
Places to eat in Torquay
There are so many great places to eat in Torquay. But when you’re strolling along the prom it’s not always easy to pick the best. So we’ve selected a few of our favourite places to eat in Torquay to help with that onerous task! The harbourside is lined with excellent restaurants, many serving locally caught fish. Deli beach cafes are great for families and the tapas bars with live music are popular with the youngsters. Torquay is a great destination for dining out whatever the time of day. So whether you’re looking for a fine dining experience, a pizza with the family or an afternoon tea, check out our guide to our favourite places to eat in Torquay.
Restaurants in Torquay
Rockfish A family friendly restaurant in Torquay with an excellent reputation for serving up the freshest sustainable locally caught fish. Choose from the exciting menu of monkfish scampi, chargrilled sea bream as well as the traditional fish and chips! Relax in the rustic style interiors and gaze over the inner harbour. Their fish is landed and prepared at dawn so it’s ready to be served at the restaurant for lunch that day. That’s bait to plate in a matter of hours! (The restaurant is dog friendly but all four paws should remain on the floor!)
Below Decks – This popular harbourside restaurant on Beacon Quay is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. With a seasonal menu of freshly prepared dishes showcasing the best locally sourced ingredients around. Great for families, the perfect place to relax and gaze over the harbour whatever the season. It’s also dog friendly.
Harbour 16 – This child friendly restaurant bar and grill which sits right on the harbourside in Torquay is open for breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner. So book why not book a table and dine on locally sourced food and enjoy mouth watering cocktails. Specialising in steaks, souvlaki, market fish and burgers so there’s something to suit even the fussiest eater of the family!
Photo credit – Rockfish


Otto Unwind by the waters edge at this stylish restaurant by the Marina. The team at Otto pride themselves on providing an “upmarket casual environment with stunning views and delicious food and drinks”. Breakfast on pancakes with brioche French toast, fisherman’s breakfast crabby toast or steak and eggs. From 3 pm it’s pizza time with Jordan Kenny’s il Cornicione wood-fired Neapolitan pizza. Finally, Whatever you choose, relax and enjoy coffee and drinks on the sun terrace.
Junjaow This family run Thai restaurant is excellent! Chef Fon sources local seafood and uses only the best traditional Thai ingredients in his menu of curries, noodles and stir fries which includes vegetarian and vegan dishes. Truly delicious and authentic Thai cuisine.
Portifino A touch of la dolce vita and bringing the Italian Riviera to the English Riviera. With it’s regular live music sessions, Portifino is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. So why not enjoy true Italian hospitality and dine on delicious dishes such as antipasti; calamari, pizzas, truffle rigatoni and chicken parmigiana what’s not to like!
Photo credit – Visit Devon
Fine dining in Torquay
The Elephant (Michelin Star) Enter a room with a view when you dine at The Elephant restaurant. This informal harbourside restaurant is in an elegant property overlooking the water. Fine dining in Torquay doesn’t get much better than this. The Elephant is run by Simon Hulstone, the chef proprietor and his wife Katy who, together with their professional team were awarded a Michelin star in 2006 and have retained it! Using locally sourced ingredients, mainly from the restaurant’s dedicated farm in Brixham to create a seasonal menu. Children’s menu is available at lunchtimes for the under 10’s.
Ollies Since having undergone a complete refurbishment, Ollies provides a classic setting and serves the highest quality cuisine. Renowned for its mouth watering steaks and locally caught fish. Their mantra… “Eat. Drink. Relax. Treat Yourself”.
Number 7 Fish Bistro Right on the Torquay harbourside, what better place for a fish restaurant! This family owned establishment has been in the capable hands of the Stacey family since 1993. Having built up an excellent reputation, they pride themselves on serving the freshest fish and shellfish from Brixham. Children are also catered for with smaller portions of the main menu or can choose from a non fish menu.
Cary Arms. Dine on delicious gastro food using seasonal produce and local sourced beef, Lyme Bay lobster and line caught seafood. Eat alfresco in the warmer months or cosy up by the woodstove during the winter.
Orange Tree Just a few steps from Torquay harbour is this popular restaurant which is renowned for its modern British-European cuisine. So why not relax in style and dine in elegance with beautiful crisp white table linen and enjoy mouth watering dishes of scallops and lobster bisque, sea bass, hake or herb crusted cannon of lamb. All served under the watchful eye of owner Vittorio Melis.

Afternoon tea and cafes in Torquay

Babbacombe Bay Cafe for afternoon tea in Torquay. Take a deep breath, enjoy the swaying palms and the fabulous views along the coast while enjoying a luxury Devon cream tea. It’s quite a feast with scones, cake and macaroons served with a cup of tea or Prosecco. All served up on the dizzy heights of the highest clifftop promenade in England!
Me & Mrs Jones – Food & Drink Deli. Tucked away in Wellswood Village, just off the coastal road to Torquay is one of our favourite cafes in Torquay. Run of course by Mr & Mrs Jones, the cafe is open for breakfast, brunch, lunch and afternoon tea. So why not indulge in mouth watering sausage rolls, baguettes and savoury tarts with a delicious salad mix. Washed down with Lyme Bay country wines, coffees and kombucha.
Clementine is perfect for coffee but they’ll also open for brunch and lunch. This dog friendly bistro style cafe is family run and is also open Friday and Saturday evenings for dinner.
.Three Degrees West – Mediterranean style alfresco dining right on the beach. Pop in for breakfast after a stroll along the shore or enjoy a tapas style lunch or relax with afternoon tea and cake
Meadfoot Beach Cafe – With fabulous views and a blue flag beach, this dog friendly cafe is as much a hit with locals as with visitors. (Always a good sign!) A great place for coffee and cake or to linger longer over lunch with the kids.
Cafe Rio Beach Cafe – Looking for peace and tranquility with your breakfast? Cafe Rio ticks the box. Just off the coastal path in Maidencombe village, this newly refurbished beach cafe offers freshly ground barista coffees, teas, cold drinks, cakes also snacks so why not relax on the sands with your favourite drink or tuck into a full-on breakfast box, bacon bap or burger. Make a day of it… they’ll even hire you a kayak or paddle board. Don’t worry, the beach has excellent water quality and offers safe swimming conditions too!
Photo credit – Visit Devon
