Boutique hotels
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Hotel Grosvenor
- Style
- Revamped Georgian retreat
- Setting
- Shaftesbury’s Hovis hilltop
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The Bull Hotel
- Style
- Fresh prints, belle air
- Setting
- Busy little Bridport
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The Bull Inn
- Style
- Well-mannered watering hole
- Setting
- Fields, farms and thatch
Self-catering properties
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Burggraaf
- Style
- Best-ever barn conversion
- Setting
- Dorset's cosy patchwork quilt
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Voltaire
- Style
- Dripping-with-luxury barn conversion
- Setting
- Dorset farmland dreamscape
Dorset Eating, drinking and dancing
Restaurants
(+44 (0)1305 785799)
Perry’s
A Weymouth gastro-landmark – beloved of Bill Bryson, for one – this relaxed family-run local is set in a former merchant’s house facing the harbour. There’s a fixed-price lunch menu at £14.95 for two courses (www.perrysrestaurant.co.uk).
4 Trinity Road, Weymouth, Dorset DT4 8TJ
(+44 (0)1297 630300)
River Cottage HQ
Get yourself to Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s countryside base in the Axe Valley for one of the gastro-fabulous day or evening events. It’s not a restaurant in the traditional sense; you’ll learn about seasonal, home-grown food and your tastebuds will get a tour of the produce too, in the form of deliciously simple dishes created by the River Cottage team. BYO or sample local organic wines. You’ll need to book your tickets well in advance; see www.rivercottage.net for details; you'll be given the exact location on booking.
Park Farm, Devon/Dorset borders
(+44 (0)1308 428354)
The Electric Palace Brasserie
In the attractive foyer of this revived arts hub, former River Cottage collaborator Gideon Hitchen rustles up simple, tasty lunches with fresh-as-a-daisy local produce. There's a cinema here too, if you fancy making a day of it.
35 South Street, Bridport, DT6 3NY
(+44 (0)1308 422011)
The Riverside Restaurant
This long-established white-painted temple to simple seafood serves the very best fresh fish in an unfussy, charmingly seasidey setting, recommended for lunch and dinner alike; so beloved is it of critics, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, foodie families, etc, you’ll definitely need to book ahead.
West Bay, Bridport, Dorset DT6 4EZ
(+44 (0)1202 587785)
WestBeach
Affording front-row seats for Bournemouth’s summer fireworks spectaculars, this water’s-edge bar and restaurant with a 140-foot decked verandah on the promenade serves great fish and seafood, from shellfish gazpacho to seabass with pine-nut crust to whole crab with tarragon mayonnaise. Perfect on a bright summer afternoon. There’s live jazz on Thursdays, too (www.west-beach.co.uk).
Pier Approach, Bournemouth BH2 5AA
Cafés
(+44 (0)1258 453006)
Cavalcade of Costume Museum
There’s a walled-garden tearoom at this one-off historical attraction, housing 250 years’ worth of fashion in a fine Georgian house; tuck into a fine cream tea after peering at tiny-waisted Edwardian gowns. Open Thursdays–Mondays (www.cavalcadeofcostume.com).
Lime Tree House, The Plocks, Blandford Forum, Dorset DT11 7AA
(+44 (0)1308 897070)
Hive Beach Café
Right on a National Trust beach, this alfresco favourite serves award-winning Somerset ice-cream, as well as smashing seafood lunches – the crab sandwiches are highly recommended. The café no longer takes reservations, so get there early to nab a table (www.hivebeachcafe.co.uk).
Beach Road, Burton Bradstock, near Bridport, Dorset DT6 4RF
(+44 (0)1305 788867)
The Crab House Café
Eat something fresh from the sea at this no-frills seaside venue – formerly the Abbotsbury oyster depot, it’s highly rated by professional foodies.
Ferrymans Way, Portland Road, Wyke Regis, Dorset
(+44 (0)1747 858575)
Turnbull’s Delicatessen & Café
Our favourite one-stop shop en route to the seaside for picnic hampers, from £12.50 a person (minimum four); and for Blue Vinney cheese and other local wonders. The café is family-friendly: don’t leave without trying a cream tea with home-made scones. Closed Sundays.
9 High Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset SP7 8HZ
