Frances's Guidebook
Food scene
Places to eat and drink locally and further afield
Popular beach bar overlooking the bay. Good food and relaxed atmosphere. Closed January & February
93 locals recommend
Billy Winters
Portland Beach RoadPopular beach bar overlooking the bay. Good food and relaxed atmosphere. Closed January & February
Popular restaurant café close to Portland Bill lighthouse. Snacks, lunches and cream teas (delicious scones!)
40 locals recommend
Lobster Pot
Portland Bill RoadPopular restaurant café close to Portland Bill lighthouse. Snacks, lunches and cream teas (delicious scones!)
Lovely location overlooking the Fleet Lagoon. Very good local fish and seafood
113 locals recommend
Crab House Café
Portland RoadLovely location overlooking the Fleet Lagoon. Very good local fish and seafood
Very good fish restaurant serving fresh local fish & seafood. Friendly staff and nice relaxed atmosphere
20 locals recommend
Rockfish Weymouth
48-49 The EsplanadeVery good fish restaurant serving fresh local fish & seafood. Friendly staff and nice relaxed atmosphere
Fine dining on Weymouth harbourside. Michelin-standard food, beautifully presented. Pricey but well worth it.
19 locals recommend
Catch at The Old Fish Market
1 Custom House QuayFine dining on Weymouth harbourside. Michelin-standard food, beautifully presented. Pricey but well worth it.
Chesil Beach Cafe
Portland Beach RoadGood cakes and light lunches in an attractive location
Myra's Kaiseki
20 High E StVery good Japanese food and sushi in the heart of Dorchester
Really good fish & chips and nice location in the old harbour of Weymouth
20 locals recommend
Bennett's Fish and Chips
14 Trinity RdReally good fish & chips and nice location in the old harbour of Weymouth
Marlboro
46 St Thomas StAs recommended by chef Marco Pierre White!
Les Enfants Terribles
19 Custom House QuaySeveral of our guests have eaten here and enjoyed it
Stone Pier Cafe
Hope StreetPleasant café on south side of Weymouth old harbour
Chesil Chippie
Victoria SquareLocal fish and chips takeaway
Relaxed outdoor cafe/bar overlooking the sea. Good good (delicious local scallops!) and friendly atmosphere
74 locals recommend
quiddles cafe
The EsplanadeRelaxed outdoor cafe/bar overlooking the sea. Good good (delicious local scallops!) and friendly atmosphere
Very old traditional pub in a small village near Swanage. Popular with walkers. Good local ales and cider and pasties/pies. Cosy in winter, lots of pleasant outdoor seating
92 locals recommend
The Square and Compass
Worth MatraversVery old traditional pub in a small village near Swanage. Popular with walkers. Good local ales and cider and pasties/pies. Cosy in winter, lots of pleasant outdoor seating
Lyme Regis Brewery
Mill LaneWhite Stones Art Cafe
13 Easton StCosy traditional pub on the esplanade overlooking the sea. Good food, including local fish & seafood, beers/ciders etc. Booking essential if you want to eat there
Cove House Inn
Cosy traditional pub on the esplanade overlooking the sea. Good food, including local fish & seafood, beers/ciders etc. Booking essential if you want to eat there
The Eight Kings
40 Southwell RdOther guests recommend this pub for good food and cosy ambiance
The Beehive
Cosy cafe and bakery
New steakhouse at the restaurant at the Admiralty Hotel in Southwell Business Park, in a striking location overlooking Portland Bill
Admiralty Hotel & Restaurant
New steakhouse at the restaurant at the Admiralty Hotel in Southwell Business Park, in a striking location overlooking Portland Bill
Seafood Streetfood
A deliciously laid back way to enjoy fresh, locally caught, sustainable seafood, straight off the boats. Take a hot grill, a passionate team and a few irresistible favourites. Add a pinch of sea salt and a juicy squeeze of lemon. Place a few casual tables on the quay. Pour a glass or two and throw in a perfect harbourside view. Hatch serves fresh, local seafood that's all about quality ingredients, taste and flavour. Ready to eat here or take away.
Open from March til October (weather permitting) from midday until late
Hatch on the Harbour
Seafood Streetfood
A deliciously laid back way to enjoy fresh, locally caught, sustainable seafood, straight off the boats. Take a hot grill, a passionate team and a few irresistible favourites. Add a pinch of sea salt and a juicy squeeze of lemon. Place a few casual tables on the quay. Pour a glass or two and throw in a perfect harbourside view. Hatch serves fresh, local seafood that's all about quality ingredients, taste and flavour. Ready to eat here or take away.
Open from March til October (weather permitting) from midday until late
Restaurant run by chef Mark Hix in a stunning location above Lyme Regis bay, the Cobb and the Jurassic Coast
Delicious local fish and seafood, with a menu that changes regularly according to what is available. Good value small plates in addition to main courses, extensive wine list, cocktails, oysters and more.
Booking recommended
Parking nearby at Hollybush Carpark - it's a short walk through the pleasure gardens to the restaurant
100 locals recommend
The Oyster & Fish House
Cobb RoadRestaurant run by chef Mark Hix in a stunning location above Lyme Regis bay, the Cobb and the Jurassic Coast
Delicious local fish and seafood, with a menu that changes regularly according to what is available. Good value small plates in addition to main courses, extensive wine list, cocktails, oysters and more.
Booking recommended
Parking nearby at Hollybush Carpark - it's a short walk through the pleasure gardens to the restaurant
Lovely relaxed & stylish cafe, bar and restaurant with superb panoramic views looking out over Lyme bay, with views down to the Cobb Harbour and along the world-famous Jurassic coastline towards Portland.
Attractive outdor terrace terrace with breath-taking sea views.
Great for breakfast/brunch, morning coffee, lunch, dinner or just casual drinks with friends. Good value menu and tasty food at the heart of Lyme Regis
23 locals recommend
The Lyme Bay
8-10 Bridge StLovely relaxed & stylish cafe, bar and restaurant with superb panoramic views looking out over Lyme bay, with views down to the Cobb Harbour and along the world-famous Jurassic coastline towards Portland.
Attractive outdor terrace terrace with breath-taking sea views.
Great for breakfast/brunch, morning coffee, lunch, dinner or just casual drinks with friends. Good value menu and tasty food at the heart of Lyme Regis
The George Inn is a Grade II-listed 18th-century traditional characterful pub within the village of Easton, at the west end of the hamlet of Reforne.
Good selection of ales, friendly atmosphere.
Food served:
Mon - Wed 6pm - 9pm
Thu No Service
Fri & Sat noon - 3pm, 6pm - 9pm
Sun noon - 4pm
The George Inn, Portland, Dorset
133 ReforneThe George Inn is a Grade II-listed 18th-century traditional characterful pub within the village of Easton, at the west end of the hamlet of Reforne.
Good selection of ales, friendly atmosphere.
Food served:
Mon - Wed 6pm - 9pm
Thu No Service
Fri & Sat noon - 3pm, 6pm - 9pm
Sun noon - 4pm
Indian takeaway
Open Everyday
Sun -Thu: 5:00pm - 10:30pm
Fri - Sat: 5pm - 11pm
Excluding Bank Holidays
Flavour Of Asia
Indian takeaway
Open Everyday
Sun -Thu: 5:00pm - 10:30pm
Fri - Sat: 5pm - 11pm
Excluding Bank Holidays
Relaxed wine bar/restaurant in Portland Marina with attractive views over the bay. Just 10 mins walk from our house
Salt at Portland Marina
Relaxed wine bar/restaurant in Portland Marina with attractive views over the bay. Just 10 mins walk from our house
Nestled on the corner, overlooking the world-famous Lyme Regis Cobb just as it meets the harbour The Cobb Arms is the perfect place to unwind, relax, and enjoy the best family welcome West Dorset has to offer.
With extensive views over Lyme Bay, its a great place to enjoy a pint of real ale or for special meal with freshly prepared, locally-sourced ingredients
Cobb Arms
Marine ParadeNestled on the corner, overlooking the world-famous Lyme Regis Cobb just as it meets the harbour The Cobb Arms is the perfect place to unwind, relax, and enjoy the best family welcome West Dorset has to offer.
With extensive views over Lyme Bay, its a great place to enjoy a pint of real ale or for special meal with freshly prepared, locally-sourced ingredients
Nice pub close to the SW coast path at Osmington. Enjoy a walk along part of the South West Coast Path from Osmington to Ringstead and back
47 locals recommend
Smugglers Inn
Nice pub close to the SW coast path at Osmington. Enjoy a walk along part of the South West Coast Path from Osmington to Ringstead and back
Attractive gastro pub in a pretty village near Dorchester.
Friendly staff, nice menu & good selection of beers et
35 locals recommend
The Wise Man Inn
Attractive gastro pub in a pretty village near Dorchester.
Friendly staff, nice menu & good selection of beers et
A family run cafe and restaurant offering traditional freshly prepared coffees, cakes, cafe food and Italian meals during the week and home cooked Sunday roasts.
Close to Bridport, West Bay & Burton Bradstock
15 locals recommend
The Parlour
A family run cafe and restaurant offering traditional freshly prepared coffees, cakes, cafe food and Italian meals during the week and home cooked Sunday roasts.
Close to Bridport, West Bay & Burton Bradstock
Sightseeing
Portland Bill
Chesil Beach
Tout Quarry Sculpture Park and Nature Reserve
Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens
Bullers WayDorchester
Lyme Regis
Swanage Railway station
Station RoadSwanage Beachfront
Shore RoadLulworth Cove
Corfe Castle
Castletown D-Day Centre
CastletownThe Tank Museum
Linsay RoadMonkey World - Ape Rescue Centre
LongthornsSherborne
National Trust Hardy's Cottage
Cuckoo LaneMax Gate
Athelhampton House and Gardens
Athelhampton RoadKingston Lacy
Wimborne Minster
West Bay Beach Dorset
EsplanadeKnoll Beach Studland
Old Harry Rocks
St Aldhelm's Chapel
Hardy Monument
Weymouth Beach
EsplanadeGolden Cap
Portland Castle
Nothe Fort
Barrack RoadGallery in West Bay with regularly changing exhibitions and a very nice café serving locally-sourced food
12 locals recommend
Sladers Yard Gallery
6 W Bay RdGallery in West Bay with regularly changing exhibitions and a very nice café serving locally-sourced food
Attractive 8-acre garden in Chickerell, near Weymouth. It holds national and international collections of water lilies which flower from late May through to September. The plants are displayed in a series of ponds and lakes reminiscent of Claude Monet’s garden at Giverny.
Monet Cafe
6 locals recommend
Bennetts Water Gardens
Putton LaneAttractive 8-acre garden in Chickerell, near Weymouth. It holds national and international collections of water lilies which flower from late May through to September. The plants are displayed in a series of ponds and lakes reminiscent of Claude Monet’s garden at Giverny.
Monet Cafe
Durdle Door
Striking natural rock arch, close to Lulworth Cove
Mapperton House & Gardens
Attractive house and gardens close to Beaminster
Very good county museum with information about geology, nature & wildlife, local history etc. Nice cafe
35 locals recommend
Dorset County Museum
High West StreetVery good county museum with information about geology, nature & wildlife, local history etc. Nice cafe
Sherborne Abbey
Abbey CloseStunning gothic abbey in the heart of Sherborne town
Ferry service from Crabbers Quay/Portland Marina to Weymouth Harbour
Enjoy a refreshing sea journey on the boat My Girl through Weymouth Bay and Portland Harbour. There’s plenty to see on the trip including the Nothe Fort, the impressive Portland Harbour Walls, the Mulberry Docks relics of the D-day landings, plus the passing maritime traffic of yachts, local fishing boats, cargo and Navy ships in this working south coast harbour.
Runs daily (weather permitting) from April to October. £15 return
Portland departure times
Crabbers Quay, Castletown - 11:15-1:45-4:30
Coastline Cruises - Ferry To Weymouth Harbour
Ferry service from Crabbers Quay/Portland Marina to Weymouth Harbour
Enjoy a refreshing sea journey on the boat My Girl through Weymouth Bay and Portland Harbour. There’s plenty to see on the trip including the Nothe Fort, the impressive Portland Harbour Walls, the Mulberry Docks relics of the D-day landings, plus the passing maritime traffic of yachts, local fishing boats, cargo and Navy ships in this working south coast harbour.
Runs daily (weather permitting) from April to October. £15 return
Portland departure times
Crabbers Quay, Castletown - 11:15-1:45-4:30
Portland Museum
217 WakehamFind out more about the geology and history of Portland
Amenities
Local services
Service station with Budgens supermarket, Greggs bakery, cashpoint, car wash & E-car charging
Osprey Quay Service Station
Service station with Budgens supermarket, Greggs bakery, cashpoint, car wash & E-car charging
City advice
Getting around
Local transport
Regular bus service between Portland & Weymouth (route no.1). During summer season the open-top sightseeing bus (501) runs between Weymouth and Portland Bill.
Getting around
Luggage Transfers
For those guests who are walking the SW Coast Path we recommend LT Luggage Transfers - friendly, reliable service available from 1 March to 30 October.
Getting around
TAXI Weyline
Local taxi service.