Where to eat in Margate: five independent restaurants for different plans

There is no single best restaurant in Margate. The right table depends on whether you want a long seafood lunch, regional Italian cooking, a quick pizza or plates to share by the harbour. These five independent restaurants cover those different plans, all within the town centre or along the seafront.

Choose quickly

• Seafood and a small dining room: Angela's.
• Southern Italian food and natural wine: Bottega Caruso.
• Casual pizza opposite the beach: Great British Pizza Company.
• Sharing plates on the Harbour Arm: Sargasso.
• A broader menu for families or mixed groups: Buoy and Oyster.

The details below were checked on 1 September 2026 using each restaurant's own website and current menu. Menus, opening times and booking rules change, so check with the restaurant before making a special journey.

For a small seafood restaurant: Angela's

Angela's is a compact seafood restaurant in Margate Old Town. Its menu changes according to the day's catch and the produce available from small farms, including the restaurant's co-operative farm. The sample menu gives a fair idea of the cooking. The day's supply decides which fish will be available. Recent examples include hake with tomato and capers, grilled squid with peppers, and an aubergine dish with lentils and goats' curd.

This is the option for a meal planned around seafood and seasonal vegetables. It also needs a little planning. The restaurant says it has very few tables, releases bookings up to a month ahead and keeps a small number for the day. Solo diners, larger parties and anyone bringing a pram, high chair or dog are asked to book by email. The toilets are reached by narrow, uneven stairs, so tell the team about mobility needs when booking.

For southern Italian cooking: Bottega Caruso

Bottega Caruso is a family-run restaurant and shop in the centre of Margate. Its food draws on recipes and produce from Foglianise, a village in Campania. The restaurant imports items such as olive oil, preserved tomatoes, natural wine and heritage grain flour, then uses fresh produce from Kent alongside them.

Choose it when pasta, regional Italian cooking and a slower lunch or dinner sound right. Cantina Caruso next door adds a wine bar and shop selling fresh pasta, sauces and store-cupboard ingredients to take home. At the time of research, restaurant service ran from Wednesday to Saturday, with lunch and dinner sittings. That narrower week makes an advance check worthwhile.

For an easy seafront pizza: Great British Pizza Company

Great British Pizza Company sits on Marine Drive, facing Margate Main Sands. Its thin, crisp pizzas use British cured meats, Kent produce and a house tomato sauce. The allergen menu includes a tomato, garlic and oregano pizza without cheese, plus a vegan pizza with spinach, mushrooms, caramelised onions, hazelnuts and rocket.

This is the straightforward choice for a casual meal near the station, beach and seafront attractions. It also works well when a group wants familiar food from a local restaurant. The menu changes, and anyone managing an allergy should use the current allergen information and speak to the restaurant. Old menus saved elsewhere can quickly become misleading.

For sharing plates on the Harbour Arm: Sargasso

Sargasso is on Margate Harbour Arm, a short walk beyond Turner Contemporary. The current menu mixes small plates with larger fish and meat dishes. At the time of research it listed panisse with black olive tapenade, chickpeas with spinach and paprika, a squid sandwich, octopus rice and cod with fine beans, olives and capers.

The format suits people who like to order across the menu and share. It is also a useful choice before or after time around the Old Town and harbour, since the location keeps the day compact. Sargasso says the shared facilities on the pier do not have disabled access, which is important to know before booking. The menu includes vegetable dishes, but dietary suitability should be confirmed directly because ingredients and preparation can change.

For a flexible seaside meal: Buoy and Oyster

Buoy and Oyster occupies a seafront spot on Margate High Street. The restaurant focuses on seafood and seasonal produce, with much of its fish coming through a Broadstairs fishmonger supplied by day boats working along the Kent coast. Its menu changes through the year and the restaurant also serves meat and vegetarian choices.

This is the most flexible option in the group. The restaurant currently advertises all-day dining, a children's menu for under-12s and earlier sitting suggestions for families with younger children. The seafood bar suits drinks and smaller dishes, while the main restaurant covers a full meal. The terrace is seasonal and weather dependent. Sunday roasts return during the cooler part of the year, so use the current menu rather than assuming the summer offer still applies.

Match the place to the plan

• Book Angela's for a small, seafood-led meal where the daily menu is part of the point.
• Pick Bottega Caruso for regional Italian food and a chance to browse the adjoining shop or wine bar.
• Use Great British Pizza Company for a casual seafront meal, especially when the group wants pizza and clearly documented allergen information.
• Head to Sargasso for shared plates on the Harbour Arm.
• Choose Buoy and Oyster when the group needs a broader seaside restaurant format or a children's menu.

A few checks before booking

Opening days vary considerably. Bottega Caruso has a shorter restaurant week, while some seafront service changes with the season and weather. Check the restaurant's own site on the day you book.

Treat dietary labels as the start of the check. A menu may mark a dish as vegan or gluten free while the kitchen still handles allergens nearby. Contact the restaurant if cross-contamination matters.

Margate station is opposite the Main Sands, and all five restaurants are in the central seafront or Old Town area. Walking between them is realistic for many visitors, though Angela's notes that its toilets involve narrow, uneven stairs. Buoy and Oyster publishes family guidance, while Angela's asks diners with prams or high chairs to arrange the table by email.

Prices and dishes have deliberately been left out where they are likely to change. The source list below leads to current menus and booking details.

More Margate ideas

For a less formal meal, compare the coastal stops in our Thanet fish and chips guide. If the meal is part of a day out, the family day in Margate keeps the beach, galleries and food within a manageable area. You can also browse the wider Margate food and drink directory.