The best restaurants in Salcombe, Devon

Heading to Salcombe and looking for all the best places to eat? You’re in the right place! I absolutely love Salcombe and have eaten at most of the restaurants in the seaside town. Here’s my guide to the best restaurants in Salcombe.

There’s nowhere quite like Salcombe. It’s undoubtedly one of my favourite places in Devon. From sprawling ocean views to craft gin to excellent seafood, the Devon harbourside town really does have it all. Whether you’re a local or enjoying a staycation, Salcombe is a beautiful seaside town with some excellent places to eat. Here, you can wine and dine for any taste, appetite, or budget, and there’s a plethora of places to choose from. Below is my pick of the best restaurants in Salcombe, Devon for some delicious food and drinks. Make sure you enjoy some famous Salcombe crab and wash it down with a tasty Salcombe Gin while you’re there.

The Crab Shed, Gould Road

A very popular spot, there’s no doubt that The Crab Shed is one of the best restaurants in Salcombe. Grab an al fresco spot on the waterfront terrace, and get ready to enjoy some outstanding seafood. You’ll be hard pressed to find fresher fish and seafood than here. Unsurprisingly boasting a special of handpicked local crab meat, the menu is packed with delicious dishes. Feast on whole Salcombe cracked crab with fries and bread, served chilled or hot with lashings of garlic butter. The crab linguine with handpicked white crab is tossed in a creamy crab bisque with chilli, garlic, and ginger and is equally delicious. You can even get crab fries with chilli and parmesan if you’re still in need of a crab fix. It’s the perfect place for food on a sunny Devon day.

Heading to nearby Cornwall? Don’t miss my guide to the best restaurants in St Ives, and the best restaurants in Falmouth.

The Winking Prawn, North Sands

Practically on the beach, the Winking Prawn is just across from beautiful North Sands and an easy walk from the heart of Salcombe. A local favourite and family run joint for over twenty years, it’s also one of the best restaurants in Salcombe. As you might expect from a beachside eatery, there’s a vibrant buzz and excellent food including barbecue grub. You’ll discover fresh seafood dishes that capitalise on the local area. Discover Winking Prawn classics like a pint of shell-on prawns to pick and dip, chargrilled scallops with bacon and parmesan, and fruits de mer. The barbecue menu is impressive, featuring dishes like cajun salmon, chicken fillets, steak, and halloumi with salad, baguette, and garlic mayo. Why not finish off your meal with a Devonshire cream tea?

Dickandwills, Fore Street

A beautiful waterside grill, it’s difficult to get a table at this place, simply because it’s understandably one of the best restaurants in Salcombe. If you can, reserve a table on their al fresco terrace for gorgeous views across the Salcombe Estuary. Start off with a glass of fizz while you peruse the delicious menu – it’s the perfect spot for a romantic meal or date night. Dickandwills focuses on high quality dishes made from locally sourced ingredients. Don’t miss the ‘famous fish and chips’, with freshly caught fish. Other favourites include the fritto misto of king prawns and scallops, as well as juicy chargrilled steaks. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable. Whatever you choose to eat, you won’t leave feeling disappointed.

The Ferry Inn, Fore Street

Offering simple, honest gastropub grub, The Ferry Inn is one of the best restaurants in Salcombe. Occupying a prime spot on the Salcombe Estuary, it offers one of the best dinner views in the Devon town. Sit back and soak in the view with a local ale or a cold glass of wine, and browse the menu. Choose from pub classics including a 6oz beef burger with tomato relish and skin on fries, or traditional beer battered haddock with minted mushy peas, chips, and homemade tartare sauce. Other seafood favourites include king prawns grilled in a lemon and parsley butter with white bloomer bread for dunking.

Boatswains at the Kings Arms, Fore Street

An adorable quaint brasserie tucked down a side street, Boatswains at the Kings Arms is one of the best restaurants in Salcombe. While it may not boast the seaside views of other restaurants in the town, it more than makes up for it in reasonably priced, high quality food. Expect to find simple yet delicious seafood dishes to enjoy served by friendly staff. Start off with some local mussels steamed in white wine, cream, and garlic, or with scallops of the day roasted in garlic and herb butter. Mains include delicious 7oz fillet steaks, a delicious crab bake with a cheesy crumb topping, and a Salcombe lobster served with garlic butter. Delish.

The Victoria Inn, Fore Street

Just a few steps away from the banks of the beautiful Salcombe Estuary, The Victoria Inn offers gorgeous scenery to enjoy while you dine. One of the best restaurants in Salcombe, the menu is considered around the owners’ adoration of local produce both from the ocean and the pastures around Devon. Discover award-winning ales while you look through the menu, either inside or in the outside terrace. Kick things off with a seafood sharer – mussels in Korev lager, leek and cream sauce, smoked mackerel, salmon and crab tian, fries, calamari, shell-on tiger prawns, rosemary and sea salt focaccia, cod goujons, bloomer, and all the accompaniments. The delicious mains include fish pie, scampi and chips, hand pressed burgers, and pan roasted chicken supreme with tenderstem broccoli and garlic roasted new potatoes.

The Jetty at the Salcombe Harbour Hotel, Cliff Road

Boasting a prime position in Salcombe with a waterfront view, The Jetty also prides itself on offering cuisine by award-winning chef, Alex Aitken. Enjoy beautiful views of the aquamarine waters of the Salcombe Estuary while you eye up the impressive crustacean bar. A seafood bar and grill, you really will find some excellent food at one of the best restaurants in Salcombe. Reasonably priced, you’ll discover local and seasonal dishes, with catches of the day serving a hearty portion of the menu. Top dishes include the Jetty mix fish grill with fish and shellfish served on the bone, and chicken, asparagus, and morels with truffled macaroni and a creamy mushroom sauce. Make sure you save room for dessert – the scrumptious rhubarb, rhubarb, rhubarb dish is not to be missed.

That’s my guide to the best restaurants in Salcombe, Devon! Have you visited Salcombe? Are there any other restaurants you’d add to the list? Let me know in the comments below.