Where to eat in Broadstairs: five different reasons to book a table

Broadstairs has plenty of places to eat within a small town centre, but they suit different sorts of meal. A harbour pub, a seafood bar and a bring-your-own Thai restaurant are not interchangeable. This shortlist starts with the plan, then matches a place to it.

Menus and practical details were checked on 1 September 2026. Bookings, dishes and service times can change.

For harbour seafood: The Tartar Frigate

The Tartar Frigate sits by Broadstairs Harbour with a restaurant upstairs and a separate bar food offer. The distinction matters because the restaurant and bar use different menus. Sundays also follow a set dining format, with specified sittings rather than the ordinary weekly menu.

Choose it when the harbour setting and seafood are central to the meal. Dogs are welcome in the bar area, while the restaurant only accepts service dogs. Tell the team about a dog when booking so the right area is reserved.

For a seafood menu with sharing options: Kebbells

Kebbells is on Victoria Parade above Viking Bay. Its current menu combines small plates, whole fish, seafood platters and a few meat or vegetable choices. That works well for a table that wants to share, although the bill can rise quickly when adding larger specials.

The restaurant states that its dishes are made without gluten and that it caters for other allergies. Anyone with a serious allergy should still discuss preparation directly, especially with a menu centred on fish and shellfish.

For Italian food and a sea view: Posillipo

Posillipo occupies a seafront position near Viking Bay. The menu covers pasta, pizza, fish and meat, with vegetarian and vegan tags appearing on directory and restaurant information. It is the broadest conventional restaurant choice in this group when diners want different things.

Use the current menu when booking rather than relying on an old photograph or takeaway listing. Tell the restaurant about allergies in advance.

For Thai food and bring-your-own drinks: Da's Thai Diner

Da's Thai Diner is a family-run restaurant on the High Street. It serves dinner from Tuesday to Saturday and closes on Sunday and Monday. Diners can bring their own drinks without a corkage charge, and takeaway collection is also available.

The business says it can accommodate vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free requirements. Explain the requirement when booking and ordering, since Thai sauces and pastes can contain fish, shellfish or other allergens.

For the proper Broadstairs ice cream stop: Morelli's

Morelli's is an ice cream parlour rather than a dinner booking. The Broadstairs seafront shop opened in 1932 and retains its 1950s soda fountain style, including pink seating and the long display counter. Ice cream is made on site.

It suits the end of a beach day, a family treat or a stop when there is no appetite for another full meal. Check the current flavour and allergen information at the counter.

Match the place to the occasion

Book the Tartar Frigate for traditional harbour dining, Kebbells for a seafood-led menu with sharing, and Posillipo for a group that wants a wider Italian menu. Da's Thai is the useful bring-your-own option. Morelli's earns its place because sometimes the right Broadstairs food plan is simply ice cream by Viking Bay.

See more current choices in the Broadstairs food and drink directory.