The unspoilt seaside village of Charmouth attracts tens of thousands of visitors every year thanks to its dramatic cliff faces, rolling green hills and wide stretches of golden sand. Nestled on the famous Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site, this timeless slice of Dorset oozes olde worlde charm, offering plenty to see and do for fossil hunters, walkers and tourists alike.
To save you some time researching your visit, we’ve compiled this guide about the very best places to eat in Charmouth. Like many other communities along the South Coast, the village relies on fresh produce from the local fishermen and farmers of Dorset, and we’ve listed the best Charmouth restaurants, takeaways and pubs in Charmouth where you can expect to find these culinary delights.
If you’re eating out in Charmouth, then what better way to settle your food than a gentle stroll back to one of our holiday cottages nearby? Extend your stay to get the very best of Charmouth, and explore our collection of properties in the area.
Holiday cottages in Charmouth
Skip to our favourite places to eat in Charmouth
Charmouth restaurants
Although the village is small, Charmouth offers an exciting range of restaurants that are sure to tick your culinary boxes, whatever your preferences are. Including zero-waste kitchens serving delights from sustainable waters nearby, and a popular café known amongst locals for its hearty breakfasts to eat in or on the go, we’re confident that you’ll find the perfect venue to enhance your day in Dorset.
Charmouth Fish Bar and Pizzeria
Set in the heart of the village just half a mile up from the beach, Charmouth Fish Bar and Pizzeria is a firm favourite for the many families and day trippers passing through. Priding itself on its range of local fish caught in sustainable waters, the popular chippy has something for everyone thanks to its choice of fresh fish, award-winning pies and pasties, gourmet burgers, pizzas, and plenty more.
If it's fish you fancy, then you’ve a wide choice of cod, haddock, scampi, hake and plaice, as well as their speciality fish which includes local crab, whitebait, calamari and lemon sole. For less surf and more turf, try an award-winning pasty or pie, a jumbo hot dog or local gourmet burger. Completing the menu is the choice of pizzas, all of which are freshly prepared and include the West Country Wurzle, Dorset Heatwave, Lyme Bay Belly Buster, and the Seafood Medley.
Customers can choose to enjoy their food straight away by eating inside the restaurant or under the sun on the outside terrace. If you fancy eating on the golden sands of Charmouth Beach, then opt for a takeaway using their ‘click and collect’ service to make your meal even more memorable.
Good to know
- Location: Charmouth Fish Bar and Pizzeria, The Street, Charmouth, DT6 6PU
- Why not try: The breaded lemon sole strips
- Price range: £7 - £15 per head (based on a main and drink)
Fernhill Hotel Restaurant
Found in the hills at the top of the village, the Fernhill Hotel Restaurant takes pride in its wide range of locally sourced dishes that cater to all dietary requirements. Fernhill prioritises local produce, meaning that many of their ingredients have travelled less than a mile before arriving on the plates of eager diners. And as a proud zero-waste kitchen that only prepares what they need by taking orders before 4pm, guests can dine happily in the knowledge that they’re minimising their impact.
With gluten and dairy-free options, as well as vegetarian and vegan choices available, the Fernhill menu offers an exciting range of dishes. Starters include rainbow quinoa and sun-dried tomatoes, mushroom and tarragon soup, and garlic mushrooms with toasted sourdough. Main courses feature oven-roasted haddock, Mediterranean vegetable risotto, and house-battered fish and chips, while desserts include the Belgian waffle with serious chocolate ice cream, sticky gingerbread pudding and a choice of sorbet and ice creams.
For something lighter, why not drop in on Friday and Sunday afternoons to enjoy their afternoon tea? Consisting of handmade sweet and savoury treats that range from a standard cream tea to a luxury afternoon tea with a glass of bubbly, an afternoon spent in this former Georgian residence is a wonderful way to enjoy Charmouth.
Good to know
- Location: Fernhill Hotel, Fern Hill, Charmouth, DT6 6BX
- Why not try: The 8oz rump steak with chilli garlic butter and chunky chips
- Price range: £35 - £50 (per head – based on three courses and a drink)
Photo credit: The Bank House Café
The Bank House Café
Popular amongst locals and involved with the community, The Bank House Café sits in the village about half a mile from the beach, meaning this is an easy spot to nip to during a day on Charmouth’s golden sands. Serving fresh food and drinks from morning through to mid-afternoon, with the occasional pop-up dinner event to look out for, guests here have a wonderful choice of light bites and local delights to choose from.
To energise yourselves ahead of a day on the coast, drop in for breakfast which is served five days a week from 10am. The breakfast menu includes the BHC Full English featuring the café’s popular honey roast sausages, a vegetarian fry-up, avocado and eggs on toast, the little dinosaur breakfast for kids and plenty more. For something on the go, grab a breakfast roll served in a delicious pretzel bun.
During the day, the café’s menu is even more exciting and features a homemade quiche, cod and seabass fishcakes, loaded nachos, and a choice of freshly prepared sandwiches and flatbreads. With vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options available, as well as a wide choice for little ones, no one should leave this popular spot feeling hungry.
Good to know
- Location: The Bank House Cafe, The Street, Charmouth, DT6 6PU
- Why not try: The Moving Mountains plant hot dog
- Price range: £10 - £15 (per head – based on a main course and a drink)
Pubs in Charmouth
Dorset is home to some of the country’s oldest and most charming pubs, known for their historic structures and sun-soaking beer gardens. Thanks to the wide range of coast and countryside walking trails around the county and the natural attractions on offer, so many visitors to the area depend on these welcoming inns for a refreshing pause to their day, and that is certainly the case for the pubs in Charmouth.
Photo credit: The George
The George
If you’re on the hunt for a historic pub that’ll welcome you and your dog with open arms, then look no further than The George in Charmouth in the centre of the village. Welcoming passersby since the 18th century, this pub is one of the country’s oldest continuously operated inns, so it’s fair to say that they know what they’re doing!
Whether you find a cosy corner by the crackling fireplace to escape the cold, or you sit out in the glorious beer garden as the kids meet the pub’s adorable goats, you’re sure to enjoy your surroundings at this pub, and the food is even better.
The lunch and evening menus promise to combine the finest of ingredients, so drop in during the day to try some delicious pub grub such as honey-glazed gammon steaks, house burgers, a wide range of sandwiches, and even a special menu just for the dog. In the evening, warm yourself with a chicken tikka masala, brie and caramelised onion tart, pork faggots and plenty more. Once again, there are options for little ones and even the dog; with chicken and rice or Yarde Farm ice cream on the menu for your pooch.
Good to know
- Location: The George, The Street, Charmouth, DT6 6QE
- Why not try: The quinoa chilli served with rice and tortilla chips
- Price range: £15 - £25 (per head – based on a main course and a drink)
Photo credit: The Royal Oak
The Royal Oak
Another popular pub amongst locals that offers an enjoyable pause from a busy day on the coast, The Royal Oak in Charmouth boasts an award-winning range of food and drink that celebrates Dorset and its local producers. In the summer, sit out in their roadside beer garden which looks over the rolling green hills in the distance, a typical Dorset view, or in the winter retreat to the cosy nooks of the pub’s traditional interior.
The restaurant sits above the bar and is adorned with fairy lights that make for a warming atmosphere. Here, you can explore the menu that makes sure to list the pub’s local suppliers. Starters include deep-fried whitebait, pumpkin and sage tortellini and sticky pork and chorizo bites; if you fancy sharing something, then choose from fresh olives, nachos, or baked camembert.
Main course options feature the battered fish of the day, the dirty bird burger, the pie of the week and slow-roasted pork belly. If you’ve room for something sweet, then make sure to track down their specials board of desserts which is known to include lemon meringue pie, seasonal crumble, and a local cheese board.
Good to know
- Location: The Royal Oak, The Street, Charmouth, DT6 6PE
- Why not try: The crispy golden battered fish of the day
- Price range: £30 - £40 (per head – based on three courses and a drink)
Charmouth takeaways
If you’re in Charmouth to enjoy a beach day on the village’s golden sands, or passing through like so many do on a Jurassic Coast walking route, then we’ve got you covered if you haven’t the time to sit down for a meal! Dotted around Charmouth are several popular and lesser-known takeaways that offer the perfect range of light bites and drinks to keep you, and even the dog, energised on your Dorset adventure.
Charmouth Bakery
If you’ve visited one of the Charmouth restaurants or eaten in the pubs in Charmouth, then there’s a good chance you’ve already sampled something from Charmouth Bakery, who supply several local kitchens with their culinary delights. Hidden up a side street of the village centre, the bakery is half a mile inland from the seafront, making it another handy spot to grab something light before returning to your beach day.
With a wide range of fresh bakes such as pasties and sausage rolls, and traditional cakes like rock cake and flapjacks, this is the perfect spot for something quick and easy. Or if you’re staying in one of our holiday cottages in Charmouth and you’re planning a meal with loved ones, the bakery caters for events and will take special orders over the phone or social media.
Good to know
- Location: Charmouth Bakery, Barr's Lane, Charmouth, DT6 6PS
- Why not try: One of the many special daily bakes on show in the shop window
- Price range: £2.50 - £7.50 (per head – based on their social media)
Crazy Cow Charmouth
One of the lesser-known places to eat in Charmouth, Crazy Cow was once a petite barista coffee trailer operating around Dorset, who have since expanded their homemade menu to a range of tasty snacks, fresh cakes, and even doggy meals. Only open through the summer months and based near the National Trust car park in Stonebarrow that looks down onto Charmouth Beach, this hidden treat is the perfect pause on a hot summer’s day.
Amble along Stonebarrow Lane and spot the trailer that awaits. Here, you can enjoy hot and fresh drinks, and even something with a kick to get your evening started. If you’re hungry, then browse their takeaway menu which features delights such as homemade cakes, cream teas, ice cream from the local producer Baboo Gelato, and even Doggy Doggy Yum Yum – dairy-free ice treats that your deserving pooch will love!
Good to know
- Location: Crazy Cow, Stonebarrow Lane, Charmouth, DT6 6RA
- Why not try: The range of Baboo Gelato ice creams such as Madagascan Vanilla
- Price range: £2.50 - £7.50 (per head – based on their social media)
Map of places to eat in Charmouth
To make your day out by the sea even easier, we’ve pinpointed all the Charmouth restaurants, pubs in Charmouth and takeaways featured in this guide for you.
Stay at one of our holiday cottages in Charmouth
Now you’re armed with the best places to eat in Charmouth to keep you fuelled during your Dorset adventure, why not extend your stay with one of our holiday cottages in Charmouth? With a wide range of holiday homes that are perfect for romantic stays, family getaways and group gatherings with pooches in tow, we’re confident that there’s something for every occasion in our collection.
Holiday cottages in Charmouth