The best restaurants in Barnstaple

If you’re looking for somewhere to eat out in Barnstaple, you’re spoilt for choice. There are numerous high-quality restaurants, cafes, pubs and takeaways in this North Devon river-port town, so whether you’re looking for a posh place to celebrate a special occasion or a cheap and cheerful place for a quick bite to eat while on the move, you’re covered.

Faced with so many options, you could be tempted to simply pick the closest or choose one at random, but this guide will help you narrow your search and find the perfect place for your lunch or dinner in Barnstaple. We’ve divided our top recommendations into restaurants and cafes, pubs and bars, international cuisine, and fish and chips, so you can easily find the taste and vibe you’re seeking. 

If you fancy a holiday in Barnstaple, whether it’s a solo escape, romantic getaway or break with family or friends, we have the cottage for you. You can check out our collection of holiday cottages in Barnstaple by clicking on the button below. 

Skip to:

• Barnstaple restaurants and cafes
• Barnstaple pubs and bars
• International cuisine in Barnstaple
• Fish and chips in Barnstaple

Barnstaple restaurants and cafes

Barnstaple has some of the best restaurants and cafes in North Devon, offering everything from hearty banquets to light teas.

Maiden Arch

Maiden Arch by Robert Bryant is a hidden gem in a quiet side street, and it’s the place to go in Barnstaple for modern British fine dining in relaxed and comfortable surroundings. It’s an AA 3-Rosette restaurant, meaning it deserves national recognition. It has been praised for its outstanding cooking, highest quality ingredients, and consistent excellence in timing, seasoning and flavour combinations. It’s open for lunch and dinner, with a tasting menu and signature menu available on selected evenings until late.

62 The Bank and Bar 62

This contemporary bistro and cocktail bar in the heart of Barnstaple is the place for everything from casual lunches to late-night dinner dates. From pancakes and fajitas to burgers and rainbow pho, there’s something for everyone on the menu – with plenty of gluten-free and vegan options too. Bottomless brunches are available on Saturdays. Don’t forget to look up and admire the spectacular plasterwork ceiling, which is 400 years old. 

Latitude 48

This alehouse and eatery is ideal for a casual lunch or dinner. It offers craft beers, ales and ciders, artisan spirits, gourmet coffee, home-pressed burgers, in-house smoked meats, and its own recipe fried chicken – the meals are a feast for the eyes as well as the mouth! Sharing platters include steak fondue and vegetarian meze. There’s also a limited children’s menu. Extend your visit with a game of pool, shuffleboard, Street Fighter 2 or pinball.

The Boutport Cafe

This popular, cosy cafe that always offers service with a smile has won multiple awards and has been visited by celebrities including Mary Berry and Sandi Toksvig. It serves traditional breakfasts, freshly prepared light lunches, homemade cakes and, of course, a Devon cream tea. Heads up, Barnstaple boasts two other cafes among the best places for a Devon cream tea: The Cream Tea Cafe and Tea by the Taw. The produce at The Boutport Café is locally sourced where possible. Vegan and gluten-free options are available. Note, it doesn’t have a public toilet – but there are alternatives nearby.

Barnstaple pubs and bars

From historic country pubs to swanky cocktail bars, there are lots of great places to eat in and around Barnstaple.

Claytons & The Glasshouse

This is an atmospheric, premium lounge bar, a glass-roofed restaurant that’s unique to the area, and a rooftop terrace with comfy furniture. There’s a huge range of cocktails and ‘gin experiences’ on offer, and the lunch and dinner menus are available downstairs and upstairs. These menus feature traditional classics, such as fish and chips, alongside more unusual dishes, such as goat curry. There are three kids’ dishes on offer.

The New Inn

This is a small and friendly pub in rural Goodleigh, just outside Barnstaple. Every evening, except Tuesdays and Wednesdays, it offers an ever-changing menu of high-quality, homemade meals, including traditional British favourites and more exotic dishes. Perhaps you’ll be able to try something unusual, like the Woodland Pie, made with venison. 

Cedars Inn

This impressive Greene King inn, which was formerly a country house, sits within 3 acres of gardens and is 1.5 miles from the town centre. The Cedars offers a wide choice of drinks – why not enjoy them in the beer garden if the weather is nice? The menu features classic and affordable pub fare, including Sunday roasts, steaks, burgers and lighter bites. There’s a decent range of dishes on the kids’ menu.

Lush Bar and Restaurant

Lush caters for all, whether you’re looking for a light lunch, a celebratory dinner or a family meal. Open daily for lunch and dinner, visitors and locals can enjoy modern cuisine and crafty cocktails. The menu includes tapas, deli sandwiches, salads, burgers, mains such as katsu curry, jerk chicken and butternut squash ravioli, and meals for kids. A roast is available all day on Sundays.

International Cuisine in Barnstaple

Barnstaple has eateries offering authentic dishes from across the world, including ever-popular cuisines. 

Tiffin

Tiffin Indian Kitchen and Bar is a family-run restaurant in a Grade II-listed building that used to be one of the oldest pubs in Barnstaple. Inspired by Indian working-class lunch boxes, the team have created a seasonal menu from snack plates to curry pots – with vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options available. You can dine in or take away. Tiffin is closed on Sundays and Mondays.

Fullam

Fullam is a well-established and cosy family-run restaurant set within a 500-year-old coaching inn and specialising in British-Chinese cuisine. It is open Tuesday to Saturday for lunch and dinner, and Sunday for dinner only. The menu features a chilli rating from 1 to 4 to help you choose dishes you’ll enjoy. Plenty of vegetarian dishes are available, and there are also two set meals for a minimum of two people. 

Giovanni’s

Giovanni’s is a well-established Italian restaurant that has been run by Vincenzo Ferracuti from Rome and Adriano, who has been the chef from the beginning. They offer authentic, fresh and delicious Italian food and wine in a rustic environment with gingham tablecloths. It’s one of the most popular places to eat before enjoying a show at The Queen’s Theatre, as it is situated directly opposite. Takeaway is available. 

Silver Tree

Silver Tree offers authentic, fresh and tasty Thai takeaways, either for collection or delivery via Deliveroo and Just Eat. If it inspires you to create your own meals at home, it’s useful to know that you can buy Oriental food ingredients from the shop within the same premises. 

Fish and chips in Barnstaple

We had to include a section for fish and chips, which is often considered England’s national dish. There are many places in Barnstaple where you can buy this classic dish to eat in or take away.

The Pelican

The Pelican is a multiple award-winning, family-run and contemporary fish and chips restaurant and takeaway in the heart of Barnstaple. It is family-friendly, has hospitable and knowledgeable staff, and a fully licensed bar. Ingredients are locally sourced where possible. The menu also features burgers and kitchen classics, such as gammon steak and homemade chicken curry. If you’ve had chips with your main meal and want some more, they’re on the house! Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options are available. It is closed on Sundays.

Catch

Catch is a family-run restaurant and takeaway that offers fish and chips, as well as other fresh and hearty homemade British favourites, such as cottage pie and fisherman’s pie. Also on the menu are curries, jacket potatoes and sandwiches. There are several vegetarian options, a children’s menu for customers up to the age of 12, a dessert menu, and a breakfast menu available all day. Catch is licensed and sells wine, beer, local ales and ciders. It is closed on Sundays.

Stay with us in a Barnstaple holiday cottage

Barnstaple is a wonderful destination for a holiday, thanks to its vibrant town centre and proximity to attractions such as some of North Devon’s best beaches. Although it’s lovely to dine out, and Barnstaple has many eateries, you may prefer to whip up something tasty in one of our self-catering holiday cottages in Barnstaple and across North Devon. So why not take a look at them and start planning your dream Devon vacation today?