17 Best Restaurants on the Isle of Wight (Local Favourites for 2026)
There are a lot of restaurants on the Isle of Wight to choose from – the island is a foodie paradise. I’ve eaten at many places across the island in my ten years+ of visiting – here are my favourite Isle of Wight restaurants for your tastebuds.
I live in Portsmouth so the Isle of Wight is just a 10-minute journey on the hovercraft, or about an hour on the ferry. I’ve visited the island more than 20 times over the years and eaten everywhere from harbour cafés to award-winning restaurants. These are the places I’d happily recommend to friends – and return to myself.
Generally themed around seafood, garlic and delightful gastro pub grub, the quality of restaurants on the Isle of Wight is high, but here are the best of the best.
| If you want… | Go here |
|---|---|
| Best seafood | Smoking Lobster |
| Best views | TZs True Food Kitchen |
| Best for families | Smoke House Robin Hill |
| Best fine dining | The Duck |
| Best Sunday roast | The Fighting Cocks |
| Quirky fun | The Bus Stop |
| Best date night | Smoking Lobster |
| Best pub food | The Cow |
1. Crab and Lobster Inn, Bembridge
32 Forelands Field Rd, Bembridge PO35 5TR
My boyfriend and I found the Crab and Lobster Inn by accident. A happy, delicious accident as we were lost in the depths of Bembridge. It’s a traditional Isle of Wight pub, but serves excellent, above standard food with a seafood theme. They proudly serve locally sourced seafood and island reared meats.
– Yum! Definitely one of the best Isle of Wight restaurants!
I went for the Moules Marinière for a starter and then the cold seafood platter for a main. Both were an absolute taste sensation. If you want seafood on the Isle of Wight, then this is one of the best places to go.
Definitely one of the best Isle of Wight pubs I’ve come across.
2. The Cow Co Restaurant and Bar, Yarmouth
Tapnell Farm House, Newport Rd, Yarmouth, PO41 0YJ
– This was one of my favourite restaurants on the Isle of Wight, for sure!
The Cow is a great burger restaurant located on Tapnell Farm – a working farm with lots of great animals to pet and say hello to. Including cows. And then you can go and eat their friends in the restaurant. Winner!
As well as an extensive burger menu – with a vegan option – The Cow also serves steaks and salads. Pictured is The Big Smoke I had a few years ago, but next time I think I’ll have the slow-cooked beef stew. This is definitely the best Isle of Wight restaurant for the meat lovers out there. It’s also one of the best pubs with a playground on the island – great for older kids.
“The Cow’s location sets it apart from other Isle of Wight Restaurants; tucked away in the rural heart of the Island, surrounded by stunning views of Tennyson Down and The Solent – yet only a 15 minute drive from the capital, Newport.
Add our dedication to freshly cooked food, home grown and locally sourced ingredients and sparkling service, and you’ll discover why we are regarded as one of the best places to eat on the Island!”
– THE COW
3. The Duck, Ryde
Appley Rise, Ryde, PO33 1LE
The Duck is one of the fancier Isle of Wight restaurants, one of the highest rated on the island.
If you’re over on the island for a special occasion then The Duck is the one to go for. It’s handily located in Ryde, by the lake, which means it’s totally accessible on a day trip to Ryde. But it also means you can sit and look at the actual ducks on the lake, while you eat their friends in the restaurant.
Yes, a bit dark.
Anyway, check out the little shop there, the Emporium, to buy some of the flavourings and foods they serve in the restaurant.
Definitely one of the best restaurants in Ryde, Isle of Wight.
If you want to see all of these Isle of Wight restaurants on a map, click here.
4. TZ’s True Food Kitchen, Castlehaven/Niton Undercliff
TZ’s True Food Kitchen serves up beach bar food with an Asian twist. This restaurant actually blew my mind the first time I visited with my mum and dad – such a great location.
The food was fabulous. We had bao buns, prawn salad and great cocktails. I honestly could’ve stayed all night but the route down and parking was precarious. You’ve been warned!
5. Off the Rails, Yarmouth
Station Rd, Yarmouth, PO41 0QX
If you’re looking for a memorable place to eat on the Isle of Wight, Off The Rails in Yarmouth is definitely worth a visit. Set inside the island’s old railway station, the restaurant fully embraces its train theme with carriage-style seating, vintage décor and lots of quirky touches throughout. It’s fun, relaxed and feels totally different from your average café or pub lunch spot.
Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner – with a real log fire – the unique setting and ambience is heightened by the high quality food.
‘First Class’ some would say.
Lols.
The restaurant is also very dog friendly, with a dedicated dog menu that’s become a bit of a hit with visitors.
The location makes it even better, especially if you’re exploring West Wight or arriving via the Yarmouth ferry. Just make sure you book ahead in peak season, as it’s become one of the island’s most popular independent restaurants.
Foodie Notes
Why the Isle of Wight has become one of the UK’s best foodie destinations
Thanks to its mild climate, fertile farmland and fresh seafood landing daily, the island has built a fantastic food scene that celebrates local ingredients and independent businesses.
Many chefs work closely with local producers, so menus often feature Isle of Wight tomatoes, garlic, cheeses, asparagus, crab, lobster and freshly caught fish.
I’ve visited the Isle of Wight many times over the years, and one of my favourite things about every trip is discovering somewhere new to eat. These are the ones I’d recommend adding to your itinerary.
6. Best Dressed Crab, Bembridge
Fishermans Wharf, Embankment Road, Bembridge, PO35 5NS
Some of the Isle of Wight Restaurants on here have earned their place for their surroundings, others for their decor, and some, like this one, for their exceptional food.
Unlike some of the Isle of Wight’s smarter seafood restaurants, The Best Dressed Crab Ltd is all about simple, ultra-fresh seafood served right on the water. This floating café in Bembridge Harbour specialises in locally caught crab and lobster landed straight from the boat, making it feel much more like a traditional seaside seafood shack than a polished dining experience.
Order a seafood platter, crab sandwich or lobster salad and sit watching the boats bob past while breathing in the salty sea air. On a sunny day, with seagulls overhead and the sound of the harbour around you, it’s one of the most atmospheric seafood stops on the Isle of Wight.
7. Garlic Farm, Sandown
Mersley Ln, Newchurch, Sandown PO36 0NR
The Garlic Farm is one of the Isle of Wight’s most iconic restaurants. And yes, pretty much everything involves garlic in some way.
Set in the countryside near Newchurch, it’s the sort of place that feels cosy, relaxed and perfect for a long lunch after a walk or day out nearby.
If you go, fully lean into the garlic theme. The garlic mushrooms, garlic bread and burgers are all popular, and the smell of roasted garlic coming from the kitchen is incredible. The food feels hearty and comforting rather than fancy, with big flavours and generous portions made using Isle of Wight produce.
Make sure you leave time for the farm shop too – you’ll probably end up taking home a lot more garlic mayo and chutney than planned.
8. Smoking Lobster, Ventnor
Esplanade, Ventnor, PO38 1JT
Smoking Lobster on Ventnor’s seafront is the number one restaurant on Trip Advisor. It’s a seafood, grill, cocktail & wine bar, with sea views in what I think is the coolest part of the island.
While a lot of the island’s seafood spots lean traditional, this place stands out for its Asian-inspired flavours, stylish cocktails and small plates that feel a bit more modern and creative.
The seafood platters, ceviche and grilled dishes are all popular, but it’s the kind of place where you’ll probably want to order a few things for the table and make an evening of it. Sitting by the window with a cocktail watching the waves crash against the promenade while plates of sushi and seafood kept arriving is one of my favourite memories – although not so much when the bill arrived.
They’ve also opened a second Smoking Lobster in Cowes, along with their sister restaurant, The Drunken Lobster, in Ventnor too.
9. Fisherman’s Cottage, Shanklin
The Esplanade (furthest end), Shanklin, Isle of Wight, PO37 6BN
You’ll find Fisherman’s Cottage in Shanklin just beneath Shanklin Chine at the end of Shanklin Esplanade. The thatched dining pub dates back to 1817.
I went to the Isle of Wight when I was newly pregnant and very queasy, and I basically counlt stomach anything that day but, when the fish pie arrived not even my suffering stomach could resist. It was hot, cheesey and just perfect. I’ll never forget how nourishing that hot meal was and so Fisherman’s Cottage will always hold a place in my heart.
Visit Fisherman’s Cottage and you can enjoy music nights, a scenic beach patio and what is widely regarded as some of the best food on the island.
10. No 64, Ryde
64 George St, Ryde PO33 2AJ
If you’re coming into the Isle of Wight via hovercraft, then you’ll come into Ryde.
Interesting fact about Ryde, Ryde Pier is the oldest pier in the UK, and the second longest. Now you totally want to go and see it, right?
No 64 in Ryde is one of those cool, hipster, kinda places. One that serves delicious cakes and artisan coffees. There’s a good veggie menu here (so I’m told, can’t give up my piggy products) and it gives you a quick getaway for the hoverport if you need. You can get breakfast, lunch and coffee – to take away too.
If I was to pick anywhere on the Isle of Wight for brunch, this would be it. The sweet potato stack with poached egg that I had was pretty special…
11. Artisan Bar and Kitchen, Ryde
24 Union St, Ryde PO33 2DT
Artisan Cocktail Bar & Grill is one of the best restaurants on the Isle of Wight if you’re after somewhere that feels a bit more lively and modern than a traditional seaside pub. Right in the middle of Ryde, it mixes stylish cocktails with big, flavour-packed dishes inspired by Asian, Mexican and grill cooking.
The small plates and sharing boards are the way to go here. Order a few things for the table, grab one of their smoky cocktails and settle in for the evening. The fusion dishes give it a different feel from a lot of Isle of Wight restaurants, and the atmosphere always feels buzzy without being pretentious.
What stands out most is the setting inside – exposed wood, low lighting and reclaimed materials make it feel cosy and slightly industrial at the same time. It’s the kind of place where one cocktail easily turns into three, especially on a busy summer evening in Ryde.
12. The Taverners, Ventnor
High St, Godshill, Ventnor, PO38 3HZ
The Taverners is famous for its meaty platters. This a la carte country pub uses local produce to create their home cooked pies, freshly baked bread and Sunday roasts in an idyllic location on the Isle of Wight.
Tucked away in Godshill, it has everything you’d hope for from a proper country pub — low wooden beams, cosy corners, roaring fires in winter and a buzzing beer garden when the sun’s out.
It’s also brilliantly family friendly and dog friendly. After exploring the postcard-perfect village of Godshill, it’s exactly the kind of place you’ll want to escape to for a long lunch and a pint. Ventnor is one of my favourite places to stay on the Isle of Wight too.
13. The Crab Shed, Ventnor
Steephill Cove, Genevra, Ventnor, PO38 1UG
The Crab Shed comes highly recommended thanks to the freshest crab, lobster & mackerel caught every morning. It’s only open during the summer, and closes when the weather is rubbish – meaning summer days are the best (and only) time to really enjoy the food here.
The menu is limited, on purpose. This means they’re experts in what they do, do, and you can enjoy first class, fresh seafood right on the beach from the comfort of a pub bench. Definitely one of the most ‘rustic’ restaurants on the Isle of Wight and perfect for a weekend on the island