As Property Manager for south Devon, I spend a lot of time in holiday cottages in Brixham, handpicking the best properties that I know our guests will love. And so, I’ve had the pleasure of dining out in plenty of restaurants, pubs and cafes, often recommended by the locals I meet.
Here is a small selection, in no particular order, of my favourite places to eat in Brixham:
Rockfish – for the fish!
Berry Head Hotel – for drinks on the terrace
The Cow Shed – amazing steaks
The Curious Kitchen – special occasions
The Old Market House – heated waterside umbrellas
The Poopdeck Restaurant – all the food
Rockfish in Brixham
The fact you can actually see the catch of the day being landed scores highly for this place – it’s located in Brixham Fish Market, a place known worldwide for its quality fish. And that quality is done justice at the hands of Mitch Tonk, famous for his culinary genius when it comes to seafood. Rockfish has a few restaurants now, but this one might just be the closest to source of any seafood restaurant in the UK. Worth a sit out on the large terrace when the sun is shining or cosying up inside on a winter’s eve.
I love: the fish room – the fish is landed, prepped and cooked within eyesight of each other
Berry Head Hotel
This clifftop manor takes advantage of its location with al fresco tables on the terrace to gaze at the sea over drinks – and the drinks here are good, sourcing wines from both Sharpham and Camel Valley.
They’ve the more formal Bonaparte Restaurant as well as The Brasserie and Terrace, all fed by local providers and of course the fish is from the nearby Brixham trawlers.
I love: fizz with a view and the Sunday carvery
The Cow Shed
This place is all about the meat. A modern set up with an obvious cow themed interior, it’s a carnivorous heaven. They love to serve the exotic with the bar and grill specialising in steaks, burgers and venison and boy are their steaks tasty. Tucked away just off the harbour, they make the most of local produce where they can, with the drinks menu in particular featuring local brews and artisan gins.
I love: the giant prawns (with an amazing steak, naturally)
The Curious Kitchen
Occasionally I like to go a little upmarket and the menu at The Curious Kitchen is both quirky and special, and worth the money. I like a place that’s a little bit different when I’m marking an occasion and this ‘café’ is a go-to option, with their very inclusive menu. One of the owners and the chef are vegetarian, so they’re keen to provide a wide range of tasty and interesting options for all; everyone is catered for from allergy sufferers to veggies and vegans. They’re careful to source foodstuff from responsible suppliers too. What’s not to like?
I love: the coffee. They take it very seriously behind the scenes
The Old Market House
An upmarket pub with great staff and tables on the harbour’s edge so you can almost touch the tallships! This is what a holiday in Brixham is all about, sitting in the sunshine on the waterside, sipping a beverage of choice – they even have heated umbrellas so you can continue to enjoy the ambience under grey skies. They serve their award-winning beers and locally sourced food to your table if you choose to sit upstairs, but on a sunny day, I think the walk to the bar is worth it. They also hold live music events and really get into the holiday spirit so every visit is a fun visit.
I love: the Quayside community – the ambience of everyone joining in is what makes a holiday here extra special
The Poopdeck Restaurant
A well established, private dining experience overlooking the Quay which, as the name suggests (although the kids may snigger), serves all manner of maritime munch. They describe themselves as the ‘mother of all fish restaurants’ – a tall order, but I’ve never had anything less from them, serving seafood fresh from the sea to your plate. Look out to sea from your restaurant table, or book a separate dining room for you and your holiday companions.
I love: the huge range of ‘Catch of the Day’. I hadn’t heard of half of them before I came here
Eaten enough? Head to a cocktail bar to finish (or extend) the night. Liberty’s and Coco’s are brill cocktail bars which sit harbourside and open late so sup to your heart’s content.
Don’t forget to keep an eye on the comings and goings of the harbourside with our Brixham harbour webcam.
