
From Michelin-starred restaurants to seafood devoured on the beach, Devon is a paradise for foodies. And when you’re following your taste buds around the county, there are some traditional delicacies and drinks which you just can’t miss.
Whether you’re asking yourself ‘What food is Devon famous for?’ or looking for some inspiration on Devonian delights to try during your holiday in the South West, you’ll find a selection of food and drink below which is sure to have your mouth watering by the time you reach the end!
When you’ve checked out these traditional foods, why not take a look at what else you could be missing in our guide to Devon’s food and drink?
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Why not treat yourself to a foodie adventure and book a stay in one of our delightful Devon holiday cottages?
Cottages in Devon
Devon food

Devon cheese
Being a farming county, Devon produces more than its fair share of delicious cheeses. There are oodles of dairy farms, and as a result, an abundance of delicious cheese originating in the area.
Curworthy’s full-fat hard cheese develops from a light buttery taste when young to a delicious mellow flavour when aged. Choose from several types, including mature Devon Oke, and Dartmoor Chilli, made with ingredients sourced from the Dartmoor Chilli Farm.
Sharpham Brie is an indulgent treat for lovers of a creamy, unctuous texture – the perfect choice for an evening supper of bread and crackers.

If you’re a fan of blue cheeses, try the smooth yet crumbly Beenleigh Blue, produced and matured for six months by the endearingly named Ticklemore Cheese Dairy. We have to admit, we’ve cheated on this one a little as the milk actually comes from Cornish sheep!
When you’ve got a hankering for a luxurious goat’s cheese, look no further than Vulscombe, which comes plain, herb-infused or flecked with peppercorns or sundried tomatoes and is made in Tiverton.
Other Devon cheeses to add to the cheeseboard are Quicke’s Cheddar, Oakdown Farm Goats’ Cheese, Campscott Ewes’ Milk Cheese and, of course, Devon Blue.
The best place to buy Devon cheese
The Cheeseboard, Sidmouth
The Cheeseboard in Sidmouth is a one-stop-shop that will satisfy all your cheese-related desires, and we’ve no doubt you’ll come away with more than just the one you went in for! The majority of their tasty stock is sourced from the South West, and they’ll be more than happy to guide you in your discovery of Devon cheeses.
Stay nearby: Regency House | Sleeps 9 guests + 2 dogs

Devon cream tea
No visit to Devon would be complete without sampling its eponymous cream tea. A light meal to enjoy between mealtimes, it consists of scones, strawberry jam, clotted cream and a lovely pot of tea. Scones are crumbly, golden and cake-like, and when in Devon, are likely topped with local clotted cream and jam…a mouthwatering fancy!
To the untrained eye, there appears to be no difference between the Cornish cream tea and the Devon cream tea, but those in the know will identify the latter as having the cream spread first on the scone, then topped with jam. In Cornwall, the jam and cream are reversed!
The best place to try a Devon cream tea
Angels Tearoom, Babbacombe
With cafes all over Devon serving tasty cream teas, it’s nigh on impossible to choose a favourite. That said, Angels Tearoom on Babbacombe Downs in South Devon is certainly a contender for the winning spot. Its popularity is a testament to its homemade goodies!
Stay nearby: The Cliffs at Babbacombe | Sleeps 4 guests

Devonshire splits
Contrary to popular belief, Devonshire splits are not scones! While they can substitute scones in a cream tea, they are a yeast bread, somewhat lighter than a scone. They are served sliced almost in half and filled with jam and cream.
The best place to try a Devon split
Alder Vineyard, Okehampton
At the coffee bar at Alder Vineyard, they serve homemade Devon splits with their cream teas. And what could be more decadent than enjoying one of these delicacies, washed down with a crisp white from the vineyard outside?
Stay nearby: Wagon Linney | Sleeps 10 guests + 2 dogs

Devon pasty
A contentious issue, the pasty’s origins are usually attributed to Cornwall, and indeed, the Cornish Pasty has been registered under the government’s list of products with Protected Geographical Indication. However, the first recorded recipe for a pasty is from Plymouth in 1510, and the pasty is as much a lunchtime favourite here as it is in Cornwall.
It is a pastry-encased parcel, with a crimped edge, traditionally filled with beef, potato, swede and onion. They were once a popular lunch for miners, as they stayed warm for a long time and could be eaten easily with no cutlery.
The best place to eat a Devon pasty
Blackwell's Pasties, Bideford
Again, there is not a town worth its salt in Devon where you won’t find a pasty shop, but with pasties coming in all shapes and sizes, it’s good to have a recommended place in mind if you want to try the best! Tucked away down a little side street in Bideford, North Devon, Blackwell’s Pasties are often cited as the county’s best, if not the best in the whole of the West Country!
Stay nearby: Quay Loft | Sleeps 10 guests + 2 dogs

White pudding
This oft-overlooked delicacy is a large pork sausage spiced with black pepper, cumin, basil and garlic, otherwise known as hog’s pudding. It is served fried in slices, often for breakfast, making for a hearty start to your day. Groats pudding is a variation on white pudding, made with the added ingredient of oats and can be found on Dartmoor.
The best place to try white pudding
Palmers of Tavistock, Palmers
A real hog’s pudding can be hard to come by, so head for Palmers of Tavistock to be sure you’ll be sampling an authentic version. The butchers sells both hog’s pudding and groats pudding, so stock up and head back to your holiday accommodation for a mouthwatering breakfast.
Stay nearby: The Cottage – Tavistock | Sleeps 4 guests + 1 dog

Devon fudge
Fudge is an indulgent sweet treat that has been made in Devon for decades, although its origins are attributed to the United States of America. Smooth, creamy and nowadays available in a variety of tempting flavours, it’s as perfect for a special occasion as it is for a mid-morning sugar hit!
Fudge is made from sugar, butter and milk which is heated and beaten while it cools until it takes on a tantalising molten consistency. Hardening into slabs of firm fondant, it is then cut into cubes and usually served by weight from a counter.
The best place to buy Devon fudge
Roly's Fudge, Dartmouth
Roly’s Fudge began trading in Devon over thirty years ago, and now have 45 Roly’s Fudge Pantries across Devon and beyond. One destination where the olde-worlde pantry really fits in is in Dartmouth. Take your time selecting your flavours, then head for the quayside where you can tuck into your spoils while admiring the view over the river.
Stay nearby: Weight N Sea | Sleeps 6 guests

Devon sea salt
It’s definitely not the first food you’d associate with Devon, but just recently, salt from the South Devon coastline has become available thanks to Devon Sea Salt. By using traditional techniques, they harvest the salt by hand in their small, family-run salt house set alongside the River Tamar.
The best place to try Devon sea salt
Duke Street Deli, Kingsbridge
There are many stockists of Devon Sea Salt, one of which is the characterful Duke Street Deli in Kingsbridge. Grab a jar to take home and try for yourself, and make the most of your visit by stopping for a tasty lunch while you’re there!
Stay nearby: No. 8 Belle Vue Kinsbridge | Sleeps 5 guests

Devon seafood
With two coastlines, a visit to Devon wouldn’t be complete without sampling some of the freshest seafood you’ll ever eat. One thing you won’t want to miss is Devon crab. Caught just off the coast, it is succulent, flavoursome and packed with Omega 3. Other Devon delicacies from the ocean include lobster, oysters, mussels, scallops and a whole host of fresh fish.
The best place to try Devon seafood
The Oyster Shack, Bigbury-on-Sea
Options are plentiful when it comes to seafood restaurants in Devon, but for an authentic experience on the site of a former oyster farm, you can’t do much better than The Oyster Shack at Bigbury-on-Sea. The menu changes daily according to the catch, but you can expect to find such mouthwatering delights as oysters, mussels, crab and lobster to be enjoyed with a glass of wine and fresh crusty bread.
Stay nearby: 11 Beachdown | Sleeps 8 guests
Devon drinks

Devon gin
It may come as a surprise to discover that there are a great many gin distilleries in Devon. Salcombe Distilling Company, Wicked Wolf Gin, Dartmoor Distillery, Copper Frog Distilling, Plymouth Gin Distillery, Papillon Gin, Brixham Gin, and Exmoor Distillery; this is by no means an exhaustive list and each distillery produces distinctive tastes and flavours.
Where to sample Devon Gin
Plymouth Distillery, Plymouth
Perhaps the most well-known of the Devon gins, Plymouth Gin is produced in the oldest working distillery in England. Book onto a distillery tour to learn about the distillation process, the botanicals that are used, and enjoy samples of gin throughout.
Stay nearby: Sea Captains Lodge | Sleeps 5 guests

Devon wine
Devon’s comparably temperate climate makes it a hotbed for wine production. While it may not be the South of France, you’ll never be far from a vineyard in Devon, and with that comes the opportunity to see the whole process, from vine to wine…with tasters of course! Some of the most notable Devon vineyards include Sharpham, Old Walls and Pebblebed, all of which offer tours and tastings.
Where to try Devon wine
Sharpham Vineyard, Stoke Gabriel
Book a wine tasting tour at Sharpham Vineyard, Totnes, and enjoy the vineyard’s beautiful setting within the Sharpham Estate.
Stay nearby: Angel House | Sleeps 6 guests + 1 dog

Devon beer
If you were surprised at the number of gin distilleries and vineyards in Devon, you’ll be floored by the bountiful array of micro-brewers across the county. Devon beer is a popular tipple, and you’ll find locally brewed beers in most pubs in the area. Red Rock, Otter, Hunter’s, Dartmoor and New Lion are just a few of the breweries to put on your Devon beer sampling bucket list, but wherever you’re staying, you’re sure to find one nearby.
Where to drink Devon beer
Salcombe Brewery, Salcombe
Picking just one brewery to represent Devon beer is an impossible task, but if you’re looking for an experience along with your pint, Salcombe Brewery is a good place to head. Set within the hills of South Devon, they offer brewery tours and experiences.
Stay nearby: Withymore Cottage | Sleeps 6 + 1 dog

Devon cider
Devon cider, otherwise known as ‘cyder’ or ‘scrumpy’, has long been the traditional drink of the West Country. With apple farms aplenty and a list of varieties as long as your arm, the conditions are ripe for small-scale cider farms to produce a host of flavours to suit all tastebuds.
Where to drink Devon cider
Ye Olde Cider Bar, Newton Abbot
Much in the same vein as Devon beer, Devon cider can be found all over the county! However, if you want to sample all sorts in a traditional setting, make sure Ye Olde Cider Bar in Newton Abbot is on your radar. Thought to be one of only four remaining cider houses in the UK, it offers a huge selection of local ciders to be enjoyed in a setting that oozes history from every ancient barrel!
Stay nearby: Buckleigh Lodge | Sleeps 3 guests
Devon food and drink map
Find all of the places mentioned in our highlights boxes on this handy map.
Stay in a self-catering holiday cottage in Devon
Thatched cottages, stylish sea-view apartments, grand country houses and everything in between – our accommodation in Devon has something to suit everyone.
Perhaps you’re heading to North Devon for beach days and coastal walks, or maybe South Devon is your destination, with the buzz of Torbay or the sedate seaside charm of East Devon. Whatever you’re looking for and wherever in Devon you want to visit, you’ll find your home-away-from-home within our collection.
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