Tuck in! 5 of The Very Best West Bay Restaurants

Posted on 12th Aug 2022. In , , , , ,

west-bay-restaurants

When you’re looking for a decent bite to eat in West Bay, there are places a-plenty: head to the harbour and you’ll find wooden food huts on both sides of the water serving hot chips, fresh coffee and many seafood treats. If it’s a cream tea you’re craving, West Bay has a lovely tea room (handily called the West Bay Tea Room).

As for West Bay restaurants, this small seaside gem may not have a huge selection, but what is there are excellent. We’ve listed our 5 favourite restaurants in West Bay for you to sink your teeth into – all tried and tested personally by our Chief Weekender. Dig in!


 

The Very Best West Bay Restaurants

1. The Station Kitchen, DT6 4EW

Best For: Sexy Meals & Sublime Cocktails For Two

What used to be West Bay’s old station platform and station house is now the Station Kitchen – a restaurant set in two heritage railway carriages – that’s garnering a lot of fanfare despite being a relatively new kid on the block. This exceptional restaurant is oozing with style and sass, without ever taking itself too seriously.

The hard-working team behind the Station Kitchen have pulled off an imaginative, characterful vibe both gastronomically and experientially – making this West Bay restaurant the ideal spot for a date night as well as a cocktail and meal with your BFF.

The menu showcases local, seasonal and sustainable ingredients and offers modern twists on the classics – it is absolutely exceptional; and not too pricey either. But, the Station Kitchen does a lot more than offer great food; the eccentric setting and bohemian interiors work to their own effect.

Both carriages are adorned with fun trinkets – a pink flamingo here, a neon sign there – the restaurant is a box of delights. And with a clutch of awards already under its belt, The Station Kitchen ensures you’ll have an utterly fabulous and an absolute treat of a dining experience.

Opening Hours:

Wednesday 5pm-11pm (last booking 8:30)

Thursday to Saturday 12pm – 2:30pm

5pm – LATE (last booking 8:30)

Closed: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday

Vegan, vegetarian and gluten free options available

 


 

The Very Best West Bay Restaurants

2. Seagulls Restaurant, DT6 4EW

Best For: Fresh Fish Before a Sea-Air Stroll

Seagulls Restaurant is a humble, unassuming West Bay restaurant that’s been in the same spot, serving visitors and locals alike for 25 years. Despite its understated appearance, the food here is a far cry from average – as the reviews on TripAdvisor will concur.

The menu isn’t huge, with a few added extras available daily, but that doesn’t matter – what you get is excellent quality. The food is local and seasonal and there’s a modest seafood selection on offer (we’re fans of the scampi, crab soup and bass fillet) all of which is sourced from the South West Coast.

If you want to go in the evening with les enfants, you can because kids are welcome. And thanks to the restaurant’s prime location on East Beach in West Bay, you can also finish off your meal with a sea-air stroll and beautiful moon rise.

Opening Hours

Closed Mondays

Tues – Sat evenings from 6pm

Sunday Lunch from 12 noon

Vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options available

Pics credit: Seagulls Restaurant


 

The Very Best West Bay Restaurants

3. Rise, DT6 4EZ

Best For: Brunch with a Riverside View | Dog-friendly

Relaxed and unshowy, Rise cafe bar in West Bay rests on its own little island where the River Brit runs into West Bay Harbour. It’s an easy restaurant to find, nestled in the centre of West Bay, reached by a small bridge; although the parking is a little more tricky (we recommend parking in East Beach Car Park and taking a slow stroll over to Rise).

Inside, it’s roomy and bright, with a rustic hipster vibe that wouldn’t be out of place in Scandinavia (imagine a mix of woods, ethnic soft furnishings and plants and you’re bang on). There’s plenty of space for intimate meals, as well as larger family gatherings (they can seat up to 10 at once on the bigger tables) and the food is certainly a crowd-pleaser. Here, all your tastes are covered: breakfast, brunch, lunch, supper or simply a coffee by the water’s edge.

The dishes come with an Asian vibe, and include a multitude of burgers, fresh seafood specials and vitality salads. We love to come here for a long, slow brunch without feeling rushed.

Opening Hours:

Mon – Sun 9.00am – 10.00pm

(Friday & Saturday until 11pm)

Vegan, Vegetarian and Gluten Free available

Pics credit: Rise Cafe Bar


 

The Very Best West Bay Restaurants

4. The Watch House Cafe, DT6 4EN

Best For: Beachside Pizzas | Dog-friendly

With the perfect beachfront spot on East Beach, the Watch House Cafe is always a hit with visitors to West Bay.  Fans of this West Bay restaurant come for the generous sea-to-plate food options, as well as the all-weather outdoor dining. If the sun’s blazing, then there’s a decked beach terrace to enjoy your fresh fish or wood-fried pizza on. If rain spoils play, you can get the al fresco seaside vibes on the covered pizza patio and watch the pizzas being made.

The vast brunch options, wood-fired pizzas and seafood specials are all popular choices at the Watch House Cafe, but you can just rock up for a coffee and cake after a day on the beach. Should you want to embrace the holiday spirit, the cafe serves beers, wines and cocktails. They also offer bottomless brunches to really get your weekend away buzzing.

Right next door to the cafe, open 10am – 6pm, there’s a fossil shop where you can get your hands on 190 million-year-old ammonites (collected just along the Jurassic Coast in Charmouth) as well as a Dick Pearce belly board – or as they call it, Dinoboard.

Opening Hours

Monday & Tuesday Closed

Wednesday and Thursday 10-4pm

Friday and Saturday 10-7pm

Sunday 10-4pm

Breakfast 10-11:30am

Bottomless Brunch 11-3pm

Lunch 12-3pm

Dinner 4-7pm

Allergenic information available, vegetarian options available

Pics credit: Watch House Cafe


 

The Very Best West Bay Restaurants

5. Bridport Arms Hotel, DT6 4EN

Best For: Sunday Lunch | Dog-Friendly

A mighty thatched pub, hotel and restaurant, the Bridport Arms Hotel sits in prime position virtually on the beach in West Bay. Handily, there’s a car park right outside so it’s super easy to make it your destination for Sunday lunch, without having to faff around finding parking.

Inside, diners and drinkers are thrown together in an open-plan restaurant and bar with an easy-going atmosphere. The setting is pleasant and cosy; there are no affectations, just a good old-fashioned Dorset pub with low-slung beams, exposed brickwork, and traditional patterned carpet.

The Sunday lunches come piled high and aren’t too expensive (from £13.50); the waiting staff are helpful and friendly; and children and dogs are welcome.

Details

Car park on doorstep

Vegetarian and vegan options available

Outdoor seating

Opening Hours:

Mon – Tue: Closed

Wed – Fri: 12-2:30pm | 6 – 8:30pm

Sat – Sun: 12 – 8:30pm

Pics credit: Bridport Arms Hotel


 

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