Restaurants in North Devon

North Devon has an amazing assortment of fantastic ingredients available from local seafood to Ruby Red beef to food foraged on Exmoor, wherever you go in the region, you’ll find restaurants offering lots of different cuisine and created with high quality produce. The restaurants in the region make the most of this natural bounty so it’s no wonder that so many of them are award winning.

Culinary haven

In recent years, Ilfracombe has become a real haven for food lovers having gained a reputation as being the culinary and cultural hub of North Devon. In particular, the restaurants on Fore Street and in the harbour area are popular with visitors looking for somewhere to eat while in town. Fore Street is known locally as being the Foodie hub due to the number of eateries there, so whether you are looking for a hearty meal, a light bite or somewhere special for a big occasion, you won’t need to look much further. The extensive menus on offer have a little bit of everything from seasonal produce to seafood and just about everything in between.

Thanks to the diverse landscape, Exmoor also tops lists of foodie destinations. The locally produced food, particularly the Ruby Red Beef and the abundance of country pubs and restaurants make it a great place to visit for something to eat.

Whether you’ve got a sweet tooth or prefer the main meal, you won’t be disappointed with what’s on offer in North Devon.

Seafood, speciality and more

North Devon’s coastline isn’t just famous for the amazing scenery, they also provide some incredible edibles. From award winning fish and chips to lobster from Clovelly or Lundy Island and a whole host of other seafood. Why not book a table at one of the beachside restaurants, like those on Barricane Beach in Woolacombe and Saunton Sands, where you can look out across the sea and see the boats coming in with that day’s catch. Alternatively, you could visit one of the many seafood festivals which take place annually around the region.

It isn’t all about seafood in North Devon though, you’ll find everything from traditional pubs and restaurants to speciality cuisine from all over the world. The huge amount of fresh local produce mean that vegetarians and vegans are well catered for in this area, plus there are restaurants serving Indian, Thai, Chinese, British… Whatever you’re in the mood for you’ll find it here.  

The abundance of top quality local produce is also a draw to celebrity chefs with several of them setting up shop right here in North Devon. Many of these restaurants hold Michelin Stars and other awards guaranteeing you a memorable meal or venue for a special occasion.

It’s not just fine dining, although these can be found all over North Devon, we have restaurants who provide a more laid-back experience, along with innovative pop-ups and cosy pubs serving traditional fare. Alternatively, why not grab something at one of the region’s pubs, cafes or tearooms? You’ll find them all over the area. Not sure what’s nearby? Make sure to check out the North Devon Food Trail to find out which eateries are near you and to take part in culinary tours of the region. There is plenty to tantalise your taste buds.