterbury
Explore world-class heritage, wander around its ancient city walls, cobbled streets and riverside gardens and enjoy the many other attractions, contemporary bars, restaurants and independent shops. Punts on the river!
The Cathedral is a vibrant Christian community where prayer has been offered for more than 1400 years and the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury. Daily services, talks, tours, concerts and exhibitions take place.
Recommend the Goods Shed for foodies.
Places of interest:
BELMONT HOUSE & GARDENS - Elegant 18th Century house home to 6 generations of the Harris Family. Contains many momentos of the family's travels including Indian silverware and the largest private clock collection in the country. Recommended.
BROGDALE COLLECTIONS
Home of the National Fruit Collection and a living museum.
CHART GUNPOWDER MILLS
Made gunpowder for Nelson at Trafalgar and Wellington at Waterloo.
OARE GUNPOWDER WORKS COUNTRY PARK
Gunpowder was produced at Oare for 250 years until 1934.
DODDINGTON PLACE GARDENS
Lovely 10 acre landscaped gardens including woodland, rock and sunken gardens. Recommend.
FLEUR DE LIS HERITAGE CENTRE
Museum tracing Favershams long and colourful past.
MACNADE FINE FOODS
One of the country's leading food halls with 170 year history. Popular cafe and new food street market including Silver Birch Fine Foods. Highly recommend.
MOUNT EPHRAIM GARDENS
10 acres of landscaped gardens nestled amongst surrounding orchards and pasture. Team room light lunches and high tea available. Recommend.
ST MARY OF CHARITY
Largest parish church in Kent with roots extending back to pre-Christian days.
OARE MARSHES NATURE RESERVE
Of international importance for migratory, overwintering and breeding wetland birds, the reserve consists of grazing marsh (one of a few left in Kent) with freshwater dykes, open water scrapes, reedbed, saltmarsh and seawall.
Shepherd Neame Brewery Tours: Discover the secrets of Britains oldest brewer
69 locals raden deze aan
Faversham
Places of interest:
BELMONT HOUSE & GARDENS - Elegant 18th Century house home to 6 generations of the Harris Family. Contains many momentos of the family's travels including Indian silverware and the largest private clock collection in the country. Recommended.
BROGDALE COLLECTIONS
Home of the National Fruit Collection and a living museum.
CHART GUNPOWDER MILLS
Made gunpowder for Nelson at Trafalgar and Wellington at Waterloo.
OARE GUNPOWDER WORKS COUNTRY PARK
Gunpowder was produced at Oare for 250 years until 1934.
DODDINGTON PLACE GARDENS
Lovely 10 acre landscaped gardens including woodland, rock and sunken gardens. Recommend.
FLEUR DE LIS HERITAGE CENTRE
Museum tracing Favershams long and colourful past.
MACNADE FINE FOODS
One of the country's leading food halls with 170 year history. Popular cafe and new food street market including Silver Birch Fine Foods. Highly recommend.
MOUNT EPHRAIM GARDENS
10 acres of landscaped gardens nestled amongst surrounding orchards and pasture. Team room light lunches and high tea available. Recommend.
ST MARY OF CHARITY
Largest parish church in Kent with roots extending back to pre-Christian days.
OARE MARSHES NATURE RESERVE
Of international importance for migratory, overwintering and breeding wetland birds, the reserve consists of grazing marsh (one of a few left in Kent) with freshwater dykes, open water scrapes, reedbed, saltmarsh and seawall.
Shepherd Neame Brewery Tours: Discover the secrets of Britains oldest brewer
UpMargate
20 The CentreTurner Contemporary Art Gallery
Places to Visit
Has stunning gardens overlooking Whitstable Bay. Dating back to the 1790's this wonderful folly's highlights include the castle roof garden, Orangery tea room, pirate-themed area for children and beautiful gardens containing a wide variety of plants, trees and garden features. They host regular Artisan Farmers Markets & Antique and Vintage Fairs.
42 locals raden deze aan
Whitstable Castle & Gardens
Tower HillHas stunning gardens overlooking Whitstable Bay. Dating back to the 1790's this wonderful folly's highlights include the castle roof garden, Orangery tea room, pirate-themed area for children and beautiful gardens containing a wide variety of plants, trees and garden features. They host regular Artisan Farmers Markets & Antique and Vintage Fairs.
Playhouse Theatre Whitstable
104 High StThese quadruped giants were constructed in the second world war to protect London and other Thames settlements from the aerial and naval attentions of Nazi Germany. Three sets of Maunsell Forts, named after their designer Guy Maunsell, were built in the Estuary to this design: the Nore forts off Sheerness, now demolished; and the Red Sands and Shivering Sands forts, further out.
Red Sands Fort
These quadruped giants were constructed in the second world war to protect London and other Thames settlements from the aerial and naval attentions of Nazi Germany. Three sets of Maunsell Forts, named after their designer Guy Maunsell, were built in the Estuary to this design: the Nore forts off Sheerness, now demolished; and the Red Sands and Shivering Sands forts, further out.
Of international importance for migratory, overwintering and breeding wetland birds, the reserve consists of grazing marsh (one of a few left in Kent) with freshwater dykes, open water scrapes, reedbed, saltmarsh and seawall.
16 locals raden deze aan
Oare Marshes Nature Reserve
Church RoadOf international importance for migratory, overwintering and breeding wetland birds, the reserve consists of grazing marsh (one of a few left in Kent) with freshwater dykes, open water scrapes, reedbed, saltmarsh and seawall.
An open-air showcase of locally-created, British made, premium and hand-crafted goods and fine art. Micro eateries serve a mouth watering variety of food. Set in the working harbour of Whitstable.
31 locals raden deze aan
Whitstable Fish Market
An open-air showcase of locally-created, British made, premium and hand-crafted goods and fine art. Micro eateries serve a mouth watering variety of food. Set in the working harbour of Whitstable.