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The English Riviera is a food lover's dream destination.  As one of the UK’s top year-round holiday resorts there’s been a renaissance in the number of world class places to eat and drink in recent years.

World-Class Seafood

The English Riviera is also known as England’s Seafood Coast for the finest quality seafood landed locally in the fishing town of Brixham. It’s also home to the famous Brixham Fish Market which handles over £40 million of fish each year.  A fleet of 70 fishing boats land over 40 varieties of world-class fresh fish and seafood including lemon sole, bream, turbot, Brixham crab, lobster and Elberry Cove mussels. The fish is caught early in the morning and served on your plate the very same day – you can’t get any fresher than that!  

Local Fish & Chips

From Michelin-star restaurants with award-winning celebrity chefs to family-run seaside kiosks serving fish and chips wrapped in paper, you’re spoilt for choice when you dine out.  The British favourite dish, fish and chips really does taste better by the sea!  

The Real Ale Revolution

Whatever your favourite tipple the English Riviera has many award-winning breweries producing local real ales and craft beers.  Whether you’re looking for craft beer, pale ale or deeply flavoursome dark ale, you’ll find it served here with lots of the famous Devon hospitality.  Bays Brewery has developed a wide range of lovingly crafted distinctive ales, ciders and lagers and have won prestigious regional awards including CAMRA South West. The distinctive bottles are on sale in local restaurants, pubs, shops and licensed hotel bars. Hunts Cider is a well-established Devon cider maker using the highest quality Devon cider apples. They use traditional methods to produce a range of award-winning handcrafted ciders, which is gluten free, vegan friendly and widely available in local venues including many visitor attractions.     

Award-winning Wines and Spirits

Gin’s popularity in recent years has seen an increase in local businesses distilling speciality varieties.  Cantina Kitchen and Bar serves up Mermaid’s Ruin, their own speciality gin which is distilled and bottled onsite at their premises in Goodrington, Paignton. Inspired by their seaside location, it contains dulse seaweed, pink peppercorns and lemon zest.  Try a gin-infused cocktail at one of the English Riviera’s top cocktail bars. For a true taste of the South West look for Red Sails Gin, Deck Chair Gin and non-alcoholic Sea Arch, all made in South Devon.  

Heavenly Devon Cream Tea

A well-loved tradition when visiting the English Riviera is to taste a delicious Devon Cream Tea.  Ask local folk and they’ll recommend you put the Devon Clotted Cream on first and then a dollop of fruity, locally produced jam on a freshly baked, homemade scone for a tasty treat. Traditional Devon Cream Tea comes with refreshing, loose-leaf tea served in fine bone china and delivered with a friendly smile. This famous South West delicacy is not to be missed and you’ll see it on the menus at many quaint thatched tearooms in Cockington Village, cosy cafes in Babbacombe and vintage-style fine dining venues across Torquay, Paignton and Brixham.  

Sunday Carvery and Roasts

Can there be anything more British than a hearty, homecooked roast dinner or traditional Sunday carvery any time of year? The English Riviera has an abundance of restaurants, cafes, pubs and inns serving great value for money, hot meals using the finest local ingredients such as home-reared, ruby red Devon beef and the freshest vegetables, grown in South Devon’s famous red soil. Whether you’re looking for a fine-dining, silver service experience or an all-you-can-eat, buffet-style carvery, there’s plenty to appeal to all ages and tastes.  Many diners are child-friendly - providing smaller sized portions, offer vegetarian and vegan alternatives, and most welcome well-behaved dogs.  Take a look at our Traditional Carvery page to sample some of the best traditional roasts and carveries.