Explore Dorset’s finest eating and drinking establishments
Looking for some fantastic dining out opportunities in Dorset? Our handy eating and drinking guide divulges the best bars, restaurants, pubs and cafés to visit during your stay.
In the not-so-distant past, the county of Dorset was known more for its traditional Knob biscuits and delicious apple cake than its bars and eateries. However, in recent years this has changed dramatically, with foodies in the know flocking to the beautiful area to sample some of its best cuisines, as more and more fantastic restaurants, pubs and cafes are appearing in the county. While on your trip, you will not struggle for quality places to eat in Dorset.
Make sure to stop off at La Fosse in the charming village of Cranborne, a brilliant restaurant that prides itself on its use of the finest local produce. Another delightful restaurant in Dorset would be family-run Clavell’s Restaurant in the village of Kimmeridge. Housed in a historic thatched cottage, the eatery has an ethos of ‘from field to fork’, which is reflected in the varied meat dishes on the menu, sourced from the family’s own farm.
There are plenty of charming country pubs in Dorset. One that is steeped in both literary and factual history would be the 400-year-old Acorn Inn. Fans of Dorset-born novelist, Thomas Hardy, may know the pub as the ‘Sow and Angel’ in his novel Tess of the D’Urbervilles. It now boasts two bars as well as an award-winning restaurant, all set in the tranquil village of Evershot. There are many cosy tearooms and quaint cafes in Dorset, which make for the perfect place to sample the county’s famous apple cake, this Dorset delicacy is not to be missed.
Images by: Eugene Birchall; John Lamper