Boutique hotels in Kent
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The Brew House Hotel
- Style
- Crisp modern makeover
- Setting
- Pantiles-handy Warwick Park
Self-catering properties in Kent
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Hector's Apartments
- Style
- Cool, coastal Victorian villa
- Setting
- Deal Castle on your doorstep
Kent
Eating, drinking and dancing
We've tracked down the best cafés for people-watching, the bars with the coolest cocktails, the most accomplished restaurants and the liveliest local nightlife in Kent.
Restaurants
(+44 (0)1304 368136)
81 Beach Street
This cosy and romantic little restaurant near the seafront is kitted out with friendly staff, relaxed and happy diners and a soothingly simple menu featuring fresh and comforting flavours. The award-winning eatery’s goat’s cheese soufflé starter and haddock main with poached egg and leeks come highly recommended.
81 Beach Street, Deal, CT14 6JB
+44 (0)1304 366661
Court Yard Oyster Bar & Restaurant
Head here on a sunny day and sit in the eponymous courtyard. Linger over seafood linguine or a gargantuan salad and be sure to try the addictive, indulgent potato crisps; hot, paper-thin slivers that put Walkers to shame.
The Old Coach House, Sondes Road, Deal, Kent, CT14 7BW
(+44 (0)1892 511921)
Thackeray’s Restaurant
Stylish Modern French restaurant in a grade-II listed building with a glowing, gold-hued bar. Michelin-noted chef Richard Phillips mans the kitchen and turns out an accomplished menu of trad-with-a-twist seasonal fare.
85 London Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1EA
(+44 (0)1892 559170)
Brasserie Blanc
Ideal for a mid-shopping lunch break, Raymond Blanc’s chain of family-friendly modern brasseries has an admirable sourcing policy and a moreish menu of traditional French classics, from omelettes and Toulouse sausages with mash to Burgundian snails and rack of Cornish lamb. On sunny days, get a table on the patio (www.brasserieblanc.com).
Five Ways, Lime Hill Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1LJ
(+44 (0)1622 719273)
Hengist
Another of Richard Phillips’ triumvirate of Kentish eateries, Hengist offers modern French cuisine against a backdrop of wooden beams, antique chairs and designer chandeliers. Go for a lavish Sunday lunch involving roast rump of long-horn beef or old spot pork loin with black pudding. Closed Mondays.
7–9 High Street, Aylesford, Kent ME20 7AX
(+44 (0)1227 273311)
Wheelers Oyster Bar
Small, salmon pink and usually packed, Wheelers is Whitstables oldest and best-loved oyster bar; BYOB and take plenty of cash as they don't take cards and it'd be a shame to have to scrimp on another plate of those creamy native oysters.
8 High Street, Whitstable, Kent
(0845 2571587)
The Crab & Winkle
Restaurant serving seasonal, sustainable produce, including Whitstable rock oysters, Godmersham Partridge, fresh seafood, woodland-foraged herbs and mushrooms – a real local hero.
South Quay, The Harbour, Whitstable, Kent CT5 1AB
(+44 (0)1843 851515)
Age & Sons
Nice little Modern British bistro, restaurant and café tucked away off the main drag in a converted wine warehouse, with a decent lunch menu and cosmopolitan atmosphere.
Charlotte Court, Ramsgate, Kent CT11 8HE
(+44 (0)1892 520587)
The Brew House Hotel
This boutique-hotel brasserie has quietly elegant interiors and a fantastic menu of modern Europhile favourites; chef Andrew Giles uses British ingredients such as Falmouth Bay oysters, Wealdway cheese and Kentish apples. Nicely buzzing Bacchus Bar is there, too, for pre- or post-prandial imbibement: champagne cocktails a speciality.
The Brew House Hotel, 1 Warwick Park, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 5TA
(+44 (0)1892 526455)
Hotel du Vin Bistro
The acclaimed Hotel du Vin Bistro serves simple French-influenced classics that change seasonally. Head chef Paul Nixon adds a few daily surprises, and uses the finest and freshest local produce; the main attraction, unsusprisingly, is the wine – get advice from the sommelier. The Burgundy Bar's perfect for an appetite-sharpening glass of something French and red beforehand, or a soothing whisky afterwards.
Crescent Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Cafés
(+44 (0)1304 365486)
Black Douglas Coffee House
This eatery is popular with locals and tourists alike and is a great place to come for a quick bite. Sip an Enid Blyton-esque Luscombe organic drink (fizzy elderflower, raspberry lemonade or ginger beer are all tasty thirst-quenchers) over a green olive or tomato ciabatta sandwich stuffed with brie and apple, or Black Pig ham and herb filling. Round things off (your waistline certainly) with a pavement-sized slab of home-made cake.
83 Beach Street, Deal, CT14 6JB
(+44 (0)1304 369165)
Miretti
Forget castles and coastlines, sweet-tooths visiting Deal must put a trip to Miretti at the very top of their itinerary. The family-run Italian pasticceria serves up beautiful treats so pretty and delicate, it’s almost a shame to eat them. But don’t hold back, the bigné (choux pastry buns), baci di dama or ‘lady’s kisses’ and Amaretti are delicious, morei-sh and indulgent. You can also buy freshly baked bread here on Saturday mornings.
125 High Street, Deal, CT14 6BB
(+44 (0)1843 872442)
Oscar Road café
This adorably tiny tea room and café in Broadstairs is a bit like a sit-in homage to 1940s Britain, with lashings of romantic nostalgia: floral bunting, vintage tin trinkets, retro kitchenware and pretty pastel cushions. BYOB to drink with super crab sandwiches, Kentish pork pies and piccalilly or buckets of prawns; or take high tea with individual Victoria sponges, fat wedges of fudge brownie, and darling cup cakes – all made with lashings of old-fashioned vip, vim and vigour.
15 Oscar Road, Broadstairs, Kent CT10 1QJ
(+44 (0)1843 862500)
Morelli's
You may have bought some of their ice-cream in Harrods, but we think it just doesn't taste quite the same unless it's served in a vintage pressed-glass sundae dish. This retro-fabulous 1930s ice-cream parlour and cafeteria with original cane seats and fibre-optic fountains is the real deal, and is the original birthplace of Morelli's ice-cream. Pop in after a walk along the promenade for a hot chocolate or knickerbocker glory, or get a two-scoop cone or cup to go.
14 Victoria Parade, Broadstairs, Kent CT10 1QS
