10 Best Restaurants in Torquay

The Elephant is a multi-award-winning restaurant in Tor Bay Harbour that offers informal fine dining. Run by a husband-and-wife team, it was the first restaurant in Torquay to be awarded a Michelin star. The atmosphere is fun and lively, with a team of young, talented chefs who strive to produce top-quality, innovative dishes.

The Elephant’s farm in nearby Brixham, provides seasonal produce, free-range eggs, and many of the meats on the menu, such as chicken, lamb, pork, and turkey. Therefore, the changing menu is guided by these sustainable ingredients. It is worth noting that due to the style of cooking, The Elephant is not able to provide vegan options.

The Orange Tree Restaurant, located steps from Tor Bay Harbour, serves delicious British and European meals in an elegant setting. This intimate, split-level dining room is ideal for a romantic, candlelit meal, a celebration, or for anyone wishing to enjoy an excellent meal by the seaside. Expect crisp, white table linens and a friendly staff serving British cuisine with European influences.

The Orange Tree serves dishes that highlight the local area, with produce, seafood and meats sourced from local farms and markets. The seasonal, a la carte menu is accompanied by freshly baked bread, chutneys and sauces and an extensive wine list that includes bottles from Devon and Cornwall vineyards. Be sure to save room for the beautifully presented, made-from-scratch desserts.

No 7 is a family-run seafood-focused bistro and wine bar in Tor Bay Harbour. You’ll find items such as plaice, soles, crab, lobster, and oysters on the menu that are caught locally or sourced from local markets. No matter how it's served – roasted, grilled, or steamed – you can be sure it is fresh and delicious.

The wine bar offers panoramic views of the sparkling harbour. It is the perfect place to enjoy a glass of wine or champagne with a plate of fresh oysters before your meal downstairs. The wine list is extensive, offering varieties from all over the world. If you can't choose, get a wine flight to taste different options.

Ollie’s on Torwood Street, in the heart of Torquay, provides high-quality cuisine in an understated and relaxed setting. The restaurant has a lively vibe that is magnified on nights when live music performs at The Bit on the Side; this is what they affectionately call the boutique bar next to the restaurant.

Ollie’s has long-term relationships with Devonshire farms, where they gather fresh, seasonal produce and high-quality cuts of meat. They’re open for lunch and dinner, and their menu is seafood and beef-heavy, with some, but limited, options for vegetarians and vegans. They have an excellent traditional Sunday roast, and The Bit on the Side offers a bar menu as well.

Old Vienna Restaurant showcases its Austrian owner and head chef’s passion and expertise. His love of cooking shines through in this intimate restaurant with a vibrant menu of exotic flavours such as quail eggs, rabbit, wild boar, duck, and venison. Old Vienna's artisan cuisine uses local British ingredients but has an Austrian touch.

Old Vienna is only open for dinner Wednesday through Sunday, and as it only seats approximately 20 people, bookings are essential. Since the restaurant is small, you can expect exceptional personalised service and attention to detail, making Old Vienna a favourite among locals. If availability is limited, they offer a popular take-out menu.

Small World Restaurant and Tapas Bar on Abbey Road in Torquay centre is full of global influences and local ingredients. Its Cornish and Spanish proprietors create unique dishes that speak to traditional Spanish flavours and the Devonshire seaside.

The lovely cavern-style dining room is cosy and inviting, with dark hardwood flooring and exposed brick walls. Whether you visit Small World Restaurant and Tapas Bar for a romantic dinner for two or a larger family gathering, you'll discover incredible Mediterranean food served in a friendly atmosphere.

The Waddling Duck Bistro has a menu that changes with the seasons and focuses on creating exceptional British cuisine using locally sourced seasonal ingredients. Located slightly outside Torquay's city centre, this quaint, cottage-style restaurant uses family recipes to produce unique and creative flavours.

After a walk along the coast, this is a lovely spot to try perfectly cooked venison, scallops, duck, or pork belly next to a roaring fire. The Waddling Duck offers an extensive wine list and serves excellent coffee. They are happy to reserve a spot for your private function or party and can cater to different dietary requirements.

Orestone Manor is a family-run, country manor house hotel set in the English countryside just outside Torquay centre. The cuisine served in its restaurant focuses on the fresh quality ingredients of surrounding Devonshire County. Seafood found on the menu comes from nearby Brixham, while meats, artisan cheeses and delicate wines come from local farms and vineyards.

The restaurant overlooks beautiful gardens, including the estate's organic vegetable garden, with lovely views of the Lyme Bay coast. A visit to Orestone Manor is an enchanting experience in a traditional English setting, and the hotel restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner.

Brasserie at the Bay is an intimate, modern restaurant serving traditional British cuisine in a no-fuss atmosphere. The menu features influences from France, Italy and the far east and can cater to all dietary requirements. The culinary team focuses on creating dishes that honour the local area and the beautiful, fresh ingredients it produces.

This elegant dining room is inside the award-winning boutique Meadfoot Bay Hotel and has recently been awarded 2 AA rosettes. Not being exclusive to hotel guests, locals have become loyal patrons of Brasserie at the Bay, delighting in its traditional flavours and friendly service.

Saltwater Fish and Chips is one of the best chippies in the British seaside town of Torquay. Their fish is Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified, which assures sustainable practices, and their chips pass the test for being perfectly crunchy on the outside and soft inside.

In addition to traditional fish and chips, you’ll find king prawns, chicken, sausage, and beef on the menu, and there are also gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan options. Dine in the casual restaurant or opt for takeaway and enjoy your meal along one of the many seaside benches along the Torquay Marina. Just watch out for cheeky seagulls swooping in for a bite!