Restaurants on the Isle of Wight

Dining out across the island

The Isle of Wight has a dining scene that has improved markedly over the past two decades, driven by a growing emphasis on local produce, the island's tourism economy and a community of chefs who have chosen island life for its quality and pace. The main towns each have their own restaurant offerings, from formal dining rooms to casual seaside eateries.

Cowes has the strongest concentration of restaurants, many with a nautical theme and a waterfront setting. During Cowes Week in August the town's restaurants are packed, and booking is essential. The rest of the year, the High Street and the Parade have a good selection of independents serving seafood, Italian, British and Mediterranean food. The Fountain Inn and the Pier View are well regarded locally.

Ventnor has developed a reputation as the island's foodie town. The Ventnor Exchange, a small arts and food venue, and the restaurants along the High Street and Esplanade attract visitors who value independent, creative cooking. The Spyglass Inn on the seafront is one of the most atmospheric dining spots on the island, though it is as much a pub as a restaurant. Steephill Cove, a tiny beach accessible only on foot, has a seasonal crab shack that draws long queues on summer days.

Ryde has a growing number of restaurants along Union Street and the Esplanade, ranging from traditional fish and chips to Indian, Thai and Italian. Newport, as the county town, has the widest everyday choice, including Chinese, Indian, Turkish and pub dining. Yarmouth punches above its weight, with the George Hotel restaurant offering fine dining in a harbour setting.

The island's restaurants benefit from excellent local ingredients. Tomatoes from the Arreton Valley, garlic from The Garlic Farm, crab and lobster landed at Ventnor and Bembridge, beef and lamb from the island's farms, and cheese from local dairies all feature on menus. Several restaurants make a point of sourcing as much as possible from within the island.

For visitors, dining on the Isle of Wight is part of the experience. The combination of sea views, local produce and a slower pace of service makes eating out here feel different from the mainland. Prices are comparable to the south coast average, with a main course at a mid-range restaurant typically costing between twelve and twenty-two pounds.

The seasonal nature of the island's restaurant trade means that some establishments close or reduce their hours during the winter months. The restaurants that stay open year-round depend on the local population for their trade, and these tend to be the places with the strongest reputations and the most loyal followings. For residents, having a good restaurant within walking distance is one of the pleasures of island town life, and the personal relationships between chefs, front-of-house staff and regular customers are closer than in the more anonymous dining scenes of larger mainland towns. The island's restaurant scene is not trying to compete with London or even with Southsea. It is doing something different: serving good food in remarkable settings, using ingredients from the surrounding land and sea, at a pace that matches the rhythm of island life.